Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

Chapter Eleven

Styxx paused to turn toward the two guards who trailed him. The nobles didn't like "commoners" spying on them while they spoke freely. "Stay here. I'll be right back."

Reluctantly, they obeyed.

Styxx made his way through the building until he heard two voices that locked his legs.

"I'm telling you right now, it's true. I had both the prince and a boy who looks just like him, except for his eyes, in Atlantis, in my bed at the same time."

"You're lying!"

"Ask Melus if you doubt me. He was there, too, and took a turn with both of them."

"When?"

"Last fall."

"You're such a liar."

"Liar, am I? Next time you're around Styxx, drop something and look up his chiton. His entire left side and buttocks are horribly scarred. He even has a brand mark on his ass and left nipple."

Styxx couldn't breathe as those details racked him and verified the truth of the boast. When Estes had told him he'd sold him, Styxx had assumed all the men had been Atlantean.

Not ...

"You've no idea how distracting it is to see him now when all I can think about is how much I'd love to have him on his knees in front of me again. You can't tell it by looking at him, but he has the most amazing tongue. I don't know who trained the prince, but kudos to a most apt pupil."

Unable to deal with it or face the men who were talking about him like that, Styxx spun about and left. By the time he returned to the palace, it was all he could do not to scream in horror. Panic took full possession of him.

What do I do?

That bullshit would eventually reach his father. And there was no telling what he'd do to Styxx for it. The only thing he knew for certain was that his father would find some reason to blame him for the whole ordeal.

Everyone would know he was a whore. That he was a branded tsoulus ...

How many other Greeks and Didymosians had bought him?

Had Estes lied about the number?

They know I'm a whore....

My father will brutally execute me for this.

Terrified, he walked furious circles in his room as he tried to decide what to do.

And he had a banquet tonight where they'd all be in attendance ... laughing and reminiscing. Possibly dropping things to verify his scars.

I'll be able to hear their thoughts.

If he got around anyone who'd slept with him, he'd know it. Their thoughts would override his.

I can't do this.

Even if his father beat him. He could not go to that banquet. How could he walk out there with his head held high while "whore" was branded on his body and there were men in the crowd who'd bought and screwed him?

His hands shaking, Styxx grabbed the wine from his table and drank it.

No, he needed his herbs.

He went to the chest and pulled out the last batch his uncle had brought him. After taking out three times the normal amount, he used his finger to stir it into the wine then he downed it in two gulps.

Please, gods, please let me die....

He laid down on the floor and closed his eyes, hoping and praying he never opened them again.

June 24, 9532 BC

"You disgust me!"

Why am I not dead? Styxx groaned as his father continued to shout at him through the pounding agony of his head.

"I've never been more embarrassed in my entire life!"

Then you should try waking up naked, chained to a bed by your uncle who sold you to men you're forced to see repeatedly.

"How could you do this to me?" his father continued to rail.

Oh yeah, I really screwed you, old man.... I'm not the one who sent you into the woods to be raped, and then laughed with your rapists for two days.

The one who left you to be tortured for your own good by your beloved priests.

He'd laugh if it wasn't so damn pathetic. Licking his dry lips, Styxx cracked his eyes open to see his father standing over him. "What did I do?"

"You laid up here drunk while we held a banquet in your honor. Do you know how that looks?"

Like I'm the spoiled, happy prince everyone stupidly thinks I am?

"It was so disrespectful to me and to the senators and their families. Is this the kind of king you want to be? Is it?"

I don't want to be king at all, especially not to senators who paid my uncle to screw me.

"Get up!" His father kicked him.

Styxx grimaced before he sat up. His eyes widened instantly as his stomach heaved. Scrambling, he barely made it to the chamber pot before his stomach lost all its contents.

"Look at you. You're pathetic. I have never in my life seen a sorrier sight."

You should get out more. He vomited again.

His father raked him with a merciless glower. "As soon as you finish with your self-absorbed, self-inflicted illness, you're to be caned for it."

Styxx wiped at his mouth. "You said I was too old for that."

"You're too old to act like a petulant, out-of-control child. If you're going to behave as one, I'm going to treat you as one."

He started to protest then his stomach churned again.

"And I intend to watch every stroke you're given."

Styxx closed his eyes, grateful beyond measure for that mercy even if it meant more strokes for him. Thank the gods. He could almost smile at the relief he felt.

Drawing a ragged breath, he propped himself against the wall and stared up at his father. "I think I shall need help walking down for it."

"You think this is funny?"