One of the twins, I couldn’t distinguish between them, spoke with a deep voice, “Why are you attacking your mate?”
Ares barked and the vampire shook his head.
“Dominance battles are between them, you know this. How dare you interfere?” the vampire scolded Ares.
Ares moved forward and I did, too. The vampire twins and werewolf twins began fighting each other and I stared at Ares in shock. He snapped his teeth at me and snarled. I knew he was alpha, but he had no reason to be interfering in my dominance with the others as the vampire had said. I decided to do the only thing I could, submit. I dropped to my side and rolled on my back, exposing my neck and stomach to Ares. He continued to snarl and growl as he walked forward and stood over my body. His teeth were inches from my neck and he opened his jaw, when Victor ran in and flung Ares aside.
Victor stood between Ares and me and then raised his hands. “Silence.” The wolves stopped growling and stared at him. Victor said, “You are under a spell. Please listen. Change back.”
Ares changed back quickly and frowned. “What is going on?”
Victor smiled. “You owe me now, friend. You were about to take her life.”
I changed back and stared, wide-eyed, at Ares. Ares shook his head. “I wouldn’t have killed her.”
Victor shrugged. “Perhaps not, but I did not wish to take that chance.”
I stood and ran to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me and locking it. I shivered with the cold tile touching my feet and turned to the tub. I turned it on and heard Ares knock. “Artemis, please let me in.” I stared at the water as it filled up the giant tub. “This door isn’t very hard to break down. I’ll do it if you don’t let me in.”
I sighed and walked over to the door, unlocking it, and then ran and hopped into the halfway-filled tub. I turned on the jets and stared at the bubbling water. My sore body began to relax, and I asked, “Were you going to kill me?”
Ares sighed and knelt beside the tub to look at me. I kept my gaze on the water waiting for his reply. “Of course not. I wouldn’t kill you no matter what spell I was under.”
I asked, “Why did you interfere? I have to prove my dominance in order to have a place in the pack.”
Ares shook his head. “No, you get your place in the pack from your mate.”
I looked up at him and frowned. “So, I could be the weakest wolf in the pack and become the alpha’s mate and be alpha female?”
Ares nodded. “Yes.”
I scoffed. “That’s ridiculous.”
Ares shrugged. “Sort of. Most alphas only choose strong mates anyway. We wouldn’t choose the weakest, because she may not give us strong offspring.”
I gaped at him. “Offspring?”
He looked down, obviously embarrassed. “Some do have offspring.”
I rolled the idea over in my head of having children and scoffed. “No, thank you.”
He looked up at me and frowned. “You don’t want kids?”
I laughed. “Werewolves having kids? That’s crazy. What if you go all insane one day and kill one?”
He smiled. “You wouldn’t kill your offspring.”
I frowned. “No, but someone else might.”
His smile faded, and he nodded. “Rival alphas have been known to kill other’s offspring, but not very often, and definitely not mine.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
He reached towards me. I moved away and he sighed. “I told you I wasn’t going to kill you.”
I blushed. “I’m naked.”
He looked down at the water, then at himself and frowned. “So, am I.”
I looked at his face and saw the need there again. I shook my head. “I’m not ready for that. Not yet.”
He sighed. “I understand. I’ll leave you to your bath.” He walked slowly from the room, and I couldn’t help but stare at his muscular glutes. He looked back and winked. Then he walked out of the bathroom and shut the door. I exhaled a breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding and groaned. I couldn’t be this caught up in him already? How can he have such an effect on me? I groaned again and dunked my head under the water. Had I imagined Maurice’s reaction to me? I pictured his face and shook my head. No, I was right. I climbed out of the tub and pulled on clothes out of my bag. I frowned at a wet pair of jeans lying on the floor and reluctantly pulled them on, then pulled on a blue t-shirt over my head. Wet jeans suck to walk in.
I walked slowly out of the bathroom and sat down between Jean Pierre and Francois and whispered, “Thank you.”
They both nodded.
The one on the right patted my shoulder in response, but they were both staring at Victor, who was speaking to Ares. Koda and Matt stood in front of the bed, staring at me.
I frowned at them then stood. “What?”
They both looked down then back up at the same time. Twins are freaky. Koda said, “I’m sorry.” I stared at him in shock, not believing what I just heard. He smiled. “I’m sorry for trying to fight you.”
Matt nodded. “And I’m sorry for ganging up on you.”
I frowned. “Yeah that was odd. I didn’t even want to fight you, but you had to jump in.”
Matt smiled. “Koda is my twin and we always fight together, so it was really mere instinct.”
I continued to frown as my emotions built. “So, it was instinct for you two and Ares to try to fight your newest pack member? Nice. Now I know whose side you’re on and that I need to watch my own ass.” I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at the ground.
Koda groaned and moved to sit in front of me, but one of the vampire twins hissed at him making him stop. “Leave her alone, wolf. She needs time to adjust.”
Koda snarled. “I agree, Francois, but she also has to know that we aren’t her enemies and that we are sorry.”
