Styxx

Bethany ran to the palace with Dynatos in front of her. Even now, she heard her great-grandfather's laughter as he announced Galen's death to the Atlantean gods. They barely missed Prince Prick, but they got the old bastard who rode with him.



Styxx would be absolutely devastated.



The doors opened and she stepped inside.



"May I help you?"



Holding on to Dynatos so that he wouldn't hurt or frighten anyone, she paused at the voice of a servant on her right. "I'm here for Prince Styxx. Please show me to him."



The servant started to lead her until a sharp female voice halted them.



"What are you doing?"



"The prince has a visitor."



"No, he doesn't. The prince doesn't receive commoners in our private quarters ... only in the throne room on designated days."



Bethany went ramrod stiff at Ryssa's haughty tone. She felt the air stir as the princess moved to stand in front of her.



"And in the future, we don't let whores through the front door. In fact, they are not to be admitted to the premises at all."



Unable to not respond in kind, Bethany arched her brow. "Then where do you plan to live?"



Ryssa sucked her breath in sharply. "Do you know who you're talking to?"



"Styxx's sister, I presume."



"That would be prince to you, peasant, and princess when you address me."



Bethany started past her, but Ryssa caught her by the arm and dug her nails into Bethany's skin.



"Did you not hear me?"



Bethany held Dynatos back as he growled angrily at the princess. "I heard you and I don't care. Styxx needs me."



"Get out before I have you whipped for your insolence. My brother has whores aplenty. I don't even know which one you are, and I don't care. I am not having him bring his whores under the same roof as my son ... the son of the god Apollo.... Guards! Throw this trash to the street where it belongs."



Bethany snatched her arm free. "I've always found it intriguing how humans project their sins onto others. Your brother isn't the beast. And if you'd ever once in the last five years had a conversation with him, you'd well know my name."



Dynatos started barking and growling.



Bethany sank her hand into his fur to calm him. "I promise you, bitch. I will be back, and you will be very sorry for this."



Ryssa started for her, but Dynatos kept her away.



Without another word, Bethany left.



* * *



Styxx frowned as he heard something that sounded like a dog barking in the foyer. Leaving his room, he went to check.



Ryssa was coming up the stairs in a complete pique.



"Did I hear a dog downstairs?"



She raked him with a sneer that should have stripped the flesh from his bones. "Yes, your Nubian whore was here to see you and I threw her out."



Rage clouded his vision as he ran past his sister and went to find Bethany. He rushed through the doors and scanned the crowd on the street, but there was no sign of her or Dynatos.



Damn you, Ryssa. You selfish bitch.



Still, Bethany had come to him. That alone meant everything.



Furious and heartbroken, he returned inside to find Ryssa at the top of the stairs.



"In the future, tell your whores they are not welcome in the palace. And for the sake of the gods, wash yourself. You're disgusting."



Styxx ignored her as he walked past her.



"Did you hear me?"



He started to ignore her again, but he'd had enough. "Bethany is my fiancee, you stupid quim. She's not Nubian, she's Egyptian. And I've had enough of you insulting her. So help me, if you say one more word against her, I will have you exiled."



She started to slap him, but he caught her wrist. "How do you think Apollo will deal with your treatment of me when I tell him of this?"



"I don't know, but I'll ask him the next time he corners me for a grope."



"How dare you defame him!"



"Go fuck yourself, Ryssa." Releasing her arm, he headed back to where he'd been preparing Galen's body.



Alone.



He'd already sent an envoy to Antigone to escort her and her family here for the funeral. And while the task of preparing a body was normally reserved for women and priests, he didn't want anyone near Galen who didn't respect or love him. He owed him that much.



But it was so hard to be here. To do this.



Agony and regret mixed with his grief until he couldn't breathe. Shutting the door to his room, he went to finish.



* * *



"Maahes?" Bethany called as she entered her cousin's elaborate gold-encrusted temple in Thebes.



With his dark brown hair completely covered by his pschent headdress, and his bright green eyes gleaming, he appeared in front of her before she finished the last syllable of his name. The smile on his face faded the instant he saw how upset she was. "Baby, what is it?" At six foot six, he was a huge wall of muscle who dwarfed her, and yet he'd always been a cuddly pup with her.



