"Don't ever hate your son. Please." His silver eyes fluttered closed as he passed out.
Weeping, Ryssa held him close as she ached for him. She would kill anyone who ever hurt her son like this. Even her own father. But Acheron had never known such love, such care, and that broke her heart even more. "Sleep in peace, little brother. Sleep in peace."
Wiping away her tears, she left him alone and went to check on Apollodorus. For the rest of the day she held her son close, promising him that he would never be left alone in the world. That she would always love him and protect him from anyone out to do him harm.
If only their mother had made such a promise to Acheron.
October 27, 9528 BC
Acheron lay in bed with the tip of his nose itching so badly it actually overrode the rest of his pain. He'd sell his soul if only he could scratch it. A bright flash to his left drew his attention.
It was Artemis. Dressed in white, she was as beautiful as always and he hated her for it.
His stomach knotted in anger that she'd finally remembered him. "What are you doing here?"
"I was bored."
He scoffed at her petulance and the fact that she'd come to him now. "I'm afraid I can't entertain you anymore. I'm no longer capable of it."
She pulled the sheet off him and curled her lip at what they'd done to his groin. "Ew! What did they do?"
He closed his eyes as humiliation washed over him. "They emasculated me. Remember? I was even stupid enough to ask for your help."
"Oh, that." She snapped her fingers.
Acheron gasped as even more pain tore through his groin. It ached so badly it took his breath and brought tears to his eyes.
"See? You're all better."
His breathing ragged, he was still on fire.
"Your hair's longer."
Was that all she cared about? His hair was longer? It was a good thing he couldn't move, otherwise he might have gone for her throat over that comment.
"Why are you chained?"
If she asked one more stupid fucking question, he really was going to strangle her. "To keep me from trying to kill myself."
"Why would you do that?"
Acheron ground his teeth. What good would it do to even try to explain it? She couldn't care less. She hadn't cared less when he'd begged her to do it for him. Except for the fact that she'd be bored and might actually have to try and find another man to jump on top of. Gods forbid someone else's cock might actually satisfy her. "It seemed like a good idea at the time. Not so much presently."
She gave him an annoyed glare. "I shall have to get them to release you. I swear, you're more trouble than you're worth. Wait here."
As if he had a choice? "Don't worry," he called out after she'd vanished. "I can't even get up to piss."
And his nose was still itching.
It wasn't long before his father entered the room to glare at him in displeasure. What else was new?
As always, the king looked freshly groomed. His blond hair was perfectly combed and his white robes gleamed in the sunlight.
Acheron met his scowl unflinchingly. "Can I help you?"
His father's blue eyes lit with fury. "What more has to be done to teach you your place?"
His place? That should be as his father's heir. It should be one of a revered prince.
Instead, he was lying chained down on a bed, his nakedness only concealed by the bloodied sheet Artemis had tossed back on top of him so she wouldn't have to see the butcher's handiwork. He was filthy from lack of washing and no doubt his hair was as ragged as his beard.
Acheron looked away. "I know my place."
His father kicked the bed. So much for Artemis getting him freed.
"The maids are sick of cleaning up your filth, not that I blame them. For that reason, you're being set free. But if you do anything else stupid, I swear by all the gods that I'll chain you to a wall in the dungeon and leave you there to rot."
He'd already done that to him.
"Don't worry, Father. I'll stay out of your way."
"You better." He gestured for the guards behind him to remove the shackles.
Finally, Acheron could scratch his nose again. He'd barely finished it before Styxx entered the room and tossed a pale blue garment at him.
Acheron frowned until he realized it was one of Ryssa's gowns.
Styxx laughed. "I thought you might want something to match the new you."
His gaze turned red in anger.
Before he could think better of it, Acheron was off the bed. He tackled Styxx to the floor and pounded his head against the stone, wanting to shatter it like a melon. He got in a good six solid whacks until the guards pulled him off Styxx's stomach.
Acheron fought them with everything he had, but they held his arms twisted behind his back so that there wasn't much he could do except curse them. Thank you, Artemis, for rescinding your gift.
Styxx came off the floor with a furious curse of his own. He grabbed their father's sword and would have killed Acheron had their father not stopped him.
"Take him out and beat him," his father snarled.
"No!"
Acheron looked up to see Ryssa in the doorway.