Helen froze then, eyes wide, gaped. “You’re Prince Styxx?”
“I am.”
She bowed then curtsied then bowed again.
Styxx laughed. “You don’t have to bow to me, Helen. As I said, your father was a good friend to me, and I consider you and yours family.”
That only confused her more.
Closing the distance between them, he brushed the dark hair back from her cheek. “Think of me like your cousin.”
“I don’t like my cousin very much. He smells, and insults me.”
“Then think of me as the cousin who doesn’t smell or insult you.”
Nodding, she quickly finished her shopping.
Styxx passed an irritated look at the baker. “Have her bill sent to my scribe at the palace, and in the future, anything she or her mother needs or wants is to be billed to me. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Taking the basket from her, Styxx held his hand out for her. She bit her lip and hesitated. Then she wiped it off on her himation, and placed it into his.
As she led him to her home, he noticed the way she slowed down as they passed a fruit stand.
“Would you like some apples or figs?”
She bit her lip again. “May I?”
Styxx released her hand. “Absolutely.”
Letting out a cry of joy, she quickly grabbed a single apple and cradled it with a smile. “Thank you, Highness.”
He cupped her precious, innocent head to his side. She didn’t even think to ask for more. He bought a sack of them for her then they continued on their way.
As soon as they neared her small, dilapidated home, her brothers, who’d been playing in the street, came running up.
“Did you get some bread?” the younger brother asked.
The older one eyed Styxx suspiciously. “Why are you here with my sister, my lord?”
“He’s the prince,” Helen whispered loudly. “Show him respect, Iason.”
Styxx went down on one knee so that he was closer to Iason’s height. At nine, the boy showed promise of equaling his father’s massive size one day. “Don’t take your brother to task for seeking to protect you, Helen. It’s his job and your father would be proud to see it.” He held an apple out to Iason. “Gaius was a friend and I’m here to see how your mother does.”
“She’s very sick, Highness.” Philoctes eyed the bread with a hunger that reminded Styxx of Acheron when they’d been boys.
He handed a loaf to him.
At seven, he was half the size of Iason. “Thank you!” He ran off with it.
Helen opened the door to their meager home. Styxx followed her inside with Iason right behind him. Though sparse, the interior was bright and clean. But there was no food and only a handful of spices strung up on one wall to keep.
Styxx set the basket and apples on the table in the center of the room. Helen took one loaf and led him to the room where her mother lay on a small bed with a toddler by her side.
Pale and sweating, Danae was trying to play with the little girl next to her, but it was obvious she should be resting and not tending children. “Did you get…” Her hoarse voice trailed off as she took in Styxx’s ornate festival clothes. She tried to push herself up.
“Please don’t,” he said gently. “I’m not here to cause you any stress, good Danae. I happened upon Helen in the market and wanted to see how Gaius’s family fared.”
She coughed for several minutes.
Styxx helped her up and held her until the spell passed. Her fever radiated from her small, frail body. “Have you seen the physician?”
“No, my lord.” Her breathing was so labored that it wrung his heart. “We have no coin for such.”
“I’m confused. Is Gaius’s pension not enough?”
Danae frowned. “His pension was suspended, my lord. Our money comes from what Helen and I earn.”
“Suspended? I don’t understand. He died at war.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “He died in a brothel. Murdered in the arms of a whore. The king’s man announced it to everyone when I went to apply for his pension. As such, we don’t qualify.”
The cruelty of those words and actions burned him with fury. “I was there when it happened, my lady. Your husband was one of my finest soldiers and he was not with a whore.” Probably not true, but his widow didn’t need to know anything other than the one fact that was undeniable. “Gaius loved you and your children to distraction. It’s how I know all your names and ages … even little Elpis here who is named for your mother. Gaius died at my back and after fighting many battles for me and Didymos. Your husband was a great hero, and I will personally see his pension reinstated and make sure you receive every bonus due him and you.”
“Who are you, my lord?”
“He’s Prince Styxx, Mama,” Helen whispered.
Her eyes widened. “Highness…” She tried to get up, but Styxx held her back against the bed.
“Shh … don’t stress yourself.” He glanced to Helen. “Do you have anyone who can help you until your mother is better?”
“I help her, Highness.”
“And you’ve done an admirable job. But you’re just a girl and you should be playing, not having so much placed on your young shoulders.” He cupped Danae’s head and offered her a smile. “I will not see Gaius’s family treated this way.” Rising, he scooped her up into his arms.
“Highness?” she gasped.
He cradled her against his chest. “Helen, can you carry your sister and fetch your brothers?”
“Yes, Highness.”
“Good. Follow me.”
He’s going to see us punished.…
Her fearful thoughts struck him like a blow. “Danae, please believe me. On my honor and crown, I will not harm you, and I will allow no one else to do so either.”
She relaxed, but still suspicion haunted her dark eyes. She made no other protest as he carried her through town and to the military barracks.
“Highness?” Galen froze in the hallway as he saw them entering the building.
“It’s Danae, Gaius’s wife, and their children. I’m bringing them to Gaius’s quarters to be looked after until she heals.”
