Styxx (DH #33) (59 page)

And that Styxx learned a lesson of respect that he’d never forget.

February 1, 9528 BC

Styxx was still extremely ill from his fight with Acheron. The last thing he’d wanted was for his father to call him down to his study, especially given what had happened the last time he’d been here.

His head aching, he paused in front of the king’s desk. “You summoned me, Majesty?”

His father handed the scroll he’d just signed over to the scribe on his left. He unrolled another and responded without looking up. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve negotiated a marriage contract for you.”

Stunned, Styxx was frozen for several heartbeats as that unexpected news slapped him hard. “May I ask to whom?”

“An Egyptian princess … what’s her name … Ned … Nef … Nera…” He searched about his desk. “Ah. Here it is. Nefertari. She and a royal envoy will arrive in about two weeks so that you can meet her. If you’re acceptable to her, the marriage will proceed.” His father pierced him with a malevolent glare. “You
will
be acceptable to her, understood?”

Don’t worry, old man. I promise I won’t piss on her.

“Is there anything else, Majesty?”

“No. I’m done with you.”

He didn’t miss the anger underlying his father’s words or the next thought …

Get out of my sight, before I do order you whipped.
Ironically, his father wasn’t as mad at Styxx as he was at Acheron. The king had never intended for Apollo to find out about his brother. But now that the Olympian knew, his father was holding Styxx responsible for it.

Whatever. Styxx turned around and left then grimaced as his nose started bleeding. Knowing better than to let his father see it, he returned to his room and grabbed a cloth to hold against it while he waited for it to stop.

But what hurt worse than the remains of the beating was the shattered remnants of his heart. He didn’t want to marry a princess.

He wanted Bethany back.

Unable to stand it, he went to search for her again. Still, the chest that held her necklace was where he’d left it and there was no sign of her anywhere. For whatever reason, she’d never returned to him.

Even their original spot was completely undisturbed. Nothing had been left in his tree. No trace of her whatsoever.

Bereft, he returned to the cottage and opened the chest that contained her necklace. The moment he saw the contents, his world truly came undone.

On top of the necklace was the ring he’d given her that he’d accepted from Kreon. The one she’d been wearing the last time he’d seen her that he’d playfully twisted round her finger.

She
had
been here.

And this was her way of saying good-bye.

Tears fell down his cheeks as he roared in anger and overturned the table. He sent the chest with the ring and necklace flying.

At least she’d finally let him know that she was all right. That nothing had happened to her.

She’d gone on with her life, and left him to his.

Fine. There was no need in searching for her anymore. It was over.…

Like everyone else in his life, she didn’t want him. He wasn’t worthy of her heart or her love.

I am nothing.

Furious and hurt to an unbelievable level, he considered burning the cottage to the ground. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Maybe someone would happen upon it who needed a place to stay. Maybe they could find happiness here in his stead.

Heartbroken, he glanced around then left without bothering to close the door.

He swung up onto Troian and turned the horse toward the city. Without looking back, he dug his heels in and rode away from the only place he’d ever been happy.

What is so wrong with me that no one can love me? That no one will keep me?

Stop it! You’re a prince. Who are you to feel sorry for yourself?

But in his heart, he knew the truth. He wasn’t a prince. He was a just a tired whore, and the only one who wanted anything to do with him was a god he couldn’t stomach. Not because Apollo loved him, but because Apollo craved the sense of power he had whenever he made a royal Greek hero beg and suffer. Their relationship was all about dominance and force.

Pain.

Styxx’s abject humiliation and subjugation to Apollo’s higher power. He was nothing more to Apollo than a toy was to a toddler. Something to be used and discarded, or bashed against furniture whenever its owner was displeased about something.

I have no real value to anyone.…

There was no use in fighting it or crying. It was merely a fact.

Even worse, he couldn’t change it.

February 13, 9528 BC

“You’re being remarkably accepting of your marriage. Should I be worried?”

You might be if I was sober, old man.

Styxx shrugged at his father’s question as they walked toward the throne room. “This is my duty, is it not? To marry and breed for you and Didymos. It’s what you’ve trained me for.”

