Stygian

  The boy answered with a scream.

  His heart hammering at the alert, Urian turned to see what had him alarmed.

  A human was running toward the children. He set the woman down with his powers and barely caught the armor-clad man before he could reach them. Urian manifested a sword and pulled his shield from where he’d left it. The shield flew through the fire and fighting to ricochet to his arm and fasten itself into place.

  Knocking the human back, Urian sliced the human’s arm with his short sword, then turned and caught him with the edge of the shield. In one smooth move, he turned and came around again to slice through the human’s throat with his kopis.

  The human let out a gurgled cry as he staggered back and fell to the ground to die.

  After double-checking to ensure that the man was dead, Urian fastened his shield to his back and returned to the mother and children. Since the woman was blind and had been through enough trauma for one night, he made sure to explain to her what he was doing before he touched her. “I’m taking the three of you to a place where you’ll be safe and the humans can’t reach you. Do you trust me?”

  “Aye,” their mother breathed, clutching his cloak tighter to her ravaged body.

  “My name’s Urian.”

  “Xanthia. My children are Geras and Nephele.”

  Disgusted with what had been done to them and wanting blood for it, Urian knew he had to stay focused on the task at hand. “Bear with me, good Xanthia. Now brace yourself. I’m about to wrap my arms around you to pick you up. Nothing more.” He carefully embraced her naked and bruised body and tried not to think about what had been done to her. The ruthless violence the poor woman had needlessly suffered. Damn the humans for this, and the pathetic Apollites who’d thought they could live in peace with such animals. “If you’re ready?”

  She nodded.

  Urian tried to be as gentle as he could as he lifted her.

  The moment his arms tightened around her, she choked on a sob and almost fought against his hold.

  “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “I know,” she breathed.

  But knowing something and not acting upon it were two entirely different things. He knew that better than anyone.

  Summoning a portal, Urian realized he had to be quick or her panic would get the best of her, and if she began fighting him in the portal, it could kill them all.

  The moment it opened, the children shrank back in fear.

  “It’s all right,” he assured them. “The light won’t hurt you. It’s not sunlight. We’re going to a land where no one will harm you. I swear it on my life and honor.” He held his hand out to Nephele. “Take my hand and hold tight and hold on to your brother.”

  She bit her lip in uncertainty.

  “It’ll be fine,” Xanthia whispered. “I think we can trust this one.”

  How sad that the girl’s tiny hand still trembled as she took his. That was what bothered him most—that a child so young would fear this much. She should only know trust and good things in life. As should all children.

  No one should know such betrayal and pain. Least of all a child.

  Choking on his rage, Urian made sure the children wouldn’t pull away and harm themselves, and then he walked them through the glowing light.

  Their screams echoed in his ears as the portal swept them from the human realm to Kalosis. Not that he blamed them. It was startling the first time through, when you didn’t know what to expect. Though it wasn’t much better even when you did.

  Not to mention, it was completely jarring when he landed in the center of the banquet hall, where his father sat on his throne with a stern glower that said he was only waiting there to devour whatever fool came through the shimmering mist to land at his feet.

  One made doubly worse because his father had no idea that any of his sons had left their dark domain that night.

  “Urian? What the hades is this?” His father’s glower went from him to the beaten, naked woman, then to her children.

  Aye, that was the face of a monster from legends that parents used to frighten children. Not even Urian was sure his father wouldn’t kill him.

  The children shrank back from that coarse bark with loud screams. Not that Urian blamed them. He’d seen grown men wet themselves before his father’s wrath.

  Kneeling, he gathered them to his chest while he kept Xanthia balanced against him. “Shh, children. It’s fine. Stryker is my solren. He won’t harm you.”

  Him, on the other hand, his father might beat for such blatant disobedience.

  Nephele calmed down first. “Your baba?”

  He nodded. “Don’t worry. He always looks fierce. But he only eats humans.” Smiling, he rubbed at Geras’s back. “He has a lot of sons and grandsons. I promise he’s not angry at you. I’m the one he wants to spank.”

