The Dark-Hunters (536 page)

When she moved back, he saw the joy in her gaze. How he wished he felt it too.

“You’ll never again doubt my affection,” she breathed against his lips.

Acheron didn’t respond as she dropped to her knees in front of him. He frowned in confusion until she ran her hand down his cock before she guided the tip of it into her mouth. Gasping in shock and pleasure, he almost staggered back. No one had ever done this to him before.

His job was to please. It wasn’t to have others, especially not a goddess, pleasure him. All the anger inside him evaporated under the assault of her tongue on his body. He’d never felt like this before … never dreamed of just how good this would be. Her hand stroked and cupped his sac while her warm breath scorched him. The love for her that he’d buried and denied came back with a fury so intense it sent him into an immediate orgasm.

Artemis pulled back, sputtering as she quickly covered him with the skirt of his chiton. “That is so disgusting. How can anyone enjoy
that?
”

Acheron couldn’t answer as he clutched himself while his body continued to finish what she’d started.

She looked up at him with a hesitant smile as she licked her lips. “You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” he said, his voice ragged.

“Am I forgiven?”

Acheron ran his thumb over her lower lip where a trace of his seed was left. Her gaze unwavering, she flicked her tongue over the pad of his finger to taste it. The sight of her doing that … the sensation of her hot tongue on his skin was the most incredible thing he’d ever experienced.

Drained and sated, all he could do was nod.

Her smiled widened as she stood up and pulled him in for another kiss. The next thing he knew, they were in her temple bedroom and he was completely naked. She nipped his lips, brushing her hands over his chest. “Make love to me, Acheron.”

Her words sent a wash of frigid cold through him. “I don’t want to be beaten today, Artie. I’ve suffered enough shame this afternoon.”

Laughing, she pulled his head down so that she could kiss him roughly, nipping his skin until he feared he’d be bruised. “I won’t beat you. Promise.” She took his hand and led him to her bed. She rolled onto her back and jerked him over her naked body.

Still Acheron was uncertain.

Artemis rolled him over onto his back. She was relentless in her demands and his body did exactly what it’d been trained to do … it hardened for her.

Closing his eyes, he wished he’d been neutered as a child. His life would have been infinitely easier.

As she slid herself onto him, he wondered how it could be that a goddess couldn’t tell what was inside him. That she had no idea how little he wanted this from her right now. Reserved and terrified of what abuse she’d deliver once she was finished, he pleased her as best he could.

By the time she was fully sated, his body was sore. Sliding off him, she sighed contentedly. She reached up toward his face and he turned his head quickly in expectation of a slap.

“What’s wrong?”

He swallowed as she pulled a pillow over him and then tucked it under her head. “Nothing.”

She propped herself up so that she could trace the lines of his face with her fingertips. “I think I shall keep you with me tonight.”

Before he could answer a golden cuff surrounded his ankle. A chain at the end of it entwined itself around her bedpost. “What’s that for?”

“To make sure you don’t wander about while I sleep.”

Acheron jerked his foot making the links jingle. It was all he could do to bury his anger and not shout in frustration. “I don’t like this, Artemis. I’m not a dog to be chained outside your house because you’re afraid I’ll piss on your rug.”

She tsked at him. “Don’t be so contrary. It’s for your own safety.”

Brutally force-feeding him had been for his own good too. He couldn’t stand being chained down. More than anything else, it made him feel like a whore again. “Please don’t do this to me. I promise I won’t leave your bed while you sleep.”

Artemis hesitated. She couldn’t tell if he was still angry enough to strike back at her or not. For all she knew, he might march up to the hall of the gods just for spite.

Humans were treacherous that way.

But in the end, she decided to trust him. The chain fell away. “If you betray me, Acheron—”

“You’ll make me suffer through all eternity. I know. I was listening to the threat the first time you uttered it.”

“Good. Now be a good man and give me your neck.”

He dutifully brushed his hair back, exposing the beauty of his tawny skin and the delectable curve of his throat.