“I’m still shocked over your complacency.”

Styxx slowed down as he felt the mark on his back heat up to the point it stung.

“Apollo,” his father greeted happily as the god appeared in front of them. “Glad to have you join us for the betrothal ceremonies.”

“Betrothal?”

“Styxx is to marry an Egyptian princess.”

Apollo gave Styxx an arch stare and there was no missing the light of jealousy in his eyes. “Really? I hadn’t heard.”

Styxx knew better than to say a single word on the matter since it would only succeed in pissing off either his father or the Olympian.

“Indeed,” his father continued. “She arrived earlier and is about to be received in the throne room. Would you like to join us?”

“Absolutely.”

As the king resumed his walk, Apollo cut Styxx off. The expression on his face said he was as pleased by the news as Styxx was.

“How long have you known about this?”

“Two weeks, roughly.”

Apollo caught his wrist and pulled him into a small alcove where he shoved Styxx against the wall and held him there by his throat. “Have you forgotten who owns you?”

Styxx kept his gaze on the floor. “You’ll have to take the matter up with my father since he believes he’s the one who holds my leash.”

Apollo tightened his grip on Styxx’s throat. “Don’t get smart with me, prince. I still haven’t forgotten about the last time I saw you, and the promise I made.”

How could he forget? Apollo had promised him his full wrath. But it changed nothing. “What do you want from me?”

Apollo’s gaze turned hungry. “You know what I want.”

I’d rather be dead
.

Sighing, Styxx tried to leave, but Apollo slammed him back against the wall again, hard enough to bruise his back.

“You have not learned your place, have you?”

“Right now, my place is at my father’s side. Unless you wish to have me beaten, and then I won’t be so pretty for you later.”

Apollo laughed. “You are spirited. But be careful. Even the best stallion has to be broken.”

Styxx’s temper ignited as bitter memories of being a royal stallion tore through him. “They’ve also been known to throw and kill their riders.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I thought we were talking about horses.”

Apollo grabbed Styxx’s jaw and held him against the wall in a crushing, iron grip. “Do not
ever
think you can threaten me, human.”

“Styxx? Where are you, boy?”

Apollo glanced over his shoulder at the sound of the king’s voice. “Enjoy the next few hours, prince. Because I assure you, they’ll be the last ones you have to yourself for quite a while.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Styxx?”

Apollo slung him away from him.

Straightening his clothes, Styxx went to his father, who glared angrily. “Where were you?”

“Forgive me, Father. I had something I had to attend to.”

The expression on his father’s face said he wanted to backhand him, but didn’t dare since that would leave his face damaged for the princess. Though to be honest, he was surprised Apollo’s handprint wasn’t embedded on his neck.

He followed his father into the throne room and moved to stand in front of his chair while his father took his seat. Styxx sat down and scanned the room for Apollo. But the god was nowhere to be seen.

A fanfare began as the doors were opened and the procession began. A troupe of dancing girls led in three sets of slaves carrying chests of treasure for the king. One by one, they brought the chests forward and opened them for his father to see their contents. But that wasn’t what held Styxx’s attention. In the doorway, two large Nubian males held poles that had transparent linen strung between them to show the outline of the princess’s body. She possessed the carriage of a queen as she followed them into the room.

Once they reached the thrones, the men lowered the screen to show an exquisitely beautiful woman who was a few years older than Styxx. Her dark skin was flawless. She wore a black wig laden with turquoise and gold, and her eyes were thickly lined with kohl, very similar to how Bethany often painted hers. Gold snake bracelets coiled around her arms and her thin linen sheath showed the outline of a perfect body.

But she was no Bethany.

And his body didn’t react to her at all. Not the way it did whenever he thought of the woman who had carelessly thrown his heart away.

Styxx forced himself to smile and rise to his feet. Heartsick and aching, he descended the dais to take her hand and kiss it.

A slow, seductive smile curled her lips.
Thank the gods you’re handsome. I definitely wouldn’t mind taking a bite out of those arms.…

The relief in her tone almost made him laugh.