Francois, the one on the right, shook his head. “Later. Leave her be.” He put his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned against him, resting my head on his chest. It was odd to be so comfortable around him so quickly and yet still had the urge to run, and the hair on the nape of my neck stood. It became easier to ignore the urge to run around vampires though.
Koda growled and took a step towards us, but Ares shook his head. “Leave it alone.”
Koda groaned and stormed off to the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him.
Ares approached me and for the first time, I felt nothing for him. He squatted down in front of me and sighed. “Artemis. Please forgive us. I would not have hurt you and the others didn’t mean it personally.”
I stared at him and sniffed the air and listened to his heartbeat. Dammit, he was telling the truth. “You can’t expect me to be fine with it, when you may have hurt me if Victor hadn’t come.”
Ares smiled. “I understand how you feel and do not expect you to be over it immediately, but quickly would be best. We have to decide our next move.” He looked at Francois then sighed. “And also, it would probably be best if you did not appear so friendly with vampires. It’s not natural for our kind to be so cozy with theirs.”
I smiled. “I am not cozy, but I just feel comfortable with Francois and Jean Pierre.”
Francois nodded. “I would never harm the little goddess.”
I groaned and stood up. “I need to go for a walk.” Jean Pierre and Francois stood and smiled at me. I sighed. “Dammit, can’t we go somewhere where I won’t need babysitters?”
Ares smiled. “You will always have guards Artemis. You are too valuable not to be protected.”
I whispered, “Valuable to whom?”
Ares frowned and grabbed my arm and pulled me against him. Fire burned where his hand touched against my skin as he stared into my eyes. “You are valuable to me and your pack. Don’t you understand yet?”
I sighed. “I did not mean it that way. I simply meant that it seems that I am valuable to more people than I should be and that my value to them is probably not what you would approve of.”
Ares fury settled and the fire vanished. “Who are you talking about?”
I shook my head. “You said I shouldn’t speak of it until there weren’t ‘ears to hear’.”
Ares face lifted. “Can you be so perceptive to have seen an expression on his face that I did not?”
“It was more than that. I could see his need and its nothing like the look of need you have towards me.” I blushed as I finished saying it and looked down.
Ares kissed my cheek softly. “My needs can wait, but we must speak with Victor regarding this new problem.” He turned around with his hand on my arm, but I stayed still. Ares sighed and turned back to face me. “You have to describe what you saw to Victor.”
I frowned. “Fine, but after this I’m taking a walk with whichever person I choose as my guard.”
Ares smiled. “As you wish.”
I felt my face relax from its frown and spread to a look of shock. “You know the movie Princess Bride?”
Ares smiled. “Of course. Who doesn’t?”
Koda called from behind the bathroom door, “Rodents of unusual size? I don’t think they exist.”
I smiled. “Koda.”
Koda peeked out from the bathroom. “You rang?”
I inhaled and spoke quickly so I wouldn’t lose my nerve, “I forgive you and Matt for ganging up on me since I am a new pack member, but if it happens again don’t expect me to be so willing to forgive you.”
Koda smiled and ran from the bathroom to me. He picked me up in a big bear hug, squeezing the air from my lungs and kissing my cheek repeatedly. He set me down then grinned. “You’ll do great here.”
I scoffed and Ares frowned down at me. “So, you’ll forgive them, but not me?”
I shrugged. “I expect more of the alpha, as anyone would.” His frown deepened, and I couldn’t stand to see that look on his face. I hugged him and kissed his cheek. “I forgive you.”
He shook his head. “No, you’re right. I should’ve had more control than that. I would’ve never stopped a dominance fight before, and I don’t know why I stopped yours. And turning on you was extremely unacceptable. Such an indiscretion would have resulted in a punishment that would have lasted many days.”
I kissed his lips softly and whispered, “We all make mistakes. I’m sure I’ll make a ton in the first years with you. Besides wolf pups are always getting scolded in the wild, so it’s only natural for us to make mistakes.”
He finally smiled and kissed my lips back. “You’re a fascinating person, Artemis. I’m more than lucky to have you as my match.”
I pulled away from him so he wouldn’t see my blush and walked over to Victor who was sitting at a desk on the far wall by the fireplace. I sat down in front of the fireplace and looked up at him. He smiled at me, set his pencil down and spoke with a voice filled with a fluid French accent, “’ow may I ’elp you mon papillon?’
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It’s my new pet name for you.”
“Okay, well I need to talk to you about something that happened in the ceremony, and it’s something no one else can hear.”
His eyes widened, and, speaking without the French accent, he said, “Francois and Jean Pierre, go and make certain that there are no ears to hear nearby.”
Francois and Jean Pierre hurried out of the room together.
Victor repositioned his chair so that he was facing me and smiled. “How are you feeling?”
I shrugged. “Overwhelmed, but I’m just trying to deal with it one part at a time.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “So, you are over the shock of being told you are a werewolf?”
I sighed. “I can’t change what I am and there is no sense in dwelling on something that I cannot change. I am still upset that I am something else besides werewolf and do not know though.”
“Ares only keeps from you what will harm you. He cares very much for your safety.”
I blushed and looked down. “I know.”