Galen stepped to and took Elpis from her sister’s arms to carry her. “What do you need me to do?”
“Send for my personal physician to tend her. I’ll have a retinue of ladies sent to help care for her and the children.”
Danae gaped at them as Styxx laid her down on the bed and she noted the size and splendor of Gaius’s military quarters. He took the toddler while Galen set about starting a fire for her and fetching water.
Eyes even wider than before, Danae opened and closed her mouth as her emotions overwhelmed her.
The boys ran around, yelling and celebrating while distressing their poor mother. Until they found their father’s spear.
Styxx caught it right as they pulled it off the wall. He gently took it from Iason’s hands. “Let’s wait until you’re both older to bring out the weaponry.” As he started to put it away, something warm spread across his side. Frowning, he looked down at the toddler he held in one arm. She smiled up at him and slapped a wet hand to his cheek. “Um, Galen … This one is leaking.”
Galen laughed.
Danae cried out in horror. “I am so sorry, Highness! I—”
“Bah,” Galen scoffed, interrupting her. “Not the worst thing that boy’s had on him, is it, young prince?”
“Definitely not. But…” He passed Elpis back to Galen. “I fear I have no experience with this realm of domesticity. I’ve never even seen a pana, never mind tried to apply one to such a small person.”
The girl squealed as she buried her hands in Galen’s beard and kicked her legs happily.
Galen’s grin widened. “I, on the other hand, have more than my share of experience with applying them, and will take care of it for you.”
Styxx returned the spear to the wall and saw that poor Danae was near dead with horror over her c
hildren’s actions. “Madam, really. It’s fine. I was a boy, too, and while my parents and nurses tried, I fear I failed at home-training and manners with honors.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you, Highness, but I doubt you were ever so ill-behaved.”
“Believe me, I was. I still have the thrash marks to prove it.” Styxx turned to the boys. He needed to get them outside so their mother could rest. “Guess what we have here for you two?”
“What?” they asked in unison.
“A giant arena for you to run around and play in.” He took them outside while Helen helped her mother.
The instant they saw the size of it, the boys took off and started a game of chase. Styxx paused as he watched them play and wrestle with wild abandon. But it wasn’t two dark-haired brothers he saw. It was him and Acheron.
Even now, he could remember the sound of their matching laughter as they dodged and ran about with careless abandon. See Acheron tackling him to the ground.
I’ll pin you first!
Hah! You hit like Ryssa.…
Brothers … Forever and always.
Grief tightened his throat. He’d give anything if Acheron would just look at him with something other than contempt and hatred. But who could blame him?
He hated Acheron, too.
Nothing would ever reunite them. What had been severed by their own harsh words and the actions of others couldn’t be mended. It was too late for that. Sighing with regret, he returned to find Danae asleep and Helen on the floor, playing tickles with Elpis. He went to Galen, whose eyes showed he was thinking of his own daughter and grandchildren. “I put the boys in the yard.”
“Wise choice, my lord.”
“I thought so.” He pulled Galen out into the hallway. “Did you know they’d denied pensions to those killed during the ambush?”
Galen’s jaw dropped. “What?”
Styxx nodded. “It’s why I brought them here. They have no money.”
“I had no idea, my lord. You know I didn’t.”
Styxx ground his teeth. “Neither did I … I should have checked on it. But I assumed—”
“You can’t blame yourself.”
Yet, he did. He’d been their commander. It was his job to see to it that his men and their families were cared for. “Will you do the accounting? I want to make sure everyone gets what is owed them.”
“Absolutely, Highness. I’ll see to it, personally.”
“Thank you.” Styxx started to head back toward the palace, but Galen pulled him to a stop. The old man’s gaze dropped to where Elpis had soiled Styxx’s chiton. Before he realized what Galen intended, the old man pulled him into his arms and held him tight.
After a moment, Galen stepped back and kissed each of Styxx’s cheeks. He cupped Styxx’s face in his rough, calloused palms and gave him a hard stare. Then he patted Styxx’s cheek with enough force that it almost felt like a slap.
But he knew better.
“I love you, too, Galen.”
“Love? Bah! You sound like an old woman. Get out of here, boy, before I take offense to you … and my sword.”
Styxx laughed at him. “Yes, sir.”
I do love you, son. More than you’ll ever know.
Styxx smiled at Galen’s thoughts that warmed his heart and then left him to watch over the women until he could send help down from the palace.
As he started past the larder, Styxx backtracked and headed inside to pull together a platter of fruit. He carried it out to the arena where the two boys were still trying to kill each other in the unique way loving brothers did.
“Hey, boys?”
They turned toward him. He held the platter up for them to see then set it down on a small wooden bench. Whooping, they came running.
Laughing at the way they descended like starving locusts, Styxx grabbed an apple for himself and left them to their snack. He bit into it and held it with his teeth before he pulled his cowl up to conceal his identity as he normally did whenever he went about on his own.
He took the apple in his hand and chewed his bite, but his smile faded as he left the barracks and headed “home.”
