My Spartan Hellion Read Online Free

sense that something has now changed.”
    He nodded, but he appeared guarded as he spoke. “Atallus sent his men after you under the darkness of eve to kill you and us if it came to that. I sense that his humiliation at being bested by you ate at him.” Thanos sighed, frustration heavy in his voice. “But we have no time for these petty squabbles right now. War is coming to the city-states of Greece and we need to be united. I cannot jeopardise our tenuous peace with Athens for anything…or anyone .”
    She had an idea as to the deeper meaning of his words, and somehow knew his altered plans did not bode well for her and her plans. “What are you truly saying?”
    “That if I let you go, Atallus will find you and he will kill you.”
    “So let him try—”
    “I cannot. I am honour bound to protect you.”
    She shook her head. She was not his property—his responsibility. What did he care if she died trying to kill Atallus?
    “But you do not own me. Of your very lips you said you purchased me and that I was free—”
    He placed a single finger against her mouth, halting her words. That’s when she glimpsed the weariness in his eyes. This ordeal weighed upon him, and she had no doubt he now regretted freeing her.
    “You are free, but since by all accounts I am your last owner, and you are a woman—” He cleared his throat. “I must see to your welfare until you are under the protection of your husband.”
    “ What? ”
    “If you were my freed helot in Sparta I would have arranged for you to be married, but I see no reason to adhere to the laws of my homeland since we are not in Sparta, and you are not truly my slave…”
    “But?” she snapped, when he didn’t rush to finish.
    “ But I cannot release you knowing that soldiers are after you. I know you wish to return to Athens to seek revenge, but I cannot in good conscience allow you to go, nor can I seek revenge on your behalf so that you shall be safe—at least not now. I simply cannot jeopardise Sparta’s truce with Athens.”
    “So you want me to journey to Sparta with you?” she asked, knowing already that he did. He was basically holding her prisoner, because his honour demanded it.
    “I am bound by the laws of Sparta, and my honour. You will be safe with me, and under my protection. Once the threat from Rome has passed, you will be free to go to seek your revenge.” He shrugged then, a small glimmer lighting up his tired eyes. “Of course, if you were the wife of a Greek citizen, charges could then be brought against Atallus for his crimes against you—”
    She glared at him. “I see that you find my situation amusing, but, to me, I find none of this humorous—”
    “And I did not mean to make light of your situation.” He sobered, or at least his voice grew serious, but Lamia did not mistake the twinkle of amusement still brimming in his eyes. “I was simply explaining your options—all of them.”
    He thought this was funny. Her only options were to either go with him to Sparta as his charge or go with him to Sparta as his wife.
    Her nostrils flared in anger. “I will not wed you. And you cannot force me to stay and journey with you to Sparta if I do not wish it so—”
    His actions were so quick and quiet that he had her by the arm before she could even gasp. In an instant the man before her was Thanos—the soldier. He trained his steely gaze on her.
    “Let me be clear, Lamia. If you try to leave, I will find you. I will not let you endanger this truce—nor will I let you dishonour me. In Sparta a man’s honour is everything. I will not send you to your death, and that is final.”
    He released her and stood. Moments later he stormed out of the tent.
    She’d angered him—well then, that made two of them.
    She glared at the flap of the tent. Thanos may have been the general of the world’s finest army, but she was certain he’d never met an adversary such as her. If he thought she would simply bend to his will and do his