Urian grinned unabashedly. “She’s going to be in for a rude awakening with all the modern changes and gadgets, isn’t she?”
That deepened her frown. “How long have I been gone?”
Styxx checked his watch. “Eleven thousand five hundred and thirty-nine years, one hundred eighty-three days, and roughly ten hours, give or take a few minutes.”
Bethany gaped. “You really did count the heartbeats.”
Styxx slid the sleeve back on his arm to show her where he’d carved her name. “You have no idea.”
Urian’s stomach sank as he realized that it was his name there, too.
Damn. All the times he’d seen it.
This is my solren.He was the baby in those drawings that Styxx had labored over. It was so humbling to know exactly how much his father had wanted him.
Until his mother kissed his name on his father’s arm, then lifted her lips to his.
Urian whistled low. “You know, this would be awkward if youweren’tmy parents. The parental designation ups the ick factor exponentially.”
Yeah, it was probably immature, but he really couldn’t help it. There was something biological going on with his body, but yeah.
Laughing, Bethany pulled away to frown at him. “I am desperate to know you.” She looked back at Styxx. “And you and I have a lot to talk about. But …”
Styxx sighed. “We have gods to attend to.”
She nodded. “I want to make sure they never threaten us again.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Urian concurred.
Bethany took their hands and teleported them to the main temple. As soon as she saw the signs of battle and the amount of blood on the walls and floor, she sucked her breath in sharply. Horrified, she met Styxx’s sheepish gaze. “Please tell me that’s not yours.”
“Some is, but a lot of it was Demonbrean. That bastard bleeds like a slaughtered pig.”
When she started forward, Styxx refused to let go of her hand. She turned back with a frown.
The agonized fear in his eyes made Urian wince. “I let go of your hand once when I didn’t want to, and it was the biggest mistake of my life. One I never intend to make again.”
She laced her fingers with his and pulled him toward Acheron, who sat on his black throne, surrounded by the others. Urian hung back and moved to stand with Davyn, who held an ice pack to his head.
“You all right?”
Davyn nodded. “Sure. Good to be hit in the head from time to time.”
He shook his head at the sarcasm.
Rolling his eyes, Urian took stock of who was remaining among their numbers. Most of the gods were gone. The only ones left were Ma’at, Sin, Artemis, Simi, Apollo, and Xirena.
Bethany moved to stand near the throne. Styxx pressed himself against her back and wrapped his arms around her waist, then rested his chin on top of her head as if he were afraid to let her go for even an instant.
Acheron looked at them.
“Catch us up?” Styxx asked.
Simi blew an irritated breath out. “Akri won’t let me eat any of them nasty gods. What’s the world coming to when a demon gots to beg for tidbits … not even a finger sandwich. Tragic. Terribly tragic.”
Urian laughed.
Styxx whispered in Bethany’s ear. “I’ll explain Simi later.”
