Page 63 of Bonds of Hercules
He rubbed roughly at his jaw. “We’ve been researching marriage bonds for you.” He looked at Achilles as he spoke. “We think there’s a way you can break the Spartan oath and effectively … divorce them.”
The morning haze swirled, leaving a dense fog along the ruined streets.
“What?” I croaked. My mouth was dry, tongue heavy, heart full of lead.
Patro stared harder at Achilles. “From what we understand, if you use your … blood powers, then you can …”
He trailed off like he was physically unable to say the words.
“I can …what?”
Patro’s eyes glinted like uncut emeralds. “If you bring them to the brink of death, it will break your oath.”
Sludge filled my veins.
“You want me to …killKharon and Augustus,” I said, feeling faint. “You want me to murder your friends.” I pointed to them. “Kill yourbrothers.”
Achilles flinched like I’d struck him.
Patro huffed. “Don’t be so dramatic. You don’tactuallykill them—just bring them to the brink.” He snapped his fingers. “They’re strong, they’ll recover. Then … you’ll be free.”
I’ll never be free.
I could taste the vengeance; I could taste the regret.
Dragging my hands down my face, I pressed my palms into my eyes and tried to stop the racing thoughts. When I finally lifted my head, Patro and Achilles were staring at me expectantly, waiting for an answer.
Aren’t we supposed to be fighting Titans? Why would they do this now?
My vision tunneled.
“Why?” I asked as I stared at my mentors like I’d never seen them before.
Patro flicked his cigarette onto cracked pavement and stomped on it. “Because—what they did to you was wrong.” He madea face, like he was trying to convey that he was sympathetic to my plight.
He failed.
Numbness washed over me.
Patro fidgeted.
I wish I had his power.
“So, there’s … no other r-reason?”
Patro rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting to Achilles. “No.”
He was a crap liar.How ironic.
The sneaking suspicion became an avalanche, and I’d already played the fool.
“You’re both under twenty-six,” I whispered. “Right?”
Nyx hissed.
My face twisted. I let them see the angst, the sleepless nights, the dark choices I’d made—two times over.
They had no idea who I was.
