Stygian (Dark-Hunter #27)

A human was running toward the children. He set the woman down with his powers and barely caught the armor-clad man before he could reach them. Urian manifested a sword and pulled his shield from where he’d left it. The shield flew through the fire and fighting to ricochet to his arm and fasten itself into place.

Knocking the human back, Urian sliced the human’s arm with his short sword, then turned and caught him with the edge of the shield. In one smooth move, he turned and came around again to slice through the human’s throat with his kopis.

The human let out a gurgled cry as he staggered back and fell to the ground to die.

After double-checking to ensure that the man was dead, Urian fastened his shield to his back and returned to the mother and children. Since the woman was blind and had been through enough trauma for one night, he made sure to explain to her what he was doing before he touched her. “I’m taking the three of you to a place where you’ll be safe and the humans can’t reach you. Do you trust me?”

“Aye,” their mother breathed, clutching his cloak tighter to her ravaged body.

“My name’s Urian.”

“Xanthia. My children are Geras and Nephele.”

Disgusted with what had been done to them and wanting blood for it, Urian knew he had to stay focused on the task at hand. “Bear with me, good Xanthia. Now brace yourself. I’m about to wrap my arms around you to pick you up. Nothing more.” He carefully embraced her naked and bruised body and tried not to think about what had been done to her. The ruthless violence the poor woman had needlessly suffered. Damn the humans for this, and the pathetic Apollites who’d thought they could live in peace with such animals. “If you’re ready?”

She nodded.

Urian tried to be as gentle as he could as he lifted her.

The moment his arms tightened around her, she choked on a sob and almost fought against his hold.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

“I know,” she breathed.

But knowing something and not acting upon it were two entirely different things. He knew that better than anyone.

Summoning a portal, Urian realized he had to be quick or her panic would get the best of her, and if she began fighting him in the portal, it could kill them all.

The moment it opened, the children shrank back in fear.

“It’s all right,” he assured them. “The light won’t hurt you. It’s not sunlight. We’re going to a land where no one will harm you. I swear it on my life and honor.” He held his hand out to Nephele. “Take my hand and hold tight and hold on to your brother.”

She bit her lip in uncertainty.

“It’ll be fine,” Xanthia whispered. “I think we can trust this one.”

How sad that the girl’s tiny hand still trembled as she took his. That was what bothered him most—that a child so young would fear this much. She should only know trust and good things in life. As should all children.

No one should know such betrayal and pain. Least of all a child.

Choking on his rage, Urian made sure the children wouldn’t pull away and harm themselves, and then he walked them through the glowing light.

Their screams echoed in his ears as the portal swept them from the human realm to Kalosis. Not that he blamed them. It was startling the first time through, when you didn’t know what to expect. Though it wasn’t much better even when you did.

Not to mention, it was completely jarring when he landed in the center of the banquet hall, where his father sat on his throne with a stern glower that said he was only waiting there to devour whatever fool came through the shimmering mist to land at his feet.

One made doubly worse because his father had no idea that any of his sons had left their dark domain that night.

“Urian? What the hades is this?” His father’s glower went from him to the beaten, naked woman, then to her children.

Aye, that was the face of a monster from legends that parents used to frighten children. Not even Urian was sure his father wouldn’t kill him.

The children shrank back from that coarse bark with loud screams. Not that Urian blamed them. He’d seen grown men wet themselves before his father’s wrath.

Kneeling, he gathered them to his chest while he kept Xanthia balanced against him. “Shh, children. It’s fine. Stryker is my solren. He won’t harm you.”

Him, on the other hand, his father might beat for such blatant disobedience.

Nephele calmed down first. “Your baba?”

He nodded. “Don’t worry. He always looks fierce. But he only eats humans.” Smiling, he rubbed at Geras’s back. “He has a lot of sons and grandsons. I promise he’s not angry at you. I’m the one he wants to spank.”

That succeeded in making the boy laugh. “B-b-b-but you’re a man. A fierce warrior who saved us!”

“Not to my baba. Trust me. In his eyes, I’m no bigger than you are.”

Nephele leaned over to her mother to whisper loudly. “Mata, his baba’s a Daimon! And he’s humongous!”

“Shh, Neph. That might offend him.”

Urian rose with Xanthia in his arms. “Their village was attacked by humans. I need Tannis to help with them. The lady is severely hurt.”

His father’s simmering glower darkened to a murderous level. “Where are your brothers?”

“Fighting.”

“Trates!”

Urian cringed at the rage in his tone. “Solren—”

“Not one word from you until I get back. See to her and the children. Open the portal for us so that I know where you left your idiot brothers, and don’t you dare return to the fighting or so help me I’ll geld you where you stand to make sure you never stray from home again!”

“Aye, sir.” Urian obeyed without question.

As soon as his father and a group of Illuminati were gone, he glanced down at Geras. “Like I said, he still thinks I’m your age, bit. And brainless to boot.”

Eyes wide, Geras clutched at Nephele’s arm while Urian led them from the hall toward his home. He used his telepathy to call for his sister so that she could meet him in the palace and have the beds waiting.

Luckily, she was at the door with Archie’s wife when he arrived. He would have teleported them, but given how weak Xanthia was and the fear of the children who cringed at every shadow they passed, he didn’t want to risk doing more harm or trauma to any of them.

Tannis gasped as soon as she caught sight of their bedraggled states.

Tall and lithe, and the epitome of beauty, his sister-in-law winced at the shape they were in. He’d never understand how Archie had been so lucky as to land a wife so beautiful or kind. Or why, having done so, the idiot would ever cheat on her. Yet his brother strayed constantly for reasons only Archie knew.

“Welcome, little ones. I’m Hagne. Why don’t you come with me and I’ll see you cleaned up while they tend your mata? I have hot water and toys waiting for you.” She cast a sympathetic, pained grimace toward Urian. “Are you all right?”

He nodded.

Her frown deepened. “Was Archie at least living when you left him?”

“Aye.”

“Thank the gods. ’Cause I want to be the one who kills him when he gets home.”

That was so messed up, but honestly, he couldn’t blame her for it.

Without a word, Urian carried Xanthia toward the bedrooms.

Tannis rushed ahead of him. “You can put her in my old room. I’ve already had the servants ready a bed. She’ll be more comfortable there.”

Since Urian knew his “guest” couldn’t see who was around them, he explained it for her. “Xanthia, this is my sister Tannis. I’m surrendering you to her care. She’s extremely gentle … at least to those who aren’t her brothers. And a good, kind lady to all.” Urian took her into Tannis’s room and laid her tenderly on the bed. “You’ll be in the best of hands.”

As he started to withdraw, Xanthia caught his arm. “Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it. Rest now. I’ll make sure your children are well cared for until you’re better.” Feeling horrible for what they’d done to her, he patted her hand reassuringly and released her, then headed back to the receiving hall.