Stygian

  Urian felt the tears in his own throat as he more than understood that sentiment. God, if he could only have Phoebe back …

  Her lips trembling, Bethany smiled up at him as her own tears flowed. “I just wish we had our son with us.”

  “I know, precious,” he breathed.

  “Um … about that.”

  Styxx looked up at Apollymi’s trepidatious voice, which she had suddenly found again. “What?”

  Urian was amazed he’d bark that word at the goddess of destruction.

  “Remember my promise to you, Styxx?”

  “Yes?”

  Urian frowned as Apollymi began acting even stranger and more skittish.

  “I didn’t kill your son. I wanted to. Desperately. But as I looked down at that tiny, beautiful baby, I saw Apostolos and I couldn’t bring myself to hurt him.”

  Bethany gasped. “Where is he?”

  Apollymi’s gaze went to Urian.

  Okay … Dumbfounded by that, he turned around to look behind him.

  No one was there.

  What the hell?

  Styxx’s jaw dropped. “Urian is Galen?”

  Um, no … Not even. Was it? Urian shook his head. “It’s not possible. I was born before they died.”

  “No, you weren’t.” Apollymi smiled sadly. “Your father told you that because he didn’t want you to know that you and your brother were the first Apollites born cursed. And that was my fault. I intentionally chose Strykerius’s wife because I thought it would be the perfect revenge that Apollo should look after Styxx’s child given what he’d done to him. I had no idea he would curse all of you. Like Apostolos and Styxx, your blood mingled with that of Strykerius’s real son, and that made you a part of Strykerius, too.” She drew a ragged breath. “But yes. You, child, are the only being alive who is part human, Atlantean, Egyptian, and Apollite … and you are born with the blood of three pantheons, and gods inside you.”

  Aghast, Urian still couldn’t wrap his head around this. “Did Stryker ever know?”

  “In a way. I told him long ago, after you were grown and he wondered about some of your heightened abilities, such as your arm. That you were very special to this world, but not who your real parents were. Your unique bloodline was why the evil souls you once lived on didn’t turn you trelos. Why you could go longer between feedings than others of your kind, and how your blood sustained Phoebe while she lived. It’s also why Strykerius cut your throat instead of stabbing you in the heart. Unlike other Daimons, you wouldn’t have died from a heart wound. Only blood loss can kill you.”

  Staggered by her words, Urian looked at Acheron. “Did you know this?”

  “I knew it was odd that Stryker cut your throat, but no. I had no clue you were my nephew. My mother”—he passed a peeved glare at her—“never mentioned it to me.”

  Urian scowled as he grappled with this new reality he’d never imagined. “Man, I’m messed up right now. My best friend is my father? The man I idolized as a kid … whose tattoo is on my arm … And he’s younger than me. Yeah, I don’t think I can handle this. Mind-wipe me, somebody … please! Where’s that dragon from Sanctuary? Simi, go get Max. I need him.”

  Biting her lip, Bethany approached Urian tentatively.

  Urian choked as he realized that he still had a mother …

  She placed a gentle hand on his cheek as she stared up at him. “I see your father in you. My baby’s beautiful. Just like I knew you’d be.” She pulled him into her arms and held him tight. “I hate that I missed seeing you grow, but I do love you … my Urian.”

  Urian felt the connection to her. It rose up in a splash of warmth from inside him. In one instant, it reduced him back to the boy who’d watched his mother die. To the child who’d wanted nothing more than to feel that unique love that only came from a mother’s heart. The kind of love that never asked for anything in return. It didn’t judge. Or hate or hurt.

  It just gave.

  He pulled her into his arms and held her as if he’d been hers from birth. Styxx wrapped his arms around both of them.

  His eyes warm with pride, Styxx cupped Urian’s face in his hand. “My son.”

  Urian laughed. “Is it just me, or is that creepy?”

  Laughing, Styxx kissed his cheek. “Your poor mother has no idea how odd and quirky a child we have. But I can’t wait for her to know you.”

  Urian tightened his hand on hers. “Neither can I.”

  December 24, 2012

  Urian pulled back from his parents to realize that everyone had left the arena.

