Styxx (DH #33) (32 page)

She only wanted to feel Hector and the love she had for him. Lifting her head, she kissed him lightly on the lips. “What color is your hair?”

He paused then gave a light laugh. “A strange time to ask, my lady.”

“I know. But I’m curious about the man inside me.”

“I’m blond,” he whispered in her ear as he deepened his strokes.

“And your eyes?”

“Blue.”

She sank her hands into his hair and imagined the beautiful blond curls that teased her skin. Then she traced his brows above his blue eyes, and his sharp cheekbones and jaw. Her Hector
was
handsome. She knew it.

Styxx bit his lip as she met him stroke for stroke. Every part of him felt like it was on fire and yet strangely calm. Bethany swept her hands from his face down his chest and then even lower.

He gasped as she placed her hand to where they were joined and touched him as he slid in and out of her. The pleasure was so intense that he growled with it. He’d always loved how she used her graceful hands to see, but never more than he did right now. Most of all, he loved that she wasn’t timid or reserved. She gave every part of herself to him.

Arching her back, she cried out as she clutched him to her and shook in his arms. He took his cue from her and moved faster and harder. She sang louder and laughed.

Relieved that he’d pleased her and not embarrassed himself, he felt his body starting to tip. But he forced it down until he was sure she was completely satisfied. Only then did he bury himself deep inside her and growl as his own release came. His senses reeled with exquisite pleasure.

For a full minute, he couldn’t breathe or think as every part of him shouted in joy. Then ever so slowly, it faded.

Spent and sated, and breathing raggedly, he lowered himself and savored the way she cradled him with her body. His heart pounded so fiercely, he was surprised it stayed inside his chest. A fine sheen of sweat covered both of them.

No wonder men killed over their women. He fully understood that possessiveness now. The need to keep her safe from all threat or harm. There was nothing he could think of that would ever compete with the complete peace and quiet he felt right then in her arms. He never wanted to leave her.

“That was amazing,” he breathed in her ear.

“Yes, you were.” Her smile made his breath catch as she lifted his hand so that she could nibble his fingers and send even more chills over him.

Styxx tilted his head as he saw the necklace that never left her. It was her sole piece of jewelry. He tugged gently at the thin leather cord until the small silver, oddly-shaped disk was untangled from her black hair. It held the impression of a bow and arrow, and appeared as if it were half of a larger amulet. “What is this you always wear?”

She reached down to cover his hand with hers and touched it then smiled. “My father gave it to me when I was a little girl so that I could feel loved wherever I went.”

No wonder she treasured it. Almost every gift he’d received had eventually been taken from him or destroyed as punishment. It was why he didn’t like to be given anything at all.

“What does the symbol mean?”

“It’s my personal emblem for the goddess of the hunt.”

Styxx ran his thumb over it as he remembered the bracelet he’d given his mother before she stabbed him. The goddess of the hunt, Artemis was said to be the protector of women and children … She must have been favoring his mother over him that day.

He placed the disk between her breasts where it normally fell. “I hope she always protects you, Beth.”

“She will.”

Not wanting to think about the gods who hated him as much as he hated them, he ran his index finger along her bottom lip, wishing he could stay with her forever. It was so hard to contemplate going back to a place where no one wanted him while he lay cradled by her warm body.

But unfortunately, it was getting late and she didn’t need to be walking home in the dark. If anything were to ever happen to her …

He would be driven insane by it. The mere thought of any harm coming to her filled him with rage.

“As much as I hate to withdraw from you, it’ll be dark soon.” Rising, he swept her up in his arms.

Bethany’s eyes widened as he carried her to the stream as if she weighed nothing at all. Because of her height, she was used to towering over most men, not having them make her feel petite in comparison. And no one had carried her since she’d been a child.

In truth, she loved the feeling of it.

He set her down in the water so that she could wash.

“Beth?”

She paused. “Yes?”