“Welcome, princess.”

And thank the gods you have a deep, manly voice to match the rest of you
. Holding his hand, she gave him a slight curtsy. “Your Highness.”

Her parents came forward and were introduced to his father, who then excused Styxx and Nefertari so that they could walk, with a heavy Egyptian guard, out to the gardens.

Styxx folded his hands behind his back as she led the way.

“I hear you’re a war hero, Prince Styxx.”

“Really just a soldier.”

“Oh.” There was no missing the disappointment in that one single word.

Awkward silence stretched out between them as they walked. Styxx couldn’t think of anything to say. Strange how he’d never had that problem with Bethany. They had been able to talk forever about absolutely nothing.

“Did you have a pleasant journey to Greece?” he asked her.

She walked down to the garden that had once been his mother’s favorite. “Yes.”

More awkward silence.

Nefertari stopped and faced him. “You don’t speak much, do you?”

“No.”

“That’s not necessarily a negative.… Still, I propose we get one thing out of the way.”

“And that is?”

She reached up and pulled his lips down to hers so that she could kiss him. Closing his eyes, Styxx followed her lead, but his heart wasn’t in it. Yes, his body reacted to her. Still, it wasn’t the same as when he held his Bethany. There was no overwhelming need to breathe in her scent. To lay himself against her and stay with her for eternity.

She was just there.

Nefertari pulled back with a satisfied smile. “You are acceptable to me.”

“My father will be pleased.”

“Are you not pleased, Prince Styxx?”

No. But he didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “Of course, princess. You’re exquisitely beautiful.”

She narrowed her eyes on him. “Does it bother you that I’m Egyptian?”

“Not at all. Does it bother you that I’m Greek?”

“I thought it would. But no … and you speak Egyptian incredibly well. I find your accent and voice exceptionally pleasant.”

Nice to know he wasn’t totally repellent. “Do you speak Greek at all?”

“A little, but not well. Would you help me learn?”

“Of course.” That would at least give them something to talk about besides the weather.

She sighed. “So … Styxx. What qualities do you expect from your wife and queen?”

“Nothing specific.”

That stunned her so much, she actually gaped. “Nothing?”

“I would appreciate it if she liked me, but other than that, no. Do you have a list?”

“Absolutely. I expect courtesy and preference to be given to me and my children at all times. While I accept that you’ll have mistresses and possibly other wives, they are not to be kept in our home. You may visit them in town or wherever you wish to place them. But as your first wife, I will not have them in my direct line of sight or near any children I birth. I want my children educated in Egyptian as well as Greek and they are to worship my gods. I expect an altar to be built for my gods in my end of the palace and for my personal priests to be given their own rooms with full, unrestricted access to mine.”

Now it was Styxx’s turn to gape.

“While I am not opposed to Greek servants,” she continued, oblivious to his incredulity, “I will require that I have Egyptians kept, too. I expect you to give me notice in the morning if you’ll be spending the night with me. I will not bed with you whenever you are drunk and you are to bathe before you come to me. I have a scent that I’ve brought from home that you will need to wear for those occasions. You are not to raise your voice to me or make demands of my private time. I require at least two hours a day for my own personal use. I prefer them in the morning, but they can be moved if necessary.”

“Thought about this a lot, have you?”

She glared at him. “Are you mocking me?”

“No. I was joking.”

“I don’t like jokes. I find humor offensive.”

Great. No laughter.

Maybe he could bribe Acheron into committing suicide so that they could both be put out of their mutual misery.…

“Duly noted. What else, princess?”

“I expect a separate residence and rooms to be kept for me at all times. I will reserve the right to deny you access to my rooms should you displease me in any way or for any reason. And you are not to force yourself upon me. Likewise, I will not receive you if you are ill or infirmed or when I have my monthly flow. While I understand you may wish to strike me at times, you can use nothing other than your hand. And you are not to touch me at all during any pregnancy. Once I’ve given birth, I will require a six-month respite from your bed. I will expect lands as a gift for any sons and jewelry for daughters. You are to hold feasts on my birthday and declare them sacred holidays.”