Styxx (DH #33) (54 page)

“I may be with your sister tonight, prince, but it’s your lips I’ll be thinking of when I kiss her.
Your
hard, muscled body I’ll be hungering for…”

The only thing that had saved Styxx from having a worse memory had been his father’s impeccable timing. He could still see his father’s bemused stare as he’d stumbled upon them and dragged his gaze from Apollo, who had both his hands fisted in Styxx’s gold-trimmed, white chiton as he held him pinned to the wall with his leg between Styxx’s thighs and his head bent low to whisper in Styxx’s ear. Styxx, who’d been cringing at Apollo’s close proximity, had his head turned away from the god and his hands splayed on the wall beside him.

With a low, private laugh in Styxx’s ear, Apollo had covertly rubbed himself against Styxx’s hip so that he could feel how hard the god was for him. Then he released Styxx and walked off as if nothing had happened.

Pushing himself away from the wall, Styxx had met his father’s angry glare.

“Did you offend Apollo, boy?”

No, the bastard offends
me.

“Nay, Father.” The steadiness of his voice had surprised him.

His eyes darkening with rage, the king had closed the distance between them so he could snarl privately at Styxx. “You do anything to screw this up for me, and I swear I will see you disowned and on the street with your whore brother. You think you know what tragedy is, boy … you can’t imagine. And don’t you believe for one minute that Kreon or any of the other kings would welcome you to their kingdoms. If I threw you out, none of them would dare speak to you. Ever.”

His father’s jealousy had stunned him. Not that it mattered. He really couldn’t care less at this point. “I promise you, Father, Apollo isn’t angry at me.”

Then the part of him that wanted to lash out at his father and hurt him couldn’t resist adding, “He was embracing me.
That’s
what you saw. He was merely telling me how much he looked forward to spending more time with me in the future.”

“Good. See to it, it stays that way.”

Tears had pricked the backs of his eyes as his father had stormed off. But what hurt most wasn’t that his father was selling his son and daughter to Apollo for the benefit of his people or for peace.

He was doing it for bragging rights with the other kings so that he could claim Didymos was the city-state most favored by the gods.

Unable to deal with it anymore, Styxx headed for the small corner apothecary that specialized in herbs and medicines from Atlantis. Even though he hated what the herbs did to him and had sworn he wouldn’t touch them again, he needed something to get everything out of his head. Just for a little while.

I can’t believe I killed my uncle for this shit.

But then maybe that was why the gods had done this to him. It was recompense for his actions. All the things he’d killed Estes to prevent had happened anyway, only now they were so much worse. Ryssa was still being whored, and instead of Styxx being held and raped for one week out of the year, he was now at Apollo’s mercy anytime the god had a hard-on.

Only Acheron’s situation had improved.

His head throbbing, Styxx walked through the marketplace, toward the shop.

Right now, all he really wanted was to be with Bethany. She would ease the pain in his heart and make him forget for a few minutes how much he hated every part of royal life. But she wouldn’t be back for a week. Her family was traveling and she’d left him bereft without the brightness of her smile. Honestly, he couldn’t stand not being with her.

But at least she took Dynatos with her everywhere she went. She kept the massive dog close to her so that Styxx could breathe, knowing Dynatos would always protect her.

“Please, sir … can I not buy half the loaf?”

Styxx paused at a girl’s voice as he passed the baker’s stand.

“Get on with you! I don’t want a beggar here. Coin or nothing. I don’t sell half loaves.”

“But I don’t have enough. Please. It’s for my mother. She’s sick and starving.…”

The lecherous look on the man’s face as he swept the young teen’s body made Styxx’s stomach turn. “If you want to pay with something other than coin, we might have a deal, girl.”

Horrified, she stumbled away and started to turn then she closed her eyes.

Rage darkened Styxx’s gaze as he saw what she was about to do to feed her family.

As she stepped back toward the stand, Styxx cut her off. He knelt on one knee in front of her so that she could look him in the eyes. “Get what you need and I will pay for it.”

The suspicion in those young, brown eyes shredded his heart. “And what do you want me to pay
you
with, my lord?”

