Stygian (Dark-Hunter #27)

“Stabbed you?” Urian couldn’t wrap his head around what he was telling him.

Styxx took a drink of his milk before he responded. “Ryssa gutted me the day before she died.”

He gaped at that. While his brothers and sister had threatened that on a near daily basis, none had actually ever attempted it. And he could think of a few times when it might have been warranted. “What’d you do?”

“She attacked me over your grandfather.”

“Apollo? Why?”

Styxx scoffed. “Would you believe jealousy? She stupidly thought I was trying to seduce him as a lover to take his attention from her.”

“Ew!” He couldn’t think of anything more revolting. Not because Apollo was a man. But because he was so lacking in anything remotely resembling a decent human trait.

“Believe me, I couldn’t agree more. No offense, but I hate your grandfather with every part of me. Just being in a room with him makes my skin crawl and my stomach turn.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to defend him. I personally think he’s a rank, sorry, selfish son of a whore.” Urian’s phone rang. He looked down and checked the ID to see that it was Davyn. “Excuse me, I need to take this.”

He went outside onto the terrace. “Hey—”

“What do you know about Cratus?”

“The video game character?”

“Seriously? Don’t make me slap you.”

Urian snorted. “Fine. God of warcraft. Nasty Titan bastard. Why?”

“If you can, you might want to head back. There’s a situation brewing.”

Oh, how he hated whenever Davyn said that to him. “Okay. Thanks.”

So, his dad had lost his mind and unleashed absolute evil again. Oh goody!

Disgusted, he headed in to find Styxx cleaning up. “I have to head out. AOM later?”

“Sure.”

“Don’t forget, your brother’s wedding is this afternoon.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. It’s why I came to get you.”

Styxx looked as thrilled to attend it as Urian did. While they were both happy Acheron had Tory, neither was looking forward to a wedding given what they’d lost.

“Hey, we’ll go in. Get it done. Get drunk and get out.”

Styxx snorted. “I like your plan of attack.”

He winked at him. “I learned strategy from the master.” He lifted his sleeve to show him his tribute to the Stygian Omada.

As he’d predicted, Styxx made a face of distaste. “That’s creepy.”

“But in a good way.”

“We’ll pretend so, if it makes you feel better.” In spite of those words, Urian heard the teasing note beneath them. A part of Styxx was touched by it.

Glad that he’d shown the tattoo to him, Urian held his hand out. When Styxx took it, he pulled him into a brotherly embrace with their hands between their chests.

Without another word, Urian vanished.

*

Urian sighed as he handed Styxx a longneck beer and they hung out in the back of the reception hall. “Damn, how many people are in Tory’s family?”

“I don’t know.” Styxx scratched at the collar of his tuxedo. “I swear I’ve been in countries with smaller populations.”

He nodded.

Alexion walked over to them. “Don’t you two look a little green around your gills. You okay? Or should I get a bucket to catch your vomit?”

Urian was definitely choking on bile. “There’s an awful lot of Hunters in this place.”

“Mostly former.”

“When you’re a Daimon, same difference.”

“Ex-Daimon,” Alexion reminded him.

Urian scoffed. “Same difference.”

Styxx screwed his face up as Tory went down a line of relatives, chatting with each one of them. “How does she keep them all straight?”

“It’s her superpower.” Kat came up behind him, laughing. “Impressive, right? I spent a summer on a boat with her and her cousin Geary when Tory was a kid. She’s a pistol.”

Urian was baffled by it all. “How are you handling it?”

“What? That Ash is my father? Or that Tory’s my stepmom?”

“Yeah, that.”

Katra laughed. “You two need more alcohol.”

“Kat? Mia’s hungry.”

Urian grew quiet as Sin, Kat’s husband, handed her their infant daughter so that she could take her off to breast-feed her. Sin was probably the only one here who hated Artemis more than Styxx, Acheron, or Urian.

And only because he was the god Kat had stolen the powers from all those centuries ago when she’d cried on Urian’s shoulder from the guilt over it.

Weird how life turned out. Had she not done that, she wouldn’t have gotten together with Sin centuries later and had that beautiful daughter …

Urian glanced to Ash and Tory, who had a similar eerie encounter in that Acheron had saved Tory’s grandfather as a boy and brought him on a ship to America after he’d been orphaned. Had Ash not brought Theo to New York, Tory’s father wouldn’t have been born and Theo wouldn’t have told him the stories of Atlantis that led to Tory’s birth and her quest that led her to Ash.

By your actions you will be saved. Savitar’s prophecy for Acheron.

Styxx frowned at him. “That’s a peculiar look on your face, Urian. What thought is in your head?”

He shook it off. “Irony.” Smiling, he smirked at Sin. “How you and Yaya getting along these days?”

Sin laughed. “Artemis hates it when I call her that, which is why I do it … often.”

The laugh from Styxx was so evil that it actually sent a chill over Urian, and it caused Sin to excuse himself.

“Are you okay?”

“Why are we still here?”

Urian shrugged as he looked around the oddball group. Simi was plowing her way through the desserts with her sister. The Peltier bears were dancing to the Howlers who were playing a polka for Tory’s aunts who were dancing with a group of wereleopards. Dev Peltier danced with his niece on his feet. Tabitha and Valerius Magnus were in a corner with Kyrian and Amanda Hunter and their children.

The Kattalakis lycanthropes were huddled in a corner … but he felt the same thing that Styxx did.

Out of place. Out of time and sync.

End of the day, no one here would notice if they left. They’d done their duty. Put in their appearances. Bought the right presents.

Yeah …

Styxx might share blood with Acheron, but they weren’t really family. And Urian wasn’t anything to any of them. A barnacle to Acheron and babysitter for Simi didn’t really count.

Urian set his beer aside. “I’m ready if you are.”

“Brother, I was ready as soon as the ceremony ended.”

Snorting, Urian inclined his head and transported them back to Styxx’s apartment.

Styxx let out a long sigh and immediately began peeling off his tux. “Thank the gods.”

He resembled that remark. Urian pulled his tie off and opened his collar, then decided to just use his powers and change it out for a black T-shirt and jeans.

Styxx snorted. “I envy you those powers.”

“Yeah, they can be handy.”

Awkward silence filled the room. “Well,” Urian finally said to break it. “Guess I’ll head back, unless you need something?”

Styxx shook his head. “All good.”

Urian didn’t leave, though. He paused to ask the one question that had been bothering him. “Have you tried to date while you’ve been here?”

Styxx let out a light laugh. “I had perfection. Anything else would be settling.”

“Yeah, but the loneliness…”

“Is hard. But you never know how strong you can be until you have no other choice.” Styxx clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s my path, Uri. You’re not me. If you’re lonely, go find a beautiful woman. You deserve to be loved.”

“What if you’re right?”

“What if I’m wrong?”

Urian laughed.

Styxx jerked his chin toward the door. “Go on, Urian. Find your happiness. Or at least a good drink.”

“All right. I’ll talk to you soon.”

Styxx inclined his head to him. “Take care.”

But as Urian left, he had a bad, bad feeling that he might not see Styxx again.