Styxx (DH #33) (55 page)

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.”

*   *   *

B
ethany 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 recompense, 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.”

“I’ll send them over immediately.”

“Thank you.” Styxx pulled out his purse.

“Nay, no money is necessary. We take care of our own.”

Styxx pressed the purse into his hand. “Yes, we do, Darian. Please take it for their services.”

Darian hesitated before he nodded. “Thank you, Highness.”

“Thank you, brother.” Styxx embraced him. “They’re at the barracks, in Gaius’s quarters. And I would love to stay, but I’d best be getting back for my sister’s banquet so as not to insult her or my father with my absence.”

“Give our best to the princess and king.”

“I will, and if you need anything at all, let me or Galen know immediately.”

Darian started to salute then pulled Styxx into a brotherly embrace.

Styxx returned it before he made his way through the door. As he started to leave, Darian’s youngest daughter, who appeared around the age of six, came running up to Styxx. “Highness?”

Styxx knelt down by her side. “Yes, Eleni?”

Bethany was as shocked that he knew her name as she’d been when he’d greeted Gaius’s children by name.

“Thank you for bringing my daddy home.” She fell against him and hugged him tightly.

Styxx returned the hug and kissed her lightly on the head. “My pleasure,
akribos
.”

A chill went down Bethany’s spine at the way he said that. She knew that tender tone of voice.

Those words.

No …

It’s not possible.

Her heart pounding in fear, she followed him after he left and went to buy herbs she was more than familiar with. Why would a prince want Nyx Root and Onero? Either was strong … together they could be lethal.

Styxx didn’t speak to anyone else as he returned to the palace, where servants were now rushing about in expectation of guests. None of them paid any attention to the prince as he made his way up the stairs and to his room.

He put the herbs in a small chest by his bed then pulled off his crown and placed it on top of them. He unpinned his chlamys and moved to get a fresh chiton.

Bethany didn’t think anything about it until he took off the one he was wearing and confirmed her worst suspicions.

Styxx
was
Hector.

Stunned, she covered her mouth as her gaze took in the sight of his naked body. A body she knew every contour to. Every single horrifying scar that marred what should have been a flawless royal physique.

Her breathing ragged, she couldn’t avert her gaze. Later, she would be angry over the lies he’d told her, but right now, she wanted to cry as she saw exactly how much damage they’d done to him. It was one thing to feel those scars. Another to see them and to know how badly he’d been abused and hurt by others.

And when he took off his gold cuff and exposed her cheap-looking charm that was still wound about his wrist from the last time she’d seen him, tears welled in her eyes. Not just because it was right where she’d put it, but because he lifted it to his lips and placed a tender kiss to her emblem.

His eyes sad and aching, he caressed her necklace with loving fingers. “I miss you, Beth,” he whispered. “Please come back to me soon.”

She started to materialize in his room then caught herself.
What are you doing?

He’d be furious to find out that she’d …

Lied?

He’d lied to her, too. There was no way he could hold
that
against her.

She moved to confront him then paused as he turned around and she saw Apollo’s mark on his back. Not just on it …
across
its entirety.

Her stomach pitched over.

Gods didn’t lightly or arbitrarily mark humans. For them to place their symbol on a human body was a sign of fierce ownership. For one god to touch a human who’d been marked by another was an act of war.

And Apollo had quite visibly claimed Styxx.

The Atlantean gods would kill her if she breached this temporary alliance or threatened their pact with Apollo. The Olympian would have every right to call down all of his fellow Greek gods to attack her and Styxx both.

And Styxx would be the one who suffered most for allowing another god to touch him after he’d been claimed by Apollo. The others wouldn’t care that he hadn’t known her true identity. It was a breach of faith.…