Authors: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Styxx let out an exhausted breath. “Nice to know I look like I feel.”
Galen laughed. “Now that’s the prince I remember. Welcome home, son. I’ve missed you.”
But I’m going to bet no one else has
.
“Is the imposter still here?” Styxx asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll go to the palace and check then report back.” After rising, Galen hesitated. He went to his chest and pulled out a mirror.
Styxx took it from him and gasped. One side of his face was bruised and swollen. His left eye was completely red and purple, and his nose and lips were crusted with blood. Even with his heightened ability to heal, it would be days before he could be seen. Unless … “We could say I had an accident.”
Galen pulled the top of Styxx’s chiton down to show him the perfect handprint around his throat. “I guess someone attempted to save you by strangling you?”
“My father would probably believe that.”
Galen snorted. “The goddess was right. If you go home right now, your father will summon a physician, and I’m rather sure you have other injuries you don’t want him to see.”
“Fine.” Styxx relented. “What mouth is this?”
“Gamelion.”
“Oof…” The month of marriage and Apollo’s festival. Bad fucking timing all the way around for him. “Has the festival passed?”
“Finished two days ago.”
Thank the gods for that small mercy. Except for the fact that his double would have been here for it. “Did I attend?”
“Like a drunken camp whore.”
Styxx could have done without that analogy. But at least the festival gave him an easy excuse for not being home. “Tell my father I was abducted by a lucius nymph and pulled to her lair.”
“For the record, I resent being called a lucius nymph.”
His mentor’s humor caused a tear to slide from the corner of his eye as his homesickness and gratitude slapped him hard.
Galen frowned.
Styxx cleared his throat as he forced his emotions into restraint. “Sorry, Galen. It’s just good to be home … and safe. Even if it means looking at your grizzled face.”
Galen took his hand and held it. “It’s good to have you back and I will tell your father, but I’m sure your so-called laziness will not endear you to him.”
“Let him beat me for it. At least he won’t fuck me first.” Styxx sucked his breath in as he realized the slip he’d made.
But there was no judgment in Galen’s eyes. “Rest easy, Highness, and I’ll return as soon as I can.”
Styxx watched until Galen left. He still couldn’t believe he was here. He’d never thought to see home again.
Let’s show His
Highness
how we treat puny Greek whores in Atlantis!
He flinched at the memory as hostile voices assailed his thoughts. Images of him being brought down by packs of dogs and leopards, and shoved into traps, tore through him. But as bad as they were, they were infinitely better than the other memories he had. And nothing was ever going to drown out the sound of the crowds cheering as he was brutalized for public entertainment.
Growling out loud, he wished to the gods he could go back in time. Regardless of his orders or the repercussions, he’d have marched his army straight up the Atlantean queen’s ass and planted his phoenix banner through her forehead.
January 17, 9527 BC
“You ready?”
Styxx nodded. “No.”
Galen laughed. “For a moment, I almost thought you were.”
Taking a deep breath, Styxx left the barracks. He was still extremely sore and cut in places he was able to cover. But worse was the fear in his heart. He had no way of knowing what he was about to walk into.
How much damage had Apollo done to him and his family relationships? While Galen had filled him in on what he could, there were still giant gaps in his information.
As they neared the palace, Galen pulled him to a stop. “We can always go back and let you rest for a few more days.”
Don’t tempt me.
“My father is already going to be pissed beyond endurance. No need in making it worse.” Grinding his teeth, he started up the stairs and cursed the architect for every one of them.
By the time he reached the top, he was trembling in pain.
Galen stood at his back. “Take a moment if you need it.”
Styxx wiped the sweat from his forehead then walked in. It was even stranger to be here now than it’d been when he’d come back from war.
The most disconcerting part was that no one knew he hadn’t been home.
I am totally irrelevant.
While he’d always had the suspicion, facing the reality was a lot harder.
“Where in the name of Hades have you been?”
Styxx exchanged an I-told-you-so glance with Galen. “In bed, Father.”
The king’s glare intensified until he burst out laughing. “At least you’re honest. I trust you rode her well, then?”
Styxx was too startled to answer as his father approached him with humor in his blue eyes.
Who are you and what have you done with my father?
Was this another imposter?
Styxx looked back at Galen. “She didn’t complain.”
