Styxx (DH #33) (118 page)

Biting her lip, Bethany approached Urian tentatively. Her heart pounded as she sought physical confirmation for what Apollymi said. While his hair was lighter than Styxx’s, it was the same color as Aara’s. He wasn’t quite as tall as his father, but he had the same expression now that Styxx often wore whenever he was irritated or confused. She placed a gentle hand on his cheek as she stared up at him. “I see your father in you. My baby’s beautiful. Just like I knew you’d be.” She pulled him into her arms and held him tight as a thousand emotions ripped her apart. But the one thing she couldn’t deny was the joy in her heart that they had him with them. That Apollymi had finally learned compassion and kindness. “I hate that I missed seeing you grow, but I do love you … Urian.”

In spite of what Urian had said, he held on to her as if she’d raised him. Styxx wrapped his arms around both of them as he’d ached to do for centuries. He couldn’t believe this was real. That they were really with him.

Finally.

A part of him was doubly furious that Apollymi hadn’t told him about Urian years ago. But right now, he was so glad and grateful to have them that he didn’t want to spend a single moment lamenting a past he couldn’t change. Hell had already owned too many centuries of his life. All he wanted now was to forget what had happened and focus on the future, which was finally one of hope and love.

And family.

The only things that had ever really mattered to him.

Yeah, life was hard for everyone, but it was all the more so when you fought it alone. And though Styxx was powerful on his own, he was a lot stronger with his brother at his back and his wife and son by his side.

December 24, 2012

Styxx pulled back from his family to realize that everyone had left the arena.

Except Apollymi. Her crystal tears glistened against her pale cheeks as she watched them. “What I did to all of you was inexcusable. I lashed out in anger and pain, and what I thought was vengeance was nothing more than selfish envy. Because I knew I’d never be able to hold my baby, I took that pleasure from both of you, and for that, I am truly sorry. But your son is why I saved the Apollites that I did. Once my anger cooled, and I realized how wrong I was to take him away from his mother and father, I kept him safe for you both.”

Styxx glared at her. “I can’t even begin to put into words how infuriated I am that I was alive and imprisoned, and missed seeing my son grow up—”

Apollymi nodded. “I know, Styxx.”

And she did. She knew exactly how it felt. Only she had been able to see her son after twenty-one years.

For that matter, Acheron also shared his pain. Artemis and Apollymi had done the same thing to him. Until five years ago, Acheron hadn’t known about Katra, and at times over the centuries, Acheron had even been in the same room with her while never knowing she was a part of him and Artenis.

That, too, was cold-blooded.

Styxx met Apollymi’s gaze levelly. “Oddly enough, Apollymi, I can’t find any hatred for you right now. I’m too grateful to have them with me to waste one minute thinking about anything else.”

Bethany nodded. “I will probably hate you in the morning, Pol. But tonight, I’m with Styxx. I just want to be with my boys and forget everything else.”

Apollymi inclined her head to them. “The others quietly made their way back to the main temple and left the three of you to your privacy. Know that if you ever need anything … I will be here for you.” She returned to Kalosis.

Styxx smiled at his wife and son. “I would give anything to spend the night talking to both of you. But…”

“Shit to do,” Urian said for him.

Bethany made a face at her son. “Who taught you how to speak?”

Urian visibly cringed. “She’s going to be in for a rude awakening with all the modern changes and gadgets, isn’t she?”

That deepened her frown. “How long have I been gone?”

Styxx checked his watch. “I let go of your hand eleven thousand five hundred and thirty-nine years, one hundred eighty-three days, and roughly ten hours, give or take a few minutes … ago.”

Bethany was floored by the length of time. But more than that … “You really did count the heartbeats.”

Styxx slid the sleeve back on his arm. “Oh Beth, You have no idea.”

Tears choked her as she saw the scar where he’d carved their names into his own flesh so that he’d always have them with him. She kissed Galen’s name then lifted her lips to his. She wouldn’t have thought she could love him more, but right then … all she wanted was to spend the rest of the night with him inside her, showing him exactly how much she adored her noble prince.

Urian whistled low. “You know, this would be awkward if you
weren’t
my parents. The parental designation ups the ick factor exponentially.”

Laughing, Bethany pulled away from the kiss to frown at him. “I am desperate to know you.” She looked back at Styxx. “And you and I have a lot to talk about. But…”

“We have gods to attend to,” Styxx breathed.

