Acheron's relief made their father furious.
"How dare you have no tears for him. He sheltered and protected you."
Scoffing, Acheron turned his dry gaze toward the king. "Believe me, I've paid him well for his shelter and concern. Every night when he took me to his bed. Every day when he sold me to whomever paid his price."
"You lie!"
Those words slashed across Styxx and stole his breath, and left him gaping in disbelief. You fucking piece of shit! How could you deny what is right in front of you? How could he call Acheron a liar when he bore witness to it?
In that moment, for the first time, Styxx was truly glad he'd killed Estes. His only regret was that it hadn't been more violent and painful an end.
Acheron glared at the king. "I'm a whore, Father, not a liar."
With a bellow born of grief, fury, and hatred, the king attacked his brother. He beat and kicked furiously at Acheron, who didn't bother to fight back or protect himself in any way.
Styxx struggled to breathe under the ferocity of his father's assault as his own body reacted to every blow. It was all he could do to remain standing. If he didn't do something fast, they were all going to learn the truth of the twins.
Gods help them both if that happened.
Racked in agony, he pulled his father away from his brother. "Please, Father," he said between gritted teeth as he struggled not to show his own pain. "Calm down. The last thing you need is to tax your heart. I don't want to see you die as Estes did."
As expected, the reminder that Estes had been younger and had died of a supposed seizure in his sleep calmed his father and gave Styxx a chance to suppress the damage his father had done to him. He wiped the blood from his face again while his father glared down at his twin.
Ryssa had gone to Acheron's side.
"Don't," Acheron said, pushing her away. He spat the blood from his mouth to the floor where it landed in a stark red splatter.
"Get out," their father snarled at him. "I don't ever want to see you again."
Those words hit Styxx even harder than his fists had.
Acheron laughed at that and met Styxx's gaze without flinching. "Rather difficult, isn't it?"
The king started for him, but Styxx put himself between them. He had to get them apart and sort through this.
Somehow.
"Guards," he called, wanting them to pull his brother to safety until their father calmed.
They appeared instantly.
Acheron glared at Styxx with a hatred that was palatable. I know you hear me inside your head, brother. Just like you always did when we were children, and I want you to see how much your precious father really loves you that he could throw us out so easily.
Tell me truthfully, Styxx, do you suck and lick Father's cock and balls at night? You must choke on his testicles and suck him hard and dry for him to be able to love you so and deny me.
Rage, dark and deadly, blinded him as Acheron's vicious thoughts hit him hard. How dare Acheron throw that in his face when Acheron knew exactly how much it hurt! It was beyond cruel. Even harsher was the memory he had of Acheron oiling Styxx's body and prepping him for the men Estes sold him to.
Welcome to my world, brother....
There had been no remorse in Acheron over what had been done to Styxx, not even when Acheron had seen Styxx's horrendous scars left by the priests. His brother had mocked those, too.
Next time you should let the brands cool before you masturbate with them.
In that moment, Styxx wanted to kill his own brother. Twin or not.
Instead, Styxx jerked his chin toward Acheron. "Put this trash on the street where it belongs."
Acheron pushed himself to his feet. "I don't need their help. I can walk out the door on my own."