Page 286 of Bonds of Hercules
He was silenced by a hand over his mouth—DEATHwas tattooed across the restraining knuckles.
There were dangerous men, and then there wereviolentmen. The distinction was crucial.
Achilles and Patro were the latter.
I’d never met anyone so volatile in Sparta, dark creature or Chthonic.
There was somethingespeciallyunhinged about this new generation.
Patro had cornered me about a dozen times in the villa. Whenever people weren’t looking, he’d trap me against a wall and tell me he knew I was playing a game.
Now, he glared over at me.
Emerald eyes met mine, pure hate blazing in their depths.
Fear wrapped around my throat as I realized just what was happening here.
Oh … my … Kronos.
“They’rethe Crimson Duo?” I said to Alexis. “Why are they called that? Is it because Achilles’s eyes are red or is it something to do with blood? Maybe a play on—”
“Yes, you will!” Aphrodite shouted as she pointed at her son. “Youwillobey orders.”
Patro nodded curtly.
Please, Kronos, no.
This can’t be.
They’re going to hurt me just like the—
“Perfect,” Athena said. “That matter is handled—Medusa will enroll at ROU with Patro and Achilles as her bodyguards this September. I’m sure they can obtain a mastery in …” Her eyes narrowed as she sized up the two dangerous Chthonic men. “War studies.”
Patro rolled his eyes.
“Alexis would also like to attend,” I blurted.
Alexis dropped my hand, and I was too panicked to give her an apologetic smile.
Kharon and Augustus leaned forward beside her, both of them hitting me with a death glare.
I felt nothing.
Survive.
You need to survive.
Patro and Achilles are going to hurt you and—
“It’s an Olympian university. Chthonics are historically not allowed to enroll!” a Spartan in a small laurel crown shouted from a few rows back.
“Yeah!” more Olympians chorused back.
Jeers echoed.
Kharon’s expression twisted as he sized me up, sadness in his blue eyes. He’d been acting strange ever since last week when Alexis had revealed how she’d freed me.
Alexis said it was because he was my brother, but I didn’t understand. Spartans rarely formed familial attachments—our culture was all about power and competition.
