The Brothers Bane, page 1
The Brothers Bane
Lords of Pandemonium
Book Two
Ophelia Bell
Contents
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Description
Content Warnings
Glossary
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Read On
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Description
Enjoy this extra spicy reverse harem monster romance by USA Today Bestselling paranormal romance author Ophelia Bell.
I broke free of Tartarus’ chains, only to be ensnared by bonds of a different kind.
Seeking sanctuary with the Amazons, I discover community and a power within myself I’ve only begun to grasp. But I’m not alone. Campe and Alcides, my fierce protectors, rekindle a flame first ignited in the depths of that lightless dungeon.
Together with the seven other guardians sworn to me, we secretly unite each night in my sanctuary. All except Vesh, whose betrayal casts a lingering pall.
When I learn he's forced two of my mates into an unthinkable act, I know there's only one choice—to sacrifice my freedom to the source of our torment. Because sometimes protecting the ones you love means surrendering your dreams to the creature who haunts them.
My mates' fate is bound to my own. This is the cost of the love I’ve found in their bonds. I can only hope my sacrifice will be enough to turn the key that sets us all free.
The Brothers Bane is the second book in the Lords of Pandemonium series set in Ophelia Bell’s ever growing fantasy/paranormal world. The world features mythical creatures and gods alike, and the powerful heroines who capture their hearts. Each book has a happy-for-now ending, perfect for fans of C.M. Nascosta, Siggy Shade, Opal Reyne, and Katee Robert.
Monsters aren’t born—they’re made.
Content Warnings
Elements found within that might cause alarm or concern to some readers:
Tentacles
Weird dicks
Shifted coupling
References to sexual assault
References to incest (rooted in Greek myth)
Glossary
(In order of appearance)
Nemea (pronounced: neh-MAY-uh) Our heroine. As a member of the Bloodline, she possesses the powers of chaos and is trying to navigate her new surroundings after escaping Tartarus.
Alcides (pronounced: al-SEE-deez) Also known as Herakles or Hercules, a demigod bound to perform labors and seeking redemption for his past sins.
Antiope (pronounced: an-TIE-oh-pee) An Amazon warrior, wise and tough, who initially distrusts Alcides. One of Hippolyta’s sisters.
Melanippe (pronounced: meh-lan-IP-ee) An Amazon warrior and second-in-command to Antiope, she is disciplined, dependable, and a skilled combat trainer committed to empowering the women in her care. One of Hippolyta’s sisters.
Hippolyta (pronounced: hip-POH-li-tah) The Queen of the Amazons and the sister of Antiope, she oversees the protection and training of women in her care.
Eleutheria (Ele) (pronounced: el-oo-THER-ee-ah) Hippolyta’s daughter and an Amazon, she is welcoming and supportive toward Nemea, offering a sense of sisterhood.
Penthesilea (pronounced: pen-thuh-SEE-lee-uh) An Amazon warrior and sister to Hippolyta, Melanippe, and Antiope, she is known for her fierce combat skills and innovative tactics, embodying the valor and adaptability of the Amazonian spirit.
Campe (pronounced: KAHM-peh) A dragon and warrior serving as a guardian of Tartarus, whose role extends to guarding Nemea at the Amazon camp. She plays a crucial role in training Nemea and preparing for the conflict with the Titans.
Vesh (pronounced: vesh) A primordial being and the embodiment of Tartarus, his name derives from the Sanskrit root meaning "to wear" or "to don," reflecting that his human shape serves as the "garment" he wears in the mortal realm while wielding chaos magic and maintaining order within the prison he personifies.
Chaos (pronounced: KAY-oss) A primordial being with immense power. He and Fate have an ongoing rivalry to one-up each other, much to the detriment of the world of mortals.
Titans (pronounced: TY-tans) Powerful ancient beings that escaped from Tartarus and pose a significant threat to the world.
Tartarus (pronounced: TAR-tah-rus) A deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering, often associated with imprisonment for powerful entities. Also the warden of said dungeon.
Pandemonium (pronounced: pan-deh-MOH-nee-um) A sprawling casino and resort where key events take place, showcasing luxury and temptation, but with darker undercurrents.
Erebus (pronounced: AIR-uh-bus) A primordial entity representing darkness; he has a deep bond with Nemea, providing guidance and power.
Chrysaor (pronounced: kris-SOW-er) A powerful companion of Alcides known for his formidable skills and loyalty.
Cerberus (pronounced: SUR-buh-rus) The three-headed hound who once guarded the gates of the underworld, who is now a guardian of Tartarus. A loyal protector of Nemea and her allies.
