Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

Bethany shrugged. "The Greek gods would take issue with my family attending here. Gods tend to frown on other gods intruding into their territory."

"So your father really is Set?"

Styxx ground his teeth at his father's question. "Are you questioning my betrothed's integrity?"

She placed her hand on his arm to calm him. "Yes, my father is Set. If you like, I can summon him, but I doubt you'd enjoy the visit. While he dotes incessantly on me, he is a beast to everyone else. Even his own family. It's why he lives alone in the desert most of the year."

The old man's gaze went to Styxx. "How do you think he'll deal with the fact that you have a Greek husband?"

She wiped her lips with her napkin. "He won't care." She flashed a sweet smile at Styxx. "Rather, he'll want to gut any man who touches me, regardless of where he comes from."

Styxx laughed. "The more you speak of your father, the more worried I become."

"Don't fear, love. I've already spoken to the rest of my family. Maahes, Horus, and Osiris have sworn to join forces and keep him from tearing you into pieces. But I would recommend you attend the wedding in your armor ... just to be safe."

His father snorted. "I'm glad to see my son marrying well. He's been so reticent to go near women that I'd begun to despair there was something lacking with him."

Styxx opened his mouth to respond, but Bethany squeezed his hand.

"Thank you, Majesty," she said with a smile.

"For what?"

"Confirming Styxx's loyalty. Not that it was needed. I've never once doubted his faithfulness to me."

Styxx kissed her cheek. "You are the only women I've ever touched, and I will have no other."

She smiled at his declaration. "And you are the only man I'd ever marry. The only man I've ever trusted to hold and not break my heart." She turned back toward his father. "We've been together since Styxx was scarce more than a boy. But even then, he was more of a man than any ancient I've ever known." She set aside her plate. "Now if you'll excuse us, all this talk of your son's loyalty and fidelity has made me feel a sudden urge to go riding."

His father scowled. "You shouldn't ride in your condition. You could fall from the horse and lose or injure the babe you carry."

Holding Styxx's hand in hers, she paused to smile graciously at him. "I never said anything about a horse, Majesty. It's your son I intend to mount and ride. Good day." With Styxx in tow, she headed for the door.

Styxx didn't make a sound until they were out in the hall then he burst into laughter. "I wish you could have seen the expression on his face. I can't believe you said that to him. He can't believe you said that."

Bethany finally let her irritation show, which was good, as she couldn't have withheld it a moment longer. "He deserves that and worse. Ugh, he makes me so angry. I just don't understand how you come from him!"

He didn't respond as he pulled her against him so close that she could feel his hard cock against her hip while he nibbled at her neck.

"What are you doing?"

He teased her earlobe with his teeth. "I'm going to take you upstairs and make an honest woman of you. You do still want that ride, don't you?"

Biting her lip, she reached down to cup and stroke him. He hardened even more. "It would be a shame to let this go to waste, wouldn't it?"

"It would, indeed." He kissed her lightly on the lips then swung her up in his arms and carried her upstairs, where he intended to make love to her until neither of them could walk.

June 19, 9527 BC

"So it is true."

Inside her Theban temple, where she'd been unpacking baby clothes, Bethany looked up at her father's stern tone. She straightened instantly and tried to block them from his view then wondered why since her distended belly betrayed her pregnancy much more effectively than the baby clothes did.

Her heart thumped wildly as she met his light gold eyes that held more hurt in them than anger. Not to mention their color spoke volumes about his mood ... his eyes were an even darker blue than Styxx's whenever he was happy.

Gold was not good in the case of the god Set.

"I was going to tell you, Papas."

"When?"

"When I was sure you wouldn't kill the father."

Sighing, he moved forward so that he could place his hand on her stomach and feel the baby moving inside her. "He's strong."

"Like his grandfather."

Set scoffed at her flattery. He was so much taller than her that he pulled her next to him until she was nestled under his arm with her head resting against his shoulder. He cupped her cheek in his large hand and kissed the top of her head. "You are my only child, Bet'anya. Have you any idea how precious you are to me?"

She touched her stomach and smiled. "I do now."

He shook his head and sighed. "Do you love his father?"

"More than my life..." She looked up to meet his gaze. "Please don't kill him."

He laughed. "But for you, I'd be thrashing him already. I can't stand the thought of any man touching you."

"I know, but he is quite remarkable and extremely kind to me."

"He better be more than that." Releasing her, he stepped away and gave her a harsh stare. "I want to meet him."

"Papas..."

"Take me to him. Now." There was a tone she'd seldom heard him use with her. It was one that brooked no delay or question.

Afraid for Styxx, she bit her lip in indecision. "What are your intentions?"

"To inquire about his."

Sure they were ...

So she answered for her beloved. "He is going to marry me here in Thebes, in just under three weeks."

That didn't placate her father even a tiny bit. "I still want to meet him before you make any commitments."

She wasn't too sure about that. She rather liked having Styxx in one unbroken piece. "Only if you promise me you won't spear his head to a wall or tear off a vital part of his anatomy."

"Define vital. As in something he can live without or something you don't want him to be without?"

Unamused, she narrowed her gaze to let him know how serious she was. "Papas!"

He held his hands up in surrender. "Can I have a small testicle ripping?"

She gaped at him.

And then he tsked at her reaction. "Come, daughter ... just one ball. He won't even miss it. Neither will you."

She smirked.

He let out another tired sigh. "Fine then. I promise I won't hurt your betrothed ... today. I make no promises about the future should he do you or the baby harm."

For her father, that was quite a sacrifice, and it would be the best she could get out of him. But that being said, she had no doubt he'd love Styxx as much as she did once they met. "All right. But you should know before we go that he's Greek."

He twisted his face up into a look of supreme disgust. "Not even Egyptian ... I blame your mother for this."

"That's fine, as she blames you for most of my bad habits. And speaking of Mom, he doesn't know who she is yet. I'd like to keep it that way, too."

Her father gave her an arch stare.

"He's Greek, Papas," she reiterated. "He was also the one who invaded Atlantis."

Her father let out a most evil laugh. "Styxx of Didymos?" The fact he knew the name said it all.

"Yes."

He sucked his breath in sharply. "The maternal side of your family will be even less pleased with your choice than I am."

She was well aware of that fact, which was why she'd delayed the wedding. Hopefully by then, all the mess with Apostolos would be behind them and her maternal side would be a little more accepting of her husband.

"I know, and neither will Styxx." His aversion was really the only thing that concerned her, especially given what her family had done to him while they'd held him in Atlantis. She prayed Styxx would be able to let the past go and learn to forgive her family in time. "I'm hoping the baby will help to bridge everything."

Her father released an elongated breath. "Secrets are never a good thing, child. Especially between lovers. But I won't tell him. That is your place, not mine."

"Thank you." She held her hand out for him. The moment he took it, she used her powers to flash them into Styxx's private receiving room. "I'm tucking my powers in to keep from upsetting the Greek pantheon."

"Probably for the best. So where do we go?"

She shrugged. "I'm not exactly sure. He's usually here this time of day."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Styxx walked in from the bathing room ... completely naked.