“And that is?”
Urian already knew before Ash spoke.
“Brynna Addams and Kit Baughy. They can talk him into most things. Maybe, just maybe they can talk him into this.”
And if they didn’t, Urian would drag him out and kick his ass.
At least that was his thought until he turned and saw Xyn standing in the hallway that led to his bedroom where they’d been when Medea had arrived.
The instant his gaze met hers, he knew she’d heard every word of this exchange.
And the hurt in her eyes hit him like a sledgehammer to the groin. What the hell, Fates? Were you bitches bored? For the majority of his life, he’d been bitterly alone.
In his life he’d only had two women he’d ever really loved.
How could he choose between them?
Torn and terrified, he headed toward her. She stepped back into the shadows.
Urian rushed after her, praying she didn’t use her powers to vanish. If she ran, he wouldn’t be able to track her. “Xyn?”
Thankfully, she stopped and turned to face him. “You should go to her.”
He heard the tears in her voice. “Talk to me.”
“You don’t want me to talk to you, Uri. I’m drakomai. In the mood I’m in, I might hurt you.” Her eyes flashed to their serpentine dragon form. “I know this isn’t your fault. That you didn’t know. But the dragon in me doesn’t care.” Her breathing turned ragged. “This is why we couldn’t be together when you were a Daimon. Because what lives in me is as dangerous as the demon in you. And it doesn’t share. You’re too close to me, and a dragon will kill what it loves before it shares it. We are not selfless creatures.” Her skin was turning into scales.
Urian cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.
The moment he did, she calmed and stopped turning. Tears swam in her eyes.
“You’re my first love, Sarraxyn. My best friend.”
“And Phoebe owns your heart. Don’t think I haven’t heard the others speak of it. How you’ve pined for her.”
He winced. “You think I didn’t mourn you, too? Every bit as badly? Ask Davyn.” He looked back toward the throne room. “They don’t speak of it because they weren’t there when you vanished. Davyn was. My brothers were. It was the same when you were gone. I was a shell of pain for a century!”
“Aye, and telling me you got over it in the arms of another—”
“Isn’t what I’m saying. God, Xyn, please have mercy. If Phoebe is trelos, I’m to blame for it. Think of how I feel. I did this to her. I killed her.”
“Then we will sort this out.”
That shocked him. “You’ll help me?”
“No. I’m going to kick your ass for getting into this mess.” She glared at him, then kissed his lips tenderly. “Why do I love you? You make me so crazy!”
“S’a—”
“Don’t!” She cut his words off sharply. “You don’t even say that until we have Phoebe. And this—” She indicated her body. “Off limits, buddy. You’re stewing in your juices. And you better be grateful I’m not adding fire to the kettle!”
He was a sick bastard that he found her amusing. If anyone else talked to him like that, even Acheron, he’d have their ass on a platter. “Yes, ma’am.”
Her green eyes flashed emerald fire. “You better be damn glad you have the finest ass I’ve ever seen on any man.”
“Are you sexually harassing me?”
“And you better be glad I am ’cause that’s the closest thing to sex you’re getting until we get this matter settled.”
Someone cleared their throat.
Urian glanced over his shoulder to find his father standing there with a frown.
“Well, I guess that answers my question as to whether you’re all right. The way you took off, I was worried. I can see there was no need.”
Urian cringed. “This was not how I meant for you two to meet.” Clearing his throat, he stepped aside so that his father could see Sarraxyn, who was dressed in a pair of jeans and a tight black T-shirt. Her long red hair was a mass of thick curls that hung to her waist. “Xyn, my father, Styxx.”
“It’s an honor, sir.” She held her hand out to him.
“Likewise.” The amused glint in his father’s eyes darkened as he turned her hand over and examined the tattoo on the inside of her forearm just above her wrist. It was a dragonmark similar to the one Falcyn had, but different. “You’re a Were-Hunter?”
“Please don’t insult me. Drakomai. Much older than they are.”
“Are you related to Falcyn?”
“We’re all related. My mother’s Lilith. My father’s Helios.”
Urian’s eyes widened at a fact he never knew. “The Titan?”
She nodded. “We don’t converse, though. We had a falling-out a long time ago. I wasn’t as fortunate as Urian when it came to my father. I was unfortunately stuck with just a penis.”
Shocked, Urian felt his jaw drop, but thankfully his father laughed at her words.
He clapped Urian on the arm. “I adore her. Trust me, your mother said something far more shocking to my father when she met him. And at least neither of you were naked when you met me.”
“Pardon?” Urian scowled at that weirdness.
“Ask your grandfather about the day we met.” And with that he wandered back to the others.
“Not sure I want to.” He turned back toward Xyn. “Do I?”
Xyn let out a long, tired sigh as she stared at those perfectly sculpted features that she’d always thought were identical to Stryker’s. However, now that she’d met Styxx, she realized Urian favored his real father a lot more. “Probably not.”
Irritated, and torn between wanting to slap him and hug him, she reached up to run her hand through his hair. Then she yanked it. “Why does my relationship with you have to be so complicated?”
“What can I say? The gods hate me.”
“Indeed. A Daimon forced to work with the Dark-Hunters … if that’s not hatred, I don’t know what is.”
*
Xyn had no idea how true those words would prove to be until a short time later when they knocked on the door of a peculiar dark purple shotgun shack in the heart of the French Quarter. Fanning herself with her hands, she blew out a deep breath to help alleviate the fierce, oppressive heat. “Isn’t it supposed to be winter here?”
Urian laughed. “Welcome to one of New Orleans’s infamous heat waves. If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.”
“Huh?”
He winked at her. “Meaning that’s how fast it changes. Like a teenage Gemini chugging Red Bull on a party line.”
That reference was completely lost on her.
Ash shook his head before he knocked on the door.
An instant later, it opened of its own accord. Most people might think that odd or creepy, but where they lived, it was just par for the course, normal.
Ash stood back for Urian to go first. “Entrez.”
Urian laughed at Acheron’s invitation. “Um, yeah, I don’t think so. First Daimon in the door usually gets staked. How you think I’ve lived this long? I’m not about to walk into a Dark-Hunter’s house uninvited.” He smacked Ash on the arm. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” He clicked his tongue at him.
Ash appeared less than amused. “Don’t make me rip out your esophagus and beat you with it.”
“That threat would carry more weight, Uncle, if we weren’t related now.” Urian grinned at him. “Après-vous.”
Ash passed a smirk to Xyn. “Tell me something. Is or was he ever sweet and cuddly?”
She shrugged. “Only after sex.”
With a visible shudder, Ash led the way in. “Oh, so not going there.” Then under his breath, he said, “No wonder you two get along. Sheez!”
Laughing, Urian pulled Xyn into his arms and put her in front of him.
“What are you doing?”
“Equality, my lady dragon. You’re my meat shield because I know the Hunter can’t harm you.” He kissed the back of her head playfully as the door behind them slammed shut with an eerie thud.
Xyn would be offended but for the fact that she knew Urian better. If anything were to happen, he’d be the first to trade his life for hers. “Umm-hmm, Daimon. Keep talking. I’ll throw you out in daylight.”
“Not a threat anymore. Uncle Ash made me dayproof.”