Those words and what she was really asking thoroughly pissed him off at the Fates who would do this to a child so young. “Nothing. I swear.” He handed her a basket. “Get whatever you need to feed your family.”

When she started away, Styxx caught a flash of gold around her neck. Stopping her, he pulled a tattered string to find a large gold ring tied at the end of it.

A soldier’s ring.

“Please don’t take that,” she whispered. “It’s all I have left of my father.”

Recognition slammed into his gut like a fist as he saw the markings he knew as well as his own. They had adorned a shield that had stood at his side and back in many a battle. “Gaius? Son of Philoctes? Was he your father?”

“Did you know him, my lord?”

Anger and grief almost brought tears to his eyes as he remembered Gaius and his kindness with the cloak. “You must be Helen.”

A bright smile finally made her appear to be the young girl she was. “You did know my father!”

Styxx returned her smile. “Yes, I did. He told me much of you and your brothers, and baby sister, and mother, and how much he loved all of you.” He placed the ring in her hand. “And he was a great friend to me. Now gather your items, Helen. Whatever you need or want. Have no fear of the cost. Now or later.”

Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you, my lord.”

He kissed her on the brow then stood while she quickly shopped.

The baker scoffed as he watched her fill her basket. “She’s not that pretty, my lord.”

Lowering his cowl to expose the gold laurel crown he seldom wore, Styxx arched a regal brow at the man.

The baker fell to his knees. “Highness … forgive me. I didn’t recognize you without your guard.”

Helen froze then, eyes wide, gaped. “You’re Prince Styxx?”

“I am.”

She bowed then curtsied then bowed again.

Styxx laughed. “You don’t have to bow to me, Helen. As I said, your father was a good friend to me, and I consider you and yours family.”

That only confused her more.

Closing the distance between them, he brushed the dark hair back from her cheek. “Think of me like your cousin.”

“I don’t like my cousin very much. He smells, and insults me.”

“Then think of me as the cousin who doesn’t smell or insult you.”

Nodding, she quickly finished her shopping.

Styxx passed an irritated look at the baker. “Have her bill sent to my scribe at the palace, and in the future, anything she or her mother needs or wants is to be billed to me. Understood?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Taking the basket from her, Styxx held his hand out for her. She bit her lip and hesitated. Then she wiped it off on her himation, and placed it into his.

As she led him to her home, he noticed the way she slowed down as they passed a fruit stand.

“Would you like some apples or figs?”

She bit her lip again. “May I?”

Styxx released her hand. “Absolutely.”

Letting out a cry of joy, she quickly grabbed a single apple and cradled it with a smile. “Thank you, Highness.”

He cupped her precious, innocent head to his side. She didn’t even think to ask for more. He bought a sack of them for her then they continued on their way.

As soon as they neared her small, dilapidated home, her brothers, who’d been playing in the street, came running up.

“Did you get some bread?” the younger brother asked.

The older one eyed Styxx suspiciously. “Why are you here with my sister, my lord?”

“He’s the prince,” Helen whispered loudly. “Show him respect, Iason.”

Styxx went down on one knee so that he was closer to Iason’s height. At nine, the boy showed promise of equaling his father’s massive size one day. “Don’t take your brother to task for seeking to protect you, Helen. It’s his job and your father would be proud to see it.” He held an apple out to Iason. “Gaius was a friend and I’m here to see how your mother does.”

“She’s very sick, Highness.” Philoctes eyed the bread with a hunger that reminded Styxx of Acheron when they’d been boys.

He handed a loaf to him.

At seven, he was half the size of Iason. “Thank you!” He ran off with it.

Helen opened the door to their meager home. Styxx followed her inside with Iason right behind him. Though sparse, the interior was bright and clean. But there was no food and only a handful of spices strung up on one wall to keep.

Styxx set the basket and apples on the table in the center of the room. Helen took one loaf and led him to the room where her mother lay on a small bed with a toddler by her side.

Pale and sweating, Danae was trying to play with the little girl next to her, but it was obvious she should be resting and not tending children. “Did you get…” Her hoarse voice trailed off as she took in Styxx’s ornate festival clothes. She tried to push herself up.

