I was kneeling directly in front of two chairs: Augustus and Kharon sat before me, bound to the metal with ropes andgagged. Blood covered their knuckles, and fresh bruises covered their faces. Olympian guards stood behind them.
Their eyes widened.
“What the hell happened to you two?” I shouted over the thumping music.
They both stood up and pulled their arms apart violently, snapping the ropes that bound them, then they ripped their gags out.
“Hey!” a guard shouted as he swung his baton at them.
Kharon moved faster, snapping his head to the side, violently breaking his neck.
Four other guards lunged to intervene—Augustus’s eyes filled with blood—all of them dropped to the ground, unmoving.
I blinked, staring down at the carnage.That was quick.
Kharon stepped over the bodies, and tattooed fingers cupped my face. “My sweet carissima.”
“You can’t just do that …” I stared down at the fallen Olympians. “They’ll imprison you and charge you with—”
Kharon peppered soft kisses across my forehead. “Are you okay? Are these bruises new?” he asked into my curls.
“Angel,” Augustus said as he rubbed my back, scanning the room. “Did they hurt you? Patro was going to tell us where you were held … We were waiting for him to come back before we acted.” He waved dismissively at the prone guards. “I think I saw him over—”
“It’s fine,” I said quickly.
“Who left these marks on you?” Kharon asked. “Describe them all. Now.”
“I handled them,” I said with a wink.
Kharon studied me. “Wait … did you … kill them?”
I nodded.
His blinding smile transformed him from handsome to devastatingly attractive. “Oh, wife, do tell.”
Augustus pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I helped,” Nyx grumbled on my shoulder. “Where’s my thank-you?”
The screeching rock music brought me back to reality. I pulled away from them, taking a deep steadying breath.
“I need to do something right now,” I said. “But I need you both to promise tonotinterfere … no matter what happens.”
Augustus nodded curtly. “Whatever you need, my carus.”
“No.” Kharon raked his hand through his messy hair. “I’m tired of standing by while my fucking wife has to—”
Augustus yanked him back and nodded at me. “Do what you have to do … We’ll be waiting. I promise … we trust you.”
Kharon shook his head. “I don’t tr—”
Augustus put a hand over his mouth and restrained him. “Wetrust you,” he reiterated.
Love strummed through our marriage bond.
The urge to fall into their arms was overwhelming, but this was my plan—I’d done the calculations myself.
Before I lost my courage, I turned and disappeared into the crowd.