She nodded. “I want to make sure they never threaten us again.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Her heart swelling with pride and love, Bethany took their hands and teleported them to the main temple. She sucked her breath in sharply at the signs of battle and the amount of blood on the walls and floor. Horrified, she met Styxx’s sheepish gaze. “Please tell me that’s not yours.”

“Some is, but a lot of it was Demonbrean. That bastard bleeds like a slaughtered pig.”

When she started forward, Styxx refused to let go of her hand. She turned back with a frown.

The agonized fear in his eyes slashed across her heart. “I let go of your hand once when I didn’t want to, and it was the biggest mistake of my life. One I never intend to make again.”

She laced her fingers with his and pulled him toward Acheron who sat on Archon’s black throne. That was shocking enough, but the presence of Artemis and the Sumerian god Sin really messed with her head.

I have missed a lot.…

Most of the gods were gone now. The only ones left were Ma’at, Urian, Sin, Artemis, Seth, two demons, and a man she didn’t know.

She paused near the throne. Styxx pressed himself against her back and wrapped his arms around her waist then rested his chin on top of her head. There was a time when she’d have been irritated by the constriction.

Tonight, nothing could have pleased her more.

Acheron looked at them.

“Catch us up?” Styxx asked.

Simi blew out an irritated breath. “Akri won’t let me eat any of them nasty gods. What’s the world coming to when a demon gots to beg for tidbits … not even a finger sandwich or a single knuckle. Tragic. Terribly tragic.”

Laughing at Bethany’s confusion, Styxx whispered in her ear. “I’ll explain Simi later.”

Acheron let out a “heh” sound over Simi’s words then he spoke to Styxx. “Well, after the way you took Archon’s head, the rest are more than happy to be returned to stasis. But I was thinking of allowing a couple of them to be siphoned off by Kat and transitioned into the human world.”

Styxx hesitated. “Which ones?”

“I wasn’t going to make the offer without conferring with you first. I know they were less than kind to you while you were here, and if you want to gut them, I’m going to help you.”

Bethany tilted her head back to stare at Styxx with a frown. “When did you two become friends?”

Styxx kissed the tip of her nose. “About five minutes before you woke up.”

Her scowl deepened. She definitely had a lot of questions for later.

“Dikastis,” Acheron continued, “I was going to leave alone … as long as you agree. He seems to be decent enough.”

Bethany nodded. “He is extremely trustworthy and loyal so long as no rules are broken.”

“Will Epithymia get her powers back?” Styxx asked.

Sin laughed uproariously. “Hell to the no. Trust me. When Kat removes your powers, they stay gone. Technically—in theory—Kat
could
give them back. And I hate speaking for my wife while she’s not here, but I’m pretty sure Epi is going to learn to be without.”

From the way he said that, Bethany suspected Sin had firsthand experience with losing powers to his wife.

Acheron continued. “Leto is with Set and I’m not about to step in on that. Especially given what Seth and Artemis have told me about her and what she’s done to all of you.”

Artemis lifted her chin proudly. “Yes, we threw her over the trolley.”

Acheron rolled his eyes. “Under … bus, Artemis. You throw people under a bus.”

“Whatever. My mother threatened my baby, and my loyalty is to Katra and Mia and no one else … until Katra has more children, and they have babies. But that’s it!” She pursed her lips. “Oh wait, there is one more, but that really is all and it’s not to the heifer who threatened to harm my girl. Either of them. Since I gladly cede my mother to Set, I want Epithymia for my personal collection.”

Acheron met Styxx’s gaze. “If anyone can make someone’s life a living hell, I can personally attest to Artemis’s expertise.”

Styxx had to bite back a laugh at Acheron’s understatement and the look Artemis gave him. His brother was right. Artemis definitely knew how to punish someone. Given some of the extreme things she’d done to Acheron whom she’d claimed to love, he couldn’t imagine what she’d do to someone she actually hated. “I’m in accord.”

“Me, too,” Ma’at agreed.

“Which leaves us with Apollo.” Acheron paused to sweep his gaze around the room. “Most of us have an equal grudge against him so I have no idea how to be fair about his fate.”

Artemis sighed. “Even though I’d love it, you can’t kill him.”

