That cut short everyone’s revelry and merriment. A scowling goddess usually did.
Especially when it was Apollymi. No one wanted to come under her scrutiny, as those who did usually met with a massive calamity of some sort.
Even Urian swallowed hard as he prayed that her expression wasn’t directed at something he’d done. He could literally feel his testicles trying to climb back inside his body.
“How did that Daimon get so close to my domain?” Oh yeah, that tone was chilling.
His father rubbed nervously at his neck. No doubt his own nuts were shriveling, which made Urian feel better about his. “He came through the portal, akra.”
She folded her arms over her chest, with a sarcastic sneer. “You were supposed to be monitoring it, were you not, Strykerius?”
“I was, akra. Forgive me.”
Her gaze narrowed dangerously as a wind began to stir through Kalosis, warning them of her temper. They all dreaded whenever the goddess did that. “It appears these treli are becoming problematic for us. We need someone who hunts them. A group who can make certain they are dealt with before this happens again.”
“Agreed.” His father glanced to Trates, who paled instantly.
Apollymi also turned toward Trates, who shrank back from her stare as if she’d shot fire from her eyes at him. “Gather forty of your best warriors, and designate them as an elite force to hunt them down.”
“I will, akra.” Trates’s voice actually cracked. He cleared it before he spoke again. “We’ll have an Illuminati guard you, and the portal to make sure no other comes this close again.”
“You do that. And make sure Urian is among them.”
Urian’s stomach hit the floor. Why was he drawn into this?
His father’s eyes widened. “But he’s just apido,akra.”
“A boy who succeeded where the rest of you failed. Do not underestimate your son, Strykerius. Even at his tender age, he’s already among the best of your fighters.”
He barely caught the groan in his throat.Great …
Urian could already feel the ass-kickings that were headed his way as he met his brothers’ angry glares.Single me out, goddess. Not like they don’t already resent my father’s favoritism that he never seeks to hide. By all means, add yours to it, and put another target on my back.
If his father wanted to know why he was such a good fighter, all he had to do was start by counting how many sons the man kept producing whenever he dropped his loincloth. Sons who took aim for Urian’s head whenever they were left alone. Even Tannis was known to take a whack at him from time to time, if he let his guard down around her.
And she had incredible aim with her shoes. Thank the gods she didn’t sharpen the heels.
Oh, to have been an only child …
But no, he had to have been born to fertile parents.
Theo shoved his shoulder into Urian’s back as he walked past, letting him know they would have “words” later.
Beautiful.
There were times when he truly felt as if he were an outsider in his own family.
This was definitely one of them. Especially when he caught the snarled-up grimace that contorted the features of his own twin as everyone began dispersing.
Damn. It was particularly bad when even Paris resented him. Davyn passed him a sympathetic stare before he followed after Paris.
Urian …
He didn’t react to those summonses he’d learned long ago only he could hear. Sadly, this one didn’t come from the one who brought him joy. But rather from the one who scared him witless.
Suddenly, he felt as if he were being watched. His skin crawled with the sensation. He rubbed at his neck and glanced about until he caught sight of a petite blonde he’d never seen before. She was stunning.
And the moment their gazes met, she quickly rushed off and vanished with the crowd.
