Artemis then turned on him with a vengeance. "This is all your fault!"
Of course it was. "You're the one who brought me here."
"Silence!" She backhanded him.
Acheron growled at the taste of blood in his mouth. He wanted to strike her back, but he knew the repercussions. He was mortal and she wasn't. Yet it was more than that. As much as that slap hurt him mentally, he wouldn't deal it to her. No one should have to bleed for kindness.
They damn sure shouldn't have to bleed for love.
"Are you through?" he asked.
She set on him then with her fangs.
Acheron hissed as she took her anger at Satara out on him. He felt two tendrils of blood fall from her lips, down the front of his chest. Pain seared him as she fed with no regard for him at all.
When she was finished, she shoved him back.
Weak from the blood loss, he fell to his knees.
She grabbed him by the hair and jerked him back against her. A knife appeared in her hand as she hovered it over his heart.
Acheron met her gaze and waited. "Kill me, Artie. End it."
Her eyes darkened to the point he was sure she'd finish him, but just as the dagger came at his heart, she reversed the direction and flung it against the wall. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close as she wept.
"Why do you make me want you?"
Acheron laughed bitterly. "I'm not the one doing this. Believe me." If he had his way, no one would ever crave him again.
She pushed him out of her arms. "Just go."
As if he had a choice?
At least this time, she put him back in his bed. But he was still bleeding from her dinner. Sighing, he got up to tend the wound.
"You're the only male she's ever had in her temple . . . besides my father."
Acheron spun around to see Satara standing near his bed. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to meet the man who would make Artemis risk everything."
He held his breath in sharp panic. "She would destroy us both if she knew you were here."
Satara shrugged nonchalantly. "She doesn't pay attention to the human realm. Trust me."
Acheron didn't move as she crossed the short distance between them.
Frowning, she studied him as if he were some deformed curiosity. "You are beautiful. Perhaps I'd risk my godhood for you too." She reached to touch his face.
Acheron caught her hand. "You need to leave."
"I would be a kinder lover to you than Artemis is."
As if he needed that.
"Look," Satara said firmly. "I can tell by your eyes that you're a demigod like me—the fact that your blood sustains her is proof of that. And I saw how Artemis treated you. I promise you, I wouldn't be so callous. Not to mention that with the powers I have, you and I could take hers. Imagine, two demigods with the power of a god. We would be invincible."
"There's no such thing as invincible. There's always something that flaws every being no matter how powerful they are. A weakness . . . You recognize me as Artemis's. Someone will know yours and they'll find mine. Right or wrong, I pledged myself to her and I will not back out on my word."
She sneered at him as if he were mentally defective. "Then you're a fool."
"I've been called worse."
She shook her head. "And you're content to be her lapdog?"
No he wasn't. But what choice did he have? "Again, I gave her my word and I will not be a liar."
She snorted in derision. "Then I'm sorry I misjudged you. However, I find myself in a bit of a quandary. If she ever finds out about this, she'll kill me, niece or not. But since you appear to be a man of your word, do I have your oath that you'll never tell Artemis what I've said today?"
"I don't like plotting another's downfall, not even yours. That being said, if you ever go after Artemis, then I will tell her what you've done. So long as she's safe, you're safe. I swear it."
She cocked her head as if baffled by his threat. "You're bartering with me to protect the same sow who would sooner beat you than treat you with the same loyalty you show her?"
Acheron shrugged. "I'm protecting my best friend. Right or wrong. I will stand by her."
Satara shook her head. "You and I have an accord then. I only hope you find her worth your loyalty."
So did he. But like Satara, he somehow doubted it.
With one last warning glare, Satara left him.
Acheron raked a hand through his hair as he tried to sort this out. So Artemis had as many people plotting her demise as his father. Damn. What was it about power that made everyone covet it so? Why couldn't people be content with what they had? Why must family and friends turn on each other over something so insanely innocuous? Something that in the long run didn't matter at all . . .
When love was shown to someone how could they let greed and selfishness spoil it? He just didn't understand that.
Love was so pure and innocent when given, especially unconditionally. Why couldn't those who received it see it for the beautiful gift it was? Why must they use it as a tool to hurt the one who gave it?
As Artemis did with him.