She bit her lip. “I didn’t want you to find out like this. Please promise you won’t be angry at me.”
“I could never be angry at you.”
Still, she hesitated. “We’re about to test that theory, my love.”
He frowned at the fear and reservation on her face. Was he a famed pharaoh? “Beth … I won’t be angry. I promise.”
She pressed her lips together and put both her hands on his face to feel his expression. “My father is the god Set.”
For a full minute, Styxx couldn’t breathe as the room closed in on him. That, he had to admit, he hadn’t seen coming.
Just what he needed. Another god screwing with his life and angry at him.
He should have known.…
No wonder she’d been so reticent to tell him or let them meet. The daughter of a god.
Oh, but not just any god. One of the most violent, lethal, cruel gods imaginable.
“Styxx?” The tears in her voice cut him. “Honey?”
He took her hand and held it as he struggled to breathe. So many emotions slammed into him at once that he couldn’t even identify them. Rage, betrayal, fear, irritation …
“I need a moment, Beth.”
“Please don’t hate me. I hid for the same reasons you did, and I didn’t want to tell you because I know how you feel about the gods.… How much you hate them. And my father’s a really big one.”
Who’d been known to cut the genitals off other gods—his own brothers—never mind a mortal man who dared to sleep with his beloved daughter. Having his head speared to the wall was the least of Styxx’s concerns right now.
But the terror on her face as she dreaded his reaction made him feel like a complete shit.
He pulled her against him. “I don’t hate you, Bethany. I can’t afford to.” Tears filled his eyes and choked him. “You’re all I have left.”
“And that’s why I’m here. I knew you were alone and I couldn’t stand it. Your sister wouldn’t let me in. The only way I could think to bypass her was to fetch my cousin and force them to open the gates.”
He cupped her head in his hands and pressed his cheek to hers. “Thank you for coming.” Then he let out a half laugh as he saw four of the lions that were circling them while four more rested on the floor. “And here I bought you a dog to protect you … how stupid am I?”
“You’re not stupid at all. It was wonderful and I adore Dyna.”
But she didn’t need a dog to protect her. No more than she needed him for a husband.
And yet here she was, for him, and willing to be bound to him in spite of her detestation of marriage. She could have had any man in the world. But he was the lucky bastard she’d claimed.
Never had he loved her more.
April 8, 9527 BC
Styxx let go of Bethany’s hand as he greeted the envoy that he’d sent after Galen’s daughter. Even though he’d never met Antigone, he felt as if he knew her. Her dark hair was pulled back from a face that was every bit as beautiful as Galen had claimed. She had her youngest son, who was a year old, in her arms while six more children, two boys and four girls ranging in age from three to eighteen, were with her. Her husband carried their youngest daughter in his arms.
When Styxx had been at war, Antigone was the only one who’d written a personal letter to him to ask how he was doing and to make sure her father hadn’t lied about his own health for her sake. Styxx should have made a point of meeting her before now. But he’d stupidly thought he had plenty of time. “Antigone?”
Her eyes teared as she saw him. “Prince Styxx?”
When she started to bow, he stopped her. “I am the one who should be bowing to you, my lady. I am so sorry that he’s gone. He loved all of you so very much.”
Tears flowing down her face, she squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Highness, and I am so sorry for you, too. My father adored you like a son. I know him. He wasn’t one to say it. But he talked about you endlessly, and it was obvious how much you meant to him. When our Philip died, a light went out in his eyes and never reignited until you kindled it again.”
Styxx cleared his throat. “And he talked about nothing but you and your children when he was with me. I might have been the light in his eyes, but you were his heart and soul.”
When she started away, he pulled her toward the royal dais. “Please sit with me for the funeral.”
“Thank you.”
Styxx helped her and her husband with their children. He gave them the choicest seats and took a seat behind them, with Bethany who held his hand throughout. Saying good-bye to Galen was the hardest thing he’d ever done. And as he watched the fires burn, his anger took hold of him. It was so unfair. If any human had ever deserved to die in his sleep at an ancient age, surrounded by the family he loved, it was Galen.
And he was dead because of him. Why had he not seen the attacker first?
Bethany laid her hand to Styxx’s cheek as she felt his mood. She knew how much he hurt. How very much he’d loved Galen even though he stayed strong and said nothing. But what truly angered her was the fact that none of his family attended this with him.
Not a single member. Not even the king who had ordered Galen into battle to save his own crown.
How could they leave Styxx alone like this? But then why was she surprised? His father had sent him to war when he’d scarce been more than a child. Ryssa had no love for anyone but herself, and Bethany knew nothing of his brother—not even what he looked like. Though at this point, she didn’t want to know anything about Acheron. Not if he could leave his brother to suffer alone. It was an act of complete cruelty.
A total lack of regard. Not just for Styxx, but for the man who’d once led an army for the royal house and defended all of them while they’d languished here at home in luxury paid for in Styxx’s and Galen’s blood and sweat. To this day, Styxx lacked the full use of his right hand from where a Greek assassin had pinned it to the ground with a dagger.
How dare they.
