I nod. “I could, but it’s not allowed when we’re practicing. It’s apparently an unfair advantage and doesn’t help me learn. I seriously doubt in a demonstration that Enyo and Lyssa will be down for it. Especially in hand-to-hand combat, where my reactions would be useless if my skin were hard as stone.”
“Well, that isn’t good.” Hunter sighs.
“This is going to hardcore suck.”
“Peitho, you stole the words right out of my mouth.” Apate frowns.
Chapter 9
Hunter
I’ll be the first to admit that I wince just seeing my little Goldie up on stage with the two craziest immortals of the group. She just seems so small up there, being held in a choke hold as Enyo makes her eat her fist. I know she’s large by human standards, being somewhere around six feet, but that’s small to me. Enyo and Lyssa aren’t physically bigger, but the energy they give out in a fight is something that can blow the mightiest of warriors away.
With Apate, it looks like they’re torturing a sweet little girl. She even brings my protective instincts roaring up, almost as much as Peitho does. The only thing that stops me is knowing that Apate will heal and her nature doesn’t coincide with how she looks. Being short, blonde, and cute as a button with innocent eyes, everyone looks at Lyssa like she’s the Big Bad Wolf whenever she demonstrates a move on her.
“Do you think they’re going to kill them?” Julian asks when twenty minutes have passed in the self-defense seminar, and bruising begins to darken on Peitho’s and Apate’s skin.
“I don’t think even they could do that. Though it sure as hell seems like they’re giving it a good try,” I growl.
Julian shakes his head. “How dare Enyo beat up on your wife? No matter that it’s temporary!”
I know Julian is just kidding, but I can’t help but smile a little at the comment. It’s not every day that you hear the woman you’ve been obsessively thinking about call you her husband. It’s even better than hearing another man refer to the most beautiful woman in the world as your wife. So far, this day is rocking for me.
The only word that takes away from the sickening warm and glowy feeling inside of me is “temporary.” I have a sneaking suspicion that when she’s out of my life I won’t feel nearly as happy or full. I mean, right now, I feel on top of the world, like I could do anything. She’s mine. She doesn’t even make me feel like I have to change or be more social. I want to talk to her and her friends because I like making her happy. I’ve never felt the need to go above and beyond for anyone else.
“I didn’t really see what you saw in her before, but now I kind of get it. She’s pretty funny too. Can’t blame her for the company she keeps,” he says, talking of her immortal friends.
“They’ve been together for centuries. I’m sure something like that forms a tight bond, even if I wish they hadn’t all forced her to leave me this morning,” I grumble.
Julian shrugs. “I’m sure the one currently beating up your wife probably would have stormed the castle, I mean suite, but luckily, the others stopped her. Just keep in mind it could so be worse whenever you’re dealing with them. There isn’t a word strong enough to describe how impulsive and volatile these women are. It seems that Peitho is the least insane of them. For that, I’m glad for you.”
“They’re not bad,” I say, since I’m starting to get fond of Apate and that little one, Ana.
“Oh, and Eve told me that Peitho asked her about you this morning. She wanted to know how many girlfriends you’ve had in the past,” Julian says.
I start to feel a little guilty. I wouldn’t have wasted my time with those girls if Peitho had been around at the time. It’s not like I could just sit around and wait for her. She wasn’t celibate before she met me—wait, what the hell am I saying? There will be other men for her after we’re over. Probably other women for me. Not that it pleases me any to think about. Better to face the facts and not get too attached.
“I haven’t had that many, so she can’t get too upset,” I tell Julian.
He looks at me like I’m insane. “You don’t think she’d be jealous of them, do you? Trust me, she can’t be that hypocritical with all the men she’s banged. Though you’ve probably had around the same amount of real relationships, despite the mind-blowing age difference. No, she was asking because she was curious of how clingy you’d be. As in, hoping you wouldn’t follow her around for six months, like you’ve been doing ever since you set eyes on her.”
“What did Eve tell her?” I ask, starting to worry that not having been with a bunch of women will go against me in this instance.
“Some shit about you having had some girlfriends, but that you’re used to having to give them up after the six months. She knows you’ve been handfasted to some dragonesses before. I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Julian says.
“Someone saying that I’ve been handfasted to others before cheapens what we share now.” I frown.
“What the fuck are you talking about? It’s a six-month fuckfest with no strings attached, and nothing else, so don’t start tricking your dragon mind into thinking it means more. It means even less than what you shared with the dragonesses, because you knew there was a real possibility of being with them for eternity! Besides, I think the real thing that cheapens your relationship is that it’s based on an imaginary drunken screw that didn’t actually happen,” Julian points out.
I sigh out loud. “I’d prefer if you didn’t talk about our glorious lovemaking that way.”
“Sure, you’ve screwed now, but that’s only because she thought you were legitimately already stuck together,” Julian says.
