House of the Rising Son by Sherrilyn Kenyon Read Free Book Online Page B

someone striking Aricles. Of them bruising his flawless body.
    But she had no choice. She had to send him out and appear to all that she couldn’t care less.
    How she was going to do that, she had no idea.
    Please, Ari … don’t get hurt.
    And yet she had an awful sense of foreboding that said the fight would not go well for any of them.

February 9, 12,250 BC
    Standing on the edge of a cliff so that she could watch the fight, Bathymaas chewed her thumbnail as her men battled a Greek phalanx. Malphas was at the head of them, but it was Aricles who held her attention. True to Malphas’s words, her entire team was incredible. Yet it was obvious which of them was the strongest and most skilled.
    Not even Malphas with his demon powers could equal Aricles’s abilities. He fought as if he heard his enemy’s thoughts. As if he knew every move they’d make before they did.
    With little effort, her men broke through the shield wall and had the Greeks on the defensive.
    Still, it was hours before they finally emerged victorious.
    Breathing with relief, she headed down for them as the air stirred around her. She turned to find the Greek god Apollo behind her. Dressed in full armor, he glared his furious displeasure.
    â€œSo it’s true. You are replacing the Chthonians.” His tone was accusatory.
    She made sure there was no such emotion in her response. “Not permanently. But yes, until they stop their war, my team will fill in for them, to make sure the mortal races are safe from those who would harm or subjugate them.”
    From heartless gods like you …
    He growled low in the back of his throat. “I am not happy, Bathymaas. My mother is even less so.”
    Bathymaas had to stop herself from curling her lip at the mention of Leto. She was a selfish bitch who’d always coveted Bathymaas’s powers. But more than that, Leto wanted revenge on her. When the Greek goddess had been pregnant with Apollo and Artemis by Zeus, and his wife Hera had been out for her blood over it, Leto had demanded Bathymaas do something to Hera as punishment.
    Unfortunately for Leto, justice was on the side of Hera, the wife who’d been wronged. Leto had no business seducing Zeus. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been forewarned. Everyone knew of Hera’s jealous paybacks against those who trespassed on her husband’s groin.
    Furious, Leto had promised her that one day she would get even with Bathymaas for not helping her with Hera. But that day wasn’t today.
    â€œI cannot help your feelings or your mother’s, Apollo. Justice is met.”
    Apollo vanished then reappeared at her back. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her up against him so that he could whisper in her ear. “Are you really as frigid as you appear?” He splayed his hand against her stomach and rubbed himself against her so that she could feel his bulge. But unlike Ari’s, his left her cold and repulsed. “I’m an accomplished lover, Bathymaas. And with you, I’d be on my very best behavior. I promise, you wouldn’t be emotionless in my bed.”
    She shrugged herself out of his embrace and turned to face him. “You know better. I have no interest in you, Apollo.” He did this whenever they were together.
    And she hated it.
    He glared at her. “You owe me something for tearing my men apart today.”
    â€œI’m allowing you to live. Is that not enough?”
    A furious tic worked in his jaw. “One day, Bathymaas … I will have you.”
    Over her dead body. But she didn’t dare say that out loud. “Should I summon my father?”
    Apollo left her instantly.
    Relieved beyond belief, she flashed herself to her men’s camp. She’d expected them to be celebrating. Instead, it was so quiet, she heard the light breeze whispering around her.
    Where were they?
    Curious, she headed to Malphas’s tent. But what she found there