“I will do my best to see you at week’s end, but I might not be able to. My father usually has an annual banquet he throws for my uncle then, and if I don’t attend, he’ll be furious.”

Straightening, she put her hands on her hips and glared in what she hoped was the correct direction. “So that’s it, eh? You sleep with me and then you abandon me.” She tsked at him.

“Never!” The intensity of his denial shocked her.

She reached for him to comfort the pain she’d heard. “I’m teasing you,
akribos
. It’s fine. I’ll see you the next time.”

He pulled her against him and held her as if he couldn’t bear to let her go. “I would kill or die for you, Beth.
Only
you.”

She held him tight. “I know, sweet. I love you, too.”

He kissed her then went to dress while she continued her bath.

By the time she finished, he had everything packed up for her. She smiled at his thoughtfulness. “You really can’t wait to get away from me, huh?”

This time he took it as she meant it. “What can I say, my lady? You’re such an onerous burden. The sooner I’m away, the better.”

Laughing, she took her basket and pole from him.

He cupped her face in both of his hands and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Be safe, my heart.”

“You, too.” Bethany waited for a few more seconds before she laughed. “Hector? I can’t leave if you don’t let me go.”

“Sorry.” He forced himself to release her. “I will see you later, my lady. But never soon enough to suit me.”

“Good night, my fair prince. Until I feel you again.”

Her parting words made him suck his breath in. She had no idea how close to the truth she was.

Still, Styxx didn’t move until he watched her vanish into the woods. Only then did he swing himself up to the back of his horse and turn toward home.

What he didn’t want to scare her with was the fact that he knew war was coming soon. His father and advisors had been preparing for it for weeks now. All their allies were rallying for the march to the south.

And when it came, he could have to go fight it.

While he wasn’t afraid, he didn’t look forward to the days of not seeing his Bethany.

Would she wait for him, or would he be forgotten as soon as he left?

August 19, 9532 BC

Shocked and confused, Bethany paused outside her temple in Katateros as she saw Archon with Apollo.

A Greek god in their sacred lands?

It was forbidden. Of course it’d been forbidden by Archon, but still …

Why would a Greek god be here? It was as shocking as one of them going to Mount Olympus for tea. Normally whenever they had business with Apollo, it was conducted in one of their temples in Atlantis.

Curious, she walked closer to them to see what was going on. Like her, Apollo was said to be born of more than one pantheon. There were several contradictory stories about the identity of his mother, and the Greek god had never owned up to any of them. He enjoyed the mystique of it all.

One of the stories would make him her cousin through her father’s family. But she didn’t think he really had Egyptian blood in him. If he did, she should be able to perceive it. All she’d ever sensed from the Greek was a vicious streak of cruelty that made her wonder how his people ever thought him benevolent.

Obviously, he didn’t let the Greek humans see him often, or they’d know better.

“You are well aware of my feelings on this,” Apollo said to Archon. “If you want to attack Greece, you have my full backing.”

Archon held his hand up to keep Apollo from saying anything more. “Who goes there?”

She stepped out of the shadows.

Both of the gods breathed in relief, which made her all the more curious. Why would they welcome her presence when it was obvious they were conspiring something?

Bethany moved to stand beside Archon. “What are you two talking about?”

Archon glanced to Apollo before he answered. “War.”

That was always one of her favorite topics. People were never more honest than when they were fighting for their lives. Cowards were exposed and heroes sprang from the unlikeliest of places.

Apollo crossed his arms over his chest. “I was just telling your uncle, that as always, I would fully back Atlantis in the coming conflict with Greece. I haven’t forgotten how your people welcomed mine in when Zeus ordered my Apollites killed. It’s a debt I will always be loyal to and respect.”

The Apollites were the race Apollo had created after a disagreement with his father over mankind. Taller and stronger than humans, and possessing advanced psychic abilities, the Apollites had quickly decided to subjugate their Greek brethren. Something Zeus had taken offense to. He’d ordered Apollo to kill his “children” and Apollo had adamantly refused.