  Except Apollymi. Her crystal tears glistened against her pale cheeks as she watched them. “What I did to all of you was inexcusable. I lashed out in anger and pain, and what I thought was vengeance was nothing more than selfish envy. Because I knew I’d never be able to hold my baby, I took that pleasure from you, and for that, I am truly, truly sorry. But your son is why I saved the Apollites. Once my anger cooled, and I realized how wrong I was, I kept him safe for you both.”

  Urian looked at his parents. “In all fairness, she did.”

  A tic worked in Styxx’s jaw. “I can’t even begin to put into words how infuriated I am that I was alive and imprisoned, and missed seeing my son grow up—”

  Apollymi nodded. “I know, Styxx.”

  Urian tugged at his father’s arm. “And I can testify to that. I’ve witnessed her pain firsthand.”

  Nodding, Styxx met Apollymi’s gaze levelly. “Oddly enough, Apollymi, I can’t find any hatred for you right now. I’m too grateful to have them with me to waste one minute thinking about anything else.”

  Bethany took his hand and Urian’s. “I will probably hate you in the morning, Pol. But tonight, I’m with Styxx. I just want to be with my boys for a while.”

  Apollymi inclined her head to them. “The others quietly made their way back to the main temple and left the three of you to your privacy. Know that if you ever need anything … I will be here for you.” Her shade returned to Kalosis.

  Styxx turned toward Urian and his mother. “All I want to do is spend the night talking to both of you. But …”

  “Shit to do,” Urian said for him.

  Bethany tsked at Urian. “Who taught you how to speak?”

  Urian grinned unabashedly. “She’s going to be in for a rude awakening with all the modern changes and gadgets, isn’t she?”

  That deepened her frown. “How long have I been gone?”

  Styxx checked his watch. “Eleven thousand five hundred and thirty-nine years, one hundred eighty-three days, and roughly ten hours, give or take a few minutes.”

  Bethany gaped. “You really did count the heartbeats.”

  Styxx slid the sleeve back on his arm to show her where he’d carved her name. “You have no idea.”

  Urian’s stomach sank as he realized that it was his name there, too.

  Damn. All the times he’d seen it.

  This is my solren. He was the baby in those drawings that Styxx had labored over. It was so humbling to know exactly how much his father had wanted him.

  Until his mother kissed his name on his father’s arm, then lifted her lips to his.

  Urian whistled low. “You know, this would be awkward if you weren’t my parents. The parental designation ups the ick factor exponentially.”

  Yeah, it was probably immature, but he really couldn’t help it. There was something biological going on with his body, but yeah.

  Laughing, Bethany pulled away to frown at him. “I am desperate to know you.” She looked back at Styxx. “And you and I have a lot to talk about. But …”

  Styxx sighed. “We have gods to attend to.”

  She nodded. “I want to make sure they never threaten us again.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” Urian concurred.

  Bethany took their hands and teleported them to the main temple. As soon as she saw the signs of battle and the amount of blood on the walls and floor, she sucked her breath in sharply. Horrified, she met Styxx’s
sheepish gaze. “Please tell me that’s not yours.”

  “Some is, but a lot of it was Demonbrean. That bastard bleeds like a slaughtered pig.”

  When she started forward, Styxx refused to let go of her hand. She turned back with a frown.

  The agonized fear in his eyes made Urian wince. “I let go of your hand once when I didn’t want to, and it was the biggest mistake of my life. One I never intend to make again.”

  She laced her fingers with his and pulled him toward Acheron, who sat on his black throne, surrounded by the others. Urian hung back and moved to stand with Davyn, who held an ice pack to his head.

  “You all right?”

  Davyn nodded. “Sure. Good to be hit in the head from time to time.”

  He shook his head at the sarcasm.

  Rolling his eyes, Urian took stock of who was remaining among their numbers. Most of the gods were gone. The only ones left were Ma’at, Sin, Artemis, Simi, Apollo, and Xirena.

  Bethany moved to stand near the throne. Styxx pressed himself against her back and wrapped his arms around her waist, then rested his chin on top of her head as if he were afraid to let her go for even an instant.

  Acheron looked at them.

