“And when I needed him most, he turned his back.” She spat on the ground at Ruyn’s feet. “You’re lucky he cares nothing for you. Otherwise I’d send you back to him in pieces.”
Urian didn’t miss the pain those cruel words caused to flare inside Ruyn’s eyes. A deep-seated torment he quickly hid.
“Again, my quarrel is not with you, goddess. I only wanted to pay respects to my sister and her husband.”
She flung her hand out and this time her powers lashed across him like a razor whip, cutting deep into his flesh and leaving his clothes split and his body bleeding. “You ever breach my portal again without an invitation or key, dog, and I will send your head home to your father and your heart to your mother.”
To his credit, Ruyn barely reacted to the pain of that blow, which had to be agonizing. Rather he stood stalwart before the angry goddess and inclined his head. “Understood.”
And then he had the audacity to turn his back on her and walk toward Urian, who didn’t miss the white-knuckled grip he had on his staff that said he was barely keeping his temper in check.
Pushing himself away from his father, Urian moved closer to his brother-in-law. “I’m sorry, Ru.”
He wiped at the blood on his chest and shrugged. “I can handle physical pain.” Glancing back at Apollymi, he curled his lip. “Hers is no better or worse than my own mother’s loving touch.” Then his gaze turned stormy again. “Did Sheba suffer?”
“Nay. The attack was too quick.” Urian removed the necklace he wore that had belonged to his wife and handed it to Ruyn. A strange blending of her family, the amulet was a design of Thor’s hammer with a wolf and raven. “She would want you to have this more than me.” Urian tightened his grip in Ruyn’s hand. “I’ll also cede kingship to you. By all rights, it’s more yours than mine and I know she’d much rather see you as the leader of her people.”
Tears gathered in Ruyn’s eyes. His hand trembled. “Why would you give up a throne?”
He smiled. “I’m Greek. Apollymian. The Marzanni were Sheba’s. And I know what you did.” He projected his thoughts to Ruyn. Sheba told me the sacrifice you made so that she could live longer in spite of Apollo’s curse. What you did to save her tribe. He tightened his hand on Ruyn’s. “As Sheba said, we will always be allies. You and I will always be brothers, and while I may fight with my brothers over trivial things, I will never screw one over. Especially not for something as inconsequential as a throne.”
Ruyn yanked him forward into his embrace and held him for a long minute.
Urian felt his hot tears as he silently wept. With a ragged breath, Ruyn pounded Urian twice on his back and stepped away to clear his throat and wipe at his eyes.
Gruffly, he pulled his own necklace off and extended it toward Urian. “That is my mark. You need me, brother, you call and I will come. No matter what. No matter when.” He chucked Urian on the arm. “Remember, all roads lead to Ruyn.”
Urian snorted at his bad pun.
Then he sobered and cut a dark, serious grimace toward Urian’s family. “And let me leave you with one bit of advice, little brother, as I’ve lived a lot longer than both of you. Remember that you serve your goddess today. But loyalty given is seldom returned. Take it from a survivor of the Primus Bellum. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who we swear our fealty to, we’re just a bunch of demons to them. Useless things they will cast off and leave to die without a second thought. Me, Caleb, Dagon, Shadow, Xev … countless others. They thought nothing of us. Yet we sacrificed everything we had to the Kalosum to make sure they’d win—even though we were born to serve the darkness of the Mavromino, we fought for the Kalosum’s light. In the end, those who were supposed to be good, who were supposed to reward us for our service and had promised to do so, turned their backs on us and chose not to see us for who and what we really are. Instead of looking into our hearts and seeing what we’d given and lost, they threw us aside like garbage. When all was said and done, they were no better than the ones they’d hated, and for all the reasons they hated the other side. So be careful where you lay your trust, and twice as careful who you serve. It’s not so much don’t bite the hand that feeds you as to make sure you sever your master’s hand before it has a chance to strike you down for no reason other than they judge you unworthy of breathing their air.”
Ruyn sighed as he settled Sheba’s necklace over his heart. “It is ever the saddest indictment against humanity that they cannot live in peace. Too many believe the path to happiness can only be achieved by walking over those around them. When the truth is so much simpler.”
“If you can’t be happy alone, you’ll never be happy in a crowd.” Urian said the words before Ruyn had a chance, as they were something Sheba had often spoken to him. It was the philosophy their mother had raised them on.
Ruyn nodded. “If you can’t stand yourself, why should you expect anyone else to? And if you seek to cause harm to others, it will always return to cause harm to you.”
He was right about that.
“Take care of yourself, little brother. I hope we meet again.” And with that, he was gone.
While everyone slowly and nervously dispersed, Apollymi made her way toward Urian.
“How is your son, Strykerius?”
His father rubbed his back. “As well as can be expected.”
“He looks as if he needs to feed.”
Urian felt his face heat up at those words, given their personal nature. At least that was the one good thing to come out of his two marriages …
No one feared feeding him anymore. He now had women lining up to give him their blood.
Men, too.
And not just Davyn. It was actually quite disconcerting how many wanted a piece of him.
“I’m fine, akra.”