Bethany sniffed back her tears. "I need twenty-four of the biggest, strongest, scariest men you have in your army for an envoy to Greece."



He arched a brow that had been darkened by cosmetics. "Are we going to war?" he asked hopefully.



As the Egyptian god of war, he was often too eager for battle.



"No," she said petulantly as the horror of what had just happened in Didymos replayed through her mind. She was furious, hurt, grief-stricken, and embarrassed. "A friend is dead and the bitch won't let me in to see Styxx. I want to terrify her and show them that I'm not a piece of trash to be thrown out!"



Maahes frowned as he tried to make sense of her rushed words. "What?"



"Nothing." She drew a ragged breath. "Please ... I need the most impressive envoy you can muster, right away."



"Anything for my dearest. You want elephants, too?"



She let out a pain-filled laugh at the thought of Ryssa's expression should they ride into town on those. "No, we'll be arriving by barge."



"I can have the elephants carry it or fly it in."



And this was why she loved her cousin so. Maahes was ever a gem.



"A little more believably subtle, please."



He kissed her forehead. "Okay, baby. How soon do you want it?"



"Twenty minutes?"



"Done. I'll meet you at the docks."



"Thank you." Bethany kissed his cheek then went to her aunt Ma'at's temple. Invisible to the priests, she walked through the sacred south wall into the antechamber the priests knew nothing about. It was here her aunt kept some of her choicest items.



"Aunt Ma'at?"



Her aunt appeared even faster than Maahes had. "Child, you're pregnant!"



Bethany cringed then brought her finger to her lips to silence her aunt. "Don't tell my father, or anyone, please?"



"Never." As tiny and delicate as Maahes was large, Ma'at wrinkled her nose. "I'm not that brave."



Bethany smiled then hugged her aunt for the kindness. "I need some help. May I borrow your most elaborate dress and jewelry?"



Ma'at arched a regal brow. "May I ask why?"



"To make a point to someone who was very rude to me. She treated me like a peasant and called me trash!"



Fury glittered in her green eyes. "In that case..."



Bethany lifted her chin proudly as her aunt dressed her in Egyptian finery.



Ma'at manifested a bright bronze mirror for her to see herself. Her aunt leaned against the mirror's side as she eyed Bethany with a smile of satisfaction. "Too much?"



In spite of her pain, Bethany laughed. Ma'at had put her in a solid black sheath with a muslin scarf threaded with gold draped around her hips and a golden jewel-encrusted sash that held it in place. Gold and turquoise bands held a matching gold muslin drape to her arms. Her huge ankh-embellished collar was made of coral, pearls, gold, and turquoise with matching earrings. But it was her headdress that was perfection. Elaborately sculpted, it was a large gold bird with a single gold feather at the back of it. The sides of the headdress were gold beads that fell down to her shoulders, overlapping the collar. Her eyes were heavily lined and she dripped with the wealth of Egypt.



No one would call her a peasant in this.



"It's perfect."



"Very well then. Whatever mischief you're up to, I wish you luck."



"Thank you." She kissed her aunt on both cheeks then went to see how Maahes was progressing.



A slow smile curled her lips as she saw the small army he'd assembled. Huge and well muscled, they were dressed in short shendyts made of leopard skins with jeweled collars and anklets. Even better, he'd brought along eight of his personal pet lions, which were lying next to her gold seat.



Maahes wore an elaborate headdress and mask in the shape of a lion's head that had a uraeus at the top of it. His shendyt was made of lion skin and covered with a gold drape and belt. Like hers, his ankh collar was massive and encrusted with rubies, and he had matching gold wristbands and armbands.



His dress surprised her. "You're coming?" she asked.



"Absolutely. No one insults my girl without a severe thrashing from me."



She tsked at him. "No bloodshed."



He poked his bottom lip out playfully. "Can I have a little, please?"



"Maahes..."



He pouted even more. "One eyeball? Or a testicle? Please give me something, Bet, my pet."



Laughing, she hugged him. "Please restrain yourself, cousin. This is a peace mission."



"Don't say that P word around me. It causes me great agony."



She shook her head then took her seat on the barge.



