He gently pulled the needle out of my skin. “Per article three,” he said, “you have been confirmed as an abandoned female Spartan mutt. You are hereby declared a citizen of Sparta.”
Wait . . . what?
“Are you nineteen years old?” he asked softly.
“Yes,” I whispered on numb lips.
He swallowed thickly. “Are you already associated with any of the twelve Spartan Houses, including heirship or sponsorship?”
“No.”
“Do you have any reason to believe that you are an heiress to a House?”
“No.”
“Under the article three amendments, all Chthonics are required to compete in the SGC at eighteen years old. They are also required to join the Assembly of Death, if they survive the crucible. Do you have any reason to believe you are Chthonic?”
“No.”
“Have you, at any point in time in your life, been recruited, lived with, or had any contact with a Titan?”
Foster Father begging at the bathroom door, “Please call the Spartans now. Please, children.” Foster Mother howling in agony as she was ripped to pieces.
“N-No,” I said.
“Do you have any reason to believe you failed to fill in both bubbles—and you also have a creature heritage?”
“No,” I whispered hoarsely.This is really happening.
“What’s your name?”
“Alexis.” I cleared my throat. “Hert.”
He took a step toward me. “Per article three.” His tone was grave. “Alexis Hert, you are now a candidate to initiate at the Spartan War Academy... immortality is not a right, but a privilege. May the fates guide you, child of Kronos.”
Time to panic.
He grabbed my arm and whispered, “Domus.”
The world exploded.
Smoke whipped around me. Agony flared along every one of my nerves, and I opened my mouth to scream, but darkness tore me to shreds, reality morphed into a?—
The excruciating pain stopped.
Loud noises thundered all around.
I stumbled.
We were no longer inside a green-lit gym.
We were outside.
The Spartan boss, the same terrifying man who’d screamed in my face, cupped my cheeks gently. “Good luck, child, you’re going to need it.” His voice filled with regret.
Sighing, he walked away.
The sky was gray with a rainy drizzle, and the air had a slight chill to it, like it was still spring and not late June.