“If you have a moment, then, I should like to ask you about your attack.”
His father opened his mouth to protest, but Urian interrupted. “I’ll be fine, Solren. Just a moment.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded.
His father reluctantly allowed Urian to follow Apollymi back to her palace.
She didn’t speak until they were alone inside the marbled walls and out of the sight of prying eyes. Then she turned to face him with a probing stare. “Was it Helios, as they claim?”
“It could have been. But in all honestly, the attack was swift and fierce. I barely saw it before I was down.”
She cursed under her breath. “Keep your eyes peeled, Urian. There is much danger around us. Already, I’ve found one traitor and killed them.”
“For Helios?”
She nodded. “He’s after your grandfather and Rezar.”
He scowled at her words. While he understood why the Titan sun god would want to kill Apollo, who’d replaced him—there was no one alive who didn’t understand and know about that grudge match—Rezar was different. One of the oldest primal gods, he should have the powers to destroy Helios. Why would the Titan be so stupid as to pick a fight he couldn’t win? “I don’t understand.”
“And it’s good that you don’t. That will keep you alive. Just know that if you hear anything more about Helios, bring it to me.”
“Always, akra.”
“Good. Now go.”
Urian started away, then hesitated. “Before I go, may I ask one thing?”
She arched a brow at that.
“The dragon who guards your garden?”
Her eyes flashed red. “You needn’t worry over her anymore. She’s no longer here.” And with that, she vanished.
Those clipped words hit him like daggers through his flesh. They were a staggering blow that caused him to step back as he reeled from pain.
Gone?
How could Xyn be gone?
Urian stood without moving as he tried to come to grips with what Apollymi had just told him. A million questions ran through his head.
Had she died? Been killed?
What the hell did Apollymi mean she was n
o longer there?
Unable to accept that, he teleported to Sarraxyn’s cave so that he could see for himself what was going on. And to make sure it was the truth. Because honestly, he couldn’t accept it. He refused to accept it.
Until he saw the truth with his own eyes.
Her cave was empty.
She was gone and there was no trace left of his once beautiful dragon. Not a scale. Not a scuff on the floor. It was as if she’d never been.
And that tore his heart asunder. It bled pain through every molecule of his body. How could this have happened? Tears blinded him as his memories slammed into him and he cursed himself for not coming home sooner to see her.
For not ever apologizing.
She was human and I treated her like shit.
Hurt and wounded, he felt so guilty for everything he’d ever said or done. How could he have let them part like this? She’d been so important to him. Why hadn’t he told her that?
Just once?
I am an asshole.
Regret burned so deep inside him for everything that had gone unsaid. He’d hurt her and now there was no way to make amends.
Never harm a heart that loves you, for there are too many in this world that are out to cause you pain. His mother’s words haunted him now. She’d been right.
He’d wounded Xyn and for what? His own vanity?
My own stupidity.
For that, he deserved to be alone. Because in his heart, he knew he’d never have anyone else who could come close to his dragon. How could he? It wasn’t every day a guy met a woman who had those kinds of skills.
A woman who made him feel like he could fly. Whose smile made his heart sing.
How could he have given that up for anything?
Cold and alone, he’d started to leave when he caught a strange glimmer in the corner. Scowling, he headed toward it to see what it was.
How odd … Embedded in the wall of the cave was the small necklace Xyn always wore. She’d called it her dragon’s tear.
And in a small leather bag was a folded note. His hands shook as he unfolded it and then began to read the sweet, flowing script.
My dearest Urian,
While you are gone, my brother has secured my freedom. I don’t know if you’ll ever come back here or even think of me. You’ve no idea how many times I’ve regretted what happened between us.
That last night I saw you.
I miss my best friend in so many ways. There’s not a day that has passed without you in it when I haven’t carried your face in my heart, and I will do so until the day I die.
Wherever you are, I hope you’re happy, and I hope your wife knows how very lucky she is to have you as her own. That is the one thing I wish I could have called you. Just once. Please take care of yourself and if you do think of me, I hope you’ll forgive my words
that were spoken in anger. And that one day, maybe, you can think of me and smile again.
Just remember that I will always love you.
Ever yours,
Xyn
Unable to bear the guilt and pain, Urian closed his eyes and choked on his tears. He sank to his knees and cursed himself for having left in anger.
What have I done?
How could I have been so stupid?
She was a dragon. There was no way he’d ever be able to find her again.
July 1, 9506 BC
“So you live.”
Urian let out a tired sigh as he heard Xanthia’s sharp, shrill tone. Reclining in his chair, he was grateful his back was against the wall. Otherwise, she might very well have driven a dagger through his spine.
He looked from Ophion and Atreus, who sat across from him while they played a game of dice in the main hall, to his wife, who stood beside an Apollite he didn’t know, and smirked. “Much to your dismay, apparently.”
Her gaze narrowed on him, then softened. “You did manage to save the lives of my children. So for that, I might be able to find a degree of forgiveness for you.”
Somehow, he doubted that. And he wondered what point she had to this visit.
