Alexion snorted. “I’ll let you and the demons do that. I personally like my semiliving state too much to jeopardize it.”
Ash looked up and pierced them both with a malevolent glare. “Don’t you two girls have something better to do, like pick toe lint?”
Urian gave him a taunting grin. “Not really.”
Ash growled a low warning, and just as he appeared ready to tear into them, his phone rang. Leaning his head back, he sighed in frustration.
Urian smirked at Alexion. “Five dollars it’s Artemis.”
Alexei checked his watch. “This time of day, it’s a Hunter. You’re on.”
Urian frowned as they watched him closely. “Well, he’s not getting pissed, so it’s definitely not Aunt Artie.”
“Yeah, and the tic hasn’t started in his jaw, so I don’t think it’s a Hunter … what the hell?”
Acheron ignored them. “What time?”
They both exchanged an exaggerated gape at his unorthodox question.
“Say what?” Urian asked.
“I’ll be there.” Acheron hung up, started to slide the phone into his pocket, and then pulled it out again and dialed it. “I just realized I don’t have your address.”
Now, Urian really was floored. He turned back to Alexion. “Oh yeah, total Armageddon coming. We better duck and cover.”
“I shall see you later then.” Acheron hung up and glared at both of them. “Mind your own business.” Then he vanished.
Alexion let out a nervous laugh. “You know, I would say that Acheron has a girlfriend, but that makes my sphincter clinch.”
“Hey, anything’s possible.”
He laughed nervously. “No, Urian. It’s not. And this definitely isn’t. Trust me. No one wants Acheron dating.”
Maybe, but if Acheron was happy, then maybe he could reconcile him with Styxx and get Acheron to stop paying attention long enough for him to kill his father. Because a morose Ash was a focused Ash. If Urian had learned anything over the last few years, it was that he couldn’t get anything past that bastard. Acheron seemed to be everywhere.
And he watched Urian like a hawk.
But love made men and gods stupid.
It was what had gotten Urian’s entire race cursed. If Ash had a girlfriend, then Urian had a chance for vengeance.
November 1, 2008
Urian woke up to the most glorious smell of bacon. Now that alone almost made living worthwhile. At least it made the fact he was no longer a Daimon worthwhile.
Getting up, he quickly dressed and headed for the kitchen, where Danger and Alexion were in the middle of some heated discussion over something.
“What are we talking about?” Urian asked as he joined them. “Do I smell bacon?”
She sighed irritably. “Teach a Daimon to eat real food and he’s impossible.” She went to make more for him. “We were talking about your houseguest you didn’t mention feeding.”
Urian’s eyes widened as he realized he’d been caught. “Um …”
“Don’t worry. You’re not in trouble. I was just telling Alexion that I think there’s a lot more to him than we’ve been told.”
Grateful that she was being reasonable where Styxx was concerned, Urian nodded. “No shit, right? You know who he is?” he asked Alexion.
He gave Urian a droll stare. “Acheron’s brother.”