When the service was over, Styxx had Antigone and her family escorted to guest chambers in the palace. Bethany went with him to his room, where he sat in a chair for hours without speaking. Then he began pacing like a caged lion.
“What’s on your mind, Styxx?”
“Nothing and everything.”
She held her hand out for him. “Does your head ache? Would you like for me to rub it?”
Taking her hand, he sank down at her feet and laid his head in her lap then sighed as she ran her hands through his short blond hair. “I have such a bad feeling about things, Beth.”
“You’re just upset over Galen, and you have every right to be.”
“No, it’s more than that. Something bad is coming. I can feel it with every part of me. It’s dark and it’s dangerous, and it’s out for blood.”
She ran her hand over his cheek and jaw. “Have faith, my love.”
“I don’t know if I have any left. I’m not really sure if I ever had any at all.” He lifted his head and placed his hand against her stomach. “If something were to happen to you and the baby, I don’t know if I could survive it.”
“Nothing will happen to us.”
Yet Styxx couldn’t shake the horrible dreams he’d been having. The feeling that pure evil stalked him.
Someone had killed Galen because of him and he had no idea who. It could have been a stranger or one of his family members or the bastard Apollo.…
But it didn’t matter who had struck the fatal blow. The assassin had been after him.
What if, in their desire to hurt him, they turned their sights to Bethany? How would he live with himself knowing that he’d caused her harm?
May 9, 9527 BC
Misery itself rained down on Katateros as Archon panicked. He’d fully expected Apostolos to come knocking on their door as soon as the day dawned.
Luckily, he’d been wrong.
At least so far.
“Relax,” Epithymia told him as the Atlantean gods all
huddled in their main hall, expecting Apollymi to escape at any moment and attack them. “It’s not today that he hits his majority. Not until the anniversary of the human birth. We still have a handful of weeks to find him.”
Archon cursed. “A slight stay of execution. It is imperative we stop this from happening!”
Bethany had had enough. She had no idea where Apostolos was, and honestly, she no longer cared. The only thing that mattered was the baby inside her, and the betrothed she wanted to marry more than anything else. She hadn’t been here for the imprisonment of Apollymi and, no offense, given what they’d done to the goddess, they deserved her wrath.
Let Apollymi have them.
Unable to stand the arguments of the Atlanteans, she flashed herself to her aunt Ma’at’s temple in Thebes.
Ma’at joined her immediately with a warm smile on her beautiful face. “To what do I owe this joyous visit?”
Bethany smiled and hugged her. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything for you, you know that.”
She was about to test those words. “Make me human.”
Ma’at stepped back with a stern frown. “Excuse me?”
Bethany touched her stomach and thought of the life she carried and nurtured there. “I want to be fully human. I’m done with all the politicking and garbage that goes with godhood. I just want to raise my baby and live my life with Styxx, as a human, just like him.”
“Oh, honey, think long and hard. If we do this, there’s no way to undo it.”
“I know, Mennie. But…” Bethany paused as she felt the lightest fluttering inside. Was that…? Smiling wide, she gaped at her aunt.
“What?”
Laughing, she took Ma’at’s hand and led it to her stomach. “I just felt my son move!”
Ma’at smiled as she felt it, too. “Oh … He’s a strong one.”
“Like his father.”
Ma’at cupped her cheek and gave her a stern scowl. “You think about this, long and hard, and I’ll prepare the serum to make you and your baby human. But really, Bet’anya. Consider it well. Without your powers, you won’t be able to protect them, and you of all creatures know the dangers that lurk for those who can’t fight the gods.”
Her aunt was right, but … “Those powers come with their own curse. As long as I have them, I’m torn between this pantheon and my mother’s. I just want to be left alone with my husband and son, and not be pulled into drama I want no part of.”
Ma’at nodded. “All right, sweetie. Go share this moment with your Styxx.”
Bethany hugged her close then left to find him.
* * *
“Styxx?”
Cursing under his breath, Styxx tensed at the sound of his father’s voice calling out to him as he came down the main stairs. What did the old man want?
Though to be honest, his father had been much more pleasant now that he knew Bethany was a wealthy princess and demigod, and the king was safely assured Styxx wasn’t Ganymede or sterile.
“Father?” he asked as he entered the study.
The king looked up from his desk. “You’ve said nothing to me about your wedding plans.”
They weren’t his to make. Whatever his betrothed desired, he would do. “Bethany wants it in Egypt with her family.”
“And you’re fine with that?”
Styxx gave him a bland stare. “I would paint my skin blue and set myself on fire, Father, if she asked me to.”
His father scoffed. “Now I know you’re being ridiculous. I was thinking we should have at least a small ceremony here at home. Let everyone know that your heir is legitimate.”
“No one will doubt the paternity of my son.” I’m not the cruel bastard you are.
“You think it’s a boy?” his father asked hopefully.
“Bethany assures me it is so, and I trust her judgment implicitly.” Except for the sanity of loving him and her willingness to marry into this insane family. That he’d never understand.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of you, Styxx.”
Then you should have said that to me when it mattered. Now, those words left him numb. Cold. He was long past the age of seeking his father’s approval for anything. Honestly, he no longer cared.
Styxx was starting a new life with Beth and their son. Absolutely nothing else mattered to him.