Galen arched a brow.
Much,
Styxx amended silently.
Frowning, his father took Styxx’s chin in his hand and turned his face so that he could study Styxx’s neck.
Cold panic gripped him. Was the handprint not gone?
“She must have been a biter. I can still see her teeth marks.”
A shiver of revulsion went down him at the memory of Apollo and his violent feedings. Styxx lifted his chlamys to cover that side of his neck.
His father clapped him on the arm. “Rest easy today. Since I didn’t know you’d be returning, I have nothing scheduled. You can resume your normal routine tomorrow.”
Still baffled by his father’s complacency at his absence, Styxx led Galen to the stairs. “What was that?”
Galen shrugged.
When they reached the hallway, Styxx paused and turned to the opposite direction of his room.
“Highness?”
“I want to meet my nephew.”
“Are you sure you’re up to it?”
He nodded as he made his way to Ryssa’s room. Just as he reached it, a servant opened the door to show him where they’d put the nursery.
Unsure of what to expect, he tentatively entered the room the servant had just left.
The nurse looked up and grimaced at his presence as if the mere sight of him sickened her. Styxx ignored her as he saw the boy lying on his back on top of a white fluffy sheepskin blanket. Someone had strung stuffed and wooden toys over him so that he could slap at them.
A smile curved his lips as he watched the most adorable baby he’d ever seen. Styxx sank down on the floor next to him. “Hey, sprout. Where’s your hair?”
Apollodorus’s blue eyes sparkled as he laughed and reached toward him.
Amazed and instantly in love with the tiny creature, Styxx held his hand out and smiled wider as his nephew grabbed on to his finger and squeezed. “You’ve got an impressive grip there, sprout. One day, you’ll be a fierce soldier … or at least good at holding your reins.” He wanted desperately to pick him up and hold him, but was scared to try. Apollodorus was way too small. But he was absolutely perfect and precious.
The door opened behind him. “What are you doing in here?”
He cringed at Ryssa’s shrill, angry voice. “I wanted to see my nephew.”
Shoving Styxx aside, she scooped Apollodorus up and stepped away from the brother she loathed. “You’re not welcome in here. I told you that. I want my son to grow up to be a man, and not a putrid bully like
you
. You are to stay away from him before you corrupt him.”
Styxx bowed to her. “I’m sorry I upset you, sister. Forgive me. I won’t disturb you again.”
The look on Galen’s face said that he wanted to say something to her, but Styxx shook his head. There was no need.
Styxx opened the door to find Acheron on his way in. His brother’s eyes flared with anger.
He stepped back to let him enter.
Acheron slammed his shoulder and elbow into him as he passed by. “Fucking bastard,” he growled under his breath.
Styxx laughed bitterly. “At least I’ve graduated up in rank from a generic asshole.”
Acheron turned on him.
Ryssa grabbed Acheron’s arm before he could attack. “Let it go, little brother. He’s not worth your being harmed again. He’s not worth anything.” She placed Apollodorus in Acheron’s arms then slammed the door in Styxx’s face.
Styxx took a deep, sarcastic breath. “Ah, blessed family. How I’ve missed them all.”
He saw his own grief and pain mirrored in Galen’s eyes. “That was wrong.”
Styxx tried not to think about it. “A wise man once told me that life, like war, is neither right nor wrong. It just is. And rather than worry over a philosophy you can’t change, you should just try to live through it as best you can.”
“You should have kicked that old bastard in his balls.”
“Yes, but you kick back, and hit like a stampeding horse.”
Galen pulled him into a fatherly embrace and kissed his head. “Let’s get you settled into bed so that you can finish healing.”
Styxx lifted his cloak to show him the blood that was seeping through his bandages and soaking his side. “My brother also hits hard.”
January 20, 9527 BC
“This was not our agreement,” Bethany breathed as she glared at Apollo and his dictate for Styxx’s absolution. The Olympian sat on his throne, smirking. Her fist itched to knock the smugness off his face.
You unbelievable bastard!
Tears choked her as she watched Styxx walk naked down the center aisle of Apollo’s temple in Didymos on the Apollodorian … the day when all freeborn members of the city were required to make offerings to their patron god. The temple was packed with citizens who were mortified and stunned by the condition of their prince’s body, which still bore telltale traces of what had been done to him in Atlantis.
