Styxx (DH #33) (100 page)

Urian turned to fight as it fell to his feet. He met Styxx’s gaze and inclined his head to him.

Styxx whirled and, forgetting he didn’t have a hoplon, raised his arm to catch a sword down across it. Hissing, he stumbled back then lunged with the sword in his right hand. His opponent spun and came back immediately with another blow. Styxx narrowly jerked his head away in time. The blade came so close, he felt its breath over his Adam’s apple.

He kicked the Daimon back then used his sword to pierce his heart. As he pulled away, he caught a glimpse of Stryker, and the expression on his face was one of controlled fury. He was locked on his target, and in his hand was the one weapon that could kill Acheron.

An Atlantean dagger imbued with the blood of Apollymi and with poisonous ypnsi sap from the darkest trees grown in the forests of Kalosis.

For a moment Styxx didn’t react. If Stryker killed his brother, it was over. All of it.

He would finally have peace.

But then he made the fatal mistake of looking at Soteria who saw what he did.

Acheron’s imminent death.

The horrified agony on her face and the tears in her eyes undid him. Love like that didn’t deserve to be separated. There was no worse hell than being one half of an eternally separated whole.

Twice in his life, he’d been dealt that blow. He wouldn’t let his hatred crush Soteria.

Damn me.…

Styxx ran at Stryker. He caught the Daimon lord right before he reached Acheron who had stupidly closed his eyes while he fought.

Yeah, you didn’t have Galen for an instructor.

Because Styxx still wore sunglasses, Stryker lost focus on Acheron and mistook him for his brother.

Stryker laughed in satisfaction as he buried the knife deep into Styxx’s stomach. His vision dimmed while that familiar pain spread through him. It felt like Stryker had caught him in the same exact place Ryssa had.

Trying to catch his breath, Styxx stumbled back and fell into someone. His sunglasses went flying.

Time hung still as he realized he’d fallen against Acheron and his brother had stepped aside to let him go down hard on the floor. He laughed bitterly at that. Their father would have been proud.

Ryssa, too.

Growling at the fact he’d missed Acheron, Stryker reached for the dagger in Styxx’s stomach. Styxx held it inside him with one hand while he tried to beat Stryker back with his other. But his blood made the hilt too slippery and the pain and scar weakened his grasp. Against his best effort, Stryker yanked the dagger out.

Styxx gasped as excruciating pain tore through him. “Acheron!” he shouted, warning his brother.

Turning in time, Acheron caught the Daimon overlord with the blunt end of his staff and shoved him back. “Flee or die,” he snarled.

Stryker curled his lip. “Fuck you.”

Narrowing his gaze on Stryker, Acheron shoved him back then slammed the staff to the ground. A wave of raw, unfettered power shot out from it to the demons and Daimons around them. Every one of them turned to dust.

Except for Stryker. He hovered above the ground in a dragon’s form, snarling and flapping. Bellowing in rage, Stryker spewed fire at Acheron.

Acheron lifted his arm, barely in time to keep it from burning him. He shot another god bolt at Stryker who dodged it.

“This isn’t over, Acheron. Next time you won’t be able to use your powers.” With another blast of fire, Stryker vanished.

Trembling with pain, Styxx laid his head on the ground and stared up at the ceiling. The others were talking, but his ears buzzed so loudly, he couldn’t understand them.

Styxx laughed then groaned. It was just like the day before he died. He lay bleeding and no one even noticed. Rolling over, he tried to stand then slipped on blood and crashed back to the floor. There was no Galen here to render aid to him.

No friend whatsoever.

Yet Acheron was surrounded by people who were joking with him.

I’ve got to stop the bleeding
. While he couldn’t die from it, the last thing he needed was to be weak from blood loss. It would still make him sick, and there was no one to tend him at home.

His head pounded even more, blurring his vision. Unable to stand, Styxx rolled to his back and kept as much pressure on the wound as he could. He started shaking uncontrollably.

Great. I’m going into shock.
He should have kept the coat on.

How was I to know I’d be gutted again?

He felt someone kneeling down beside him. Opening his eyes, he was stunned to see Acheron. There wasn’t a bit of concern or compassion in his brother’s cold expression.

