Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

Styxx glared at her. "I can't even begin to put into words how infuriated I am that I was alive and imprisoned, and missed seeing my son grow up-"

Apollymi nodded. "I know, Styxx."

And she did. She knew exactly how it felt. Only she had been able to see her son after twenty-one years.

For that matter, Acheron also shared his pain. Artemis and Apollymi had done the same thing to him. Until five years ago, Acheron hadn't known about Katra, and at times over the centuries, Acheron had even been in the same room with her while never knowing she was a part of him and Artenis.

That, too, was cold-blooded.

Styxx met Apollymi's gaze levelly. "Oddly enough, Apollymi, I can't find any hatred for you right now. I'm too grateful to have them with me to waste one minute thinking about anything else."

Bethany nodded. "I will probably hate you in the morning, Pol. But tonight, I'm with Styxx. I just want to be with my boys and forget everything else."

Apollymi inclined her head to them. "The others quietly made their way back to the main temple and left the three of you to your privacy. Know that if you ever need anything ... I will be here for you." She returned to Kalosis.

Styxx smiled at his wife and son. "I would give anything to spend the night talking to both of you. But..."

"Shit to do," Urian said for him.

Bethany made a face at her son. "Who taught you how to speak?"

Urian visibly cringed. "She's going to be in for a rude awakening with all the modern changes and gadgets, isn't she?"

That deepened her frown. "How long have I been gone?"

Styxx checked his watch. "I let go of your hand eleven thousand five hundred and thirty-nine years, one hundred eighty-three days, and roughly ten hours, give or take a few minutes ... ago."

Bethany was floored by the length of time. But more than that ... "You really did count the heartbeats."

Styxx slid the sleeve back on his arm. "Oh Beth, You have no idea."

Tears choked her as she saw the scar where he'd carved their names into his own flesh so that he'd always have them with him. She kissed Galen's name then lifted her lips to his. She wouldn't have thought she could love him more, but right then ... all she wanted was to spend the rest of the night with him inside her, showing him exactly how much she adored her noble prince.

Urian whistled low. "You know, this would be awkward if you weren't my parents. The parental designation ups the ick factor exponentially."

Laughing, Bethany pulled away from the kiss to frown at him. "I am desperate to know you." She looked back at Styxx. "And you and I have a lot to talk about. But..."

"We have gods to attend to," Styxx breathed.

She nodded. "I want to make sure they never threaten us again."

"I couldn't agree more."

Her heart swelling with pride and love, Bethany took their hands and teleported them to the main temple. She sucked her breath in sharply at the signs of battle and the amount of blood on the walls and floor. Horrified, she met Styxx's sheepish gaze. "Please tell me that's not yours."

"Some is, but a lot of it was Demonbrean. That bastard bleeds like a slaughtered pig."

When she started forward, Styxx refused to let go of her hand. She turned back with a frown.

The agonized fear in his eyes slashed across her heart. "I let go of your hand once when I didn't want to, and it was the biggest mistake of my life. One I never intend to make again."

She laced her fingers with his and pulled him toward Acheron who sat on Archon's black throne. That was shocking enough, but the presence of Artemis and the Sumerian god Sin really messed with her head.

I have missed a lot....

Most of the gods were gone now. The only ones left were Ma'at, Urian, Sin, Artemis, Seth, two demons, and a man she didn't know.

She paused near the throne. Styxx pressed himself against her back and wrapped his arms around her waist then rested his chin on top of her head. There was a time when she'd have been irritated by the constriction.

Tonight, nothing could have pleased her more.

Acheron looked at them.

"Catch us up?" Styxx asked.

Simi blew out an irritated breath. "Akri won't let me eat any of them nasty gods. What's the world coming to when a demon gots to beg for tidbits ... not even a finger sandwich or a single knuckle. Tragic. Terribly tragic."

Laughing at Bethany's confusion, Styxx whispered in her ear. "I'll explain Simi later."

Acheron let out a "heh" sound over Simi's words then he spoke to Styxx. "Well, after the way you took Archon's head, the rest are more than happy to be returned to stasis. But I was thinking of allowing a couple of them to be siphoned off by Kat and transitioned into the human world."

Styxx hesitated. "Which ones?"

"I wasn't going to make the offer without conferring with you first. I know they were less than kind to you while you were here, and if you want to gut them, I'm going to help you."

Bethany tilted her head back to stare at Styxx with a frown. "When did you two become friends?"

Styxx kissed the tip of her nose. "About five minutes before you woke up."

Her scowl deepened. She definitely had a lot of questions for later.