He just wished Galen were here to see it.
But, unlike his family, he wasn’t completely heartless and frigid. “Thank you, Father.”
His father inclined his head to him. “Just wait for your birthday. I have an amazing feast planned.”
Just what he didn’t want. He’d never once in his life enjoyed the anniversary of his birth. He’d rather forget all about it.
Sighing, Styxx turned around and almost ran into Ryssa in the hallway. She glared at him.
“What did I do now, lamb-head?”
“You always have to outdo me, don’t you? You can’t let anyone have one thing better than you.”
He scowled at her unreasoning anger. “What are you talking about?”
“I had Apollo. So what do you do? You run off to another pantheon to get an older, more powerful god’s daughter. And then you marry her. It’s ridiculous, Styxx. Really.”
Yes, it was. But not for the reasons she thought. “Why are you so jealous of me?”
“I’m not jealous of you. I pity you. You’re pathetic.” Her eyes blazed with abject hatred. “And don’t think I don’t know how you went after Apollo. You even branded his mark on your back to get his attention.”
He started to set her straight then stopped. What was the use? For whatever reason, she would always vilify him and whatever actions he took. Her heart had never been big enough to love both her brothers. And he knew why she was angry. His father was pulling out the stops for his birthday and in her mind, she was comparing it with hers.
That was what had her enraged.
“Prince Styxx?”
He looked past her to their servant. “Yes, Dorcas?”
“The Princess Bethany is here for you.”
Grateful beyond measure for her appearance, he left his sister to glare in his general direction as he went to where Beth waited in the foyer. Dressed in her plain gray peplos, she was breathtaking. More so due to the slight bulge at her waist that was just really starting to show.
He walked up behind her and placed his hand on her stomach before he kissed her cheek.
She tsked at him. “You should be warned that my betrothed has a fierce temper and sword arm, and he’d be terribly upset to find a strange man molesting me.”
Styxx laughed at her teasing. “Then we’d best meet…” He trailed off as he felt the subtlest of stirrings against his palm. “Is that—”
“Your equally fierce son?” She covered his scarred hand with hers. “It is indeed, my lord, which is why I came. I knew you’d want to feel him, too.”
He splayed his hand wider, trying to feel it again. Then he cupped her stomach with both hands. “Where did he go?”
She moved his left hand lower so that he could feel the baby.
“That’s … wow … We did that?”
She smiled at him. “We did.”
Expelling a happy breath, Styxx looked up as he felt someone watching them. It was Ryssa and Acheron. Both of them glared at him as if the thought of his happiness repulsed them.Thankfully, with Bethany’s presence, he couldn’t hear their hatred in his head. He could only speculate at what ill wishes they had for him.
“What’s wrong, love?” Beth asked as she laid her hand on his face to feel his expression.
“Nothing.” He dropped his gaze from them to the only thing that was important to him.
Out of nowhere, his nose started bleeding. Releasing her immediately, he stepped away before any blood fell on her.
“Styxx?”
“It’s all right, Beth. Just another nosebleed.”
“I thought they’d stopped.”
“They’re no
t as frequent, but no … they haven’t stopped.” Taking her hand, he led her up the stairs.
As he reached the top, Acheron and Ryssa continued to glare at him and refused to make room for them. “Excuse us.”
Bethany slowed as she heard him talking to someone. “Who’s here?”
“My sister and brother.”
“Acheron?” She paused. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
He mumbled something that might have been a greeting, but she wasn’t sure as he quickly walked away from them.
“You’ll have to forgive my brother. He has a bad history with Styxx’s fiancées.” Then Ryssa retreated, too.
Those words stunned her. “Plural?”
Sighing, Styxx led her to his room. “No, not plural. Just one. The year you were gone, my father betrothed me to Nefertari.”
Her eyes widened in anger. “You agreed?”
His nosebleed worsened. “You’d left me, Beth. With no way to contact you, and I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. I never touched her, and we only kissed once, briefly, on the day we met.”
“Oh, fine,” she snapped. “Just throw logic and guilt at me, why don’t you?” Calming down, she sighed. “So what happened to her?”
“I sent her packing.” At least that was what everyone had told him he’d done.
“And your brother and her?”
He used his cloth to pinch his nostrils together. “She said he tried to rape her.”
Bethany arched her brow. “Did he?”
“I highly doubt it. While Acheron is an ass, raping women isn’t his style. Besides, he’s even less social than I am.”
She let out a low whistle. “That’s an impressive feat. I could have sworn you were the record holder.”
Styxx sniffed back the blood as he checked the cloth then reapplied it. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about my siblings.” He sat down and leaned forward.
Bethany walked over to him. “I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to stress you more.”
He kissed her hand. “Honestly? You’re the only one in my life who doesn’t stress me at all.”
But as he sat there, he had a bad feeling in his gut that Ryssa and Acheron were going to do something to try and ruin this for him. Both of them were still convinced he’d tried to kill their father and both lived in fear of his taking the throne. Which made no sense given the fact that he’d gladly cede them the entire palace if they’d just stop glaring their mutual hatred at him all the time.
Styxx (DH #33) Page 59