“Please don’t,” he said gently. “I’m not here to cause you any stress, good Danae. I happened upon Helen in the market and wanted to see how Gaius’s family fared.”

She coughed for several minutes.

Styxx helped her up and held her until the spell passed. Her fever radiated from her small, frail body. “Have you seen the physician?”

“No, my lord.” Her breathing was so labored that it wrung his heart. “We have no coin for such.”

“I’m confused. Is Gaius’s pension not enough?”

Danae frowned. “His pension was suspended, my lord. Our money comes from what Helen and I earn.”

“Suspended? I don’t understand. He died at war.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “He died in a brothel. Murdered in the arms of a whore. The king’s man announced it to everyone when I went to apply for his pension. As such, we don’t qualify.”

The cruelty of those words and actions burned him with fury. “I was there when it happened, my lady. Your husband was one of my finest soldiers and he was not with a whore.” Probably not true, but his widow didn’t need to know anything other than the one fact that was undeniable. “Gaius loved you and your children to distraction. It’s how I know all your names and ages … even little Elpis here who is named for your mother. Gaius died at my back and after fighting many battles for me and Didymos. Your husband was a great hero, and I will personally see his pension reinstated and make sure you receive every bonus due him and you.”

“Who are you, my lord?”

“He’s Prince Styxx, Mama,” Helen whispered.

Her eyes widened. “Highness…” She tried to get up, but Styxx held her back against the bed.

“Shh … don’t stress yourself.” He glanced to Helen. “Do you have anyone who can help you until your mother is better?”

“I help her, Highness.”

“And you’ve done an admirable job. But you’re just a girl and you should be playing, not having so much placed on your young shoulders.” He cupped Danae’s head and offered her a smile. “I will not see Gaius’s family treated this way.” Rising, he scooped her up into his arms.

“Highness?” she gasped.

He cradled her against his chest. “Helen, can you carry your sister and fetch your brothers?”

“Yes, Highness.”

“Good. Follow me.”

He’s going to see us punished.…

Her fearful thoughts struck him like a blow. “Danae, please believe me. On my honor and crown, I will not harm you, and I will allow no one else to do so either.”

She relaxed, but still suspicion haunted her dark eyes. She made no other protest as he carried her through town and to the military barracks.

“Highness?” Galen froze in the hallway as he saw them entering the building.

“It’s Danae, Gaius’s wife, and their children. I’m bringing them to Gaius’s quarters to be looked after until she heals.”

Galen stepped to and took Elpis from her sister’s arms to carry her. “What do you need me to do?”

“Send for my personal physician to tend her. I’ll have a retinue of ladies sent to help care for her and the children.”

Danae gaped at them as Styxx laid her down on the bed and she noted the size and splendor of Gaius’s military quarters. He took the toddler while Galen set about starting a fire for her and fetching water.

Eyes even wider than before, Danae opened and closed her mouth as her emotions overwhelmed her.

The boys ran around, yelling and celebrating while distressing their poor mother. Until they found their father’s spear.

Styxx caught it right as they pulled it off the wall. He gently took it from Iason’s hands. “Let’s wait until you’re both older to bring out the weaponry.” As he started to put it away, something warm spread across his side. Frowning, he looked down at the toddler he held in one arm. She smiled up at him and slapped a wet hand to his cheek. “Um, Galen … This one is leaking.”

Galen laughed.

Danae cried out in horror. “I am so sorry, Highness! I—”

“Bah,” Galen scoffed, interrupting her. “Not the worst thing that boy’s had on him, is it, young prince?”

“Definitely not. But…” He passed Elpis back to Galen. “I fear I have no experience with this realm of domesticity. I’ve never even seen a pana, never mind tried to apply one to such a small person.”

The girl squealed as she buried her hands in Galen’s beard and kicked her legs happily.

Galen’s grin widened. “I, on the other hand, have more than my share of experience with applying them, and will take care of it for you.”

Styxx returned the spear to the wall and saw that poor Danae was near dead with horror over her children’s actions. “Madam, really. It’s fine. I was a boy, too, and while my parents and nurses tried, I fear I failed at home-training and manners with honors.”