His father dug his fingers into his face as hatred blazed in his blue eyes. "I've told you not to mention my brother's name from your foul mouth." His gaze dipped down to the necklace Acheron wore.
Acheron held his breath as he realized he'd forgotten to remove Artemis's gift before he went to her temple. His heart stilled and for the first time he tasted fear as his father released his face and plucked it up to examine it.
"What's this?"
Acheron forced himself to remain calm and nonchalant. "A trinket I bought."
Styxx peered at it over his father's shoulder. "It's the same ring Artemis's priests wear to summon her." His features hardened. "You stole it!"
His father snatched it from his neck, causing the chain to cut into his skin before it broke. "Do you think the gods give a damn about you?"
Not as a rule, but Artemis did.
Styxx took the ring and grabbed a ladle of water. "We should teach the thief a lesson." Before Acheron could move, Styxx shoved the ring into Acheron's mouth and poured water into it, forcing him to swallow it.
Tears gathered in Acheron's eyes as the ring scraped his throat and burned. He choked on it and the water, but Styxx didn't let up until he was satisfied the ring was completely swallowed.
Acheron coughed and sputtered, trying to catch his breath.
Styxx wrenched his hair. "A whore has dishonored our beloved virgin goddess on her feast day. I think he should be publicly gelded."
Acheron's eyes widened at the punishment.
His father laughed approvingly before he cut him down. "It would please Artemis I think."
Acheron tried to run, but his father caught him and knocked him to the ground.
"Tell me why you came to the temple," his father demanded.
Acheron pushed himself up to find Ryssa joining them. His father struck him again and spun him around so that he could pin Acheron to the wall with his forearm held across Acheron's throat.
"Explain yourself, whore. What made you venture to the temple?"
Ryssa ran to Acheron. "Tell them. You must."
Fear gripped him as he shook his head at her.
"Tell us what?" the king demanded.
"Don't, Ryssa," Acheron whispered from his pinched throat as he tried to push his father's arm away. "I beg you. If you love me even a little, don't betray me."
"They're going to geld you. If they know the truth, they'll leave you alone."
"I don't care."
Ryssa pulled their father away from him. "Father stop! He's innocent. He's with Artemis. Tell him, Acheron! For the sake of the gods, tell him the truth so he'll stop this beating."
His father knocked him to the ground. He then kicked him onto his back and pressed his foot to Acheron's throat to the point bile rose to choke him. "What lies have you told her, maggot?"
Acheron tried to push the foot away, but his father pressed it even harder against his windpipe. Speaking was all but impossible. "Nothing, p-p-please . . ."
"Blasphemer." His father stepped back then and left Acheron to strangle as he tried desperately to breathe through his bruised esophagus. "Strip him and drag him to Artemis's temple. Let the goddess witness his punishment and if he really was with her, then I'm sure she'll come to his defense." He'd turned a smug look at Ryssa.
The guards moved forward, but Ryssa put herself in front of him. The only way to get to him would be to harm her and possibly the baby she carried. "Father, you can't."
"This doesn't concern you."
"If you hurt Acheron, Artemis will unleash untold horrors on you."
Their father laughed. "Are you insane?"
"No, Ryssa, please stop!" Acheron begged. "Don't!"
"Acheron is her consort."
Acheron couldn't breathe as those words rang in his ears . . . Ryssa had betrayed him. But in her world the gods protected their pets. She had no reason to think that Artemis wouldn't come to save him the way Apollo would save her. Too bad Artemis was not her brother. Closing his eyes, he wished himself dead.
When he opened them, he saw an outline of Artemis in the shadows. She was holding his pearls.
His father's laughter mixed with Styxx's. "You are Artemis's consort?"
Acheron couldn't respond as he saw the look of horror etched on Artemis's face. It faded beneath a look of anger so palpable it singed him.
His father sneered. "Do you really expect me to believe a goddess would have anything to do with you?"
Acheron couldn't speak. He couldn't even deny it. Artemis had frozen his vocal chords.
She thinks I told him . . .
Acheron shook his head at her, trying to make her understand that he hadn't told anyone.
His father seized him by the throat again. "Fine. Let's see what the goddess thinks of you." He turned to the guards. "Take him to Artemis's temple." He sneered at Acheron. "If you mean so much to the goddess, surely she'll come save you. If not, we'll show the world what we do to blasphemous whores. Beat him at the altar until Artemis shows herself."
"No!" Ryssa shrieked.
It was too late. Completely naked, Acheron was dragged unceremoniously out of the palace and through the crowded streets.