Thank God, there’s hope yet. Maybe Sparta will fall and I can live in peace.
“But the new marriage law is going to fix all that, thank Kronos.” She beamed. “Everyone’s talking about it. It’sgenius, making all citizens of Sparta take a marriage oath when they turn twenty-six. Well, everyone but the house leaders—obviously. No one tells them what to do.”
I frowned.
Excuse me? A marriage law at twenty-six? I’d be a child bride.
I never wanted to get married.
Having to touch another personsexually.
Hard pass.
“The best part,” the doctor continued, oblivious to my mental breakdown. “They put in a clause that listed out all ten of the Chthonic names, and stated they were restricted fromonlymarrying someone on that list. Chthonic leaders refused to comply if Chthonics were wholly forbidden from marrying each other, so the federation compromised and added the ‘only.’ Either way they must marry an Olympian.”
She scoffed.
“The technicality doesn’t actuallymatter—the next generation of Chthonic blood will be diluted with Olympian blood. There’s no way for them to find a loophole. The federation claims the law is for Sparta’s fertility struggles, buteveryoneknows it’s really to force the Chthonics into alliances with the Olympians—it’s brilliant.”
She moved to brush more hair off my forehead, and I dodged her hand.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Well,” she huffed. “I tried to help you.” As she packed up her supplies, she mumbled under her breath, “Even though you’re just a filthyabandoned mutt.”
Short friendship.
“Be c-careful,” I said in a rush, as I gripped the sheets tightly. “They’re going to hurt you.”
She scoffed. “You don’t knowanythingabout the ways of the great Houses. You’re the one in danger, not me.”
The door slammed open, and my mentors entered.
She jumped with a yelp. “Pleasure to assist the great Houses,” she said with her head lowered as she bowed to the men. “Please tell the House of Hades about my services to the great Chthonic families, and let the Assembly of Death know if they ever?—”
“Get out,” Patro cut her off, his demeanor cold. Achilles stood at his side, arms crossed and vermilion eyes glinting with danger.
Guilt filled me.I tried to warn her.
She gasped and scurried away.
“Nero, get out of the room,” Patro snapped at Achilles’s wolf, and it reluctantly walked away after giving me a side-eye. “Poppae, you too,” he said, and the jaguar obeyed.
The three of us were left.
Alone.
Help.
Chapter 7
Strategizing
Alexis
“I tried to wipe away some of your blood, but I figured you wouldn’t want someone bathing you while you were unconscious,” Patro said, and Achilles crossed his arms beside him. “That’s why the sheet is still gross.”
He almost sounds . . . kind?