Feeling sorry for them, the Atlanteans had opened their doors to the Apollites, who had become “model” citizens for Atlantis. As a result, the relations between Greece and Atlantis had been strained ever since. And it’d left Apollo with loyalties to both pantheons and nations.

So far, he’d always sided with them over the Greeks, but Bethany still didn’t trust him. She suspected his only real loyalty was to Apollo and no one else.…

There was just something about him that had always made her skin crawl. An innate distaste.

“Just tell me what you need and I will do my best to make it happen,” Apollo assured him. “Now I’d best return before I’m missed and the other Olympians wonder where I’ve gone.” He vanished.

Bethany narrowed her gaze at her uncle. “We’ve barely had a truce with Greece. I thought you wanted it maintained.”

“That was before Apollymi hid a baby in their ranks. He should be old enough to fight now. I’m hoping he’ll be among the Greek soldiers we kill, especially if we attack the whole of Greece. Our primary targets will be their royals and noblemen. No one will think it odd if they all die in battle, or as a result of conquest.”

Insidious …

Frowning, Bethany tried to make sense of the emotions she felt from him. “Apostolos is your son, Archon, can’t you—”

“He’s not my son.
That’s
the problem.”

She froze at those growled words. “What do you mean?”

He lowered his voice. “After the debacle of Apollymi’s firstborn, we all decided that I was to marry her and keep her happy. As you know, I am not barren, and neither is she. I’ve purposefully kept her from conceiving. And the fact that I don’t know who the father of her bastard is…”

Oh crap.
She stared incredulously. “You honestly have no idea who fathered him?”

“No. Most likely it would be one of her Charontes or another god.” The Charontes were Apollymi’s army of demons. Morally ambiguous, they were absolute killing machines with the powers of gods. To mix one of those with Apollymi’s powers and with her army to back him …

Yes, that would be a
very
bad thing.

“Why haven’t you told the others?”

Archon’s nostrils flared. “No one can ever know that he’s not mine. Can you imagine what they might do out of fear?”

He had a point. Even gods were known to panic. And this situation was highly panic-worthy.

An unknown rogue god with no known loyalty and an army of morally ambiguous demons to command … Scary stuff, that.

Archon’s eyes darkened to red. “I don’t care if we have to slaughter every Greek prince of his generation, her son has to die before his powers are unleashed.”

As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. “Then I will back this war with you.”

“Thank you. And I can trust in your discretion?”

“Of course.”

Inclining his head to her, Archon returned to his temple.

Bethany swept her gaze over the breathtaking landscape of Katateros, which had been the home of the Atlantean gods since before the dawn of human time.

Counted among the oldest of gods, Apollymi was a mighty force that only one other had ever been able to fight with success—a goddess that had long ago vanished.

And after all these centuries, Bethany finally understood Apollymi’s temperament and motivation. First, for the husband she’d once loved who had betrayed her with other lovers. Second, for the loss of two sons. It wasn’t until Hector that Bethany had any real knowledge of love. If he were to touch another woman …

She would gut him where he stood.

That being said, she could think of no sweeter gift than to have a baby with him. Strange how she’d never wanted one before. She’d always found children whiny and gross. Odious. Little tyrants who needed to be locked up until they became human.

But now …

She would love to have a little blond baby to hold and love. One with its father’s quick witticisms and soft curls. And if she were ever so lucky as to have one, she would annihilate anyone who threatened it.

Just like Apollymi.

Honestly, the thought of killing the goddess’s son didn’t sit well with her. It never had. But sometimes the one had to be sacrificed for the many.

Or did it?

Maybe, just maybe there was another way out for all of them.

August 20, 9532 BC

Styxx stood behind his father as his uncle rode through the palace gates with his friends. His blood ran cold at the sight of his uncle’s entourage and what it meant for him.

Panic, cold and brutal, gripped him and it took everything he had not to run and bolt himself into his room. Only the knowledge that his father would batter down the door and beat him for it kept him where he was.