Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

I can't believe I killed my uncle for this shit.

But then maybe that was why the gods had done this to him. It was recompense for his actions. All the things he'd killed Estes to prevent had happened anyway, only now they were so much worse. Ryssa was still being whored, and instead of Styxx being held and raped for one week out of the year, he was now at Apollo's mercy anytime the god had a hard-on.

Only Acheron's situation had improved.

His head throbbing, Styxx walked through the marketplace, toward the shop.

Right now, all he really wanted was to be with Bethany. She would ease the pain in his heart and make him forget for a few minutes how much he hated every part of royal life. But she wouldn't be back for a week. Her family was traveling and she'd left him bereft without the brightness of her smile. Honestly, he couldn't stand not being with her.

But at least she took Dynatos with her everywhere she went. She kept the massive dog close to her so that Styxx could breathe, knowing Dynatos would always protect her.

"Please, sir ... can I not buy half the loaf?"

Styxx paused at a girl's voice as he passed the baker's stand.

"Get on with you! I don't want a beggar here. Coin or nothing. I don't sell half loaves."

"But I don't have enough. Please. It's for my mother. She's sick and starving...."

The lecherous look on the man's face as he swept the young teen's body made Styxx's stomach turn. "If you want to pay with something other than coin, we might have a deal, girl."

Horrified, she stumbled away and started to turn then she closed her eyes.

Rage darkened Styxx's gaze as he saw what she was about to do to feed her family.

As she stepped back toward the stand, Styxx cut her off. He knelt on one knee in front of her so that she could look him in the eyes. "Get what you need and I will pay for it."

The suspicion in those young, brown eyes shredded his heart. "And what do you want me to pay you with, my lord?"

Those words and what she was really asking thoroughly pissed him off at the Fates who would do this to a child so young. "Nothing. I swear." He handed her a basket. "Get whatever you need to feed your family."

When she started away, Styxx caught a flash of gold around her neck. Stopping her, he pulled a tattered string to find a large gold ring tied at the end of it.

A soldier's ring.

"Please don't take that," she whispered. "It's all I have left of my father."

Recognition slammed into his gut like a fist as he saw the markings he knew as well as his own. They had adorned a shield that had stood at his side and back in many a battle. "Gaius? Son of Philoctes? Was he your father?"

"Did you know him, my lord?"

Anger and grief almost brought tears to his eyes as he remembered Gaius and his kindness with the cloak. "You must be Helen."

A bright smile finally made her appear to be the young girl she was. "You did know my father!"

Styxx returned her smile. "Yes, I did. He told me much of you and your brothers, and baby sister, and mother, and how much he loved all of you." He placed the ring in her hand. "And he was a great friend to me. Now gather your items, Helen. Whatever you need or want. Have no fear of the cost. Now or later."

Tears filled her eyes. "Thank you, my lord."

He kissed her on the brow then stood while she quickly shopped.

The baker scoffed as he watched her fill her basket. "She's not that pretty, my lord."

Lowering his cowl to expose the gold laurel crown he seldom wore, Styxx arched a regal brow at the man.

The baker fell to his knees. "Highness ... forgive me. I didn't recognize you without your guard."

Helen froze then, eyes wide, gaped. "You're Prince Styxx?"

"I am."

She bowed then curtsied then bowed again.

Styxx laughed. "You don't have to bow to me, Helen. As I said, your father was a good friend to me, and I consider you and yours family."

That only confused her more.

Closing the distance between them, he brushed the dark hair back from her cheek. "Think of me like your cousin."

"I don't like my cousin very much. He smells, and insults me."

"Then think of me as the cousin who doesn't smell or insult you."

Nodding, she quickly finished her shopping.

Styxx passed an irritated look at the baker. "Have her bill sent to my scribe at the palace, and in the future, anything she or her mother needs or wants is to be billed to me. Understood?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Taking the basket from her, Styxx held his hand out for her. She bit her lip and hesitated. Then she wiped it off on her himation, and placed it into his.

As she led him to her home, he noticed the way she slowed down as they passed a fruit stand.

"Would you like some apples or figs?"

She bit her lip again. "May I?"