Acheron

The unbridled rage in him shocked her completely. He was actually laughing at the guards as if he took pleasure in what they were doing.

Had he gone mad?

What had happened to him?

Acheron taunted them until he passed out from the beating. The guards exchanged a wary look between each other before the taller one reached for a bucket of water to revive him.

Ryssa placed her hand on his arm. "Please don't," she begged.

"Highness… your father will be angry if he learns we didn't carry out his orders."

"I won't tell if you don't. Please. He's been through enough."

The guard nodded, then went to cut him down. She saw the pity in both their eyes as they carried Acheron back to his room and, under her direction, placed him face down on his bed. They turned and left her alone with her brother who looked so pathetically vulnerable lying on the bed, bleeding.

Ryssa had no idea where Apollo and her brother and father had gone off to. Honestly, she didn't care. They could all rot for their cruelty.

Her hand shaking in pity for her brother, she brushed the hair back from Acheron's cheek. He was burning with a fever. "Don't worry, Acheron. I'll take care of you."

Well, that was highly entertaining."

Artemis dragged her gaze away from her koris who were swimming in the fountain outside her temple to see her brother beside her. "What is?"

"My pet has an illegitimate brother they hate."

Her heart stilled at the mention of Acheron. "Really?" she said, hoping he didn't detect the catch in her voice.

He nodded before he took a seat next to her. "I've never seen anything quite like it. He was sitting naked in the rain completely quiet, not bothering a soul, and they beat the shit out of him, then had him hauled down for a whipping."

Artemis forced herself not to react to the news in the least little way. "Why?"

"No idea. But I swear the prince heir had a hard-on when he held him down on the ground and beat him."

Artemis looked away as she remembered how many times Apollo had treated her in a similar fashion. Strange that he didn't see his own actions mirrored by the humans. Her poor Acheron. She wanted to go to him, but didn't dare.

Apollo laughed. "I give the human credit though, he fought like a lion against them. Even dared them to hit him harder."

Tears gathered to choke her. Artemis blinked quickly to dispel them. "I'll never understand humans."

"That's why my Apollites will one day subjugate them. The humans are too flawed."

She shook her head at her brother's plan to overthrow the people her father had created. "Do the Greek humans know that you're not backing them in their war against the Atlanteans and Apollites?"

"Are you insane? Of course not. Let them offer their daughters to me and make sacrifices. What do I care?"

Artemis cocked a brow at that. "You care for your pet, don't you?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "She amuses me for the time being. But there are many more exquisite women in the world. Besides she'll eventually age and I'll cast her off then."

"They do age too quickly." That was more for her benefit than his. Surely Acheron wouldn't appeal to her once his beauty faded.

Apollo didn't comment.

Artemis wondered at his presence in her temple garden. "Why aren't you with your pet?"

"She's with the slave, tending him. Once they beat him, she became too morose for my taste."

"And you tolerated that?"

He shrugged again. "I think her illegitimate brother must have given her tips on how to please me. She's been way too knowledgeable and compliant for a virgin. Styxx told me that they used to sell the bastard to humans for sex. Apparently it's a family tradition."

That news surprised her. Normally her brother shu

"No. I'd have killed her. When I'm not around, they keep her well guarded. But I find it fascinating that they offered her to me in such a ma

Artemis glanced to Satara, Apollo's young daughter who was dancing in the fountain with another of her koris. "No, you only gave your daughter to me to be a servant."

"I gave my daughter to you to feed you when I'm not around and to keep you away from the humans. She's never to be touched by any man."

"She's young still. What will happen when she grows older and decides to take a consort?"

Apollo's eyes flared with anger. "I'll kill them both."

Artemis was aghast at his words. "You would kill your own child?"

His look pierced her. "I'd kill my own twin should she whore herself for a man. Satara is one of many children I have. But none of them will shame me without feeling the full weight of my wrath."

"Even if she loved him?"

He curled his lip in disgust. "What are you? Aphrodite? Don't speak to me of love. You're a goddess. There is no love for us. Only lust which fades. A man can seek lovers, but for a woman to do such…"

Made her a whore. She knew her brother's stance on that.

As if she could hear his words about her, Satara paused in her play to look at her father.

"I'm off." Apollo vanished.

Artemis didn't miss the look of disappointment on Satara's face that her father hadn't bothered to speak to her. An instant later, she shoved the kori closest to her and stalked off.

Artemis shook her head. Apparently violence ran deep in their genes.

Her thoughts turned to Acheron and guilt slammed into her. What she'd done to him had been wrong and she knew it. But how could she face him after the way she'd acted?

You're a goddess. He should be grateful you even noticed him.

That was the way she'd been reared. Yet Acheron was different. He hadn't just been another human. They'd been friends.

And she'd hurt him out of fear. She'd done the very things to him that she'd sworn she'd never do. Things she knew hurt and humiliated him.

Why?

Closing her eyes, she could see him chasing her through the forest. Hear his laughter as he teased her.

No one else made her feel like that. No one.

And she'd ruined it by being stupid.

He's human, who cares? That would be Apollo's stance. If only she could share it. But deep in her heart she knew the truth. She missed him and she ached at the thought of his being hurt again by his father.

Don't even think it…

It was too late. She'd already flashed herself from her garden to his room. She hovered in the shadows where she saw his sister leaning over him.

"Please eat, Acheron," Ryssa whispered. "I don't want them to hurt you anymore. Father says that if you refuse any more meals he'll have them force feed you again." She held a piece of bread toward his mouth.

He turned his head away.

Artemis saw the raw pain on Ryssa's face.

"Fine. I won't have you hurt any more." The princess shoved the bread into her mouth and swallowed it whole. After that, she ate all of his food.

Her eyes filled with sorrow, Ryssa stood up. "I'll tell them that you ate it." When she reached for Acheron, he grabbed her hand and shoved it away from him.

Her face stricken, she sighed. "Sleep in peace, little brother. I'll make sure no one disturbs you."

Artemis didn't move until Ryssa had left them alone. Materializing into a solid form, she stepped out of the shadows.

Acheron curled his lip at her. "Leave."

"You shouldn't take that tone with me."

He laughed, then winced as if something pained him. "Do I look like I give a damn what you do to me? Get your ass out of here and leave me alone."

"Acheron-"

"Go!" he snapped, then hissed as if in severe pain. "You've already made it clear to me what I am to you. As you can see, I don't need you to beat me or hit me. There are plenty of others vying for that honor."