Simi looked at Apollymi. Never in her life had she heard such a tone from the goddess. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear akra-Apollymi was anxious about something.
Styxx stepped back to glare at her. “What?”
“Remember my promise to you, Styxx?”
“That you’d make everything right if I survived? Yes. I remember that.”
Apollymi glanced at Simi, then akri before she spoke again. “I didn’t kill your son. I wanted to. Desperately. But as I looked down at that tiny, beautiful baby, I saw my Apostolos and I couldn’t bring myself to hurt him.”
Bethany gasped. “He lives? Where is he?”
Apollymi’s gaze went to Urian who turned around to look behind him.
Simi’s jaw dropped in understanding. That was why the goddess had always been so fond of Urian.
“Urian is Galen?” Styxx asked.
Urian shook his head. “It’s not possible. I was born before they died.”
“No, you weren’t.” Apollymi smiled sadly. “Strykerius told you that because he didn’t want you to know that you and your brother were the first Apollites born cursed. And that was my fault. I intentionally chose Strykerius’s wife because I thought it the perfect revenge that Apollo should look after Styxx’s child given what he’d done to him … in both lifetimes. I had no idea Apollo would curse all of you over the death of a woman he really couldn’t stand. Like Apostolos and Styxx, your blood mingled with that of Strykerius’s real son, and that made you a part of Strykerius, too. You, child, are the only being alive who is part human, Atlantean, and Apollite … and you carry in your veins the blood of three pantheons and gods.”
Urian was as aghast as Simi was to hear that. “Does Stryker know?”
The goddess nodded. “I told him long ago—after you were grown, and he wondered about some of your heightened abilities—that you were very special to this world, but not who your real parents were. Your unique bloodline was why the evil souls you once lived on didn’t infect you at all. Why you could go longer between feedings than others of your kind. It’s also why Strykerius cut your throat instead of stabbing you in the heart. Unlike other Daimons, you wouldn’t have died from a heart wound. Only blood loss could kill you.”
Urian looked at akri. “Did you know this?”
“I knew it was odd that Stryker cut your throat instead of stabbing you, but no. I had no clue you were my nephew. My mother”—he passed a peeved glare at her—“never mentioned it to me.”
Urian scowled. “Man, I’m messed up right now. My best friend is my father? The man I idolized as a kid … whose tattoo is on my arm … And he’s younger than me. Yeah, I don’t think I can handle this. Mind-wipe me, somebody … please! Where’s that dragon from Sanctuary? Simi, go get Max. I need him.”
Simi laughed at his order. Though honestly, she couldn’t blame him. It was hard to believe Apollymi had done something so mean.
Bethany approached Urian tentatively so that she could study him. His hair was lighter than Styxx’s. He wasn’t quite as tall as his father, but he had the same expression now that Styxx wore whenever he was irritated or confused. She placed a gentle hand on his cheek as she stared up at him. “I see your father in you. My baby’s beautiful. Just like I knew you’d be.” She pulled him into her arms and held him tight.
Simi felt for the goddess who hadn’t been alive to raise her son. Urian was a good man and one Simi called friend. He was good quality people, and she was glad that he now had his real parents.
“I hate that I missed seeing you grow, but I do love you … Urian.”
In spite of what Urian had said, he held on to his mother as if she’d raised him.
Styxx wrapped his arms around both of them.
Simi looked over at her sissy and smiled. She was glad that Styxx had found his family and even gladder that akri had his brother again.
Just like she had hers.
They had saved Styxx and Bethany. She was so glad to know that they’d kept the future intact.
Because one day, Simi wanted to see Nekoda again.
Most of all, she wanted Nick to be the Malachai who saved the world. Not the one who destroyed it.
31
Three Weeks Later
“You know what you needs, Thorny?”