  “Catch us up?” Styxx asked.

  Simi blew an irritated breath out. “Akri won’t let me eat any of them nasty gods. What’s the world coming to when a demon gots to beg for tidbits … not even a finger sandwich. Tragic. Terribly tragic.”

  Urian laughed.

  Styxx whispered in Bethany’s ear. “I’ll explain Simi later.”

  Acheron let out a “heh” sound over Simi’s words. “Well, after the way you took Archon’s head, the rest are more than happy to be returned to stasis. But I was thinking of allowing a couple of them to be siphoned off by Kat and transitioned into the human world.”

  By Styxx’s expression, Urian could tell he wasn’t thrilled with the idea. But to his credit, he didn’t dismiss it out of turn. “Which ones?”

  “I wasn’t going to make the offer without conferring with you first. I know they were less than kind to you while you were here, and if you want to gut them, I’m going to help you.”

  Bethany looked up at Styxx with a frown. “When did you two become friends?”

  Styxx kissed the tip of her nose. “About five minutes before you woke up.”

  Her scowl deepened.

  “Dikastis,” Acheron continued, “I was going to leave alone … as long as you agree. He seems to be decent enough.”

  Bethany nodded. “He is extremely trustworthy and loyal so long as no rules are broken.”

  Urian didn’t have a problem with that.

  “Will Epithymia get her powers back?” Styxx asked.

  Sin laughed uproariously. “Hell to the no. Trust me. When Kat removes your powers, they stay gone. Technically, in theory, Kat could give them back. And I hate speaking for my wife while she’s not here, but I’m pretty sure Epi is going to learn to be without.”

  Urian laughed under his breath. Yeah, Sin would definitely be the expert on that. He could imagine the fights the two of them must have at home.

  “Leto is with Set and I’m not about to step in on that. Especially given what Seth and Artemis have told me about her and what she’s done to all of you.”

  Artemis lifted her chin proudly. “Yes, we threw her over the trolley.”

  Acheron groaned. “Under … bus, Artemis. You throw people under a bus.”

  “Whatever. My mother threatened my baby, and my loyalty is to Katra and Mia and no one else … until Katra has more children, and they have babies. But that’s it!” She pursed her lips. “Oh wait, there is one more, but that really is all and it’s not the bitch who hurt my girl. Either of them. I want Epithymia for my personal collection.”

  Acheron met Styxx’s gaze. “If anyone can make someone’s life a living hell, I can personally attest to Artemis’s expertise.”

  Urian choked on that comment and especially the murderous look Artemis gave him.

  Styxx nodded. “I’m in accord.”

  “Me, too,” Ma’at agreed.

  “Which leaves us with Apollo.” Acheron paused to sweep his gaze around the room. “Most of us have an equal claim against him, so I have no idea how to be fair about his fate.”

  Artemis sighed. “Even though I’d love it, you can’t kill him.”

  All of a sudden, Styxx started laughing in an evil tone that sent a chill down Urian’s spine as he couldn’t imagine what it meant.

  Bethany frowned. “Why does that scare me?”

  “Because I have the perfect gift for someone. Even Simi will approve.”

  Apollo shouted in outrage around his gag as he fought against Artemis’s diktyon net that held him tighter than a fly in a spiderweb. If he had his regular powers, he’d be able to escape. But Urian’s present—Verlyn’s necklace—kept them drained.

  Urian chuckled like a bad cartoon villain. “Remind me to never, ever piss off my father. And I don’t mean Stryker. Damn, Pops. This is soooo cold.”

  Artemis smiled. “Yes, well, payback’s a cat!”

  Acheron sighed and shook his head. “I absolutely give up.”

  “All right,” Styxx said, hauling Apollo to his feet. “One special delivery.” He kissed Bethany before he looked at Acheron. “Take care of my girl. I’ll be right back.” He turned to Urian. “You ready?”

  For this shit? Oh yeah. Artemis was right. Payback was a cat. And he was ready to meow.

  “After you, Solren.”

  To Urian’s shock, Styxx teleported them directly into Apollymi’s garden, where she sat, gazing into her mirror.

