"Jealous?"
"He is a loyal follower of mine and you are single-handedly turning him against all of us."
Apollo leaned back against his chaise. "I have him well in hand."
She winced at his cruel double entendre.
"No need in you concerning yourself with our relationship, dear sister."
Athena ground her teeth in anger. "I don't understand why you can't leave him alone when it's obvious he can't stand you."
"Cast off your virgin robes," Apollo said with a sadistic twist to his lips, "and you'll understand it fast. He is a very sweet piece of ass."
She curled her lip. "You sicken me."
He mocked her words. "And you bore me. Now hand me my instrument and begone."
Athena wanted to shove it where the "sun" didn't shine. But it wouldn't do any good. Apollo was a prick. "For a god of prophecy, you're a complete and utter idiot. Can you not see what you're about to do to him if you don't let him be?"
"You wanted him strong."
She growled at her idiot brother. "Not like this, I didn't. And you are to leave him alone, Apollo. I mean it!" Glaring at him one last time, she turned and stormed from his temple.
Apollo shook his head and laughed. "Had you not threatened me, I might have turned my eyes to another. But ... sweet Athena, no one threatens me. And they damn sure don't do it over a piece of human trash."
January 18, 9529 BC
Styxx rubbed at his aching head as he and his father went to meet with the senators and emissaries to discuss the Atlantean truce. That alone would be reason enough to make his brain hurt, but Ryssa trailed them, whining over the fact that her beloved father was offering her up as a sacrificial goat. The selfish shrew had no concept of what real humiliation felt like.
"Father, please..."
Damn, if they could harness the sound of her noxious whine, they'd have one hell of a battle weapon to unleash against their enemies.
"Enough, Ryssa." Finally, the old bastard cut her off. "The decision is made. You are to be offered to Apollo. We need him on our side if we're to ever win this war against the Atlanteans. So long as he continues to favor and aid them, we will never stand a chance. If you are his lover, he will look more kindly toward our people and might be swayed to our cause."
"It's not fair!"
Because life was ever about fairness.
Oh, to be as naive as his sister.
Just as they approached the atrium, their conversation was interrupted by the voices of the senators who were waiting for them on the other side of the wall.
"He looks just like Styxx."
Styxx froze instantly as his stomach knotted. Obviously, some of the senators had discovered Acheron at Catera's brothel.
This can't be good.
The one who'd spoken, Senator Barax, had been a longtime friend to his father and one of his top advisors.
His father paused by his side as Ryssa smirked at Styxx. She was absolutely gloating.
"What say you?" Krontes asked. He, too, was a friend and advisor to the king.
Barax laughed deep in his throat. "It's true. They couldn't look more alike had they been born twins. The only difference is their eye color."
Even though Acheron had been gone for a decade, how could they not remember his brother? That thought angered him even more than their topic.