“Bethany?” he called.
The noise stopped instantly. “Hector?”
Relief flooded him so fast and furiously, he almost lost his balance. He rushed toward her voice and found her just a few feet away, in the dense woods. Dressed in a light green gown, with her hair pulled up into a beautiful cascade of falling curls, she had a basket on one arm and her pole in her other hand.
“I’m here.” He let go of his horse to touch her shoulder so that she could locate his whereabouts.
She smiled instantly. “I thought you’d changed your mind.”
“No. Never. I’m so sorry. I just couldn’t get away any earlier.”
Bethany shivered as he took her hand into his and kissed it. The warm, masculine smell of him filled her head and made her heart pound. A scary, unexpected urge to hug him went through her and she had to force herself to refrain. “I brought you some lamb and cheese with wine.”
“I love cheese. It’s one of my favorites.” After taking the pole from her, he pressed something into her hand. “I brought you flowers.”
She brushed her fingers over the small bouquet. Her smile widened at the softness of the petals. “Poppies?”
“They are, indeed.”
“Thank you.” Rising up, she placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.
Styxx closed his eyes and savored the sensation of her lips on his skin. He ached to sink his hand into her hair and hold her there, against him until time itself stopped moving. “I’m sorry I was so late. If you need to leave…”
“I don’t. Not really.” She started back toward the stream.
“Here, let me carry that for you.” Styxx took the basket from her arm.
As they walked, she pulled a blanket from the basket in his hand. Once they reached her spot, she spread it out on the ground. It amazed him how she moved with such ease and grace when she couldn’t see anything. How she remembered the exact place she’d been in when they’d met.
“May I ask you something personal?”
She paused. “It depends. How personal are we talking?”
He leaned the pole against a tree. “It’s … never mind. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
She arched a brow at him. “Now you have my curiosity fully tweaked. What is it?”
“I … um…” He scratched nervously at his cheek, hoping to the gods he didn’t offend her with his stupidity. “Were you born blind?”
She laughed lightly as she set out her items from the basket. “You and I have completely different definitions for the word ‘personal.’ No, I wasn’t born blind. I had my sight at birth.”
“Is that why you move so easily?”
“No. I move easily because I’m not old.”
It was his turn to laugh. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know what you meant and no, it’s because I have overdeveloped senses that allow me to know where things are, and it’s why I tend to hum or make noises as I go. Whenever I get near something, sound will echo back from it, letting me know it’s in my way.”
“Really?”
She nodded as she sank down on the blanket. “What about you? Were you born with your eyesight?”
He laughed again. “I was indeed. Though I have no memory of it. And sometimes it doesn’t work as well as it should.” He set the basket down beside her then took a seat on the opposite side of the blanket so that he could admire the way the light cut across her skin that reminded him of warm, dark honey. “You changed your hair.”
“I curled it.”
“I like it … though it was nice straight, too,” he quickly added.
Her sweet, beautiful smile hardened him instantly. “My poor Hector. You’re really not very comfortable around women, are you?”
“Not even a little, but I have to say that you’re a lot easier to talk to than most.”
“How so?”
You don’t deride me, for one thing.… “I think it has to do with the fact that I met you at the height of my ineptitude. I have nowhere else to go in your estimation except up.” Cringing over those words, Styxx cleared his throat. He’d said too much about his stupidity and clumsiness. No need in reminding her of it when he didn’t have to. “Nice weather, isn’t it?”
She tsked at him. “You’re changing the subject. It makes me wonder why.”
He sighed wearily before he answered her original question. “Women tend to want to use or judge me.”
“Use you how?”
He plucked a blade of grass and ran it through his fingertips. “They see me as a hefty purse.”
“Are you?”
“No. I’m quite certain I’m human. Most days anyway. Mornings not always withstanding. Instead of a purse, I’m much more of a bear in the early hours of the day.”
Her laughter washed over him like the sweetest wine and had the same intoxicating effect on him. “But do you have money?”
That succeeded in sobering him. Was she like the others, after all? “Why are you asking?”
“Because I don’t like people who are wealthy. They tend to be arrogant and hold the belief that any problem can be solved by applying more funds toward it.”
While that would be true of both his father and uncle, it wasn’t his philosophy. “Honestly, my lady. I have no personal wealth at all.” As his father was so quick to remind him … Everything belonged to his father. Even the horse he rode. “I’m quite worthless.”
“You are definitely not worthless.”
“And to that, I would remind you that you’re blind.” Styxx cringed again as those words left his lips. Oh gods, how could he have been so stupid and insensitive? “Bethany, I didn’t mean—”
“Shh.” She pressed her fingers to his lips. “The truth doesn’t offend me, Hector. I am blind. I can’t deny that. But because of it I see much more clearly than those who have working eyes.”
She picked up the bread and tore a small piece from it that she held out to him. “Here, sweet. Perhaps this will remove the taste of foot from your mouth?”