Sighing, Urian reached for the cup at his elbow that held the wine he’d taught his father’s people to brew from their blood. “How are the kids?”
“Geras misses you.”
He was stunned she admitted that. Normally, she only berated and cursed him during their exchanges. “I miss him, too.” Urian reached for the dice.
And still she stood there. Eyeing him in awkward silence.
He rolled his turn and lost. Apparently, she was sucking out all his luck as well as his good humor. “Is there something else you need, Thia?”
“I was curious if you’d found a place to stay since your return.”
His brothers snorted in unison.
Urian gave them both a droll stare as he wondered why she’d bother to ask him that, given the way they’d last parted company. Surely she wasn’t offering herself to him now. Was she mad?
He glared at his brothers. “What are you laughing at, you hyenas?”
Atreus blinked at him with giant goo-goo eyes. “Take me home, you big strapping stud, and feed me! I’m starving for you!” He started panting and pawing at Urian.
That was bad enough.
Worse? Ophion joined in on it. He even went as far as to plant a sloppy kiss on Urian’s lips.
Disgusted, Urian shoved at them. “I swear to the gods, Solren should have sacrificed you both to Eunomia to spare me this madness!”
Xanthia rolled her eyes at his brothers, then turned her attention to Urian. “Should I leave my door unlocked?”
Holy shit, she wasn’t joking. She’d actually been making a play for him. Helios was riding icicles now.
And Urian would be crying them before he ever repeated the mistake of returning to Xanthia’s bed.
Smirking, he cut his eyes to his brothers. “How could I leave a home where I’m so wanted?” He leaned back against his brothers so that they could grope him more openly.
She screwed her face up in distaste. “You’re all degenerates!”
“We are?” Urian asked with a laugh. “You’re the one I caught fucking Erol! At least my brothers aren’t diseased.”
Shrieking in outrage, she rushed through the crowded hall to flee their presence as quickly as possible, while calling him every name she could think of.
Ophion sucked his breath in sharply as he moved away. “Damn, Uri, that was cold.”
Unrepentant, he sat up with a grimace and straightened his clothes. “Not as cold as I’d like to be. Besides, I didn’t do it in front of the kids and I have yet to kill her.” Tannis still wasn’t speaking to him over the fact that she was a widow after Urian had dispensed with her first husband.
Though to be honest, his sister should be grateful. Her second husband was much kinder to her than that ass had ever been. Especially whenever Urian was around, as he didn’t want to meet the same fate as Erol.
All marriages should have one good disembowelment in them. It set the tone for proper respect.
Atreus fell silent as they resumed their game.
Ophion wasn’t so kind. “So what are you going to do for food?”
Urian glanced over to where one of the xōrōn was soliciting a client while both of them eyed him like he was the sweetmeat of choice. Finding someone to feed him these days wasn’t the problem. “I’m done with marriage.”
“For now, you mean?”
His gut clenched at his brother’s question as remorse and guilt speared him. He touched Xyn’s necklace, which was concealed beneath his chiton, and tried his best not to think of the one and only woman he’d ever met who’d understood him completely. She alone had known his soul.
And she was lost to him.
“Forever.”
March 22, 9503 BC
“Urian!”
Sucking his breath in, Urian groaned at the sharp hysterical tone. At first, he thought it was his sister’s screeching howl. Surely, no one but Tannis could hit that
particularly heinous note.
But as it continued and grew even louder and shriller, he realized it was Xanthia.
And it took on a whole new level as she crashed into his room and found him entwined in furs on the floor with three naked women who were draped over and under him. Not that he liked the floor. Simply, it’d been the only option as the bed wouldn’t accommodate all of them and the bacchanalian orgy they’d been having the night before.
“What is this?”
He would assume it was fairly obvious given that his pillow was an extremely large bosom, and there was really no doubt given where his hand was buried. And he knew from having walked in on his ex-wife’s antics that she was by no means a woman of pristine virtue.
“Keep your tone down,” he snapped, then cursed himself as even his whispered tone cut through his head like a dagger. “What’s wrong with you now?” He yawned and carefully extracted his hand so as not to harm his sleeping companion whose name he couldn’t quite remember.
“It’s Nephele! For spite, she’s run off with that … that … piece of nothing I forbid her to marry!”
Rubbing at his head, he lay back down and snuggled up to the nicely rounded, warm bosom on his right. To his deepest chagrin, he couldn’t recall the name of its owner either. But then to be fair, she hadn’t asked his. “I’m sure she’s at Daphne’s or Idora’s.”
Xanthia moved to squat beside his pallet and dared to tug the covers off him. “You’re not listening to me, Urian!” She rudely shoved something in his face. “She’s left Kalosis!”
He blinked to clear his vision and took the note she was waving in front of his nose. After a couple of seconds, he was able to focus on the words.
And with each one he read, his blood ran cold.
“Damn it, woman! Where were you when she did this?” He rose to his feet.
Xanthia’s nostrils flared. “Certainly not trapped between the thighs of a whore!”
He glared at her. “I wouldn’t tilt at that dragon were I you.” He ground his teeth and reread the letter. “I can’t believe she went to the human realm.”