Page 29 of Bonds of Hercules
I rubbed at my bleary eyes.
Poco chittered on my shoulder and clapped his hands with excitement.
It took my tired brain a moment to process that Alexis was standing next to Artemis.
My heart skipped a beat.
Her bandages had been removed, but dark bruises covered her face. She looked tired and worn out.
We did this to her.
“Who do you choose for your first mission?” Artemis asked with clear impatience as she gestured to the members in the room. “Drex is with Agatha and Hermos, so choose either Augustus and his partner, or Achilles and Patro.”
Kharon stared at Alexis like he was trying to read her mind.
Patro perked up.
“I’ll choose—” Alexis’s voice was hoarse, and she scrunched up her face like she was making a major decision. “Achilles and Patro.”
The pain that zapped through our bond was nothing compared to the twisting in my stomach.
Poco shoved a wad of my hair into his mouth.
“Fine,” Artemis said as she addressed the room with boredom. “The leaders have conferred—everyone will stay at Augustus’s villa until Medusa is captured.” She glanced over at me. “Engage the defenses. You have one week before your next Titan assignments,” Artemis said coldly.
Crack.She leapt away.
Patro smirked over at both of us, his arm draped over Achilles.
“Fuck,” Kharon swore.
Poco wailed at the top of his lungs, then bit down on my bicep, as hard as he could.
After he detached his dagger-sharp fangs, Poco licked at the wound, mewling with regret.
“Don’t worry about it,” I whispered as I patted his fluffy head, blood dripping down my arm. He suffered from anxious biting syndrome.
Poco whined, and I handed him a cookie from my pocket. He carefully took it with two hands.
“It’s not even bad,” I reassured Poco, looking anywhere but at Alexis. My heart shattered.
Poco chittered with relief as he licked at his treat.
I staunched the gushing wound and made a mental note—get stitches and a tetanus shot.
Today was not my day.
5
PRISONERS OF WAR
ALEXIS
Smoke rose as we leapt into a gilded high-ceilinged atrium.
Location:Lake Como.
Goose bumps exploded across my arms.
