Page 300 of Bonds of Hercules
“Can you maybe wait to do that? Also is there a reason you’ve cornered meagain? Or do you just want me to watch?” a throaty feminine voice asked with annoyance. “I don’t think I’m into that. Also, are you prone to outbursts and random acts of violence? If so, I think you have a diagnosable condition called—”
I wrenched away from Achilles, his intoxicating taste still tingling on my tongue.
I’d gotten distracted from what we were doing in here—getting answers.
“Do you ever shut the fuck up?” I asked, with genuine confusion, because from what I’d seen, she didn’t.Ever.
Medusa scoffed.
I enjoyed silence,preferredit, and she rambled constantly.
She was the opposite of Achilles in every way.
“No.” Medusa clutched her left arm, eyes narrowing as herlong black hair shifted, three monstrous snakes rattling. “I willnotbe quiet just because you can’t stand the fact that you’ve been threatening an innocent woman for weeks like a cowardly—”
I laughed. “Oh please—you forget who you’re talking to. Ireadpeople, that’s my power, and I know for a fact that you’re still hiding things. Drop your innocent act.”
Medusa stomped toward the door.
I blocked her.
“Moveout of my way,” she demanded. “I’m done with this crap. Corner me again, and I’ll bite you.”
Her snakes rose up around her head, rattling louder.
A lesser man would have been cowed by her display of power—one Gorgon snake was intimidating, three was a hideous show of might. Achilles and I both studied them with open curiosity.
We’d always been intrigued by dangerous things.
Medusa shifted.
I stepped with her.
Smirking, I glared down my nose at her.
She wasnomatch for me.
I would discover what she was hiding and prove to the world that she couldn’t be trusted.
“I saidmove!” Medusa shoved at my chest, and I laughed at how weak she was.
Her nails dug into my chest.
My skin prickled where she touched me, heat flushing across my sternum—with disgust—and I wrenched away from her.
“Never lay your hands on me again,snake scum,” I warned.
She threw a punch, and I caught her hand, twisting her wrist painfully. Her bones creaked, embarrassingly fragile in my hand. She was all soft curves and long, jet-black hair. There was nothing Spartan about her. Kronos, mosthumanswere built stronger.
I’d never met anyone so useless in my life.
Someone really should protect her.I shook my head, refusing to acknowledge the ridiculous thought.
“How aboutyoujust stay away from me.” Medusa glared, snakes rising higher, and all of them focused on me as she tried to tug her arm out of my grip. She failed.
Heinous memories clawed at my spine.
I held on to her wrist tightly.
