Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

"Yes, ouch. I don't even teach that subject. And did you know that one of the heroes in Seven Against Thebes was named ... not Parthenopaeus like the last name of the professor who teaches this Ancient Civ class ... oh no, no. Parthenon was his name. Parthenon ... I thought that one was a gimme. Dang. How can anyone get that wrong when Dr. Soteria Parthenopaeus is your professor? Really?" She scribbled a grade on the paper. "One big fat F for you, my lovely." She screwed her face up then erased the grade. "Okay, a D ... no, C. I can't stand to fail a student."

Ash laughed at her kind heart that had saved him from the hell his life had been. "I don't know, akribos. That one sounds like she's on her knees, begging to fail."

"And this is why I don't have you help me grade my papers. You'd flunk everybody."

Ash kissed the top of his son's head. "I wouldn't flunk Bas."

"He's only a year old. Even with his superlative gene pool, he won't be taking this class for at least ten years."

"Still planning to have him graduate college by age twelve, huh?"

"Yes. With a name like Sebastos Eudorus Parthenopaeus he does not need to attend high school for very long."

Ash laughed again. She had a valid point, however Bas came with his own guard demon and a father who was a god. "I don't think he's going to have any problems with bullies."

At least not for long.

Smiling, she picked her phone up from the end table and snorted.

"Pam and Kim texting more puppy photos?"

She shook her head. "Your brother has an extremely twisted sense of humor."

His entire body went cold at the mention of Styxx. Ash arched a brow as every bit of his humor was sucked out of him. "What are you talking about?"

"I asked him for his mailing address and this is what he sent back." She held her phone out to him.

Styxx Anaxkolasi

13 Phlegethon Way

Tartarus, Hades 88888

Lightly smiling in spite of the fact it aggravated him, Acheron rolled his eyes. "I particularly appreciate his surname."

"Yeah, king of hell. I thought you would. And I love that his zip code is unhappiness repeated. Oh, and the thirteen for Hades and his river of fire. Even Lord Darkness would find that hysterical. Think I should forward it over to Persephone?"

Fighting against the surge of anger he felt, Ash cupped Bas's head with his hand. "Sure. Why not?"

Tory paused at the look on Ash's face. "What's wrong? I thought you'd be amused."

Those swirling silver eyes burned with a torment she couldn't begin to fathom. "I'm just wondering why you asked him for it."

She was aghast at his words. "Tell me you're not jealous."

He dropped his gaze down to Bas and wouldn't even look her in the eye.

"Acheron..." she chided. "Really?"

This time when he met her gaze, the anger and hatred in those swirling silvers set her aback. "We have a bad history, Sota. And you've no idea really how bad. You've only been given bits and pieces. Suffice it to say, I'd rather you keep your distance from him.... Eleven thousand years later, his paybacks still burn and make me want to draw his blood. It's why I haven't brought him in any closer. I'd love to give him a chance, I really would, but I don't dare. You two are too precious to me to take such a chance with your safety."

Her heart lurched at the agony he tried so hard to conceal. No one else would hear it in his voice, but she did. She was well aware of every nuance of her husband's moods.

Since Ash had always refused to talk about his brother, or to him even when they'd been in close proximity, she'd known their past had to be brutal. But this was such an innocent contact that she hadn't considered how much it would bother him, especially since Styxx had been kind enough to rescue her, and then had quietly gone his way and never bothered them again. "I am so sorry, Achimou. I didn't mean to hurt you. I only wanted to send him a thank-you note."

His eyes turned red, letting her know he was furious. "Thank you for what? Making my life miserable?"

She swallowed as she reconsidered showing him what Styxx had sent for Sebastos's birthday. Would it upset him even more? But there was no missing the suspicion Ash had over her e-mailing his brother.

Better to allay it before it grew. The imagination was far deadlier and more destructive than the simple truth.

Taking her phone back, she went to Bas's room then returned with the ancient box. She took the baby from him before she handed the box over. "He sent that to my office at work for Bas's birthday. There was no return address on it. Just the small note wishing him a happy birthday. It wasn't even signed."

"Then how do you know it was from Styxx?"

"Open it."

Ash wasn't sure what to expect. Severed head ... statue of an obscene gesture ... live cobra. He had no idea, but when he pushed the tissue paper aside and found an old hand carved horse, his heart stopped.

No. It couldn't be....

Completely stunned, he picked it up and turned it over. Etched on the bottom, in ancient Greek were the words

To Acheron

From Ryssa.

Love always.

Tears filled his eyes as he remembered his beloved sister giving it to him for his fifth birthday. He'd been so thrilled ... And Styxx had gifted him the matching soldier that their father had later burned in a fit of rage. It was that uncalled-for action that had prompted Ash to ask Styxx to keep the horse for him in Styxx's room where, unlike Ash, it'd be safe from harm.