Don't. The truth would not go well for him. His father had never loved him the way he loved Estes, and he never would.
Styxx glanced down at the scar on his forearm and accepted a reality he couldn't change. Bowing, he left his father and went to tell the others about the burial, and then to pack.
When he reached his rooms, Xan was inside, waiting for him.
The giant Atlantean stood with his legs wide and arms folded across his chest. Anger bled from every cell of his body. "You killed him, didn't you?"
With all the training he'd received since birth, Styxx arched a regal brow. "What are you talking about?"
A good seven inches taller, Xan moved to tower over Styxx and did his best to intimidate him with his massive size. "I fucked your tight little ass with Estes last night. When I left, you were out of it and tied to the bed." Xan snatched Styxx's hand and held his bruised, scabbed wrist for Styxx to see. "Estes wouldn't have freed you until he got up this morning and yet you weren't there when I went in to fuck you again."
"I awoke in the middle of the night and found him dead by my side. I panicked."
"I don't believe you."
"Should we take the matter to my father and let him decide the truth? But you'll have to confess to him how it is you know for a fact that I couldn't get free."
Xan curled his lip. "You think you've gotten away with this. But the gods know what you've done. You killed him in cold blood. I've heard the Furies in your pantheon have a special wrath they visit on the heads of those who murder their own family."
"Then I welcome them with open arms." Styxx glared at him. "And I'm not the one who killed my uncle. You did the moment you decided to hunger for my sister."
Xan slammed him back against the wall so hard, it knocked the breath from him. "I shall miss Estes. He was a good friend. But most of all, I shall miss watching you and your brother suck my cock until I come in your pretty little mouths, and seeing you swallow every last drop of me."
Styxx moved to attack, but the bastard kneed him in the groin and left him to his misery. Both physical and mental.
* * *
Bethany sighed as she packed up her basket. Again. It'd been over a solid month since she'd last seen Hector. Faithless bastard that he was, she seethed mentally. Give men what they want and they can't leave fast enough.
How she hated them all.
Trying not to think about how she'd let a mere mortal hurt her, she was just about to teleport home when she heard a rustling nearby.
"Beth?"
At first she thought it might be wishful thinking on her part.
Until she heard him call out again. "Hector?"
All of a sudden, he was by her side, pulling her gently against him. He held her so tight that she could barely breathe as he buried his face into the crook of her neck. His entire body was shaking so much that it frightened her.
"Is something wrong?"
"Not now that I'm finally with you again." He tightened his arms around her. "I'm so sorry I haven't been here. Believe me, I tried to come. I've thought of absolutely nothing else except being with you. Night and day."
Those words and the truth in his desperate tone brought tears to her eyes. "I thought you'd forgotten all about me."
"How could I forget the air I breathe? You alone sustain me."
He was a great deal leaner than he'd been and there were cuts and swelling on his body she didn't understand.
"Have you been ill?"
"You've no idea how much I cherish the concern in your sweet voice." He held her hand against his cheek and kissed her palm. "How have you been?"
"Missing you and mad at myself for it."
"Really?"