Page 39 of Bonds of Hercules
Augustus’s face immediately twisted with concern. “This is settled for now. We can discuss it at dinner tomorrow. Everyone, go back to bed!”
Wow, she’s good.
Patro turned slowly and stared at me, his eyes piercing.
I squirmed.
There was something different about the way he was looking at me, somethingunsettling.
Achilles glanced between us, tensing.
Is he angry?
Patro grabbed Achilles’s arm. “You’re all trusting fools—something is suspicious about her … I canfeelit.” He muttered something about Ceres being shorter than he remembered.
I swallowed a retort as they stalked away down the hall.
“Tomorrow morning,” Augustus said, voice sharp with danger. “Be ready—Alexis.”
He once again said my name like it was a threat.
Kharon’s frigid eyes sharpened. “Good night, wife.”
Helen and I flanked Ceres, holding her on either side and shielding her from the men with our bodies as we escorted her down the hall.
Augustus and Kharon didn’t move as we passed; they both just watched.
By the time we made it to the bedroom next to Helen’s—which shared a connecting door with hers—I was trying not to throw up from anxiety.
“Just rest for now,” I whispered to Ceres as she tentatively crawled into the grand four-poster bed. “Shower in the morning. You need to heal.”
Her panicked eyes met mine as she settled under the covers, quivering, covered in dirt and blood.
“I remember recent events,” Ceres said shakily. “But the years before that, my childhood, it’s all a blur. I need to remember where I came from. I need to know who I am … I need … I need …” She trailed off with a strangled gasp.
Her trauma was tangible.
“I can bring you Spartan books,” Helen offered. “About our history,yourhistory. It will help you … regain what you’ve lost.”
For the first time, Ceres relaxed, her guard lowering. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I like to read—it should help … I can’t thank you both enough—what you’ve done is …” Her voice cracked as she trailed off, staring at me with tear-filled eyes.
“Of course,” I said, even though apprehension twisted my stomach. I’d felt the fear and acted anyway.
So had Helen.
Eventually, the consequences would come for us. Until then, we’d bring Ceres whatever books she needed until she got her memory back.
Helen and I turned to leave.
“Wait! I recall … one thing,” Ceres blurted.
We turned back to her.
Her lavender eyes were wide and haunted. “Zeus.”
Talons of fear scraped down my spine. “What … about him?” I asked as a high-pitched ringing started in my left ear.
Ceres looked dejected. “I can’t remember.”