Styxx panted in sheer agony. “You know, brother, you’re never supposed to close your eyes in battle.”

Ash laughed. “I wasn’t the one training to be a general.”

Good thing, too. You’d have sucked at it and caused everyone to die.
But that was only part of being a leader and he knew it.

Styxx glanced around at the men surrounding them. He heard their thoughts and he knew their faces and histories from Acheron’s memories. They loved his brother.

They’d never once mocked Acheron as Styxx’s men had done him in the beginning. All of them looked to Acheron with respect and adoration.

None of them had ever paid to screw him.

Acheron’s men knew nothing of his past.

A vengeful part of him wanted to tell them what Acheron had been. But then, that cruelty wouldn’t hurt Acheron. Not really. Because these men cared about his brother and even if they knew everything, they wouldn’t hold it against Acheron. His brother was stupid for even thinking that.

And Acheron had done something with them that Styxx had never done for his own men. Acheron had taken in these shattered creatures, such as Vane and Fang whose pack of werewolves had turned on them and tried to feed them to the Daimons—Kyrian whose wife had handed him over to his enemies to be tortured and crucified—Zarek who’d been a Roman whipping boy wrongfully tortured and executed—and Talon who’d watched his sister murdered before his eyes after his clan, his own blood, had betrayed him—and with a patience he’d never shown Styxx, Acheron had healed them.

All of them
.

It was amazing, really. But then, Acheron didn’t hate them the way he hated Styxx.

Styxx sighed. “Perhaps. But you do a much better job of leading than I ever did. I definitely think Father trained the wrong one of us.”

Without a word, Acheron placed his hand over Styxx’s wound. It stung like a hot brand against his skin. And he should know, since it was just like being in the Dionysion. He glared at Acheron. “Fine, then you’re a stupid fucking asshole. Get your hands off me,” he snarled through gritted teeth.

Ignoring his outburst, Acheron held him down until Styxx was ready to whimper. Only then did Acheron pull away.

“Am I dead yet?” Styxx asked sarcastically.

“Not yet. You still have a few years left to seriously piss me off.”

Styxx snorted. “I look forward to it.”

I’m sure you do,
Acheron thought silently. He inclined his head to Styxx. “You did a good job for me. Thank you.”

That must have choked you to say, brother.

“Yeah, well, next time you need someone to descend into a Daimon sanctuary, pick one of your other assholes to do it. I don’t have the powers of a god when they come at me, and it puts me at a definite disadvantage.”

Grinning, Acheron helped Styxx to his feet then left him and went to be with his men.

In one heartbeat, Acheron had put Styxx out of his mind and forgotten he was here.

For this I left my computer games?
Styxx sighed wearily.

“You want me to take you home?”

Styxx nodded at Urian. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

In the blink of an eye, Styxx was back in his condo. He’d started for the couch when his knees buckled.

Urian caught him against his side and helped him to his bed. “Are you still wounded?”

“It’s the poison from the dagger Stryker used. Acheron healed the wound, but he didn’t draw the poison out.” Whether that was intentional or not, he had no idea.

“How do you get it out?”

“You draw it out before you stitch the wound closed.” Styxx looked down at the sealed scar. “Oops, too late.” He started shaking again as sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Do you want me to call Ash?”

“I’ll be fine.” Acheron wouldn’t come anyway. And Styxx couldn’t blame him. If he had Bethany with him, he wouldn’t bother with his brother either. “Not like I can die. I just need to rest.” Styxx had barely slurred those words before he passed out.

November 21, 2008

Styxx came awake facedown in a thick forest. Birds sang out as the sun streaked through the foliage around him. His ribs hurt like Galen had kicked them. And as he lay there, trying to get his bearings, he heard a beautiful contralto singing an ancient Egyptian lullaby. Tears filled his eyes as the Egyptian words reminded him of Bethany.

Unable to resist the siren’s lure, he pushed himself up and headed toward the sound. He broke into a clearing, where he found Bethany on her blanket, cuddling a boy around the age of five in her arms. She saw Styxx and smiled a smile that set fire to every part of him.

“Look, little Galen, Daddy’s finally home.” She set the boy down and he ran for Styxx.

