Taming Darkness: Artemis Lupine #4

by Catherine Banks

  “What is Maurice planning?” she asked Bartholomew, landing on the ground and folding in her wings so that she could stand and stare into his eyes.

  “The King is planning on ridding this planet of the existence of werewolves and sidhe,” he said.

  “You don’t have an army big enough for that,” I said.

  Bartholomew smiled and I did not like it at all. “Our plan is strong.”

  “You mean your plan to send vampires to kill the people who are not protected since all of the strongest warriors will be at the main battle?” Artemis asked.

  Bartholomew’s face scrunched in anger. “How did you know that?!”

  “Your king told me.”

  “No matter, we will still rule.”

  “Your plan will not work. We will kill any vampire who opposes us,” she said looking as regal as ever.

  She turned away from him and walked to the still body of a red dragon and knelt at its side. “Blu, you may dispose of the vampire however you wish.”

  “You need me,” Bartholomew said.

  “You killed my son. The only one who needs you is Death,” Draco Blu said and then breathed fire onto Bartholomew until even his bones disintegrated.

  Artemis wept as she lay across the dead dragon’s neck. “I am sorry, Fira. I should have gotten to you sooner. I should have kept you all away from this.”

  Draco Blu lay down beside Artemis, wrapping his neck around her and his dead son and hummed a sorrowful tune. We watched them in silence, but after an hour Dmitri whispered, “The sun, Victor.”

  I rested my hand on his shoulder and teleported him and I to the darkened chambers he was sleeping in at Zeus’ place and then teleported back to Artemis. When I returned she had stopped crying and was glowing as anger replaced her sadness. “Let’s go get the egg back.”

  “We already got the dragon’s egg back before you regained your memory,” I reminded her.

  “They took the Pegasus egg that I was bringing as a gift,” Draco Blu said. “One of the vampires left the group as soon as they took it and returned to your King.”

  “If we go there now we will be outnumbered and outmatched. We should wait for others to go with us,” I pleaded.

  Artemis looked at me and I had never seen her look so much like a Queen before. “Then we will return and the war shall begin.”

  SELENE

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The battle between Ares and Koda was intense and very bloody. The ground around them was soaked in blood as they cut each other again and again, but their bodies healed the wounds and allowed them to continue on. The audience had originally numbered in the thousands, but after two days of fighting it had dwindled to just their other pack members, Artemis’ twin Apollo and myself. I had seen Artemis teleport away the first day, which was probably for the best. The further away she was from Ares, the better she would feel and the more likely the baby and she would get healthy again. If it were up to me I would send her and Ares to opposite sides of the world, but sadly it was not up to me.

  The sounds of Koda and Ares’ growls were the only noises in the Sidhe realm. It seemed that they were trying to be respectful, but part of me wondered how many of the Sidhe were hoping for Ares’ loss and even his death. They had agreed not to end this fight by death, but in the heat of the moment things were known to happen and more than one werewolf had died by the angry hands of another despite their prior agreement. I doubted Koda would kill Ares, if he could, due to Artemis’ declaration that if Koda killed Ares, she would kill Koda. I had seen the hurt in Koda’s eyes and like everyone I knew that he loved her. How much pain was he enduring mentally as he fought his only remaining brother knowing that if he killed him the woman he loved would attempt to end his life?

  I shook my head and sat down on the ground, smoothing out my dress as I did. Werewolf politics were always crazy and it seemed even with Ares and Artemis in charge that had not changed. I had already prepared my spell to use on Ares to cure him from Death’s curse and I was certain I would not fail. I just prayed to the Goddess that we could perform the spell before Artemis and her child were affected too badly. Koda and Ares backed away from each other and squatted down to rest for a moment. Koda’s face was a mask of anger while Ares’ was stoic as usual when Artemis was not around. Did he realize that his regal mask shattered the instant his mate was near him? I had known him hundreds of years and it was good to see him so happy with a mate.

