what he could get, even from someone he loathed. That much she knew.Nike turned to him; he was already leaning down. Like the blonde, shewrapped her arms around her companion’s neck and held on tight.Only, she didn’t enjoy the kiss, familiar as it was. Erebos’staste was too…what? Different from Atlas’s, sherealized, and that ratcheted her anger another notch. No man shouldhave that much power over her. Still. She let Erebos continue. Atlasneeded to realize that she no longer desired him. He needed torealize that he would never, never play her emotions again. She wasnot an idealistic little girl anymore. He’d made sure of that.

CHAPTER3

Rage.Absolute rage filled Atlas. He released his companion-he couldn’trecall her name-and she gasped in protest at the abruptness of hisactions. He didn’t bother explaining what he was about as hestomped away from her. The rage continued to spread as he climbed thestairs that led to the prisoner’s cages and to the cell holdingNike. His name was on her back. How dare she allow another man to puthis lips on her?

Whenhe reached his destination, he raised his arm, and the sensor he’dhad embedded in his wrist caused the bars to slide open. Severalprisoners were seated against the far wall. Rapturous longing coloredtheir faces as they watched the minor god of Darkness and the goddessof Strength clean each other’s tonsils. So absorbed were they,in fact, that they didn’t rush Atlas and try to escape. Ormaybe that had something to do with the pain they would feel if theydid so. He had only to press a button, and their collars would ravagetheir brains. Nike moaned, as if she really liked what was being doneto her.

Redflickered through Atlas’s vision. How. Dare. She. Teethgrinding, he grabbed Nike by the collar of her robe and jerked herinto the hard line of his body, away from Erebos. A gasp escaped her.