Something further confirmed by the bite in Theo’s bark when he growled at Urian. “What do you want?”
He blinked slowly, just for maximum annoyance as that was a moral imperative whenever dealing with one of his older siblings, then he spoke slowly, drawing out his words to again irritate his brother as much as possible. “Apollo’s death. Apollite domination over the world of mankind, and an end to our curse. But at the moment, I’d settle for you returning your attitude to whatever asshole gave it to you, and finding Paris.”
Urian caught Davyn as he began to slowly sink sideways to the floor and helped to right him. “Our good and thoughtful brother abandoned Davyn and vanished to who knows where, to do who knows whom. Can you lend us a hand and watch over Davyn while I try to find the stupid bastard?”
Davyn finally stopped trying to grope Urian long enough to scowl at them both. “I don’t want to sleep with Theo, Uri. He’s an asshole. Let’s find Paris. He’s very cuddly.”
Urian passed a see-what-I-mean stare at his older brother.
That took the edge off Theo’s anger. “How long has he been like this?”
“Since I found him.”
Theo rolled his eyes at Urian’s sarcasm. “And Paris left him in this condition?”
“You’re making all my points, genius.” Gah! Was he the only member of his family who possessed a functioning brain? There were times—like this—when Urian suspected he might be hoarding the only one capable of any semblance of reason in his whole sibling gene pool.
Smirking, Urian gave him a peeved glare. “Davyn’s right. You are an asshole.”
With a disgusted sneer, Theo grabbed Davyn by his chalmys and pulled him deeper into his home before he called out to his wife. “Prax? Get dressed. I need you to watch Davyn until we return.”
“Where are you going?” she called from the other room. There was no missing the irritation in her shrill tone.
“Just do what I say, woman!”
Urian paused at the door. “You shouldn’t talk to her like that. She’s the mother of your children, you know.” Not to mention, she put up with Theo when Urian couldn’t imagine why.
“Mind your own business, Uri. This is my house and I’ll run it as I see fit.”
Oooh, leave it to Theo to default to the same cave logic that had made all of them resent their father. “And your solren would have your ass if he heard you speaking to your wife in that tone.”
Theo’s nostrils flared with anger as he pinned on his chalmys.
Ignoring his brother’s anger and disgusted by his behavior, Urian looked past Theo to where Praxia was coming down the stairs to take over watch duty. “We’re going to look for Paris. As soon as we find him, I’ll bring Theo back.”
Maybe not unbruised, especially if he kept lipping off, but …
“Thank you, Urimou.”
Respectfully, he inclined his head to her, then made his exit.
As soon as they were outside Theo’s house, Theo grabbed him and slammed Urian against the wall of his neighbor’s home. “You ever do that again, and I’ll—”
Urian punched him in the gut. “Don’t threaten me, Theo. I’m not a child anymore.”
Theo used his powers to knock him back and choke him.
With his own psychic blast, Urian broke his hold and struck out, letting his powers have full rein of his fury. He knocked Theo careening down the street without touching him.
Because his powers were so much stronger than anyone else’s, Urian knew better than to put them on display. That was why this was the first time he’d ever fully unleashed them in front of anyone, other than Apollymi.
But he was too angry and hungry tonight for restraint.
And too late, he recovered his control and temper to realize that there were a lot of witnesses on the street tonight for his outburst. Too many who’d been coming and going from the celebration.
Shit. He turned around slowly to see the horrified stares that condemned him.
Always.
If anyone else had shown such massive power, they would have been applauded for it. Considered great and praised.
Not him. Nay, never the son with freakishly white hair born to Stryker and his Greek bride. The one with eyes unlike other Apollites. He was to be feared and ostracized for things he didn’t do and couldn’t help.
I really am born cursed.
This was no exception to his humiliation and misjudgments. Already, he could hear their whispers around him.
He’s a freak!
How can anyone so young do that?
What’s wrong with him?
I told you he was to be avoided! You see what he can do! It’s unnatural!
Even when Urian tried to do the right thing, it always turned against him. Somehow he ended up on the wrong side of any matter in the eyes of their people. It never failed. They always judged him the bad guy.
Just like now.
They never saw the truth of him.
Everyone stared at him as if he should be punished, when all he’d been trying to do was help his twin, Davyn, and his sister-in-law.
When will I learn?
He was the Anti-Midas. Everything he touched turned to shit, and the injustice of it burned raw in his belly.
If that weren’t bad enough, he saw Paris among those wanting his head on a spike for the outburst—and Paris was completely fine, and standing with their brother Alkimos. I should have known …
No good deed goes unpunished.
“Urian? What is this?”
He cringed as his father appeared by his side.
Before he had a chance to answer, Theo pushed himself to his feet. “I was doing him a favor, Solren, and this is the thanks I get for it. He assaults me without reason.”
Their father returned his attention to him. “Is this true, Urian?”
Urian glared at Theo. “I had my reasons.”
That answer didn’t sit well with his father, who cast them both a disgusted sneer for having brawled in the street like two common hoodlums and not the princes they were supposed to be. “Then elaborate.”
Holding back his outrage, he gestured toward Theo. “You sired an asshole, Solren. I was trying to cull him down to a mere shit-for-brains.”
“Urian!” his father growled.
He straightened his chalmys over his chiton with a nonchalance he definitely didn’t feel, especially while the others continued to smear his semirespectable name. All Urian wanted was to leave while he could. To be left alone by everyone.
Instead, he forced himself to stand as if it didn’t bother him at all. He’d never give them the satisfaction of knowing how much their condemnation scalded his heart and scarred his soul. “I took issue with the manner in which he spoke to me, and sought to teach him a more respectful tone. I’ve had it with his high-handed tactics and I refuse to be talked down to anymore, by him or anyone else.”
Theo curled his lip. “You see, Solren! He’s a recalcitrant brat. Instead of indulging his disrespect all the time, you need to be spanking his spoiled little ass.”
Their father shook his head. “Nay, Urian’s right. The world and people will treat you how you allow them to. I won’t punish him for having the temerity to stand up to you, Theo. Especially when I know you have the ability to fight back and that you’ve never hesitated to strike him down whenever you think you’ve been slighted by him or anyone else.”
Theo sputtered indignantly. Finally, he curled his lip as he raked a glare over Urian. “One day, Solren, you will regret the fact that you didn’t keep a tighter leash on your favored pup. Mark my words. He’s a rabid little bastard who’s loyal to no one but himself.”
Luckily, their father knew better. He passed a meaningful glance toward Theo’s home. “Careful, m’gios, too often when confronted, we condemn ourselves in our anger. So think twice before you spew venom to taint your brother with the shadows of your own sin. For hate is a boomerang that once it’s cast out has a nasty way of coming back to the one who threw it, and more oft than not, it cripples the hand that first unleashed it.”
A tic started in Theo’s jaw. “Fine. Coddle him. You always have. It’s half of what’s wrong with him.” And with that, he headed home.
Yet the crowd remained. Staring, whispering.