  Two of Koda’s sons walked out to Koda and Ares and gave them each one cup of water. Ares sipped it slowly while Koda gulped it down greedily. The brothers were not so different from each other really, but men refused to see the similarities in one another, especially when they loved the same woman.

  Ares turned and looked at me, his eyes the molten gold of his wolf. “Artemis?” he asked in a clipped word. He was so tired and so frustrated that he could barely speak.

  I shook my head. “Still gone.” He growled and my hair rose at the predator’s growl. “She is safe. Victor, Dmitri Theseus and a couple others went after her to keep her safe.”

  He stood up and growled again. Then, as I watched with astonishment, he stretched out his body and regained control of his wolf. He stood straight and tall and even though his eyes were still his wolf’s eyes, he was completely in control of himself. “Let’s finish this so I can go find her.”

  “I would advise you to stay away from her,” I said.

  He turned and looked at me and I could see that his control was a hair away from slipping if he was pushed the wrong way. “Why?”

  “The farther apart you are the less sick she will be.”

  He growled. “I don’t like being away from her or trusting others with her safety.”

  “You will like it less if your nearness causes her death,” I said harshly to him.

  He growled at me and took a step towards me. I was only slightly afraid because in a fight he was much faster and stronger, but I could incapacitate him long enough to get away and I knew he really did not want to hurt me. I did not have to do anything though because Koda tackled Ares, taking advantage of his distracted opponent.

  The brothers attacked each other again and again and despite my gnawing hunger I stayed where I was. Artemis would ask for details and I would be sure to have answers for her when she finally returned.

  “Would you like some bread and cheese?” Zeus asked as he sat down beside me on the grass.

  I took a piece and swallowed it whole before answering him. “Thank you. I am famished.”

  “I see not much has changed in their fight,” he said, letting my rudeness slide without remark.

  “Pretty much. They are both slower and more tired, but aside from that there has not been any progress,” I reported, “And both are still in control of their wolves.” Which was a very good thing.

  “Any sign of Artemis?” he asked with pinched eyebrows and a tight jaw.

  “No, but I am sure she is fine. Victor and Theseus would never let anything happen to her,” I assured him.

  Zeus laughed and said, “I never expected the friendship between Ares and Victor to last so long. Most of us figured they would end up killing each other within the week, but thousands of years later their friendship is as strong as ever.”

  “The hatred between the races seems to have died out especially in the last hundred years. It gives me hope that perhaps after we defeat Maurice we will be able to unite all of the races and live peacefully,” I whispered.

  “That is the dream,” Zeus said wistfully. We ate the food and watched the brothers fight in silence after that.

  As the sun set I prepared to nap a moment, but then Artemis appeared in front of me and sat down without even looking in my direction.

  “Zeus, can you ask a servant to get me food?” she asked in a deep voice.

  “They are already on their way to the kitchen,” he said, moving closer to her.

  “Stay back,” she warned him. “Ares is losing control and I’m
not at my best either. It would be best if everyone stayed a bit away so we do not feel threatened.”

  “What happened?” I asked her.

  “Vampires killed Fira and stole a Pegasus egg. We’re leaving to start the war in two days.”

  “Ares and Koda will need time to heal,” Zeus reminded her.

  “They will be left behind then,” she said coldly, “We don’t have time to wait for them.”

  “I take it you have a plan,” Zeus asked.

  She nodded her head. “Split up in teams. Save my Pegasus egg. Burn down any who oppose us.”

  “What about your baby?” I asked her.

  “I don’t have time to wait for him to be born,” she answered, “He will come after our fight.” She watched her mate and her packmate fight and said no more. What must she be feeling, watching them fight?

  “Why the sudden change in attitude?” I whispered to Zeus.

  He shrugged and then whispered back, “It could be the dragon’s death. She becomes emotionally attached to her companions and it makes sense that she would become focused after an event like this.”

