Authors: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Sure they were …
So she answered for her beloved. “He is going to marry me here in Thebes, in just under three weeks.”
That didn’t placate her father even a tiny bit. “I still want to meet him before you make any commitments.”
She wasn’t too sure about that. She rather liked having Styxx in one unbroken piece. “Only if you promise me you won’t spear his head to a wall or tear off a vital part of his anatomy.”
“Define
vital
. As in something he
can
live without or something you don’t want him to be without?”
Unamused, she narrowed her gaze to let him know how serious she was. “Papas!”
He held his hands up in surrender. “Can I have a small testicle ripping?”
She gaped at him.
And then he tsked at her reaction. “Come, daughter … just one ball. He won’t even miss it. Neither will you.”
She smirked.
He let out another tired sigh. “Fine then. I promise I won’t hurt your betrothed … today. I make no promises about the future should he do you or the baby harm.”
For her father, that was quite a sacrifice, and it would be the best she could get out of him. But that being said, she had no doubt he’d love Styxx as much as she did once they met. “All right. But you should know before we go that he’s Greek.”
He twisted his face up into a look of supreme disgust. “Not even Egyptian … I blame your mother for this.”
“That’s fine, as she blames you for most of my bad habits. And speaking of Mom, he doesn’t know who she is yet. I’d like to keep it that way, too.”
Her father gave her an arch stare.
“He’s Greek, Papas,” she reiterated. “He was also the one who invaded Atlantis.”
Her father let out a most evil laugh. “Styxx of Didymos?” The fact he knew the name said it all.
“Yes.”
He sucked his breath in sharply. “The maternal side of your family will be even less pleased with your choice than I am.”
She was well aware of that fact, which was why she’d delayed the wedding. Hopefully by then, all the mess with Apostolos would be behind them and her maternal side would be a little more accepting of her husband.
“I know, and neither will Styxx.” His aversion was really the only thing that concerned her, especially given what her family had done to him while they’d held him in Atlantis. She prayed Styxx would be able to let the past go and learn to forgive her family in time. “I’m hoping the baby will help to bridge everything.”
Her father released an elongated breath. “Secrets are never a good thing, child. Especially between lovers. But I won’t tell him. That is your place, not mine.”
“Thank you.” She held her hand out for him. The moment he took it, she used her powers to flash them into Styxx’s private receiving room. “I’m tucking my powers in to keep from upsetting the Greek pantheon.”
“Probably for the best. So where do we go?”
She shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure. He’s usually here this time of day.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Styxx walked in from the bathing room … completely naked.
Gaping, Styxx sputtered at the unexpected sight of Bethany and her gigantic guest. Horrified, he quickly reversed direction and grabbed the towel he’d left on the floor by the pool.
Please tell me that’s not her father.…
“Um, Styxx?”
He flinched at her sweet voice that could have warned him before he’d embarrassed himself by walking about with all his business hanging loose. Granted, he was in his private chambers.… That didn’t really matter to him at the moment. “I’ll be right out,
akribos
.”
“At least he speaks Egyptian. Mixed with Greek, but…”
Styxx cringed inwardly at that deep rumbling voice that shook the walls around him. This was so not how he’d wanted to meet his future in-laws.
Have I not suffered enough degradations in my life? Really?
Aggravated and humiliated, he returned with the towel wrapped around his hips to find Bethany standing next to a man who didn’t look that much older than either of them.… Still, he bore enough resemblance to Bethany that Styxx knew his death was imminent.
Especially since the well-muscled man towered over Styxx by a good foot. Crap. She’d neglected to tell him just how large a man her father was.
“Hmmm,” the man said, narrowing his stern gaze on Styxx. “He’s not a coward. That’s a plus.”
She laughed. “Papas, stop teasing him.”
With that confirmation of the man’s identity, Styxx wanted to melt into the floor and vanish. This was definitely not the way he’d envisioned meeting her father.
Clothes would have been a nice option.
“Forgive me, Lord Set, I wasn’t expecting company.”
“I should hope not, given your state of undress. While I’ve often said the Greeks are uncivilized, as a rule you do generally have enough manners not to walk around bare-assed with company present.”
