Worse? Two of those writhing beside him in drunken revelry were his own brothers. Telamon and Theo both drank from the veins of women they were passing between them. Xoron or blood-whores. Men and women who sold themselves to be used as food by other Apollites and Daimons.
Drunk from the blood and lust that came from overfeeding, Telamon looked up to see Urian’s approach. He pulled back from the half-naked woman in his lap, causing her to whimper in protest. “Little brother, Uri … what are you doing here? No one wants you.”
That caused Theo to withdraw from the woman he was screwing while feeding. Pity it wasn’t his pregnant wife who no doubt was at home, wondering where her husband was so that she could have her dinner.
And none of them seemed to care about the fact that their brother-in-law had no better morals than they did when it came to their sister.
Other than the fact that the lecherous bastards didn’t beattheirwives. If he was ever lucky enough to find a woman who’d have him, he’d be loyal to her and treat her with respect and care. Not gallivant around like some insatiable satyr.
Damn them all!
With a furious snarl, Urian seized Erol and snatched him from the whore he was treating more kindly than he had Tannis and backhanded him.
The much larger Apollite cursed before he attempted an undercut to Urian’s jaw. Urian blocked the punch and countered with a fist to Erol’s gut that caught him hard in the breadbasket. He staggered back, wheezing. Doubling his hands, Urian brought them down hard against Erol’s jaw, then again into his throat. Enraged beyond control, he was intent on the man’s utter destruction.
Honestly, he wanted to gut him with his sword and it was a hard temptation to resist.
After that, Urian lost count of the punches as he unloaded his rage against the much larger beast. All he saw was his sister’s neck and her tears. Her sobs rang in his ears.
Damn them straight to Tartarus!
Until he felt his father pulling him away.
“Stop!”
His breathing ragged, Urian blinked hard as he realized how many people had gathered to witness his fury.
Tannis was there, screaming at him while everyone else stood in stunned silence.
Erol lay on the floor, covered in blood and sobbing.
“What is wrong with you?” Theo glared at him.
He was cursed. Sun deprived. Everyone hated him. Most days he hated himself. He needed better hobbies.
In puberty. With assholes for brothers. And a dragon for a best friend.
And he had a hangnail.
Really, the list was endless.
But most of all, Urian refused to back down or apologize. It just wasn’t in him. Instead, he kicked at Erol’s feet. “If he ever lays another angry hand to Tannis or puts another bruise on her body, even by accident, so help me, Apollymi, I’ll rip out his heart and feed it to him!”
Thatsucceeded in getting his father’s attention. “Excuse me?”
Urian jerked his chin toward Tannis. “Look at what he did to her neck. Then criticize me and tell me I’m wrong.”
Tannis stopped screaming immediately. Cringing at their father’s approach, she clutched Urian’s chalmys higher against her throat.
But their father was having none of that. “Show me.”
“It’s nothing, Baba.”
Not even her use of “Daddy” could placate his mood or weaken his resolve. Their father’s eyes turned blood red. “Lower it and show me your throat. Now!”
The moment she did, the hall cleared as everyone realized this was about to turn deadly. Everyone rushed to safety lest they take any of the fallout. Theo and Telamon scrambled to dress.
“We didn’t know, Solren.” Telamon gulped audibly.
