Acheron slipped into the room. "I'll take him."
The nurse's face paled as she turned away.
"It's all right, Delia. Let Acheron see if he can quiet him."
The nurse appeared dubious, but in the end she obeyed.
Acheron took his nephew and tucked him into the crook of his elbow. "Hello, little one. You're not going to fuss at me, are you?"
Apollodorus took a deep breath as if he were about to let loose another wail, then opened his eyes. He stared at Acheron for several heartbeats before he quietly cooed, then settled down to sleep.
"That is a miracle," the nurse breathed. "What did you do?"
Acheron shrugged as he placed Apollodorus on his shoulder.
Ryssa smiled. "That's it. I'm making you his nurse."
Acheron laughed at the thought of him as a nurse to anything. "Go to bed, sister, you look exhausted."
Nodding gratefully, she started off. The nurse held her hands up for the baby.
Acheron handed him back, but the instant Apollodorus left his arms, the baby woke up and screamed again.
Ryssa jumped. "For the love of the gods, let Acheron keep the boy. I can't take another hour of this."
The nurse obeyed instantly.
Again Apollodorus cuddled against Acheron and went to sleep.
"Where should I take him?" Acheron asked.
Ryssa paused. "You better not risk the nursery. Father or Styxx might venture there. Take him to your room." She looked at her nurse. "You go to the nursery and cover for us should they ask after him."
"Yes, Your Highness." She bowed and left them.
Ryssa patted his arm gratefully. "Wake me when he's ready to feed. In the meantime, I must sleep."
Acheron kissed her lightly on the cheek. "Rest. We'll be back when he needs you." He watched her climb into bed before he took his nephew down to his room.
"Well, it appears to be just the two of us, little one. What say you we get naked, drunk and find us some wenches?"
The baby actually smiled up at him as if he understood.
Acheron nodded. "So that's it, eh? Barely a month old and you're already lecherous. You are your father's son."
Sitting on the bed, he leaned his back against the headboard and lifted his knees so that he could lay Apollodorus against his legs to cradle him. Acheron tickled his belly, causing him to laugh and kick Acheron's stomach.
The tiny infant amazed him. He'd never really been around one before. Apollodorus took his finger into his tiny hand and led it to his mouth so that he could suckle Acheron's knuckle. The sensation of the toothless gums against his flesh was so strange, yet it pacified the baby even more.
How could anyone hate something so purely innocent? Something so helpless?
The thoughts chased themselves around his mind as he thought about his parents and tried to understand them. He could fathom some of his father's hatred now. It wasn't as though Acheron went out of his way to please the man.
But as a child . . .
How many times had he been slapped for nothing more than looking at someone? How many times had Estes tied his hands behind his back and put a scold in his mouth for asking a simple question?
But worse than his memories were the fears of someone hurting this babe in such a manner.
"I would kill anyone who hurt you like that, Apollodorus. I promise you, no one will ever make you cry."
The baby yawned and smiled before he closed his eyes. Still holding Acheron's finger, he fell asleep. Warmth spread through Acheron. There was no judgment or anger in the baby. He accepted him without malice.
Smiling, he placed the baby down on his bed to sleep more comfortably and covered him with a blanket.
Acheron lay for hours, watching him sleep in perfect repose. Exhausted himself, he finally nodded off.
"Acheron?"
Acheron woke up to find Ryssa standing in front of him. He was lying on his side with his hand still on Apollodorus's stomach. The baby had yet to waken, but by the rise and fall of the tiny chest, he knew the baby was fine.
"What time is it?"
"Midmorning." She looked incredulous. "How did you get him to sleep through the night?"
"I don't know. We were talking about wenching and he fell asleep."
She laughed. "No, you weren't. Were you?"
"I suggested it and he liked the thought. Unfortunately, he had no stamina for it."
She laughed again. "Don't you dare corrupt my baby, scamp."
Acheron withdrew his hand so that Ryssa could pick the baby up. Apollodorus opened his eyes and smiled at his mother before he put one fist in his mouth to slurp it.
"Whatever you did, bless you for it. It's the first good sleep I've had in months." She glanced to the door. "Now, let me run before Father learns we were here."
Please. That was the last thing he needed.
Stretching, Acheron sat up in bed. It was later than he normally rose. He preferred to get up before the rest of the household and tend his needs without fear of running into anyone.
That being said, it was late enough that everyone should now be about their business.
He grabbed his clothes and razor and headed down to the bathing room. Luckily the large room was empty. As always, he placed his razor by the basin on the wall and hung up his clothes.
Naked, he descended to the steps to take him into the heated water that felt incredible against his skin. The pool was waist deep unless he sat in it and as large as a dining table. Acheron went down on his knees and leaned back to wet his cropped hair so that he could wash it. Closing his eyes, he sighed contentedly. This was the best part of his day.
He rose up and reached for the soap, then froze as he realized he was no longer alone.
Nefertari was there, staring at him with a heated look he knew all too well.
Acheron withdrew his hand and stepped back in the pond. "Forgive me, my lady. I didn't mean to intrude on your time."
She watched him like a cat eyeing a mouse and when he reached for a towel, she stopped him. "How is it you're so much more handsome than your twin brother?" She pulled the pin from her gown and let it fall to her feet. Her nude body was beautiful, but he wanted no part of it.
Acheron bolted from the pool, but she blocked his way to the door. "I need to leave."
Laughing, she wrapped herself around him. "No, you don't." She nipped his chin with her teeth.
"I'm involved with someone."
"So am I."
Acheron tried to pry her loose but short of hurting her, there wasn't much he could do as she grabbed at him. Wrenching himself from her grasp, he started away only to step on the soap where he'd left it by the pool. He hit the ground hard enough to knock the breath out of him.
Nefertari was on him in an instant. "Make love to me, Acheron."
He rolled over with her, and just as he was rising, the door swung open.
The blood drained completely out his face as he saw Styxx and his entourage there. They drew up short, their eyes not missing a single detail.
Acheron cursed as he realized how damning this looked. How damning it was.
Nefertari started screaming and slapping at him. "Don't rape me. Please!"