Victor leaned forward and whispered, “And how are you feeling about your alpha?”
I sighed and whispered back, “Honestly, it’s really weird. I understand him being my alpha and that I am his match, but it seems wrong to feel so strongly for him. And the whole mate thing is just too much to think about so I try not to.”
Victor tapped his chin thoughtfully. “So, you feel strongly for him and believe you should not because you have only known him a few days?” I nodded and Victor smiled. “That is easily fixed. No one will judge you for your feelings towards him because legend tells that a matched pair is instantly in love. Besides, who would argue that being in love is a bad thing?”
“My father.”
Victor hissed. “Your father is a stupid man. Forget him. He would put such vile concepts into your head. Sweet papillon, your feelings are just that, your feelings. Do not let others decide how you should feel. If you hate Ares, then hate him and tell him. But if you love Ares, then love him and tell him. Love is a wonderful thing, little déesse. Do not waste it.”
I sighed. “Are you going to tell me what the last thing you called me means?”
“Déesse means Goddess. If I wanted to be more accurate, I would call you déesse lunaire.”
I smiled. “Moon Goddess, right?”
He nodded.
“Most languages have a few words that sound similar. I figured lunaire was like lunar.”
Victor grinned. “Perhaps I will teach you some French.”
Ares scoffed from behind us. “No, thank you.”
I jumped at his voice, not realizing he was standing there. I stared at Victor’s chest and asked, “How long have you been standing there?”
Ares replied, “When you asked what the last thing he called you meant. Why? Were you talking about me?”
I looked up at him with my smart ass remark on the tip of my tongue and froze. His face was openly fearful and sad. “We were talking about you, but nothing you need to worry about. Actually, Victor was helping me.”
Ares looked at Victor suspiciously. “Are you trying to stake a claim?”
Victor put a hand to his chest with his mouth open in an “O” shape trying to look innocent. “Moi?! Of course not!”
Ares snarled. “Because if you are, then I’ll be forced to fight you.”
Victor laughed softly. “You have been away too long mon ami. I would never think of trying to do such a thing. She is yours as you are hers, and I would not dream of interfering.”
Ares sighed, obviously relieved, and smiled. “Thank you. I do not want to imagine how difficult it would be to kill you.”
Victor rolled his eyes. “It would be impossible because you wouldn’t be able to do it.”
I waved my hands at them. “Enough. Let’s not discuss something that won’t happen.”
Ares stood a little ways from us to make a triangle of our group. Jean Pierre and Francois walked in and bowed. “All is clear,” they said in unison.
Victor glanced their way. “Good, now you and the wolf twins go monitor, so new ears do not wander close.” Francois and Jean Pierre bowed again and left the room. Koda and Matt bowed to Victor then to Ares and walked out. Victor turned to me and smiled. “Now, begin from the beginning.”
I inhaled and described to him the way the king had looked when every bit of new information hit him and the final look that I swore was hostility. Victor nodded as I spoke and then sighed when I finished. I whispered, “If I’m wrong, then I’m wrong, but that’s how I felt and what I saw.”
Victor shook his head. “You are not wrong per se, but if this is true, then it is a bad thing indeed.”
Ares groaned. “So, you think she’s right?”
Victor’s lips drew thin. “He has been searching for a way to increase his power. I think we should heed this as a warning to keep Artemis guarded at all times.”
Ares frowned, his anger building. “Do you think he will try something?”
Victor rubbed his temples. “I don’t know. I do
n’t think he would risk a full-out assault for her because the wolves are still important to us. But he hasn’t been king for so many years because he’s stupid. He’s a smart man. He might try something discreetly.”
Ares reached his hand out towards me. I swallowed quickly, knowing that as soon as I touched him his power would wash over me. I slowly reached out and took his hand and then frowned. Nothing happened. He smiled at me. “I can control my powers when I think about it.”
I smiled and looked at the ground. “I’m sorry.”
He tilted my chin up and looked into my eyes with such a serious face that I couldn’t turn away. “I will protect you. You know that, right?” I nodded and his anger began to build again. “No one will take you from me.”
I whispered, “Damn, and here I thought I was going to get an out.”
A small smirk tilted up one corner of his mouth. “Even if you ran of your own free will, I would find you. You’re mine.”
I put a hand on each side of his neck just below his chin and pulled him down to me. “And you are mine.” I stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips hard. He responded by putting one hand on the back of my head and one around my waist to pull me against him. Our kiss deepened until I heard Victor clear his throat. I had forgotten he was even there. I blushed and pulled away. “Sorry, Victor.”
Victor laughed. “Do not apologize. You did nothing wrong. I will be heading to my room now. Jean Pierre and Francois will come to you in the morning, Ares.” He stood up beside me.
Ares frowned. “We need to discuss our plan…”
Victor waved his hand, interrupting Ares. “Later. I am tired and need rest. Tomorrow, let your guards take Artemis out to enjoy the town, and we will discuss business then.” Victor bent down and kissed my cheek softly. “Good night, mon papillon. May your dreams be as sweet as you are.” He left the room in the floating gait vampires had.
Artemis Lupine- The Complete Series Page 25