Asterius (pronounced: ass-TER-ee-us) An immortal Minotaur and guardian of Tartarus, he is known for his manipulation of weapons and strong connection to the prison’s inner workings, providing support and guidance to Nemea as she navigates her powers.
Typhon (pronounced: TY-fon) A multi-headed dragon-like creature and guardian of Tartarus, he possesses regenerative abilities and deep loyalty to his brothers, while also harboring a desire to experience the mortal world.
Pan (pronounced: PAN) A faun and fertility god, he serves as a guard at the stygian doors of Tartarus, wielding a powerful voice that can subdue prisoners and exhibiting a mix of responsibility and mischief in his demeanor.
Nemean Boxing Club (pronounced: neh-MAY-an) A shelter and training center for women seeking safety and self-defense skills, run by the Amazons and located in the town of Nemea, Greece.
The Nymphaea (pronounced: nim-FAY-ah) A race born from the union of Fate and Dionysus, tied into the conflict and lore surrounding the story.
Dragons (pronounced: DRA-gunz) A higher race of elemental creatures created from the union of Fate and the Mother Dragon, they embody fire and are represented by six immortal members of the Dragon Council, each associated with different elemental colors and powers.
Turul (pronounced: TU-rul) A higher race of elemental creatures born from Fate’s union with Ouranos, the god of Air and storms, embodying the four winds and serving as guardians of the skies.
Ursa (pronounced: UR-sah) A higher race of elemental creatures resulting from Fate’s union with Gaia, the primordial goddess of Earth, representing the four seasons through spirits that inhabit the queens of each of the four Ursa clans.
1
Nemea
“Who are you, and why are you here?”
It’s a woman’s voice, smooth and lightly accented. I’ve barely come to after being unconscious for who-knows-how-long. I turn my head toward the demand, straining to see through the dark fabric of the bag over my head. It’s rough against my cheek and smells of fresh bud, which is oddly calming. My wrists are bound, the hard plastic of zip ties digging into my flesh.
I’m about to answer when Alcides’ voice cuts in.
“You know who I am, Antiope. I have a bargain for Hippolyta. She’ll want to talk.”
There’s a soft, derisive snort and a handful of other chuckles around me that cease after a sharp, “Shh!”
“You really think after all this time, she’ll want to see you? You are a fool, Herakles.”
I wince at the use of that name. “Don’t call him that.”
Footsteps approach from the side, and I crane my head to follow the sound as they come around to the front. The bag is snatched off my head, the scent of pot replaced by the warring aromas of hay, manure, and sharply pungent body odor. A dark-haired woman with wise amber eyes and a scar cutting through one eyebrow bends down and peers into my face.
“And what is your name, then?”
I clench my jaw, holding her steady stare, unblinking. “Nemea.”
Her eyebrows shoot up, and she straightens and crosses her arms. She’s tall and olive-skinned, with hair shorn close to her skull everywhere except the top, where it stands in unruly spikes. She’s clad in black cargo pants, a black tank top, and combat boots. I abstractly think she and Cassandra Vincent would have a lot in common.
“Nemea,” she drawls, cocking her head at me and narrowing her eyes as she looks me over. “I don’t believe you, but okay.”
“It’s actually my name, and Alcides is his name,” I snap. A tremor cascading through the earth beneath us causes the lights above to swing like pendulums. I grit m
“Whoa, don’t piss her off, Antiope,” comments one of the other women.
“I’m sorry,” I say when I open my eyes. But she’s eyeing me with a measure of respect now.
“Sorry, she says.” She snorts again then looks at the others as if it’s a joke. “Where did you come from, Nemea? And why are you keeping company with this thieving bastard?” She jabs a thumb over her shoulder at Alcides, who is bound to the chair across from me, bag still secured over his head.
“I didn’t steal it,” Alcides grumbles. “She gave it to me.”
“You think I’m talking about the fucking belt, don’t you?” Antiope says over her shoulder. “You took my sister’s self-respect when you left. It took her centuries to get over you. Now you show up with your new hussy and want to chat. Why should I do anything but kick you the fuck out?”
“You brought me to your ex?” I ask, incredulous.
“Take this fucking bag off my head so we can talk, Antiope,” Alcides snaps. “I’m not here to fight. Nemea needs your help. I’m here to bargain for you to give it to her—the belt in exchange for protecting and training her.”
Antiope turns and snatches the bag off his head, leaving his hair a wild mess. He blinks rapidly, gaze darting around the room before landing on me. He does a quick scan before some of his tension eases. The relief in his eyes at seeing me whole makes me want to go to him. I try to rise, only to find my ankles are bound to the chair legs.