All of a sudden, as an old memory and idea struck, Styxx started laughing in an evil tone.

Bethany frowned. “Why does that scare me?”

“Because I have the perfect gift for someone. Even Simi will approve.”

*   *   *

A
pollo shouted in
outrage around his gag as he fought against Artemis’s diktyon net that held him tighter than a fly in a spider web. If he had his regular powers, he’d be able to escape. But Urian’s necklace kept them drained.

Urian chuckled like a bad cartoon villain. “Remind me to never, ever piss off my father. And I don’t mean Stryker. Damn, Dad. This is soooo cold.”

Artemis smiled. “Yes, well, payback’s a cat.”

Acheron sighed and rubbed his head. “I absolutely give up.”

Ignoring his brother’s exasperation, Styxx hauled Apollo to his feet. “All right. One long overdue special delivery on its way.” He kissed Bethany before he glanced to Acheron. “Take care of my girl. I’ll be right back.” He turned to Urian. “You ready?”

“After you.”

Even though he knew it wasn’t “done,” Styxx teleported them directly into Apollymi’s garden where she sat at her fountain.

Gasping in indignation, she rose to her feet. “What is this?”

Styxx forced Apollo to kneel before her. Totally naked and bound up like Styxx had been when the bastard had handed him over to Archon for torture, Apollo had no choice except to obey. Styxx would feel sorry for the Olympian had the bastard ever shown him an ounce of mercy or compassion.

But as Artemis had said, payback’s a cat. And this one had ferocious claws.

“I come bearing gifts, my lady. As Aricles, I promised you that I’d deliver Apollo to your custody once I had him defeated … Sorry it took so long to keep my word.” He stepped back so that Urian could remove the necklace from Apollo.

“I’ll return this to Davyn and be right back.”

Apollymi gaped. “I don’t understand.”

“Acheron and I decided that Apollo had screwed with all our lives for far too long. And while you can’t kill Apollo, we thought you might find him an amusing toy that can help you pass the time here.”

A slow sadistic smile curled her lips as she savored the very idea. “Oh, trust me, Styxx, I promise I won’t kill him. That would be too kind an end. No, no, no … I plan to enjoy every minute of this.” She closed the distance between them and kissed Styxx on the cheek. “Thank you for my gift,
m’gios.
And please give your brother my deepest love and adoration.”

The French doors opened, but instead of Urian, Stryker’s wife Zephyra came in with hungry eyes. “Oh,” she laughed greedily at the sight of Apollo. “I knew I felt him.” She locked gazes with Apollymi. “Let me know when I can have a turn with your gift.”

A chill went down Styxx’s spine as Apollo screamed and struggled. For one single heartbeat, Styxx almost felt bad. But the sensation quickly passed.

Apollymi’s smile widened as she ignored Apollo and spoke to Zephyra. “Don’t worry, child. I’ll make sure to return the kind favor Apollo once did for Styxx. Everyone who wants a go at him can have him. After all, we have plenty of time.”

“Troo to peridromo” Eat a bellyful,
Styxx said, using the exact words Dionysus had when he’d first offered Styxx to Apollo. He turned as Urian rejoined them.

Together, they teleported back to Bethany, who was holding Sebastos while talking to Tory and Ma’at. The sight of her with a blond baby boy hit him like a sledgehammer in the crotch. It was just like the dreams he’d had.… For a full minute, he couldn’t breathe.

Until she glanced over and smiled at him. “There he is. Bas, say hi to Uncle Styxx.”

“Hi, Unkie Six!” he said, laughing and bouncing in Bethany’s arms.

She tickled his belly. Squealing, he kissed her while his little hand tangled in her long hair.

“Are you all right?” Acheron asked as he came up behind Styxx.

Styxx met Urian’s gaze and nodded. “I am.” And for the first time in centuries, he really was.

Closing the distance between him and his wife, Styxx brushed his hand over Sebastos’s curls then helped to untangle the baby’s hand from Bethany’s hair. “Hi, Bas.”

“You want to hold him?” Tory asked.

Terrified at the mere thought, Styxx shook his head. “I might break him and piss off Acheron.”

Tory and Bethany laughed.

“You can’t break him, sweetie,” Bethany said.

“I don’t know. The last time I held a child that age, I must have broken it ’cause it leaked all over me.”