He was cut, bruised, and scarred all over.
So much for trying to keep it from his father. The king stood to Apollo’s side with furious eyes that condemned his son. Meanwhile, Ryssa simpered next to Apollo, blatantly amused by her brother’s public humiliation.
“You have something to say to me, Prince Styxx?” Apollo asked loudly, making sure everyone in the temple knew exactly who he was.
With a dignity that astounded her, Styxx sank down to his knees on the cold stone floor in front of Apollo’s throne. “I am here to beg your forgiveness, my lord, for any offense I may have caused you.”
Apollo scoffed rudely. “You don’t sound particularly contrite. I think you need to repeat that, louder this time. And try to make it sound like you mean it.”
The people around them whispered and conjectured on the handprints, injuries, scars, and bruises that marred their prince’s body. Especially the huge sun symbol Apollo had burned into the center of Styxx’s back. Some laughed about it, thinking that was what caused Apollo’s outrage.
Their open mockery disgusted her.
Then she saw it.… Styxx flinched at their ridicule and laughter, and his jaw quivered as if he was reliving the horrors he’d suffered in Atlantis. Somehow, he managed to get a hold of himself and repeat his apology. “I have come here to beg your forgiveness, my lord, for any offense I may have caused you.”
Apollo sighed. “I’m still not hearing the appropriate tone from you. Indeed, there’s more insolence than apology.”
“My lord,” the king said, stepping forward. “May I ask what offense he committed against you?”
“Hubris.”
The king glared at Styxx as if he wanted to personally slaughter him.
Without a shred of compassion or care in her eyes, Ryssa sneered at her brother. “Surely such a high offense deserves a public beating, Father. Not even a prince is above a god. Let Styxx stand as an example to others to show what happens when they offend true divinity.”
Styxx’s breathing turned ragged, but he said nothing in defense of himself. He couldn’t. One word, and this treaty would be breached and Apollo would continue to own him.
The king nodded to the guards. They moved forward to take Styxx into custody while Apollo smiled in smug satisfaction.
His father curled his lip. “One hundred lashes. If he passes out, revive him.”
Her vision turned dark at the severity of that heartless and undeserved punishment.
You want a war, pig, you’ve got one.…
Bethany took on the guise of Athena and moved forward to stop the guards from taking possession of Styxx. As soon as she was seen, there was a collective gasp among the crowd.
She glared at Apollo. “Hubris you say, brother? Please, tell us the nature of the prince’s actions against you. Let everyone know exactly how Prince Styxx offended you.”
That definitely got the smirk off his face. “He has held himself up as a god. His arrogance and pride are an affront to us all.”
She arched her brow at him. “Held himself up as a god? Pray tell, when was this?”
Apollo’s look turned deadly.
“Ah, yes, I remember…” Bethany continued for him. “It was when he dared to slay your
Atlantean
grandson during battle. Is that not right, brother? I’m sure, like me, you remember that day well. The Atlanteans, led to our shores by your own blood kin, were slaughtering hundreds of Greeks until the beach sands turned red from good Greek blood. The onslaught was so fierce that entire veteran regiments fled from the Atlanteans and cowered. Even the brave, noble Dorians pulled back in fear. But not Prince Styxx. He rode in like a lion and jumped from his horse to save the life of a young shield-bearer who was about to be killed by one of the Atlantean giants.”
Bethany swept her gaze around the people there, who were completely silent now. “And with reckless disregard for his own life and limb, this prince picked the boy up and put him on the back of his royal steed and told him to ride to safety. He spent the rest of the day fighting on foot. Not as a prince or a god, but as a mere, heroic Greek soldier.”
She turned back to Apollo. “His actions so enraged the Atlantean gods that they turned all of their animosity toward him. And still Prince Styxx fought on for his people, wounded, bloody, and tired. He never backed off or backed down. Not even when your own grandson almost buried his axe through the prince’s skull. He hit Styxx’s hoplon so hard, it splintered a portion of it off. And as Xan held the prince down, the prince, who was barely more than a child, managed to stab him through the ribs. But now that I think about it, you don’t remember that day, do you, Apollo? You weren’t even there when it was fought, but later that very night—”