  Gasping in indignation, she rose to her feet. “What is this?”

  Urian covered his father, in case she blasted him. Ever fearless, Styxx forced Apollo to kneel before her. Totally naked and bound, Apollo had no choice but to obey. Urian would feel sorry for the Olympian had the bastard ever shown his people an ounce of mercy or compassion.

  But really, he wanted to see him cry.

  Styxx saluted Apollymi. “I come bearing gifts, my lady.”

  Inclining his head to them both, Urian removed the necklace from Apollo. “I’ll return this to Davyn and be right back.”

  Urian teleported to the home Davyn once shared with Paris. Davyn was waiting for him.

  The relief on his face was tangible. He pulled Urian against him and held him close. “You ever scare me like that and I will gut you.”

  “I know. Sorry.”

  Swallowing hard, Davyn let him go. “You know you’re all I have, right?”

  “I know. We’ve been through a lot.” Urian glanced around the sparse cottage that hadn’t changed in all the centuries he’d known him. “Have you thought about my offer?”

  For the last four years, Davyn had been able to walk in daylight. There was no reason for him to live here anymore. The Apollymians were free to leave. They weren’t locked here.

  Most stayed out of loyalty to Apollymi, who couldn’t leave.

  But Urian and Acheron had offered sanctuary to Davyn for all the years of service he’d given them.

  Davyn’s eyes turned bright with unshed tears. “I can’t leave, Uri. This is all I have of Paris. All my memories are here.”

  “You can’t move on, either.”

  “Who says I want to?”

  Urian could respect that. Pulling him closer, he kissed him on the forehead. “You know where I am if you need me.”

  “I know. Love you.”

  “You, too, brother.”

  Yet walking away from him was always hard. Davyn had always been the one constant in his life. If anything ever happened to him, Urian wouldn’t be able to cope.

  Not wanting to think about it, he headed back to Apollymi’s palace, where he’d left Styxx … his birth father.

  Styxx looked at him, then smiled at Apollymi, who was salivating over her gift. “Enjoy.”

  Together, they teleported back to Bethany, who was holding Sebastos whil
e talking to Tory and Ma’at.

  Urian had a surreal moment when it slammed into him again that she was his mother. Especially when she glanced over at them and smiled. “There he is. Bas, say hi to Uncle Styxx.”

  “Hi, Unkie Six!” he said, laughing and bouncing in Bethany’s arms.

  She tickled his belly until he squealed and kissed her. His little hand tangled in her long hair.

  “Are you all right?” Acheron asked as he came up behind Styxx.

  Styxx met Urian’s gaze and nodded. “I am.”

  He took Styxx’s hand and squeezed it, then went to Bethany. He brushed his hand over Sebastos’s curls. “Hi, Bas.”

  “You want to hold him?” Tory asked.

  Styxx shook his head. “I might break him and piss off Acheron.”

  Urian laughed.

  “You can’t break him, sweetie,” Bethany said.

  “I don’t know. The last time I held a child that age, I must have broken it ’cause it leaked all over me.”

  Bethany laughed so hard, she had to give Bas back to his mother before she dropped him.

  Tory kissed Bas’s head. “You’re right, Bethany. He’s hilarious.”

  “And now that he’s back,” Ma’at said, “we need to finish something. Will all of you excuse us?”

  Urian frowned. “Should I be worried?”

  Ash took his son from his wife. “Nah. They’re going to finish the ceremony to reunite Bethany’s heart. It’s all good.”

  “Ah.”

  “Don’t look so worried, Urian. They’ll be fine.”

  Ash said that, but something wasn’t right. Urian could feel it. His family was reunited. He should feel whole again, and a part of him did.

  Yet …

  He glanced around the room and he still had that vacuous ache that defied explanation.

  Alexion and Danger were sitting with Xirena and Simi, laughing. Tory and Ash and all seemed okay.

  But something wasn’t right. Something cosmically was out of order. Every Daimon and demigod sense he possessed knew it.

  Closing his eyes, he swore he could see the atoms of the universe realigning. Hear the aether whispering. This isn’t good. The winds of change were coming and they were bringing with them the scythe of upheaval.