“No.” Acheron was emphatic.
“Stop,” Savitar snapped. “The kid has a point. Think about it. You can get Tory out of there and not end the world. Win-win.”
The hatred in Acheron’s eyes was searing. “I’m not leaving him alone with Tory. I don’t trust him with her.”
Styxx was aghast. “What do you think I’m going to do?”
“Rape her, kill her … with you there’s no telling.”
Urian’s jaw dropped at the severity ofthatparticular allegation. Where the hell hadthatcome from? Yet the vim of it said it was deep rooted.
“Withme?Really?” He shoved Acheron.
Acheron ran at Styxx, but Savitar caught him and pushed him back a step. “Stop thinking with your emotions. Calm down.” Then Savitar turned to glare at Styxx. “And you, punk, lay off him or I’ll fry your greasy ass where it stands. I know I can kill you and not kill Acheron. So don’t push me.”
Styxx snorted in derision. “That is not the way to motivate me to leave him alone, Chthonian. But it’s a hell of a way to make me attack.” He met Acheron’s swirling silver gaze.
Instead, he snatched his sleeve back to show his brother his forearm. “I know what it’s like to lose the only thing you love, and to be forced to live without her for eternity. As bad as I want to cut your throat and watch you bleed out at my feet for the insult you just dealt me, I won’t see your woman dead for it. Unlike your fucking whore mother, I don’t kill innocents.”
Both Savitar and Acheron blasted him for that comment. Styxx hit the wall behind him so hard, he broke through part of it.
Stunned, Urian teleported to him.
This was bullshit! Furious at them for their unwarranted and unreasonable attack, Urian glared at them both. “What are you doing? I asked him here to help you and you kill him? Good job. Both of you. Congrats, you stupid assholes!”
“He insulted my mother,” Acheron roared.
Urian scoffed. “No offense, boss, your mother killed his wife and his son. Instead of putting him through a wall, I want you both to take one second and imagine his loss. I have buried almost every member of my family. And the one thing that truly tore my heart out was losing Phoebe. You mourn your sister, Ash? So did I. Trust me, it ain’t shit till you lose your wife, especially when you know you should have been at home protecting her, and not leaving her to die brutally by the hand of your enemies.” He turned and helped Styxx extricate himself from the wall.
In that moment, he actually hated Acheron.
And he didn’t think much more of Savitar. What kind of Chthonian could do this?
Styxx had come here to help them. To hell with it.
“I’m sorry,” Urian said. “I shouldn’t have asked you to come.”
Styxx spat the blood in his mouth on the floor, then wiped his hand over his lips. “Trust me, they’re pussies compared to the real Atlanteans I fought.”
They went to blast him again.
Holding his arms out, Urian shielded Styxx with his body.
Styxx stepped around Urian, then patted him on the shoulder. “I’m not afraid of them. Hits, I can take. After all, I was slapped on the ass the minute I was born, and not a damn thing has changed since.”
Acheron curled his lip. “Don’t listen to him, Urian. He’s a liar and a thief. He was never married. He was only engaged, and he didn’t have a son.”
The pain in Styxx’s eyes refuted those words and left no doubt in Urian’s mind. His pain was too real to be faked. “You know nothing about me, brother. After all, I’m just a liar and a thief to you.”
Styxx swallowed. “By the way, tell Artie thanks for the memories. ’Cause now I not only know everything about what really happened to you, I know what you really think of me. I would say that one day I would love to return the favor, but honestly the only person I hate that much is your putrid mother.”
Styxx wiped his hand across his face. “Now either use me or send me home. I’m in no mood to play.”
Urian winced at the tremor in his friend’s voice.
Savitar took a deep breath as he faced Acheron. “Urian’s right. Styxx is the best shot we have at getting her out alive. We don’t know what going into Kalosis will do to you, Ash. It could rip out your human soul and leave you nothing but your mother’s tool for destruction. If that happens, you’re as likely to kill Tory as they are.”
Acheron shook his head. “It’ll never work. His voice is hoarser than mine. And no one’s going to believe I cut my hair off and bleached it blond.”