  That succeeded in making the boy laugh. “B-b-b-but you’re a man. A fierce warrior who saved us!”

  “Not to my baba. Trust me. In his eyes, I’m no bigger than you are.”

  Nephele leaned over to her mother to whisper loudly. “Mata, his baba’s a Daimon! And he’s humongous!”

  “Shh, Neph. That might offend him.”

  Urian rose with Xanthia in his arms. “Their village was attacked by humans. I need Tannis to help with them. The lady is severely hurt.”

  His father’s simmering glower darkened to a murderous level. “Where are your brothers?”

  “Fighting.”

  “Trates!”

  Urian cringed at the rage in his tone. “Solren—”

  “Not one word from you until I get back. See to her and the children. Open the portal for us so that I know where you left your idiot brothers, and don’t you dare return to the fighting or so help me I’ll geld you where you stand to make sure you never stray from home again!”

  “Aye, sir.” Urian obeyed without question.

  As soon as his father and a group of Illuminati were gone, he glanced down at Geras. “Like I said, he still thinks I’m your age, bit. And brainless to boot.”

  Eyes wide, Geras clutched at Nephele’s arm while Urian led them from the hall toward his home. He used his telepathy to call for his sister so that she could meet him in the palace and have the beds waiting.

  Luckily, she was at the door with Archie’s wife when he arrived. He would have teleported them, but given how weak Xanthia was and the fear of the children who cringed at every shadow they passed, he didn’t want to risk doing more harm or trauma to any of them.

  Tannis gasped as soon as she caught sight of their bedraggled states.

  Tall and lithe, and the epitome of beauty, his sister-in-law winced at the shape they were in. He’d never understand how Archie had been so lucky as to land a wife so beautiful or kind. Or why, having done so, the idiot would ever cheat on her. Yet his brother strayed constantly for reasons only Archie knew.

  “Welcome, little ones. I’m Hagne. Why don’t you come with me and I’ll see you cleaned up while they tend your mata? I have hot water and toys waiting for you.” She cast a sympathetic, pained grimace toward Urian. “Are you all right?”

  He nodded.

  Her frown deepened. “Was Archie at least living when you left him?”

  “Aye.”

  “Thank the gods. ’Cause I want to be the one who kills him when he gets home.”

  That was so messed up, but honestly, he couldn’t blame her for it.

  Without a word, Urian carried Xanthia toward the bedrooms.

  Tannis rushed ahead of him. “You can put her in my old room. I’ve already had the servants ready a bed. She’ll be more comfortable there.”

  Since Urian knew his “guest” couldn’t see who was around them, he explained it for her. “Xanthia, this is my sister Tannis. I’m surrendering you to her care. She’s extremely gentle … at least to those who aren’t her brothers. And a good, kind lady to all.” Urian took her into Tannis’s room and laid her tenderly on the bed. “You’ll be in the best
of hands.”

  As he started to withdraw, Xanthia caught his arm. “Thank you.”

  “Think nothing of it. Rest now. I’ll make sure your children are well cared for until you’re better.” Feeling horrible for what they’d done to her, he patted her hand reassuringly and released her, then headed back to the receiving hall.

  Hagne was ordering servants to draw more hot water for the children to have a bath, and to bring clothing. As soon as she saw Urian, she pulled him aside. “Their father was killed in front of them. Did you know that?”

  He winced at the thought of the nightmares they’d have for the rest of eternity. “Nay. I didn’t really get a chance to ask about their father. Things were happening too fast when I found them.” Anger and grief choked him. “Did they see what happened to their mother?”

  “I don’t think so. From what I gathered out of watching them and listening, the boy’s father tossed him out the window and had him run into the stable when the humans came into their home. The boy looked back to see his father die. The girl, too, then she was hidden in their cellar by her mother in time to keep her out of their hands.”