Bethany scowled at him. “Please, stop. I’m sure Styxx is mortified enough.” She approached Styxx. “I’m so sorry we didn’t warn you. My father found out about the baby, and insisted he meet you immediately.”
Without thinking, Styxx started to wrap his arms around her as he normally would then caught himself as he remembered her father’s proclivity for slicing off parts of male anatomy, and that was from men who hadn’t impregnated his only daughter. “Um…”
Set laughed. “And he appears to be housebroken, otherwise he’d have made a mess just now when he reached to touch you, daughter.” He stepped forward and offered his hand to Styxx. “Relax, son. The way your entire face lit up when you first saw my girl tells me everything I need to know about how you feel where she’s concerned … and I know how she feels about you. So long as I love my daughter, you are safe from harm.”
When Styxx went to take his hand, Set jerked him into a fatherly embrace. He tightened his grip around Styxx to show him just how inhumanly strong he was. “But should you ever break her heart, I will dine on yours.”
“Papas!”
He kissed Styxx’s cheek before he released him. “I’m merely having fun with him, Bet. Surely you can allow me that much. It’s not every day I get a new child, never mind two of them at once.” He stepped back then frowned.
Before Styxx could ask what had him upset, Set turned Styxx around to examine his back. Clenching his teeth, Styxx knew exactly what had him irritated.
“You’re marked by Apollo?”
Styxx had to force himself not to growl over something that was still a huge sore spot for him. “I was. He released me.”
Set’s eyes turned to a deep gold color that matched Bethany’s. “You should know, I hate that bastard. Passionately.”
“Then we are united, my lord. I hold no love of him either. He marked me against my will, and I haven’t forgiven it.”
That immediately relaxed the older god and changed his eyes back to a deep blue. “You are even more welcomed to my family, Styxx. I extend my protection to you. Should he ever come at you again, let me know.”
“I appreciate it, my lord. Thank you.”
Set inclined his head then turned toward Bethany. “While I’m still not thrilled he’s Greek, at least you chose a prince and a champion who speaks our language.” He glanced back at Styxx and smiled. “And I can pretend his towel is a shendyt.”
Styxx visibly cringed this time. “I hope I haven’t overly offended you.”
“By your lack of dress? Not at all. Impregnating my daughter—”
Bethany slapped him in the stomach, causing him to cut off his words mid-sentence. “Stop, Papas. He doesn’t know you’re teasing him.”
“Who said I was teasing?”
“He’s teasing you, my love, and now he’s going.”
Set opened his mouth to protest then clamped his jaw shut as if he knew better than to try. “Fine. I shall leave you two alone. But I will see you at dinner tonight, daughter. We have a wedding to discuss. Whatever plans you’ve made, I am sure they’re inadequate.”
He vanished instantly.
Bethany held her hand out toward Styxx. “You are still alive, right?”
Styxx laughed nervously. “For the moment.”
“Are you completely embarrassed?”
“To the core of my being. But I’m too grateful to have survived the encounter with all my body parts intact to complain.” Now that they were alone, he wrapped his arms around her and splayed his hands against her stomach to feel their baby. “Little Galen is extremely active today.”
“I think he knows the sound of your voice. Anytime you speak, he immediately starts moving.”
“Really?”
She nodded and pulled his hand lower to where their son was really thrashing about.
“Does that hurt you?”
“No. Not at all. Though he does wake me occasionally at night when he stirs.”
“I can’t wait to meet him.” And yet Styxx couldn’t shake the bad feeling that stayed in his own stomach.
She kissed his cheek. “Are you ready for your birthday celebration?”
Sighing, he pulled away from her. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about that.”
Bethany scowled at the odd note in his voice. “What?”
“There’s no way for me to say this without it sounding bad so I’m just going to say it and please don’t be offended.”
With every word he spoke, her panic mounted. “What?” she repeated.
“I don’t want you here for it.”
She was definitely offended. “Why?”
“I have a terrible feeling, Beth. One that won’t go away. I would just rather you be safe and away from here.”