“Daddy! Daddy!”

Styxx couldn’t breathe as the boy latched on to his leg and held it tight. His hand trembling, he brushed it through the short, wavy blond hair and stared in awe at the bright blue eyes that looked at him with total adoration and love.

Swinging the boy up in his arms, he melted as Galen laid his head on his shoulder and hugged him tight. “I missed you, Daddy. Did you bring me something?”

“He brought you himself,” Bethany teased their son. “Is that not enough?”

Laughing, Galen fell back into his mother’s arms. Bethany held him on her hip before she rose on her tiptoes to place a scorching kiss to Styxx’s lips. “Just so you know, I’m furious at you.”

“Why?”

“You made me miss you. But I’m so glad you’re back that you’re completely forgiven.”

His heart pounded as she laid her head against his chest and held him with one arm. He wrapped both of his around the two of them and choked on a wave of tears. The scent of eucalyptus and lilies warmed him. He never wanted to move or let them go.

I must be dead.

But he didn’t mind. This was the only place he’d ever wanted to be. Held tight in her arms.

Bethany handed Galen back to him then took his hand to lead him toward their tiny stone cottage. Inside, Galen’s toys were strewn across the floor. His son kicked his short legs to let Styxx know he wanted down. After obliging him, Styxx gently pulled Bethany into his arms so that he could bury his face in her hair and inhale her sweet scent while she ran her hands down his back. Every hormone in his body roared to life.

“Galen?” she called.

“Mama?”

“Why don’t you go play with Dynatos outside for a little while?”

Galen grabbed a ball and ran to the door.

“Don’t go far! Stay so that I can hear you.”

“Okay, Mama.”

As soon as the door closed, she claimed his lips with a scorching kiss. Styxx couldn’t think straight as she dropped his chlamys to the floor then untied his chiton so that she could touch him all over.

He loosened the rope belt around her waist and let it fall to the floor before he pulled her peplos over her head. His starving gaze scanned every inch of her beautiful naked body. He pulled her against him.

Laughing playfully, she jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist while she nipped his lips and chin with her teeth. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Oh, Beth, so am I. I feel like I’ve been gone for an eternity.”

“Every heartbeat you’re away is an eternity for me.”

He savored those words as much as the sensation of her soft skin sliding against his.

She took his hand into hers and frowned. “You’ve new scars.”

“They’re not important.”

“They are to me. I don’t like for you to get hurt.”

He hardened even more at the sound of love in those words. Needing to be inside her, he carried her to the bedroom. Though to be honest, he didn’t want to wait to be inside her. But she was his heart and soul and the mother of his son. He didn’t want to rut with her like her comfort meant nothing to him when all he desired in this world was for her to love him with one-tenth the intensity he felt for her.

Gently placing her on the bed, he recaptured her lips and slowly lowered himself between her legs. Trembling, he kissed his way down her neck and shoulders so that he could taste her taut, perfect areola.

“I love you, Beth,” he whispered, rubbing his chin against her breast.

“It’s a pittance compared to what I feel for you, my heart.… What kept you so long from us?”

“The gods I hate.”

“You shouldn’t hate the gods, Styxx.”

How could he not? They had robbed him of everything. Even his dignity. But as he stared into the greenish-golden depths of her eyes, his hatred didn’t matter anymore. “Then kiss me, Beth. Breathe your faith and love into me and I will hate no more.”

She kissed him passionately then reached down between their bodies to slide him into her.

His breath left him in a gasp as he felt her cradling him. For a full minute, he couldn’t move for fear of coming immediately.

“It’s all right, love,” she whispered in his ear. “I know how long it’s been for you. Don’t worry about me right now. We have the rest of the night for you to take your time pleasuring me.” She thrust against him.

Pure bliss exploded through his entire body. Grinding his teeth, he roared with the force of it as he drove himself in as deep as he could and shuddered while she held him to her.

“That was worthless for you,” he breathed raggedly into her ear.

She brushed her hand through his hair and toyed with it. “No, it wasn’t. I have you in my arms and inside me. I’m happy as I can be. Besides, I know you’ll make it up to me later.”