Page 57 of Bonds of Hercules
I had a bizarre urge to run my fingers over it.
He tucked the pager into the pocket of my cargo pants.
I shivered.
“Please use this,” he said. “Even if you’re not sure but you feel threatened, use it … We’ll be there.” His hand lingered, fingers spanning across the top of my thigh.
Ozone and musk filled the air.
His hand flexed possessively across my leg and he leaned forward, until our faces were close.
“Alexis,” he whispered as he pressed his forehead against mine.
I wanted to collapse into his arms and let him shield me from the world.
There was no doubt in my mind that he’d protect me. He’d always been vocal about women not having to fight. The idea of sitting back and relaxing while someone else handled everything was intoxicating.
But the world didn’t work that way.
You had to save yourself.
Always.
“Please—promise me, Alexis.” His baritone voice was smooth as silk, dark eyes flashing. “I hate that we can’t be there to protect you—Ihate… that you’re fighting at all.”
He clenched my thigh, nails digging through my cargo pants. “You shouldnotbe in the Assembly of Death. It’s fucking ridiculous.”
He didn’t think I was made for this.
Neither did I.
Sometimes what we were made for was different from what we wanted. The lines were blurring, and I needed to remember.
Pulling my head back, I squared my shoulders.
“I can look after myself.” I didn’t stutter.
All traces of the gentle, caring man disappeared. If he’d ever existed to begin with.
His face was a dangerous mask. “Let’s agree to disagree,wife.”
The devil incarnate was here to see me off to battle.
Augustus pressed his forehead against mine and our breaths mingled. The gesture was wrathful.
“Youbetterkeep yourself fucking safe.” His voice vibrated. “If you need to leap to safety, do it. Do you understand? Protect yourself at all costs … No one else matters. Only you.”
Zap.Our bond fired.
“Take care of yourself,” he said quietly. “Or there will be consequences, my carus.”
It was a threat.
He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. His lips were featherlight—my skin burned, breath catching, as a fever spread through me.
“My precious wife—familia ante omnia.” Augustus kissed my forehead again.
I leaned into his touch.