  “Thank the gods.” Otherwise Nephele would have been raped, too.

  Suddenly and without warning, Hagne slapped him.

  His cheek stinging, Urian gaped at her. “What was that for?”

  “What were you doing there, anyway? With my husband!”

  Glaring at her, he rubbed at his abused jaw. Damn, she could hit almost as hard as a man.

  Then again, she hit harder than a couple of his brothers. “Escorting Davyn to see his brother-in-law on his twenty-seventh birthday, which starts at dawn. He wanted to be with his sister when her husband died. He didn’t want her and their children to be alone for it.”

  She slapped his arm where it was bare between his armored sleeve and vambrace. “You thoughtless ass! I could kill you and Paris! Damn you both for your stupidity!”

  Grimacing, he sputtered as he moved out of her striking range. Damn her for her long arms and their reach. She was like a toddler who could manage to stretch three times the expected distance. “Why? Archie hates us.”

  “Hades’s loincloth, he does. He can’t get along with you and your twin because you’re just like him, but he loves the two of you more than his own life. He’d die if anything happened to either of you, hence his stupidity in going along tonight, instead of staying home where he should have been.”

  Still unable to believe a word of it, Urian gaped at her. “Archimedes Strykeros? Big asshole? You know? The brute who spends his days trying to pummel me into the ground? Who holds me down and farts in my face?”

  “Aye. The same disgusting creature.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste of his vulgarity. “Believe it or not, he’s trying to toughen you up so that no one can hurt you.”

  “Oh, I don’t believe that for a heartbeat.”

  “Well, you should.” Hagne punched him in the arm one last time before she headed toward the children.

  Grimacing at the pain, Urian let out a fierce sigh. Damn, if it wasn’t his brothers beating his ass, it was one of his sisters. He couldn’t win for losing.

  “Uri?”

  Great … now it would be Tannis’s turn to have a go at him.

  He couldn’t wait to see what he’d done to piss her off and how she’d retaliate as he headed back down the hallway.

  His stomach tightened with every step until he reached the room where he’d left her. He put his shoulder against the door to push it open.

  Tannis was inside, next to the bed.

  Urian drew up short, confused by the scene. “You needed me?”

  “Aye.” She jerked her chin toward Xanthia. “Do you know where her husband is?”

  He lowered his voice to a whisper. “The humans killed him.”

  Tannis winced in sympathetic pain and sighed heavily. “She’s weak and needs to feed. Have you any of your blood to spare for her, then?”

  He had to force himself not to curl his lip, but Tannis was right. Xanthia was in no shape to feed the way an Apollite normally did. “I’ll see if any’s still fresh. It tends to go rancid fast.” That was the worst part about his father’s forced donations. They were only good for a few hours. Maybe a day, if he was lucky.

  Urian left them and went into his room. He headed to the small stone chest where he stored his blood bladders and unsealed the most recent one.

  Gingerly, he sniffed it.

  Oh yeah, that was some foul shit there … not that it was ever particularly appealing. Blood chilled quickly once it left a body. Began to decay almost instantly. Within minutes, the metallic taste worsened.

  After an hour, it was nauseating.

  But beggars couldn’t be choosers. So he carried it to his sister and handed it over.

  “It’s not much. She can have it all, though.” He was used to starving.

  “Thank you.”

  Inclining his head, Urian had barely reached the door when Xanthia began retching over the taste.

  “You have to drink it,” Tannis insisted in that frustrated tone she normally reserved for him. “If you don’t, you’ll die.”

  “I … I can’t!” She sobbed as she pushed it away and retched again.

  He knew the feeling. It was definitely an acquired taste, and she was used to fresh blood.

  Urian hesitated as he debated what to do. His sister was right. Without blood, Xanthia’s body wouldn’t heal, and she had children to feed. While they could take the blood of others, Apollite children usually preferred to feed from those they knew and were comfortable with rather than take blood from a stranger. Blood exchanges were up close and personal. Not something a young one wanted to do with someone they’d just met. That type of recklessness didn’t come along until puberty and accelerated hormones that craved getting laid by whatever was “handy.”