Maahes gave the signal and they were dropped in an area just in front of Didymos so that they could make a grand appearance at the docks without raising human suspicions.



As soon as they were moored, Maahes had his men bring an elaborate gold jewel-encrusted litter up from storage to carry her in.



Ryssa was about to get a severe lesson in manners she hoped the snotty bitch choked on.



* * *



Styxx jumped as someone pounded on his door.



Angry at being interrupted again, he answered it to find a guard there.



"His Majesty summons you, Highness. Immediately."



He started to tear the man's head off, but refrained. It wasn't the guard's fault he'd been sent on this errand, and Styxx didn't want to bring an innocent man into conflict with his king. However, his father would have the same reaction to Styxx's appearance that Ryssa had, since Styxx was still filthy.



And covered in Galen's blood.



Screw it ...



He followed the guard downstairs to where his father and Ryssa were waiting in the foyer.



As expected, his father scowled at his bloodstained clothing.



"What?" Styxx asked irritably.



For once his father didn't comment on the disrespect. "We have an envoy here from Egypt. Judging from the report, I think it might be Nefertari."



Styxx rubbed at his forehead as he tried to understand what was going on. "Why would she be here?"



His father shrugged.



Styxx passed an irritated glance to Ryssa who was still angry at him over Bethany then he looked back at his father. "I really don't want to deal with this right now."



"You never want to deal with your duties," Ryssa sneered.



Their father stiffened. "And I will have words with you later over what you said earlier to your sister."



I really don't care.



Crossing his arms over his chest, Styxx hung back in the doorway as his father and sister went outside to greet the impressive envoy that came through the palace gates.



There was so much gold wrapped around the people and litter that it was hard to look at them directly. There were twenty-five men in all and one elaborately dressed woman. Six huge Nubian males set the litter down and a man dressed like a lion helped the tiny woman out of it. He tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and led her up the stairs with eight massive lions leading the way for them.



It wasn't until the couple rudely bypassed his father and Ryssa that Styxx recognized the woman through the heavy eyeliner and makeup she wore.



"Bethany?" he breathed, rushing forward.



She let go of the man escorting her. "Styxx?"



Reaching her, he pulled her into his arms. "It's me, akribos."



Bethany held him tight against her as Maahes and his men closed rank around them to keep anyone from approaching them. Styxx trembled in her arms as his tears fell against her neck. Her heart shattered at the loss she knew he felt. "I know, precious. I'm so sorry about Galen. I loved him, too."



"Excuse me?" the king demanded. "What is this?"



Maahes growled deep in his throat. "None of your business."



"Do you know who I am?"



Maahes gave a rude snort. "Not a clue. Don't care, either."



"But you might care about us."



Styxx lifted his head as he heard Apollo's irate voice. Damn, he thought that tone was only reserved for him whenever he defied the god. The Olympian stood beside Athena, and neither of them appeared pleased.



Apollo glared at Bethany and the men with her. "What are you doing here, Maahes?"



The man in the lion mask shrugged nonchalantly. "We're here on a mission of peace to pay respects to a fallen Greek hero. But if you want to start some shit..." He stepped down toward Apollo. "It's been awhile since I had Greek for dinner."



Bethany put her hand on Maahes's shoulder. "Please, behave."



He gestured toward Apollo and Athena as if to say they were the problem then deflated with a sigh. "All right, Bet, my pet. But you're killing me."



Athena stepped around her brother to address Bethany. "Why are you really here?"



Bethany placed her hand on Styxx's arm. "For Styxx, who suffered a harsh tragedy today. I tried to come earlier and was very rudely insulted and denied entrance to the palace by Apollo's bitch-whore. And you're all very lucky I'm not calling out for her blood over the public embarrassment she maliciously and willfully caused me."



Maahes lifted his mask and bent down to Bethany. "Oh, I expect blood. I need that bitch beaten for any insult dealt to you."



Bethany touched his arm again and shook her head. "No war today."



Maahes screwed his face up as if in agony. "All right, pet. I really, really love you. Today I prove it. Next time, though, gut me. It'd be less painful."



Apollo started forward, but Athena caught his arm and shook her head.



