It was no wonder we’d fallen in love with her. Alexis was like no one else on earth.Angelus Romae.No creature, Spartan, or human could ever compare to her.
She was divine.
She was my wife.
She was my other soul.
I’ve found you again.
41
THE ELDEST HEIR
AUGUSTUS: SGC DAY10
It was a bright summer’s day, the mountain air scented from wildflowers. Poco sat on my shoulder, purring as he gnawed noisily on my crown.
I’d seen the world, but the Dolomites stood apart, surreal in their beauty.Sacred land.
The electric dome hummed as it caught the light.
Black scorch marks across the stone were the only signs that hellfire had been burning a day earlier.
In front of me, Alexis leaned into Charlie as they held hands, knuckles white with fear for their friend.
Kharon traced along the necklace he’d gifted her, tattooed thumb stroking down the back of her neck.
Just looking at my wife made my chest ache—she was too good for us—and yet I knew in my bones, there was nothing that wouldevermake me leave her side.
Kharon felt the same.
I twirled one of her curls and she shot me a smile over her shoulder.
My black heart cracked.
I was devastatingly obsessed with my wife.
So obsessed that anxiety gnawed sharply at my gut, because at the edge of the stadium, Zeus looked smug with sparks of electricity leaping off his shoulders.
What the fuck type of game is he playing at?
There was no reason he’dactuallysuspect Achilles and Patro—oranyof us for that matter—of helping Medusa.
A smattering of applause filled the stadium as Drex walked out onto the sand holding a broadsword.
He looked terrified.
Alexis stood up and clapped, hollering at the top of her lungs. Helen, Charlie, and Agatha joined her as they cheered for the nervous young man.
“Wahoo,” Kharon drawled sarcastically.
I kicked him.
He didn’t look repentant.
He still hadn’t gotten over his jealousy with their friendship (neither had I).
“One round—two labors!” Zeus announced. His famous lightning scepter was noticeably absent. “For the first Olympian to ever participate.” There was another smattering of confused applause. Sparta didn’t know how to feel.
