Page 65 of Bonds of Hercules
How he’d always called me pathetic.
I remembered.
“Shut up,” Achilles signed angrily at Patro. “You’re losing control and ruining everything. This isn’t whatyouwanted. I told you—you should have waited to talk to her at a better time. This isn’t at all what you were supposed to say.”
My sternum boiled with rage.
“Pleaseenlighten me,” I said smoothly. “What was his script?”
They froze, their eyes widening as they stared at my hands.
Achilles raised his arms, long fingers moving slowly. “Alexis, howlong… have you known Roman Sign Language?”
10
SIGN LANGUAGE
ALEXIS
My arms dropped to my sides.
In my anger, I’d resorted to old habits and signed as I spoke.
“How long have you known sign language?” Achilles repeated, eyes narrowed with rage as he took a step toward me while signing. “How long? Tell me now!”
My fingers moved quickly. “Since I was a child.”
Achilles’s chest heaved as smoke billowed around his muzzle. He cracked his tattooed knuckles—one finger at a time.
I’d never seen him so furious.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he signed, his eyes full of heavy emotions.
I raised my chin up and held his gaze, tired of Chthonic men shoving me around. “Because—I was afraid of you.”
Achilles reared back like he’d been punched.
“You entitled bitch.” Patro reached for my wrist, and once again, his grip was punishing. “Howdareyou say that to him—after everything we’ve done for you? Everything we’ve sacrificed.”
Achilles had paled behind his muzzle, and he looked sickly.
“You’ve donenothing,” I whispered.
Patro’s lips curled as he shook my wrist. “We took you in. Clothed you, fed you, helped you survive the crucible. Put up with all your weak womanpowerlessOlympian bullshit.”
His eyes filled with blood as he engaged his Chthonic powers, fingers digging into the sensitive skin of my wrist.
“No. You m-made me feel worthless,” I said softly. “You made me want to die.”
Patro dropped my arm like I’d scalded him. He staggered back, disengaging his powers.
From his reaction, it was the truth.
For the first time since I’d met him, Patro had nothing to say.
The Crimson Duo stared at me, guarded and hostile.
Turning away from them, I stomped from the narrow street into what looked like a dilapidated town center. Fluffy Jr. trotted beside me, an oversized white blur as tears spilled down my face.
