Simi blew an irritated breath out. “Akri won’t let me eat any of them nasty gods. What’s the world coming to when a demon gots to beg for tidbits … not even a finger sandwich. Tragic. Terribly tragic.”
Urian laughed.
Styxx whispered in Bethany’s ear. “I’ll explain Simi later.”
Acheron let out a “heh” sound over Simi’s words. “Well, after the way you took Archon’s head, the rest are more than happy to be returned to stasis. But I was thinking of allowing a couple of them to be siphoned off by Kat and transitioned into the human world.”
By Styxx’s expression, Urian could tell he wasn’t thrilled with the idea. But to his credit, he didn’t dismiss it out of turn. “Which ones?”
“I wasn’t going to make the offer without conferring with you first. I know they were less than kind to you while you were here, and if you want to gut them, I’m going to help you.”
Bethany looked up at Styxx with a frown. “When did you two become friends?”
Styxx kissed the tip of her nose. “About five minutes before you woke up.”
Her scowl deepened.
“Dikastis,” Acheron continued, “I was going to leave alone … as long as you agree. He seems to be decent enough.”
Bethany nodded. “He is extremely trustworthy and loyal so long as no rules are broken.”
Urian didn’t have a problem with that.
“Will Epithymia get her powers back?” Styxx asked.
Sin laughed uproariously. “Hell to the no. Trust me. When Kat removes your powers, they stay gone. Technically, in theory, Kat could give them back. And I hate speaking for my wife while she’s not here, but I’m pretty sure Epi is going to learn to be without.”
Urian laughed under his breath. Yeah, Sin would definitely be the ex pert on that. He could imagine the fights the two of them must have at home.
“Leto is with Set and I’m not about to step in on that. Especially given what Seth and Artemis have told me about her and what she’s done to all of you.”
Artemis lifted her chin proudly. “Yes, we threw her over the trolley.”
Acheron groaned. “Under … bus, Artemis. You throw people under a bus.”
“Whatever. My mother threatened my baby, and my loyalty is to Katra and Mia and no one else … until Katra has more children, and they have babies. But that’s it!” She pursed her lips. “Oh wait, there is one more, but that really is all and it’s not the bitch who hurt my girl. Either of them. I want Epithymia for my personal collection.”
Acheron met Styxx’s gaze. “If anyone can make someone’s life a living hell, I can personally attest to Artemis’s expertise.”
Urian choked on that comment and especially the murderous look Artemis gave him.
Styxx nodded. “I’m in accord.”
“Me, too,” Ma’at agreed.
“Which leaves us with Apollo.” Acheron paused to sweep his gaze around the room. “Most of us have an equal claim against him, so I have no idea how to be fair about his fate.”
Artemis sighed. “Even though I’d love it, you can’t kill him.”
All of a sudden, Styxx started laughing in an evil tone that sent a chill down Urian’s spine as he couldn’t imagine what it meant.
Bethany frowned. “Why does that scare me?”
“Because I have the perfect gift for someone. Even Simi will approve.”
*
Apollo shouted in outrage around his gag as he fought against Artemis’s diktyon net that held him tighter than a fly in a spiderweb. If he had his regular powers, he’d be able to escape. But Urian’s present—Verlyn’s necklace—kept them drained.
Urian chuckled like a bad cartoon villain. “Remind me to never, ever piss off my father. And I don’t mean Stryker. Damn, Pops. This is soooo cold.”
Artemis smiled. “Yes, well, payback’s a cat!”
Acheron sighed and shook his head. “I absolutely give up.”
“All right,” Styxx said, hauling Apollo to his feet. “One special delivery.” He kissed Bethany before he looked at Acheron. “Take care of my girl. I’ll be right back.” He turned to Urian. “You ready?”
For this shit? Oh yeah. Artemis was right. Payback was a cat. And he was ready to meow.
“After you, Solren.”
To Urian’s shock, Styxx teleported them directly into Apollymi’s garden, where she sat, gazing into her mirror.
Gasping in indignation, she rose to her feet. “What is this?”
Urian covered his father, in case she blasted him. Ever fearless, Styxx forced Apollo to kneel before her. Totally naked and bound, Apollo had no choice but to obey. Urian would feel sorry for the Olympian had the bastard ever shown his people an ounce of mercy or compassion.
But really, he wanted to see him cry.
Styxx saluted Apollymi. “I come bearing gifts, my lady.”
Inclining his head to them both, Urian removed the necklace from Apollo. “I’ll return this to Davyn and be right back.”
Urian teleported to the home Davyn once shared with Paris. Davyn was waiting for him.
The relief on his face was tangible. He pulled Urian against him and held him close. “You ever scare me like that and I will gut you.”
“I know. Sorry.”
Swallowing hard, Davyn let him go. “You know you’re all I have, right?”
“I know. We’ve been through a lot.” Urian glanced around the sparse cottage that hadn’t changed in all the centuries he’d known him. “Have you thought about my offer?”
For the last four years, Davyn had been able to walk in daylight. There was no reason for him to live here anymore. The Apollymians were free to leave. They weren’t locked here.
Most stayed out of loyalty to Apollymi, who couldn’t leave.
But Urian and Acheron had offered sanctuary to Davyn for all the years of service he’d given them.
Davyn’s eyes turned bright with unshed tears. “I can’t leave, Uri. This is all I have of Paris. All my memories are here.”
“You can’t move on, either.”
“Who says I want to?”
Urian could respect that. Pulling him closer, he kissed him on the forehead. “You know where I am if you need me.”
“I know. Love you.”
“You, too, brother.”
Yet walking away from him was always hard. Davyn had always been the one constant in his life. If anything ever happened to him, Urian wouldn’t be able to cope.
Not wanting to think about it, he headed back to Apollymi’s palace, where he’d left Styxx … his birth father.
Styxx looked at him, then smiled at Apollymi, who was salivating over her gift. “Enjoy.”
Together, they teleported back to Bethany, who was holding Sebastos while talking to Tory and Ma’at.
Urian had a surreal moment when it slammed into him again that she was his mother. Especially when she glanced over at them and smiled. “There he is. Bas, say hi to Uncle Styxx.”
“Hi, Unkie Six!” he said, laughing and bouncing in Bethany’s arms.
She tickled his belly until he squealed and kissed her. His little hand tangled in her long hair.
“Are you all right?” Acheron asked as he came up behind Styxx.
Styxx met Urian’s gaze and nodded. “I am.”
He took Styxx’s hand and squeezed it, then went to Bethany. He brushed his hand over Sebastos’s curls. “Hi, Bas.”
“You want to hold him?” Tory asked.
Styxx shook his head. “I might break him and piss off Acheron.”
Urian laughed.
“You can’t break him, sweetie,” Bethany said.
“I don’t know. The last time I held a child that age, I must have broken it ’cause it leaked all over me.”
Bethany laughed so hard, she had to give Bas back to his mother before she dropped him.
Tory kissed Bas’s head. “You’re right, Bethany. He’s hilarious.”
“And now that he’s back,” Ma’at said, “we need to finish something. Will all of you excuse us?”
Urian frowned. “Should I be worried?”
Ash took his son from his wife. “Nah. They’re going to finish the ceremony to reunite Bethany’s heart. It’s all good.”
“Ah.”
“Don’t look so worried, Urian. They’ll be fine.”
Ash said that, but something wasn’t right. Urian could feel it. His family was reunited. He should feel whole again, and a part of him did.
Yet …
He glanced around the room and he still had that vacuous ache that defied explanation.
Alexion and Danger were sitting with Xirena and Simi, laughing. Tory and Ash and all seemed okay.