Athena nodded to Maahes and Bethany. "Please, pay your respects. We are deeply honored by your presence and homage to one of our own." She gave her brother a harsh glare. "There will be no war today. Only peace."



Confused, but not wanting to cause any more of a spectacle in public, Styxx led Bethany into the palace. Maahes and his men and lions followed after them.



As soon as they were inside and out of hearing range, Xerxes turned to Apollo. "Who is that?"



Athena answered for him. "The man in the mask is Maahes, Lord of the Massacre. He's the Egyptian god of war and serves his mother Bastet and aunt Ma'at. Bet is known by all as the Princess of Thebes. Her father is the Egyptian god Set, the embodiment of pure evil and chaos. Bringer of war and storms. And she is the light in his darkness. There is absolutely nothing Set would not do for his most cherished daughter and only child. Not to mention that the rest of the Egyptian pantheon is every bit as loyal and protective of her."



"That is Styxx's Bethany?" Xerxes glared at Ryssa who took a step back.



"How was I to know, Father? She was dressed as a peasant."



Apollo ignored them. "What should we do, sister?"



"Bet, I trust. Maahes ... he's not devious, just bloodthirsty. He loves war above all. We will stay and make sure he leaves without incident."



* * *



Bethany bit back a sob as she realized what Styxx had been doing on her arrival. "Is no one helping you with Galen?"



"No."



She opened the door and had four of the men come in to take over the body preparations. Styxx started to protest, but she placed her finger to his lips.



"You're too upset for this. Come, my love. Let me take care of you."



He kissed her hand. "Someone should be taking care of you."



"Shh," she breathed then she whispered, "Maahes doesn't know, and we can't risk him telling my father before I do."



Styxx frowned at the men and the wealth that dripped from every piece of expensive fabric and jewels they wore, and the elaborate outfit on Bethany. Even her sandals were made of gold and trimmed in coral, turquoise, and pearls. When she'd said her father was wealthy, she had greatly understated his means. "Who exactly is your father?"



She bit her lip. "I didn't want you to find out like this. Please promise you won't be angry at me."



"I could never be angry at you."



Still, she hesitated. "We're about to test that theory, my love."



He frowned at the fear and reservation on her face. Was he a famed pharaoh? "Beth ... I won't be angry. I promise."



She pressed her lips together and put both her hands on his face to feel his expression. "My father is the god Set."



For a full minute, Styxx couldn't breathe as the room closed in on him. That, he had to admit, he hadn't seen coming.



Just what he needed. Another god screwing with his life and angry at him.



He should have known....



No wonder she'd been so reticent to tell him or let them meet. The daughter of a god.



Oh, but not just any god. One of the most violent, lethal, cruel gods imaginable.



"Styxx?" The tears in her voice cut him. "Honey?"



He took her hand and held it as he struggled to breathe. So many emotions slammed into him at once that he couldn't even identify them. Rage, betrayal, fear, irritation ...



"I need a moment, Beth."



"Please don't hate me. I hid for the same reasons you did, and I didn't want to tell you because I know how you feel about the gods.... How much you hate them. And my father's a really big one."



Who'd been known to cut the genitals off other gods-his own brothers-never mind a mortal man who dared to sleep with his beloved daughter. Having his head speared to the wall was the least of Styxx's concerns right now.



But the terror on her face as she dreaded his reaction made him feel like a complete shit.



He pulled her against him. "I don't hate you, Bethany. I can't afford to." Tears filled his eyes and choked him. "You're all I have left."



"And that's why I'm here. I knew you were alone and I couldn't stand it. Your sister wouldn't let me in. The only way I could think to bypass her was to fetch my cousin and force them to open the gates."



He cupped her head in his hands and pressed his cheek to hers. "Thank you for coming." Then he let out a half laugh as he saw four of the lions that were circling them while four more rested on the floor. "And here I bought you a dog to protect you ... how stupid am I?"



"You're not stupid at all. It was wonderful and I adore Dyna."



But she didn't need a dog to protect her. No more than she needed him for a husband.



And yet here she was, for him, and willing to be bound to him in spite of her detestation of marriage. She could have had any man in the world. But he was the lucky bastard she'd claimed.



Never had he loved her more.