Her mouth watering, she dipped her head down to taste him and this time she didn’t withhold the pleasure of the bite. She let him feel it fully. Cradling her head against him, he came in her arms as she drank from him.

Satisfied, Artemis watched as his eyes fluttered closed. “You will be mine, Acheron, for as long as your beauty holds. I will share you with no one else. Ever.”

She would sooner see him dead.

APRIL
3, 9528
BC

Acheron was slowly learning to trust in Artemis again. Either that or he was just becoming a more obedient pet. There were times when he wasn’t sure which category he fell into.

She came to him when she was bored or hungry and ignored him when she had other obligations.

But at least she’d kept her word not to hit him anymore. In fact he hadn’t been hurt in weeks now since Artemis kept him out of his father’s way, too.

He currently sat in her temple, on the white chaise that was set in the middle of her receiving room. One of her maids had called her away and she’d sealed him inside before she left. Bored out of his mind, he cast his gaze around the room until he spied a golden kithara lying on a cushion on the floor in a corner.

Mesmerized by it, he retrieved the instrument and held it reverently in his hands. He hadn’t played music since he’d left Atlantis. Music had been one of many things he’d been taught and he’d had a natural aptitude.

The thing he’d always loved most had been the way the music made him feel. Like plays, he could lose himself to the song and notes.

He strummed the strings and cringed at how badly out of tune it was. But after a minute, he had it back to perfection. Content for once, he started playing.

*   *   *

Artemis paused before she materialized back into her temple. At first she thought it was her niece Satara playing the kithara that she used to entertain Artemis and her koris. Until she heard the deep and beautiful male voice singing in a low perfect pitch. The song, so tender and heartfelt, brought tears to her eyes.

She’d never suspected that Acheron possessed such talent. Not even the muses could compete.

Solidifying in the room, she listened while he kept his back to her. “You’re amazing,” she breathed, moving to sit behind him.

He stopped instantly.

As he started to set it aside, she stopped him. “Please keep playing.”

“I only like to play when I’m alone.”

“Why?”

“Because it makes people want to fuck me.”

She tsked at his contrariness. “You shouldn’t use words like that around me, Acheron. I’m a goddess. You need to show me more respect.”

“Forgive me, akra.”

Artemis sat back with a sigh at his subservience. She hated whenever he took that tone. It was the fire and defiance in him that she craved. Whenever he relaxed, that was the side he showed her. But the moment she corrected him, he immediately fell into this role he wore right now.

And she despised it.

She pushed the instrument toward him. “Would you play for me? There’s only the two of us and I should like to hear your voice.”

He returned the kithara to his lap and idly strummed it.

She leaned against his back and held him while he played. “What other talents do you have that you’ve hidden from me?”

“I’m accomplished at anything that entertains others.”

“Such as?”

“Musical instruments, song, strega, massage, dance and fucking.”

“Acheron!” She hid her smile behind his shoulder. So he wasn’t quite subservient after all.

“I was only answering your question.”

Sure he was … Her Acheron could be quite a handful and in more ways than one. “Can you dance as well as you play?”

“Better.”

She found that impossible to believe. “Show me.”

“There will be no music if I stop playing to dance.”

She pulled the kithara from his hands. “There will be.” She used her powers to continue the song. “Now show me what you can do.”

He stood up and turned to face her. Holding his hand out, he waited for her to take it before he pulled her to her feet. True to his words, he was an elegant dancer. He moved with a graceful beauty that was almost godlike.

The more they danced, the more she ached for a taste of him. Her body on fire, she jerked him into her arms, intent on stripping him naked.

“Artemis!” Apollo’s call shook her.

Acheron saw the doors to Artemis’s temple opening. The next thing he knew, he was falling onto the floor of his own bedroom. The stone slammed painfully into his body as he landed flat on his back. His breath rushed out of him in a loud
oof.

“You could have put me on my feet or in the bed,” he said from between clenched teeth.

A bright light flashed in the room an instant before the kithara landed on top of his stomach. Acheron cursed in pain. It’d been a nice thought of hers, but damn … for a goddess renowned for her aim in hunting, her aim in this left much to be desired.