  I wasn’t so sure, but I dared not question her when she was so close to the edge. I rose and headed to my chambers to prepare for the spell and prayed to the Goddess that everything would go according to plan. For once.

  ARTEMIS

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  I switched forms while I slept and when I woke I was still in my wolf form, lying on the grass. Ares and Koda were still fighting which astonished me and angered me at the same time. I wanted to march out there and slap some sense into them, but I knew I could not interfere with the challenge and had to let them finish. One of the Sidhe servants brought me out a plate of meat and set it down a few feet from me.

  “Anything else, Princess?” she asked softly.

  I shook my head and waited until she was gone before eating every last piece of meat and licking my paws and snout clean to get any pieces left. The baby was making me very hungry and I was having a lot of cravings for sugar and meat, although those cravings were not altogether abnormal for me.

  Ares and Koda separated to catch their breaths and Ares finally noticed me. I locked eyes with him a moment and then turned my head away to show my disapproval.

  “Artemis,” he whispered, “Are you alright?”

  I turned around, flicking my tail at him and let him look at my butt as I lay down again with my head between my paws.

  I can still communicate with you, even if you want to show me your cute butt.

  I sighed, really hating werewolf telepathy. Hurry up and finish your fight. I am going to fight Maurice tomorrow.

  “What?!” he asked loudly, out loud instead of telepathically.

  “What’s wrong?” Koda asked.

  “She said she is going to fight Maurice tomorrow,” Ares said.

  “Then I will stop toying with you and end this,” Koda said angrily. I felt the impact as he slammed into Ares and cringed, thankful that he could not see me wince at the impact.

  I turned around and watched, shocked that their fighting intensified despite this fight having lasted multiple days and without any food. Was I that strong? Could I handle a fight like that?

  Of course you could, Ares said. He ducked underneath Koda’s punch and caught Koda with a sidekick as he darted away.

  I growled. Focus on your fight.

  Our pack had slowly moved closer and closer to me, subconsciously yearning for the nearness of their Alpha female while their Alpha male was engaged in a fight they could not help him with. I stretched out and pretended to doze in the warmth of the sun and they all moved ten feet closer to me, the fear of Ares’ the only thing keeping them so far from me as it was. Apollo was among them, but he was the furthest from me, which was smart.

  “I submit!” Ares yelled.

  I sat upright and growled. What had happened? Why did he submit?

  Koda stood over Ares, his claws too close to Ares’ throat. “You never could figure out how to counter that attack,” Koda said. He plopped to the ground beside Ares and groaned.

  “Sneaky,” Ares said. He stood up and cleared his throat, “By submission I announce the new Alpha of the Werewolves, Koda.”

  The pack cheered, everyone except Ares, Koda and me. Ares walked to me and I could see the stiffness in his body and the weariness in his movements. “Let’s go to our room,” he said.

  I stood up and touched my nose to his hand and then teleported us into our room. He collapsed on the bed and sighed. “Thank you. I do not think I could have made it to our room if I had had to walk all the way.”

  I shifted and then laughed at him. “Of course you could have. You would not have let the others see such a weakness.”

  “Are you upset?” he asked me.

  I weighed my answer. “I am not sure how to answer your question. Can you be more specific?”

  “Are you upset that I submitted?” he asked.

  I shook my head and sat on the bed beside him, resting my hand on my handsome mate’s face. “No. In fact it feels good knowing that we do not have to rule the werewolves and that the pack is in such good hands.”

  “You know I submitted on purpose, right?”

  I laughed. “Of course I do. You would not be so easily defeated.”

  He smiled. “Let’s not tell Koda, alright? It’s best if he and the rest of the world believe that Koda is the rightful Alpha. I am weary of trying to wrangle you and a thousand werewolves at the same time.”

  I kissed his cheek and then wrinkled my nose in disgust. “You need a shower.”

