In truth, she loved the feeling of it.
He set her down in the water so that she could wash.
"Beth?"
She paused. "Yes?"
"I will do my best to see you at week's end, but I might not be able to. My father usually has an annual banquet he throws for my uncle then, and if I don't attend, he'll be furious."
Straightening, she put her hands on her hips and glared in what she hoped was the correct direction. "So that's it, eh? You sleep with me and then you abandon me." She tsked at him.
"Never!" The intensity of his denial shocked her.
She reached for him to comfort the pain she'd heard. "I'm teasing you, akribos. It's fine. I'll see you the next time."
He pulled her against him and held her as if he couldn't bear to let her go. "I would kill or die for you, Beth. Only you."
She held him tight. "I know, sweet. I love you, too."
He kissed her then went to dress while she continued her bath.
By the time she finished, he had everything packed up for her. She smiled at his thoughtfulness. "You really can't wait to get away from me, huh?"
This time he took it as she meant it. "What can I say, my lady? You're such an onerous burden. The sooner I'm away, the better."
Laughing, she took her basket and pole from him.
He cupped her face in both of his hands and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Be safe, my heart."
"You, too." Bethany waited for a few more seconds before she laughed. "Hector? I can't leave if you don't let me go."
"Sorry." He forced himself to release her. "I will see you later, my lady. But never soon enough to suit me."
"Good night, my fair prince. Until I feel you again."
Her parting words made him suck his breath in. She had no idea how close to the truth she was.
Still, Styxx didn't move until he watched her vanish into the woods. Only then did he swing himself up to the back of his horse and turn toward home.
What he didn't want to scare her with was the fact that he knew war was coming soon. His father and advisors had been preparing for it for weeks now. All their allies were rallying for the march to the south.
And when it came, he could have to go fight it.
While he wasn't afraid, he didn't look forward to the days of not seeing his Bethany.
Would she wait for him, or would he be forgotten as soon as he left?
August 19, 9532 BC
Shocked and confused, Bethany paused outside her temple in Katateros as she saw Archon with Apollo.
A Greek god in their sacred lands?
It was forbidden. Of course it'd been forbidden by Archon, but still ...
Why would a Greek god be here? It was as shocking as one of them going to Mount Olympus for tea. Normally whenever they had business with Apollo, it was conducted in one of their temples in Atlantis.
Curious, she walked closer to them to see what was going on. Like her, Apollo was said to be born of more than one pantheon. There were several contradictory stories about the identity of his mother, and the Greek god had never owned up to any of them. He enjoyed the mystique of it all.