Smiling, he started to take it from her then before he could stop himself, he leaned forward and ate it from her hand.
Bethany shivered at the sensation of his lips against her fingers as he took the bread in his teeth. She heard him pour and mix the wine into the two goblets she’d packed. With the tenderest of touches, he took her hand and placed it against the cup. Sweeping her finger over the edge, she had to bite back a smile. He’d barely filled it halfway.
“You’re definitely not trying to get me drunk.”
“I don’t believe in taking advantage of others.”
“Then you are a rare man.”
“Just an honest one.”
His sweet humility warmed her. “As I said, you are very rare.”
“Do you really believe that?” he asked in that richly deep voice of his. She could listen to the manly resonance of it all day long.…
“Experience has tutored me well that most will lie or cheat to get the better hand. It’s why I prefer solitude to social interaction.”
He took a sip then set his cup aside. “And I hate to be alone, yet it seems to be forever forced upon me.”
She frowned at the pain she heard in his tone. “Why do you hate being alone?”
“It’s lonely.”
“You can be surrounded by people and still be alone.”
“And that is a lesson I’ve learned well. Still, it’s better to be distracted by the crowd than to be left with memories that serve no purpose other than to torture the conscience and flog the heart.”
His wisdom surprised her. He seemed a lot older than his years.
“You aren’t old enough to have such regrets.”
“Pain doesn’t respect age, my lady. Sometimes I think the Algea rather enjoy going after younger victims just for spite.” Styxx hesitated as a stricken look went across her brow. “Forgive me, my lady. I didn’t mean to be so maudlin. I’ve tainted your beautiful smile, and that was definitely not my intent.
As I said, I spend far too much time alone. It leaves me lacking in all social graces.”
She shook her head. “I find your sincere conversation and heartfelt comments refreshing. I have no patience for guile and even less for artful wordsmiths who mask their claws behind double entendres and cleverly practiced lines. So give me your honesty, Hector. That is why I waited for you today when I never wait for anyone.”
How did she do it? She made him feel so …
Human. Worthy. And it was so effortless for her. While others degraded him, she made him feel like he could fly.
“You are not like anyone I’ve ever met before, Bethany.”
She tucked her chin in, in the cutest manner he’d ever seen. “I should hope not. I pride myself on being unique in this world.”
He hardened even more and wished he had the courage to steal a kiss from her. “And well you should.”
She swallowed her bit of bread. “What about you?”
“What about me, what?”
She leaned forward and wrinkled her nose. “On what do you pride yourself?”
Stupidity. It was what he seemed to possess an abundance of, but he had no wish to out himself so soon to her. “Nothing.”
“I’m serious, Hector.”
He glanced away from her. “As am I.”
She scooted closer to him until her scent made his head reel again. “There’s nothing you excel at? Honestly?”
Before he could stop himself, the truth poured out. “Angering my father, and definitely my sister. I can turn her from a smiling beauty to a vengeful shrew by merely walking into a room. My powers in that regard are truly awe-inspiring. But I take no pride in either. And as you’ve seen firsthand, my skill with horses is even more lacking than my social graces.”
“There has to be something you’re good at. Surely you can name me one thing besides angering your family.”
“The only other thing I’m accomplished at is hiding pain behind the guise of stoicism.”
Bethany froze as she heard the torment inside him. Her heart breaking for him, she reached to touch his hand, but couldn’t find it.
“I’m sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to … I should be going.” He was moving away, she could hear his retreat.
“Hector? Please, don’t go. Stay with me.”
Styxx savored words no one had ever said to him before. Never once. Rather, people were forever sending him away. Before he could stop himself, he headed back to her side.
She held her hands up to feel for him. “Are you still here?”
He placed his hand into hers and allowed her to pull him down next to her. The urge to cup her hand to his cheek was so strong, he wasn’t sure how he kept from complying. “I am here.”
The smile on her face slammed into him. “Should we just speak of the weather?”
“Whatever topic pleases you.”
She reached up to finger his jaw and lips. “The one thing that is hard without sight is judging moods at times. Since I can’t see your expression, I can’t tell yours right now. You are good at hiding it.”
“My mood is that I am happy and content just to sit with you, Bethany.” He brushed a stray piece of hair back from her cheek. “You don’t even have to speak to me at all.”
“But I would like to know you.”
Those words tore through him. “There’s nothing really to know. I work. I study and I sometimes sleep.”
“What do you do for pleasure?”
Not a damn thing. Except for one …
“I ride to this stream where there is an amazing girl who plies me with beautiful smiles and wine and bread so that I can remove the taste of foot from my mouth.”
She shook her head at him. “And before me?”
“There was no before you, Bethany. I had no pleasure whatsoever.”
Bethany hesitated at those words. She heard the sincerity in his voice. But was he serious? “None?”
He placed her hand to his face so that she could feel his earnest expression. “None.”