  Children normally only wanted their parents to hold them while they fed, especially since they tended to drift to sleep right after.

  Nephele and Geras had lost one parent tonight. They couldn’t afford to lose another.

  Before he could stop himself, he returned to the bed and began unlacing the vambrace Xyn had made for him. “Here.”

  Even though Xanthia couldn’t see him, she looked up, startled.

  As did his sister.

  Tannis scowled. “What are you doing?”

  “It’ll be fine,” he assured them both. “I can feed her from my arm.” He saw the terror on Xanthia’s face even though her sightless eyes had no idea if he was sincere or not. “My sister can stay to ensure your safety and well-being. I won’t touch you. Just take what you need so that you can feed your children.”

  Tannis shook her head. “Urian … it’ll weaken you.” Her gaze dropped to the gashes in his arm where his armor hadn’t covered him and he’d taken a few cuts from swords. “And you’re wounded.”

  “I’ll be fine, Tanny.” Those wounds needed a few stitches. He’d had worse injuries training with his brothers.

  Xanthia pulled the covers up to her chin. “Your wife won’t mind?”

  “I don’t have one.”

  “You’re a Daimon?”

  “Nay, I’m still an Apollite. You won’t be harmed.” He placed his arm just in front of her so that she could feel the heat of it. “It’s here when you’re ready. I promise I won’t come any closer. You’re as safe as if your solren were feeding you.”

  “My brother is a man of honor. He won’t break his word.”

  After a few more seconds of hesitation, Xanthia lowered the blanket and reached out to gingerly finger the flesh of his forearm. His skin tingled from the delicate sensation of her exploring the length of his limb.

  Her breath stirred him even more and made him harder than he’d ever been before as she licked her lips and gently fingered his flesh for a tender spot to bite.

  Urian closed his eyes and braced himself for the pain. He had no idea what to expect. It’d been so long since he last fed natural
ly that he couldn’t remember what it’d felt like. He knew that it was supposedly an entirely different sensation after puberty. But he’d always assumed that the hormonal surge was only felt by the one who fed.

  He was wrong.

  The moment she sank her fangs into his skin, his entire body came alive as if he’d been struck by lightning. Every single nerve ending he had drew taut. Worse, her feeding caused him to harden even more. Made him crave her with an unimaginable lust.

  Dear gods …

  He trembled from the force of it all.

  For the first time, he understood what a trelos must feel like before he or she went on a killing spree. Because this, this was madness.

  His breathing turned ragged as he fought down the urge to take her right then and there. Fisting his other hand, he forced himself not to move. He didn’t dare.

  And that was the most difficult thing he’d ever managed in his entire life. Every single molecule in his body wanted to feed and take her. It was an innate need so overwhelming that he had no idea how he was able to resist it.

  Tannis’s cheeks turned bright pink as she visibly grew more uncomfortable with each passing heartbeat. “I’m going to check on the children.” She practically ran from the room.

  Still, Urian didn’t move.

  He didn’t dare.

  Xanthia licked and sucked at his arm, growling as she drank in a more and more frenzied pace. She began to claw at his skin with her nails.

  Those sounds, combined with the smell of her rose-scented hair … all he wanted to do was bury himself deep inside her until he was covered with her warmth and scent, and lost in it.

  Worse, he wanted to feel her lips on his neck. To taste her blood in turn …

  Stop it! You’re not an animal!

  No, but he felt like one at the moment. The demon in him slithered and salivated.

  Until she sank her nails into his biceps and went completely still.

  With a startled gasp, she looked up at him.

  Her jaw dropped and quivered. The sight of his blood on her lips beckoned him even more. She licked at it, then reached up to touch his chin in startled alarm. “H-h-how can I see you? What are you?”