  He rolled on his back, grabbed me and pulled me down onto my side with my head on his chest. “All I need is you.”

  I put his hand on my stomach and whispered, “He wants out soon.”

  “He?” Ares asked.

  I nodded my head and smiled. “I suppose that means we should give him a name.”

  “So, what shall we name him?” Ares asked.

  “You can think of names after you shower,” I said, sitting up and pushing his side.

  “Fine,” he said, dashing to the bathroom and returning one minute later smelling like roses. “Sotare.”

  “What?” I asked since I had not been paying attention.

  He sat down on the bed beside me and spoke in a soft voice as he ran his fingers through my hair. “I would like to name him Sotare.”

  “Sotare,” I repeated, letting the name roll of my tongue so I could try it out. I nodded my head. “I like it.”

  Ares smiled. “That was easier than I thought.”

  “I’m not always difficult,” I said defensively.

  “Only ninety percent of the time,” he teased me and then kissed my temple.

  Dizziness overwhelmed me so I gracefully fell onto my side, thankful I was already sitting on the bed. “Artemis?” Ares asked, concerned at the sudden movement.

  “Dizzy,” I whispered.

  “I’ll call Kod…” Ares stopped and laughed. “I guess I can’t summon Koda anymore. I’ll go get Selene.”

  I grabbed his hand before he could stand up. “No, don’t leave. It’ll pass in a moment.” The baby started kicking and I groaned at the fierce kicks. “Nevermind, get her.”

  He rested his hand on my stomach, lowered his face until his lips were pressed against my skin and growled, “Calm down, pup.”

  Surprisingly he listened and the kicking stopped. “You’re amazing,” I whispered in awe.

  “Let’s hope this still works when he is a teenager,” Ares said with a laugh.

  “What age do you consider a preternatural a teenager?” I asked him curiously. “Humans consider thirteen to nineteen a teenager, but that’s not really a teenager for a preternatural.”

  Ares said, “Trust me you will know when he is in the teenage years. When he starts rebelling it will be obvious.”

  “Let’s hope he does not tear down an entire civilization during his teenage years like his father,” Zeus said as he
entered the room.

  Ares sighed. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

  Zeus frowned at him. “You obliterated an entire civilization. That is not something to easily forget.”

  “Who are you talking about?” I asked curiously.

  Zeus threw his hands up into the air and said, “That’s the point! No one even remembers them.”

  “I was young and angry and stupid,” Ares said, “And I will not let my son get so out of control.”

  “Good luck,” Zeus said.

  Selene entered the room and asked, “Are you ready, Ares? We should begin the spell to remove Death’s sickness as soon as possible.”

  “I need meat and about an hour of sleep and then I will be ready,” Ares said.

  One of Zeus’ servants walked in with a tray piled high with steaks and set it on the table before quickly leaving. It always interested me how Zeus’ servants were so frightened of Ares. Had they seen him at his worst and that was why they were so frightened?

  Ares sat at the table and ate his food in silence. I closed my eyes and then smelled and heard Selene walk over to me. “Are you feeling alright?” she asked.

  “I got dizzy for a minute and then Sotare began kicking and hurting me, but Ares made him calm down.”

  “Sotare? Him?” Selene asked. “How do you know?”

  “I sort of let it slip,” Victor said, materializing beside Ares. He looked down at Ares and said, “So, you passed the reins on to your brother?”

  “He beat me,” Ares said with a shrug. Victor was silent a moment so I knew Ares was telling him about keeping the fact that he had let him win a secret. Ares resumed eating his steaks and I closed my eyes to rest.

  Selene whispered a spell so softly even I could not hear it and then the baby kicked. “Ow,” I said, “Don’t get him riled up again.”

  She smiled and said, “I will try to keep him calm while I check him out.” She resumed running her hands along my stomach and then said, “Well he or she, is in good health, but strangely has grown exponentially. You are right that you could go into labor any time now.”