* * *
Bethany scowled as she followed the prince up the hill, toward the Didymosian palace. Archon had sent her here today to oversee Apollo’s cooperation with their plans. But from the moment the Greek god had thrown the prince against the temple wall and she’d seen the abject shame and turmoil in those tormented blue eyes, she’d been haunted by them.
Worse was the guilt she felt for having told Apollo he could have a man who obviously wanted nothing to do with him. Guilt that had tripled when she’d heard the king’s cold words to his son, and Styxx’s stoic acceptance of the fact his father was a selfish asshole who held little regard for him.
She would never forget the sympathetic misery on his face as he watched his sister being offered to the god. Misery so potent that she’d feared he would be ill when he finally snuck out the back so as not to witness any more of it.
That degree of compassion had surprised her.
Yet what had truly thrown her were his actions toward the family of his dead soldier. What prince would deign to carry a sick commoner through town?
And every time she thought about the little girl wetting him, she smiled. Not because it’d been humiliating for the prince, but because of his kindness.
No, not kindness.
His humanity.
Not to mention Galen’s informality and laxness toward Styxx that had spoken volumes about the prince’s true nature. As did Styxx’s concern for the fact that his men, both those living and dead, hadn’t been treated justly. And among those men he worried over was the one who held her heart.
I have so misjudged you.…
But the most painful of all was the fact that she’d unknowingly wronged Styxx. That she’d offered him up to Apollo with no regard of how it would affect him.
I am such a bitch.…
Wanting to make amends, she followed him and noted the way his mood darkened with every step that took him closer to home. By the time he walked through the palace doors, the bitter agony in those pale eyes was so thick it made her breath catch.
Inside the palace walls, he closed his eyes and she watched as his entire demeanor changed. He buried his emotions and held his head high. He lowered the cowl and the raw, masculine beauty of him struck her even more than it had earlier.
Gone was the gentle, sweet man who’d taken a platter of fruit to two boys while they played, and the one who’d said nothing unkind as a toddler soiled his expensive clothes. Now, he was again the arrogant prince with a ramrod-stiff spine and a guarded gaze.
This was the man she’d seen at war.
His features were absolutely perfect. Flawless. Cold and unfeeling. The cowl had tousled his blond waves around his gold crown and face, and given him an adorable boyish appearance to a presence that was overwhelmingly fierce warrior and regal prince.
And that body …
Even though Hector owned her heart, she had to give the prince credit. He was a fine manly specimen as he went down a back hallway and knocked on a door.
A young maid opened it. Her face lightened expectantly as if she was used to the prince seeking her out. “Yes, Highness? Can I do something for you?” But her expression said she’d rather be doing something to him.
He stepped back as if the woman’s interest made him uncomfortable. “I need you to assign three women to the barracks. There’s an ill woman there with her children and she needs help until she’s recovered.”
The girl screwed her face up in distaste. “Princess Ryssa will not approve of us doing such and she’s the only one with authority to reassign our duties.”
Her refusal caught Bethany off guard.
But apparently the prince was used to it. “Is there not one decent woman among your company who will help a hero’s widow?”
Hestia boldly stepped forward and placed her hand on his chest. “Depends on the recomp
ense, Your Highness.”
His expression turned ice-cold. Without a word, he spun about and headed down another hallway. Then he paused as if thinking better of his errand.
He pulled his cowl up and left the palace to head back into town.
Even more curious now, Bethany followed him to a small house not far from the market. He knocked on the door and after a few minutes, a large burly man answered.
“Darian,” Styxx said in a friendly tone as he extended his hand to the peasant.
Smiling, Darian shook the prince’s arm. “Your Highness … are we being summoned to war again?”
“No. With luck, all that’s behind us. But … I have a favor to ask.”
“For you, my lord, anything. You know that.” He opened his door wider. “Would you like to come in?”
She expected Styxx to decline, instead he nodded.
“I’d be honored to meet your family.”
Keeping herself invisible, she followed the men into the tiny, yet cozy home that was filled with women and children.
“Gia! Meet Prince Styxx, the man who thrice saved me from an enemy sword.”
Styxx bristled at his compliment. “I’m not sure about that, but it’s a pleasure to meet you, Gia. Darian told me often how beautiful you were, and I can see that he didn’t exaggerate in the least.”
She was completely speechless and flustered before her prince.
“Children!” Darian called. “Come and meet the man who carried your father and placed me on his regal horse to ride to safety while he held back an entire army to save me.”
Styxx held his hands up. “I definitely did not do that.”
“He might not have held back an entire army, but he did carry me to safety and put me on his horse while he stayed behind to fight.”
“I might have done that.” Styxx grinned sheepishly. “But only because I knew how much he wanted to return to all of you.”
Darian clapped him on the back. “So Highness, to what do we owe this honor?”
“Gaius’s family is in need.”
The humor fled Darian’s face. “How so?”
“His widow is very ill. I took her and his children to Galen and I remembered that you mentioned you had a number of sisters who were always looking for work as companions and nurses.”
Styxx (DH #33) Page 43