“What are you doing?” Alexis whispered out the side of her mouth.
They’re going to hurt me.
“Education is good,” I said quickly. “You’ve said it was always your dream to go to a Spartan university. Now you can get your mastery in mathematics. We can be together.”
We can be safe.
She blinked as she stared at me like she was in shock.
“Alexis—is this true?” Hades asked, his voice rising above the clamor. I clutched her hand tightly.
Alexis closed her eyes for a few seconds, but when she opened them, her expression was determined. “Yes—I would like to attend,” she said, giving me a small smile.
Warmth exploded in my chest, and the strange light above her head flared brighter.
Kharon made a choking sound.
I threw my arms around her. “Thank you,” I repeated into her curly hair. Alexis hugged me tightly.
Safe.
You’re going to be safe.
It’s all going to work out and you can—
“It is decided,” Athena said. “The Crimson Duo will room with Medusa. She will not leave your side. You will shadow her and protect her.”
Patro leveled me with a glare—slowly he dragged his pointer finger across the front of his throat, handsome face contorting with malice.
“Moving on to our next order of business,” Athena said calmly, unaware that she’d just sentenced me to death. “The federation is still investigating leads as to why the Titans are mutating. So far, our efforts have found nothing.”
“You’ll regret this,” Patro mouthed silently.
I made a face back.
I already did.
50
CORRUPTION
ALEXIS
As I leapt away from the federation meeting, waves of relief washed over me.
Candlelight cast ambient shadows along the villa’s decorative amphoras and olive trees.
I’d chosen this exact hall because I liked the marble sculpture in the corner—a naked man leaned against a wooden club, covered in a lion skin. His eyes were downcast, conveying exhaustion, and behind his back, he held two golden apples.
I met the man’s weary gaze with my own.
He’s tired, but he’s still standing.
The last few weeks had been a blur of worrying over Medusa. I hadn’t had much time to focus on anything or anyone else.
She was finally free.
We did it.
