Styxx (DH #33) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

father forcing him to burn the beautiful Atlantean horse Estes had brought him while his legs had ached from his beating and his ego from wetting himself. And all the while Ryssa had smirked in pleasure of his being forced to destroy his gift over his “insult” to her.
    Sighing, he moved away from the chest. “A set of beads from us both.”
    Acheron scowled. “What?”
    Styxx met Acheron’s deep frown. “What what? You asked me what I got Mother for her birthday.”
    “No, I didn’t. I only thought about asking you.”
    Styxx ground his teeth as he realized that he’d read Acheron’s mind. You better be more careful . Such a slip around someone else could be fatal. “It must be our twin blood.” That was always a safe bet whenever he was with Acheron. His brother accepted that explanation without question or malice.
    Grabbing the small wooden box from his table, he took it over to Acheron. “You want to give it to her?”
    He shook his head. “You better do it. She’d prefer it from you, I think.”
    And he’d prefer not to see her at all. Most of the times he was with their mother, she looked at him as if she could go through him. “Shall we get this over with?”
    “I’m game if you are.”
    Honestly, I’d rather have my eyes gouged out and fed to me.
    But part of being a king was doing things you didn’t want to without complaint or hesitation. Head high. Back straight. Show no emotion. Even if you were only seven years old .
    Styxx clutched the box to his chest, dreading it already. “Maybe she’ll still be passed out and we can leave it with her maids.”
    Hoping for the best outcome, he took Acheron’s hand and led him through the back hallways of the palace to their mother’s rooms.
    At the door, Styxx hesitated for so long that Acheron moved around him and knocked in his stead. A few seconds later, the oldest maid opened it to stare down her nose at them.
    Styxx ignored her disdain. “We’ve come to wish the queen a happy birthday. Is she awake?”
    Without a word, the maid stepped back, opening the door wide enough to allow them to enter the room. Their mother sat in a chair near the window, staring out it.
    Unsure of her mood, Styxx hesitated. Why did his powers always fail him when he needed them most?
    “Is she sober?” Acheron whispered in his ear.
    “I don’t know.”
    Their mother let out an exasperated sigh. “Will you two stop whispering. Either come in or leave. Preferably the latter.”
    Styxx started to go.
    Acheron pushed him forward.
    Thanks, brother.…
    Crossing the room, Styxx held the box out toward her.
    She frowned at it. “What’s this?”
    “Happy birthday, Mother,” they said in unison.
    A rare smile lit her face as she took the box and opened it to find the shell bead necklace Styxx had bought in the marketplace. Hoping to please her, he’d traded one of his carved horses for it.
    “Thank you.” She pulled him into a cold, mechanical hug.
    Bug-eyed, Styxx met Acheron’s gaping stare. Before he realized what Acheron was doing, his brother stepped forward.
    “Happy birthday, Mother.” Acheron moved to hug her.
    Shrieking in outrage, she slapped him hard across his face. “Get away from me, you repulsive monster!”
    Styxx’s nose exploded with blood as pain permeated his cheek, skull, and eye. Damn, for a sot, his mother could pack a wallop.
    She continued to rail against them as they ran for the door and then down the hallway. They didn’t stop until they’d reached the bottom of the stairs.
    His breathing labored, Acheron turned to face him. “Why do they do that to me?”
    “I don’t know. They’re crazy.”
    “What in the name of Zeus happened to you?”
    Styxx flinched at the sound of his father’s angry voice as he wiped at the blood on his face. He cringed over the sight of blood droplets on his white chiton. Few things upset his father more than for him to be disheveled in public.
    “Did you hit him?” he accused Acheron.
    Acheron