For this shit? Oh yeah. Artemis was right. Payback was a cat. And he was ready to meow.
“After you, Solren.”
To Urian’s shock, Styxx teleported them directly into Apollymi’s garden, where she sat, gazing into her mirror.
Gasping in indignation, she rose to her feet. “What is this?”
Urian covered his father, in case she blasted him. Ever fearless, Styxx forced Apollo to kneel before her. Totally naked and bound, Apollo had no choice but to obey. Urian would feel sorry for the Olympian had the bastard ever shown his people an ounce of mercy or compassion.
But really, he wanted to see him cry.
Styxx saluted Apollymi. “I come bearing gifts, my lady.”
Inclining his head to them both, Urian removed the necklace from Apollo. “I’ll return this to Davyn and be right back.”
Urian teleported to the home Davyn once shared with Paris. Davyn was waiting for him.
The relief on his face was tangible. He pulled Urian against him and held him close. “You ever scare me like that and I will gut you.”
“I know. Sorry.”
Swallowing hard, Davyn let him go. “You know you’re all I have, right?”
“I know. We’ve been through a lot.” Urian glanced around the sparse cottage that hadn’t changed in all the centuries he’d known him. “Have you thought about my offer?”
For the last four years, Davyn had been able to walk in daylight. There was no reason for him to live here anymore. The Apollymians were free to leave. They weren’t locked here.
Most stayed out of loyalty to Apollymi, who couldn’t leave.
But Urian and Acheron had offered sanctuary to Davyn for all the years of service he’d given them.
Davyn’s eyes turned bright with unshed tears. “I can’t leave, Uri. This is all I have of Paris. All my memories are here.”
“You can’t move on, either.”
“Who says I want to?”
Urian could respect that. Pulling him closer, he kissed him on the forehead. “You know where I am if you need me.”
“I know. Love you.”
“You, too, brother.”
Yet walking away from him was always hard. Davyn had always been the one constant in his life. If anything ever happened to him, Urian wouldn’t be able to cope.
Not wanting to think about it, he headed back to Apollymi’s palace, where he’d left Styxx … his birth father.
Styxx looked at him, then smiled at Apollymi, who was salivating over her gift. “Enjoy.”
Together, they teleported back to Bethany, who was holding Sebastos while talking to Tory and Ma’at.
Urian had a surreal moment when it slammed into him again that she was his mother. Especially when she glanced over at them and smiled. “There he is. Bas, say hi to Uncle Styxx.”
“Hi, Unkie Six!” he said, laughing and bouncing in Bethany’s arms.
She tickled his belly until he squealed and kissed her. His little hand tangled in her long hair.
“Are you all right?” Acheron asked as he came up behind Styxx.
