Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

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."