“Protect her from what—the four Titans who somehow got loose of their prison? Or something else? Tell me everything and I’ll consider bringing you to my sister to talk. You might start by explaining why you left in the first place and where you’ve been all this time.”
“Hippolyta knew I was a mess when we were together. I was in no state for a relationship. I’m not trying to excuse how I behaved—I was an asshole—but I needed to complete the fucking labors so I could move on with my poor excuse for a life. When I was done, I dug myself a deep pit and hid in it, at least until Tartarus found me and gave me a purpose. I’ve been working for him since then.”
Antiope cocks her head while she listens, not a shred of sympathy showing. Then she tilts her head to me. “And where does she and your uninvited visit fit in?”
Alcides stares at me for a beat, swallows, then looks Antiope directly in the eyes. “She’s my fate, Antiope. And she needs a place to stay that isn’t Tartarus, because he tried to trap her inside his prison. But she can’t go home because it isn’t safe for her anymore. Chaos is seeking her. Her power is too raw and untamed, but if she’s trained she can potentially tip the scales against the Titans when we face them. But if the Titans learn of her existence too soon and her link to Tartarus…”
“What is her link to Tartarus?” she digs.
“They’re all my mates,” I interject, tired of being left out of the interrogation. “All the guards, and Vesh too.”
A chorus of murmurs erupt from around us, some shock, some awe. Some oddly pitying.
Alcides takes a breath, measuring his words carefully. “You can protect her here. I’ve heard stories about this place over the centuries. How you take in damaged women and rehabilitate them, protect them from abusers, and help them learn to protect themselves—respect themselves. Nemea needs your protection.”
“Hey,” I say, frowning. “I’ve got plenty self-respect.”
He shifts his gaze to me. “You asked for my help. I’m giving it to you.”
We hold each other’s gazes for a second, sharing a charged look that makes me wish I’d had a chance to bond with him so we could have a telepathic link like I do with the others.
I want to reach for them now, but don’t, afraid that opening the door to my sanctuary might allow Vesh to find me.
“Cut her bindings,” Antiope says, gesturing to one of the other women, who steps close as she unsheathes a large hunting knife from her belt, then squats in front of me.
As she cuts my zip ties, I take in my surroundings for the first time. We’re in a large cinderblock barn with high rafters and horse stables around the perimeter. Balconies wrap around above the stables, and a few women lean on the wooden railing looking down, all similarly clad in dark, utilitarian clothing like they’re mercenaries or soldiers. The far end of the space beyond Alcides is wide open, and occupied by what appears to be a fighting ring.
The woman kneeling in front of me finishes cutting my bindings, eyeing me warily.
“What is this place?” I ask her.
The woman glances over her shoulder. “It’s a barn.”
I narrow my eyes at her, and she smirks. “Nemean Boxing Club, officially. Unofficially, it’s a women’s shelter, a vineyard, a winery and brewery, and a pot farm, plus a survival training camp.”
“And her?” I ask, rubbing my wrists and glancing sidelong at Antiope, who stands watch with arms crossed while Alcides and I are released. They only cut his ankles free of the chair, though, leaving his wrists bound. Two other women flank him and pull him to his feet.
“Antiope, also known as Princess Battleaxe. I’d say her bark is worse than her bite, but it really isn’t.”
“I meant what is she? She and Alcides seem to go back centuries. I know he’s a demigod.”
“You’re not mortal. Don’t you know already?”
I stare back blankly, hesitating to admit my mundane origins and lack of knowledge about this world I’ve been thrust into. “Uh… pretend I don’t.”
“We’re Amazons.”
2
Nemea
Amazons.
The moment she utters that word, I’m overwhelmed by loathing and dread. The name only incites the dark memories of how my hometown was effectively indentured to a colossal corporation that commodifies the humans toiling in its distribution hubs. I was one of those humans from the time I could work without it being considered child labor, until I had enough money scraped together to buy a bus ticket at age twenty-four and get the fuck out. I didn’t care where I went, only that I put the place behind me.
The urge to flee resurfaces, pressing in. A tightening feeling winds around my torso, unsettling in its intensity, before I recognize it’s my ink shifting on my skin as though trying to shed itself from my flesh. Thunder growls above. The woman loosening my bonds glances up before fixing her sharp gaze on me.
“We’re the good guys, Nemea,” she says. “You’re safe with us.”
I wince and tamp down my chaotic power, mentally soothing my tattoo at the same time. Before the name was associated with an oligopoly—or even a river—it had another, more ancient association, the one for which the river was named. I really wish I could enlist Rachel’s help in the St. George School library to read whatever information exists about these women. Everything I know came from a comic book.
