Because of the pain, it took Urian a second to catch on. Then he nodded in understanding and made his way toward them with Davyn in tow.
Ash had just started for Styxx when all of a sudden, Styxx gasped and arched his back as if something possessed him.
Urian froze with a frown.
The knife Bathymaas had buried in his chest shot through the air and landed harmlessly on the ground. Light streamed out of the wound, sealing it closed. In the next heartbeat, a shock wave went through the room, knocking everyone off their feet, except Ash.
A slow smile spread across his face.
The chains that held Styxx in place shattered, sending shrapnel out in all directions. Urian drove for Davyn to protect him. Styxx rose to hover over the floor as all the gods were pinned down.
“What’s happening?” Archon roared.
No one answered as lightning bolts shot through Styxx’s body, blowing out the windows and ripping the doors from their hinges. Bolts of light pierced Styxx’s eyes and mouth. They shot through his body.
Simi started to go to Styxx, but Ash held her back.
“No, Sim. He might kill you.” Ash teleported himself to where Styxx hovered.
The moment Bathymaas saw him, her nostrils flared with anger. “You!”
When she moved to attack him, Ash caught her with his powers. “Kill me and Styxx dies, too. Is that what you want?”
“Kill them both!” Leto shouted, still trying to put the two halves of the heart together.
Urian would laugh if it weren’t so pathetic. He let go of Davyn.
Bethany rose up as if she’d obey Leto, but then her gaze went to Styxx and she calmed instantly. “What do I do to save him?”
“You have to ground him. Make him aware of who and what he really is outside of his powers.”
“How?”
Ash shook his head. “Damned if I know. I’ll try to hold him, but you have got to reach him or those powers will rip him apart and destroy all of us.”
Nodding, she stepped back and cleared the way for Ash to launch himself at Styxx. When his brother went to hit him, Ash embraced him with everything he had.
Styxx bellowed furiously as he tried to break free.
In her Bethany form, his wife appeared in front of Styxx and cupped his face in her hands. “Styxx? Can you hear me?”
Another blast went through the room as something like a hurricane swept through it. Ash held on to Styxx and Bethany.
Urian tried to anchor himself and protect Davyn.
Styxx shoved Acheron away and turned on her with a murderous glint in his blue eyes.
Urian saw the fear and uncertainty in Bethany’s eyes. Then she did the most unexpected thing of all.
She kissed him.
Styxx froze for a full minute. Urian held his breath, terrified it wouldn’t work.
Then Styxx pulled back. “Beth?”
She smiled at him. “Are you with me,akribos?”
“I’m not sure. Am I dead?”