April 8, 9527 BC



Styxx let go of Bethany's hand as he greeted the envoy that he'd sent after Galen's daughter. Even though he'd never met Antigone, he felt as if he knew her. Her dark hair was pulled back from a face that was every bit as beautiful as Galen had claimed. She had her youngest son, who was a year old, in her arms while six more children, two boys and four girls ranging in age from three to eighteen, were with her. Her husband carried their youngest daughter in his arms.



When Styxx had been at war, Antigone was the only one who'd written a personal letter to him to ask how he was doing and to make sure her father hadn't lied about his own health for her sake. Styxx should have made a point of meeting her before now. But he'd stupidly thought he had plenty of time. "Antigone?"



Her eyes teared as she saw him. "Prince Styxx?"



When she started to bow, he stopped her. "I am the one who should be bowing to you, my lady. I am so sorry that he's gone. He loved all of you so very much."



Tears flowing down her face, she squeezed his hand. "Thank you, Highness, and I am so sorry for you, too. My father adored you like a son. I know him. He wasn't one to say it. But he talked about you endlessly, and it was obvious how much you meant to him. When our Philip died, a light went out in his eyes and never reignited until you kindled it again."



Styxx cleared his throat. "And he talked about nothing but you and your children when he was with me. I might have been the light in his eyes, but you were his heart and soul."



When she started away, he pulled her toward the royal dais. "Please sit with me for the funeral."



"Thank you."



Styxx helped her and her husband with their children. He gave them the choicest seats and took a seat behind them, with Bethany who held his hand throughout. Saying good-bye to Galen was the hardest thing he'd ever done. And as he watched the fires burn, his anger took hold of him. It was so unfair. If any human had ever deserved to die in his sleep at an ancient age, surrounded by the family he loved, it was Galen.



And he was dead because of him. Why had he not seen the attacker first?



Bethany laid her hand to Styxx's cheek as she felt his mood. She knew how much he hurt. How very much he'd loved Galen even though he stayed strong and said nothing. But what truly angered her was the fact that none of his family attended this with him.



Not a single member. Not even the king who had ordered Galen into battle to save his own crown.



How could they leave Styxx alone like this? But then why was she surprised? His father had sent him to war when he'd scarce been more than a child. Ryssa had no love for anyone but herself, and Bethany knew nothing of his brother-not even what he looked like. Though at this point, she didn't want to know anything about Acheron. Not if he could leave his brother to suffer alone. It was an act of complete cruelty.



A total lack of regard. Not just for Styxx, but for the man who'd once led an army for the royal house and defended all of them while they'd languished here at home in luxury paid for in Styxx's and Galen's blood and sweat. To this day, Styxx lacked the full use of his right hand from where a Greek assassin had pinned it to the ground with a dagger.



How dare they.



When the service was over, Styxx had Antigone and her family escorted to guest chambers in the palace. Bethany went with him to his room, where he sat in a chair for hours without speaking. Then he began pacing like a caged lion.



"What's on your mind, Styxx?"



"Nothing and everything."



She held her hand out for him. "Does your head ache? Would you like for me to rub it?"



Taking her hand, he sank down at her feet and laid his head in her lap then sighed as she ran her hands through his short blond hair. "I have such a bad feeling about things, Beth."



"You're just upset over Galen, and you have every right to be."



"No, it's more than that. Something bad is coming. I can feel it with every part of me. It's dark and it's dangerous, and it's out for blood."



She ran her hand over his cheek and jaw. "Have faith, my love."



"I don't know if I have any left. I'm not really sure if I ever had any at all." He lifted his head and placed his hand against her stomach. "If something were to happen to you and the baby, I don't know if I could survive it."



"Nothing will happen to us."



Yet Styxx couldn't shake the horrible dreams he'd been having. The feeling that pure evil stalked him.



Someone had killed Galen because of him and he had no idea who. It could have been a stranger or one of his family members or the bastard Apollo....



But it didn't matter who had struck the fatal blow. The assassin had been after him.



What if, in their desire to hurt him, they turned their sights to Bethany? How would he live with himself knowing that he'd caused her harm?



May 9, 9527 BC



Misery itself rained down on Katateros as Archon panicked. He'd fully expected Apostolos to come knocking on their door as soon as the day dawned.



