Without a word, he turned to face Urian. “Take your sister home.”
“Baba,” Tannis sobbed. “What are you going to do?”
“Don’t you worry. Just leave with Urian. And take the others with you. Now!”
Urian inclined his head respectfully. He knew better than to speak a single word when his father was like this, lest he find himself the scapegoat. Yet he knew his siblings were all pissed off at him. Not that there was anything new about that. It seemed a perpetual state for their ongoing relationships.
A fact proven the moment they were clear of the hall.
Theo was the first to strike him on the arm. “Can’t you ever mind your own business?”
“Yeah!” Telamon shoved him from behind. “Why are you always meddling in our affairs? You’re such an asshole!”
Tannis slapped at them. “Leave him alone!”
Urian wasn’t sure who was the most stunned by her actions: his brothers or him.
Especially when she reached out and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Uri. I know you were protecting me and I, for one, appreciate it.”
Damn … how bad had Erol hurt her? “I love you, Tanny.”
“I know. Love you, too.” She turned to glare at Telamon and Theo in turn. “And shame on both of you for the way you act. Neither of you has even asked if I’m all right. You’re such bastards!”
When she started to leave, Urian reached out and took her hand. “You want to stay with us tonight?”
Her lips trembled. Then she cast another shameful look toward his brothers. “You hate Urian for the way Solren dotes on him and you blame Urian for it. Instead, look to yourselves. This”—she gestured between them—“is why Urian holds the place he does with our parents. He thinks of others and is aware of everything around him while the two of you never see anything more than your own uselessness. You’re selfish and petty!”
Taking Urian’s hand, she pulled him toward home. “Aye, Urian. I’d rather stay with you and Solren, tonight. I’ve no use for the others.”
Stunned beyond rational thought, Urian didn’t speak as they headed home to the temple palace that was second in size only to Apollymi’s.
Adjacent to the goddess’s, it’d been the one their father had chosen as his residence on his arrival here. Ironically, it’d belonged to the wife of Misos, the god of this underworld hell realm, when the Atlantean gods had called Kalosis home—which was why it had a back hallway that connected it to Apollymi’s temple.
Because Thnita had been the queen of Kalosis, her palace was almost equal in size to the one Apollymi currently resided in. But from the stories others whispered, he knew that Apollymi hadn’t always lived there in that palace. At one time, she’d been a prisoner here in Kalosis, though he had no idea where the other gods had kept her sequestered during those days.
Or how they’d managed to keep her contained. It must have surely been fun for them to try to restrain a goddess so powerful.
Once as a boy, Urian had made the mistake of asking Apollymi where her cell had been in those days.
That was the night he’d learned that her eyes didn’t always stay their swirling silver. Nor did her hair remain white-blond.
He’d seen the true form of the Destroyer. And according to her pet Charonte, Xedrix, Urian was the only one not demon-born who’d ever survived an encounter with her in that state and lived to tell it.
Lesson learned. Apollymi didn’t like to be questioned. And never,evermention her imprisonment. At least not if one wanted to continue breathing.
In fact, between her and his father, he’d learned not to question people at all if he wanted to remain healthy. Let them volunteer what they wanted you to know.
It was much safer that way and resulted in a lot less bruises. Physically and mentally.
Therefore Urian remained quiet as he led his sister through their ornate marble hall, toward the back where their rooms waited. No one had touched hers since her marriage.
Just as they’d left their mother’s room exactly as it’d been on the night she’d gone to the human realm. In their mother’s case, all save their father would drift in here, seeking the comfort of her presence. The memories of her warmth. It was their way of preserving her memory and paying honor to her whenever they missed her more than they could bear.
When it came to Tannis, their father had made it clear that in the event she needed a haven from Erol, she was to have her room here to withdraw to, at any time, and that none of them should ever encroach on it. Since she was the weakest member of the family, it was their job to protect her from any and all threats.
“Tanny!” Ophion came running up to hug her the moment she came through the door.
Atreus and Patroclus were right behind him.