She winced at the needless fears that constantly plagued him. Especially since Galen’s death. He was terrified the gods would rob him of anyone he cared for. “I’ll be fine, love. It’s just your war nerves again, and I understand. You’ve had too many vicious attacks. But no one’s going to hurt me or the baby.”
“Beth—”
“Styxx … it will be fine. Trust me. You’ve spent too many birthdays with people who don’t love you. The baby and I want to be here for this one.”
Closing his eyes, Styxx wanted to curse her love for him. But how could he? It was too rare a commodity for him to spurn it. “Fine, but promise me that we will leave as soon as it’s done. We will go to Egypt and stay there where your family can protect you until after the baby’s born.”
“If that is what you want then I’m agreeable. But it’s not necessary.”
“For my sanity, it is.”
“All right. For the sake of your sanity.” She kissed his cheek again.
He left her to dress and only then did Bethany feel a twinge of his fear.
But she dismissed it. After his birthday, she intended to drink Ma’at’s serum and become fully human. In four days, they would be headed to Egypt and no one would ever be able to harm them again.
She would put his fears to rest and all would be right in the world.
June 22, 9527 BC
Styxx raked his hands through his hair as the voices of a thousand people screamed in his head. Because of the number of people his father had invited, he’d been in pain all day. So much so that his nose had poured blood throughout the morning. Honestly, he couldn’t stand it.
The only person he wanted to see wasn’t here yet, and a part of him hoped that Bethany would heed his fear and not show up at all.
His only saving grace was the fact that neither Acheron nor Ryssa had come near him. Rather they were sequestered in her rooms, no doubt wishing for his brutal demise.
Perhaps he should assign more tasters for his food tonight.…
Smoothing his hair down, he returned his hated golden-leaf crown to his head.
Even worse than the feeling of dread that refused to go away was the grief he had over the absence of Galen. This was the first time in over a decade that he hadn’t spent at least part of his birthday with the old man.
“You want an award for being born? What’s wrong with you, boy? The world don’t give out awards for births.”
For five years, that had been Galen’s rant.
Tears choked him as he remembered the next anniversary.
His father had been a complete ass as Styxx had been forced to listen to court sessions all morning while trying to hide a vicious nosebleed. As for his “gift” from his father, it’d been a “personal” donation to the city for a monument to honor the king.
By the time Styxx had gone to practice, with his mother’s and Ryssa’s insults ringing in his ears, he’d been completely deflated and morose.
Until he’d gone in to change his clothes. Sitting on the shelf had been a pair of black and bronze vambraces that matched his armor.
Awed by the sight, he’d assumed they were put there by mistake.
“They don’t bite, boy. Try them on. See if they fit.”
Frowning, he’d turned to see Galen standing in the doorway with a wide grin on his face. “Who do they belong to?”
Galen had laughed. “You, Highness. They’re my gift to you. Happy birthday,
gios
. I hope they always protect you in battle.”
His eyes tearing from the memory, Styxx went to his chest and pulled them out. He wasn’t sure who’d been prouder of them. Galen for the giving or him for the receiving. And they had served him well in battle.
“I miss you, Galen,” he breathed, wishing he could see his mentor one more time.
But then he had a lot of regrets.
Sighing, he wrapped the vambraces back in their protective oiled cloth and tucked them in beside the wooden horse that Acheron wanted nothing to do with. He would give it to his own son to play with one day.
“Happy birthday, little brother,” he whispered, knowing Acheron’s perfect gift would be Styxx’s head on a platter.
Suddenly, he heard a loud fanfare outside.
His rapid heartbeat pounded more pain through his head as he went to the windows to see who was arriving.
Bethany.
“I could strangle you for not listening to me.” But the rest of him didn’t agree with his brain. In spite of his common sense, he was thrilled she’d come.
He left his room to greet her and with every step, he prayed that she was right. That it was just his stupidity that made him dread this day so much.
June 23, 9527 BC
Bethany was laughing in bed with Styxx when she heard an ear-splitting scream that echoed through the ether, which only the gods and a few others could hear … The horrified agony of utmost heartache. She knew the source of the sound in an instant.