“What do I do with these?” Styxx asked Simi.
“Twist them until they’re moist,” Apollymi said. “Then drip nine drops into Apostolos’s mouth.”
Styxx hesitated. “What happens if I do ten by mistake?”
Urian snorted sarcastically. “Let’s not find out.”
Bethany returned to his side as he carefully counted.
As soon as the ninth one hit Acheron’s lips, the color slowly returned to the whole of his body.
Groaning, Acheron opened his eyes, then grimaced. “Next time, add peppermint flavoring, somebody. That is the nastiest-tasting crap on the planet.”
Styxx snorted. “You’re not seriously complaining that I brought you back. Are you?”
“Yes, and no. Taste it yourself and you’ll understand.”
Having had a dose a few times, Urian agreed. That was some nasty crap.
Shaking his head, Styxx held his hand out to his brother. Acheron took it and allowed him to pull him to his feet, then hugged him close. After a few seconds, he stepped back to leave him to Bethany.
Styxx turned and wrapped his arms around her. He leaned his head against hers. “I told you I’d come back for you, my goddess. That nothing would stop me.”
“Yes, but did you have to drag your feet?”
He laughed. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to get used to living with me right here. I will never again let you go. Just consider me a large exterior growth on your body.”
Urian felt the tears in his own throat as he more than understood that sentiment. God, if he could only have Phoebe back …
Her lips trembling, Bethany smiled up at him as her own tears flowed. “I just wish we had our son with us.”
“I know, precious,” he breathed.
“Um … about that.”
Styxx looked up at Apollymi’s trepidatious voice, which she had suddenly found again. “What?”
Urian was amazed he’d bark that word at the goddess of destruction.
“Remember my promise to you, Styxx?”
“Yes?”
Urian frowned as Apollymi began acting even stranger and more skittish.
“I didn’t kill your son. I wanted to. Desperately. But as I looked down at that tiny, beautiful baby, I saw Apostolos and I couldn’t bring myself to hurt him.”
Bethany gasped. “Where is he?”
Apollymi’s gaze went to Urian.
Okay … Dumbfounded by that, he turned around to look behind him.
No one was there.
What the hell?
Styxx’s jaw dropped. “Urian is Galen?”