Before she could stop herself, she pulled him into her arms and held him close. His strong arms surrounded her with warmth as she breathed his scent in. He held her as if she was unspeakably precious. As if he loved her …
But she knew better. In fact, he could be lying about everything. Most men, in her experience, did.
She felt his jaw tensing as he tightened his arms around her and cupped her head in his hand. He took a deep breath in her hair then released her.
“I can’t believe no man has married you.”
“Who says I want to marry?”
“Don’t you?”
She shook her head. “I refuse to answer to anyone for anything. My life is my own, as is my body. No one is ever going to command me. Have I offended you yet?”
“Not even a little. I cherish your spirit and I hope you always have it.”
She frowned. “Why do you say that?”
Styxx fell silent as his past churned inside him. He might have held her conviction at some point in his life, but he couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t felt like a tired, whipped dog. “Life has a way of breaking even the strongest among us.”
Bethany’s breath caught as she heard his underlying agony. “The strongest of metals is forged under the most violent of conditions, my lord. It is buried deep in the hottest coals and then beat and pounded until it is bent into shape. Then it becomes the strongest, most lethal of weapons. A thing of absolute beauty and force.”
But only when it’s wielded by the right hand. Galen’s words whispered to him and he finally understood what the old man had meant about the reasons to fight.
For this woman’s safety, alone, he would battle.
“You have the most amazing outlook, my lady.”
“And you don’t?”
“Mine is much bleaker. It is one of responsibility and expectation. But I would much rather see this world through your eyes than mine.”
“But my eyes are blind.”
“And yet, as you said, they see so much more than others.… My beautiful Bethany. I feel like I’ve known you a lot longer than one day, and I don’t know why.”
Bethany fell silent. She felt the same and it made no sense whatsoever. Why did he call out to her when others never had?
What floored her most was that he wasn’t grabbing at her or even trying to kiss her. He was so respectful of her space and her body.
Her Hector was unlike any man she’d ever known.
He sighed. “It’s getting late and I don’t want you out alone in the dark. I need to let you go.”
She had a feeling he wasn’t just talking about this meeting. “Will you visit me again?”
“Would it please you?”
“It would.”
“Then I shall come.” He stood up then helped her to her feet.
When she bent over to pack her basket, she bumped heads with him. “Ow!” they said simultaneously.
Laughing, Styxx righted himself and realized that once again, all the voices in his head were quiet. He never heard them when he was with her.
Why?
“I hope I didn’t concuss you, my lady.”
She rubbed her head. “Not yet, but I fear you might be trying.” Rising up on her toes, she pressed her cheek to his. “Until next we meet.”
He closed his eyes and savored the sensation of her body next to his and her breath falling against his neck. “I will be counting down the heartbeats.”
Styxx handed her the basket and pole and watched as she vanished into the forest. He didn’t move until she was completely gone from his sight.
There was nothing he wanted more than to stay with her forever. But it was an impossible dream. He’d be more likely to convince his father to return Acheron to the line of succession.
And yet …
She is just another trick of the gods sent to torture you with something you know you’ll never be worthy to have.
It was true. Why else would
she be here?
July 26, 9532 BC
“Styxx! Come in here, there’s a matter of great importance I need to speak to you about.”
Resisting the urge to let out a frustrated breath, Styxx turned on the stairs and headed for his father’s study.
Just what I was looking forward to. Another lecture on how I’ve disappointed you.
He entered the room and shut the door behind him. “Yes, Father?”
“Have a seat.”
What did I do now?
Styxx complied as his father sat back in his own chair to stare at him with an unsettling intensity. Yes, this was going to go badly for him.
His father stroked his beard as if seeking the right words. “A troubling matter has come to me.”
The blood left his face. He knows I’m a whore.…
Don’t overreact. Calm yourself.
“And that is, Father?”
“You haven’t sired any bastards.”
A relieved breath left him so suddenly that he was slightly dizzy from it. How was that a bad thing?
“I learned that the last whore I paid off wasn’t yours and so I went and investigated the others only to learn that none of them had slept with you either.”
If his father had only listened to him, he’d have known it a lot sooner. “How did you find out, Father?”
“None of them had knowledge of your scars.”
That would do it. Not like any of them could be hidden from a lover.
Styxx sighed. His poor father. The only thing he’d been proud of was bastard children Styxx didn’t have. “I don’t see how this is a problem.”
“It disturbs me that I can find no woman you’ve ever touched.”
His anger exploding with that comment, Styxx rose to his feet. “This is not a discussion I want to have.”
“Sit!”
He debated the wisest course of action. Well, not necessarily the wisest, but the one that would leave him with the most dignity. Unfortunately, it was the last action he wanted to take.
He sank back into his chair.
His father moved to stand beside him. Cupping his chin, he forced Styxx to meet his gaze. “Are you Ganymede?”
Styxx screwed his face up at the accusation. Not just because he wasn’t, but because his uncle and others had used him as if he were. “No!”
Styxx (DH #33) Page 23