Luckily, he'd been wrong.



At least so far.



"Relax," Epithymia told him as the Atlantean gods all huddled in their main hall, expecting Apollymi to escape at any moment and attack them. "It's not today that he hits his majority. Not until the anniversary of the human birth. We still have a handful of weeks to find him."



Archon cursed. "A slight stay of execution. It is imperative we stop this from happening!"



Bethany had had enough. She had no idea where Apostolos was, and honestly, she no longer cared. The only thing that mattered was the baby inside her, and the betrothed she wanted to marry more than anything else. She hadn't been here for the imprisonment of Apollymi and, no offense, given what they'd done to the goddess, they deserved her wrath.



Let Apollymi have them.



Unable to stand the arguments of the Atlanteans, she flashed herself to her aunt Ma'at's temple in Thebes.



Ma'at joined her immediately with a warm smile on her beautiful face. "To what do I owe this joyous visit?"



Bethany smiled and hugged her. "I have a favor to ask."



"Anything for you, you know that."



She was about to test those words. "Make me human."



Ma'at stepped back with a stern frown. "Excuse me?"



Bethany touched her stomach and thought of the life she carried and nurtured there. "I want to be fully human. I'm done with all the politicking and garbage that goes with godhood. I just want to raise my baby and live my life with Styxx, as a human, just like him."



"Oh, honey, think long and hard. If we do this, there's no way to undo it."



"I know, Mennie. But..." Bethany paused as she felt the lightest fluttering inside. Was that...? Smiling wide, she gaped at her aunt.



"What?"



Laughing, she took Ma'at's hand and led it to her stomach. "I just felt my son move!"



Ma'at smiled as she felt it, too. "Oh ... He's a strong one."



"Like his father."



Ma'at cupped her cheek and gave her a stern scowl. "You think about this, long and hard, and I'll prepare the serum to make you and your baby human. But really, Bet'anya. Consider it well. Without your powers, you won't be able to protect them, and you of all creatures know the dangers that lurk for those who can't fight the gods."



Her aunt was right, but ... "Those powers come with their own curse. As long as I have them, I'm torn between this pantheon and my mother's. I just want to be left alone with my husband and son, and not be pulled into drama I want no part of."



Ma'at nodded. "All right, sweetie. Go share this moment with your Styxx."



Bethany hugged her close then left to find him.



* * *



"Styxx?"



Cursing under his breath, Styxx tensed at the sound of his father's voice calling out to him as he came down the main stairs. What did the old man want?



Though to be honest, his father had been much more pleasant now that he knew Bethany was a wealthy princess and demigod, and the king was safely assured Styxx wasn't Ganymede or sterile.



"Father?" he asked as he entered the study.



The king looked up from his desk. "You've said nothing to me about your wedding plans."



They weren't his to make. Whatever his betrothed desired, he would do. "Bethany wants it in Egypt with her family."



"And you're fine with that?"



Styxx gave him a bland stare. "I would paint my skin blue and set myself on fire, Father, if she asked me to."



His father scoffed. "Now I know you're being ridiculous. I was thinking we should have at least a small ceremony here at home. Let everyone know that your heir is legitimate."



"No one will doubt the paternity of my son." I'm not the cruel bastard you are.



"You think it's a boy?" his father asked hopefully.



"Bethany assures me it is so, and I trust her judgment implicitly." Except for the sanity of loving him and her willingness to marry into this insane family. That he'd never understand.



"I can't tell you how proud I am of you, Styxx."



Then you should have said that to me when it mattered. Now, those words left him numb. Cold. He was long past the age of seeking his father's approval for anything. Honestly, he no longer cared.



Styxx was starting a new life with Beth and their son. Absolutely nothing else mattered to him.



He just wished Galen were here to see it.



But, unlike his family, he wasn't completely heartless and frigid. "Thank you, Father."



His father inclined his head to him. "Just wait for your birthday. I have an amazing feast planned."



Just what he didn't want. He'd never once in his life enjoyed the anniversary of his birth. He'd rather forget all about it.



Sighing, Styxx turned around and almost ran into Ryssa in the hallway. She glared at him.



"What did I do now, lamb-head?"