Scars slashed across their faces.
But where one reveled in unbound cruelty, the other had a raccoon protector who sat on his shoulder all day playing with his hair.
I’d forgotten what it meant that Augustus was the heir to the infamous House of Ares. Theleaderof the younger Chthonics.
Augustus wasn’t just the son of the psychopath torturing for fun—he was hisprodigy.
Yet he also spoke about ancient myths with a passion, gifted me a graphing calculator, and gently tucked me into bed at night.
Augustus stared down at me, his gaze intense like he could read my thoughts.
“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered.
I’m not.
That was the problem.
The death rattle stopped as the Cyclopsfinallyfell silent, and I turned to watch. Its single eye was open wide and unseeing.
Ares sauntered lazily out of the arena.
There was a spattering of applause, but the stadium was still mostly quiet—numb shock hung in the air. The fight had been hideously clinical, yet deeply depraved.
There was a sudden clamor of cheers as the Chthonic leaders all got to their feet.
I couldn’t look away from the dead Cyclopes.
Were they afraid as they died?
Kharon bent down and said something to Augustus, but I couldn’t hear him above the ringing in my ear.
A thick wave of melancholy washed over me.
Did they wonder why so many people were watching, but no one helped?
My eyes blurred.
Time moved at a strange pace.
The guards escorted us to a much more crowded symposium.
Bodies swirled around us as lively harp music played. Hundreds of candles were flickering on the tables, casting the room in a soft light.
Golden celebratory tinsel had been strung along the room’s columns and ceiling. Sirens whirled around brandishing platters overflowing with food.
I pushed through the crush to find a table, fighting through a sea of bodies, drowning in tortured feelings.
Familiar pastel eyes peered into mine. “Alexis?” the siren whispered, lips trembling.
I wiped at my eyes, hiding the tears.
“Lena?” I said, a kernel of warmth lighting inside my chest. The festering sadness receded.
I blinked and we were hugging, holding on to each other as tightly as we could in the middle of the dance floor.
Her breath hitched. “You’re a Chthonic now.”
“I am.”