He’d barely risen to his feet before his own doors swung open to show Ryssa.

“Where have you been?” she demanded in a tone he’d seldom heard her direct at him. It was anger mixed with worry.

He set the kithara on his bed before he answered. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’ve been looking for you. You were gone for hours.”

It was strange how time on Olympus passed very differently from time here. To him, it seemed as if only minutes had passed. “I was nowhere important.”

She narrowed her gaze on him as she drew near. It was a probing gaze as if she were trying to unravel a mystery. “There’s something different about you.”

“There’s nothing different.”

“Yes, there is. You don’t cower as you used to. You look at me when I speak to you. There’s a confidence and peace that weren’t there before. What has caused this change?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Ryssa stepped closer to him, then froze. Her gaze fastened on his neck and before he could stop her, she reached out and brushed his hair back from his shoulder. She gasped. “You’ve been with Artemis.”

Terror filled him, but he kept it from showing as he silently cursed. “I’ve been with no one.”

“I’m not a fool, Acheron. I know the marks left by the gods.” She looked at the kithara. “I know their gifts.”

Damn it. He should have thought of that. But it was too late. All he could do was lie to her and hope she’d believe him. “I have been with no one.”

“Why don’t you tell Father?” She turned to leave.

Acheron grabbed her arm. “Listen to me, Ryssa. I’ve been with
no one.
I know nothing of what you speak. If you love me even a little, you’ll forget this moment and pretend you’ve seen nothing … please.”

She placed a tender hand to his cheek. “I love you, little brother. I would never betray you. If you don’t want me to tell him, then I won’t.”

He moved her hand to his lips so that he could kiss it in gratitude. “Now what had you seeking me this day?”

“I wanted to go to the market, but didn’t want to go with a servant. I thought you’d enjoy the excursion.”

“Why didn’t you ask me?”

Acheron looked past her to see Styxx standing outside the door with a livid expression.

Ryssa turned to frown at him. “I didn’t think you’d like to go. It’s rather common for you, isn’t it?”

Styxx curled his lip. “You’d rather be with an abomination than me?”

“Acheron isn’t an abomination.”

There was no missing the hurt in Styxx’s eyes and it stunned Acheron that his brother would feel that way given all the people who loved, respected and admired Styxx.

“Why do you always defend him?” Styxx asked her, his voice laden with pain and anger. “Every time we turn around, you’ve crawled off to be with him.”

Ryssa was aghast. “Surely to the gods you’re not jealous?”

“Of that maggot? Never!”

But he was. Even Acheron could see it plainly.

Styxx spun on his heel and stalked off. Ryssa ran after him and pulled him to a stop in the center of the hallway. Acheron went to the door to watch them.

“Styxx … what is wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong? The fact that my sister parades herself around with a whore and degrades herself by begging for his comfort when she won’t even acknowledge the brother who loves her.”

“You’ve never wanted to be with me. All you’ve ever done is deride me and my actions as you are now.”

He shook his head. “You remember nothing, do you?”

“Remember what?”

“Anytime Acheron and I were ever crossed you ran to him to cuddle him while you ignored me. Every time I ever reached for you, you couldn’t be bothered with me. Acheron is all that’s ever mattered to you.”

Ryssa shook her head with the same disbelief that Acheron shared. “You cannot possibly be jealous of Acheron.”

“Don’t you dare laugh at me.” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “I am prince and heir. I can have you killed, sister or not.”

Acheron saw the tears in her eyes over that threat and fury took him. He left the door to defend his sister. “Don’t you dare talk to her like that.”

Styxx backhanded him so hard, his lip and nose exploded with blood. “Don’t you ever address me again, you filthy whore. I wish to the gods that you knew the humiliation you’ve caused me. Whenever I walk into a room, I see the snide glares, hear the whispered comments and jeers about my
twin
and his unrivaled skills. Because of you, I never knew my mother. I barely know my sister. I hate you with a passion so fervent that I can imagine no greater pleasure than killing you. If only the gods would grant me that one desire.”