That took the edge off Theo’s anger. “How long has he been like this?”
“Since I found him.”
Theo rolled his eyes at Urian’s sarcasm. “And Paris left him in this condition?”
“You’re making allmypoints, genius.” Gah! Was he the only member of his family who possessed a functioning brain? There were times—like this—when Urian suspected he might be hoarding the only one capable of any semblance of reason in his whole sibling gene pool.
Smirking, Urian gave him a peeved glare. “Davyn’s right. You are an asshole.”
With a disgusted sneer, Theo grabbed Davyn by his chalmys and pulled him deeper into his home before he called out to his wife. “Prax? Get dressed. I need you to watch Davyn until we return.”
“Where are you going?” she called from the other room. There was no missing the irritation in her shrill tone.
“Just do what I say, woman!”
Urian paused at the door. “You shouldn’t talk to her like that. She’s the mother of your children, you know.” Not to mention, she put up with Theo when Urian couldn’t imagine why.
“Mind your own business, Uri. This is my house and I’ll run it as I see fit.”
Oooh, leave it to Theo to default to the same cave logic that had made all of them resent their father. “And your solren would have your ass if he heard you speaking to your wife in that tone.”
Theo’s nostrils flared with anger as he pinned on his chalmys.
Ignoring his brother’s anger and disgusted by his behavior, Urian looked past Theo to where Praxia was coming down the stairs to take over watch duty. “We’re going to look for Paris. As soon as we find him, I’ll bring Theo back.”
Maybe not unbruised, especially if he kept lipping off, but …
“Thank you, Urimou.”
Respectfully, he inclined his head to her, then made his exit.
As soon as they were outside Theo’s house, Theo grabbed him and slammed Urian against the wall of his neighbor’s home. “You ever do that again, and I’ll—”
Urian punched him in the gut. “Don’t threaten me, Theo. I’m not a child anymore.”
Theo used his powers to knock him back and choke him.
With his own psychic blast, Urian broke his hold and struck out, letting his powers have full rein of his fury. He knocked Theo careening down the street without touching him.
Because his powers were so much stronger than anyone else’s, Urian knew better than to put them on display. That was why this was the first time he’d ever fully unleashed them in front of anyone, other than Apollymi.
But he was too angry and hungry tonight for restraint.
And too late, he recovered his control and temper to realize that there were a lot of witnesses on the street tonight for his outburst. Too many who’d been coming and going from the celebration.
Shit. He turned around slowly to see the horrified stares that condemned him.
Always.
If anyone else had shown such massive power, they would have been applauded for it. Considered great and praised.
Not him. Nay, never the son with freakishly white hair born to Stryker and hisGreekbride. The one with eyes unlike other Apollites. He was to be feared and ostracized for things he didn’t do and couldn’t help.
I really am born cursed.
This was no exception to his humiliation and misjudgments. Already, he could hear their whispers around him.
He’s a freak!