“We haven’t ‘screwed.’ That’s too weak a word for what we’ve done. Besides, she wants me. Even Addy admitted that,” I say with no small amount of quiet pride.
“That reminds me, I wanted to ask you if she’s everything she’s been rumored to be. In bed, you know. Back home she’s a celebrity for her sexual prowess, but I was wondering if it’s been blown out of proportion,” Julian says.
I just smile. “Trust me, there’s no way they could be overstating her skills, no matter what they say.”
“Reallly,” Julian says, drawing out the word. “That’s interesting, because they say she can fuck for hours, deep throat, take any size, and is willing to try and do anything in the bedroom.”
“That’s all they say?” I ask in a bit of surprise.
Sounds mundane compared to the truth that she can make a man come harder than the last, each time he releases in her body. I swear there’s something addictive about her body because it always gets better, and you never want to stop. You can practically see stars from the force of orgasm she gives. That’s nothing compared to how wet and eager she always is. Plus, she loves doing things that other women don’t always like. Such as giving head. With such skill and relish too. I need to stop thinking or I’ll embarrass myself.
“Why, do you have something to share?” Julian asks.
“There’s nothing to tell. Or at least, nothing I’m going to tell. Let’s just say she’s the best I’ve ever had, and I’m damn sure she’s the best I’ll ever have, or I won’t be able to live through the pleasure.”
“Huh, I’m not really surprised, you know. She’s the goddess of persuasion and seduction; she’s supposed to be the best you’ve ever had. I just wonder how she compares to nymphs and sirens. They’re rumored to be good too, you know,” Julian says.
If by good you substitute “freak” or “nymphomaniac.”
“You’ll never know, and therefore never be able to compare,” I say, though it comes out as more of a threat.
Julian just shrugs. “Yeah, not my type. That’s why I’m asking you.”
“It’s private, and I’ve never been with a siren or a nymph, so I have no way of answering you,” I say a little primly.
“Students, I hope you paid attention so you won’t be stolen, tortured, and then murdered. If not, then you get what’s coming to yo
u. Goodbye now!” Lyssa says with more than an undercurrent of madness.
“Yes, don’t come crying to us that we didn’t teach you enough. It’s not as if your puny mortal immortal bodies have much of a chance anyway,” Enyo agrees with her partner in crime.
“Right, thank you for that, Ladies. This is your last class of the day, so everyone is dismissed,” Harold says, moving to the front of the room.
Lyssa growls. “He dismissed us.”
Peitho is suddenly there between Harold and Lyssa. “He didn’t mean it like that. He was just saying that you don’t have to stand up here and tell the stupid shifters how to defend themselves. You can go train with Enyo or do whatever you want now!”
“We were never ordered to do this in the first place,” Enyo says.
“Yes, you offered out of the kindness of your heart, and he thanks you very much. Now why don’t you two go play with your swords until it’s time for lunch? Yeah?” she asks.
I start moving to the front of the room, wanting to help Peitho. Although I don’t know why I do, since it’s not like I stand a chance against Enyo or Lyssa. The dragon instinct within me screams to protect my mate, though, or at least die trying.
“Fine, we will leave you, as you so obviously wish. Come, Lyssa, let’s go see if this supposed pepper spray can affect us,” Enyo says, and the two stalk off like predators, arms linked.
“Thanks,” Harold says, turning a pale face to Peitho.
She gives him a slightly annoyed glance. “Try to remember that those two are the least tame of all of us, and act accordingly. I can’t control them without some help. Saying things like dismissed or ordered doesn’t help.”
“You can control them if they go wild, though, right?” Harold gulps, obviously wondering what he’s gotten himself into.
Peitho gives him a little grin and a pat on the head, “Sure thing; it will just take all of us to wrestle them to the ground and have us overpower them with our rad goddess skills.”
“Yeah, and that usually includes Aergia putting them in a magical sleep. Luckily, it gives them time to calm down so they’re not angry by the time they wake up. Besides being mad at being overpowered. They like to think they’re more powerful than all of us,” Apate explains as she walks over, rubbing her shoulder.
Harold nods and says, “Ah, thank you for helping with the demonstration. I’ll see you all later.”
I smile a little at Peitho and say, “I hope that didn’t go too badly.”
“Nah, we heal,” Peitho says, though I can tell she’s in some amount of pain, or at least has been.
“Can you help me pop my shoulder back into place?” Apate asks Peitho.
I try not to watch too closely as Peitho grips her right shoulder and jams it back into her socket, the process making a painful cracking noise. Apate winces a little, then moves her shoulder a bit. “Thanks.”
“You guys are tough,” I can’t help but say.
“Thanks,” Apate says and grins, “but we’re used to being their punching bags.”
“I brought cranberry juice spiked with vodka and chocolate bars for you two,” I say, shuffling my feet a tad uncomfortably. Then I pull the goods out of various pockets. Hmm, hope the chocolate didn’t melt.
“Is that an aluminum water bottle?” Peitho asks as I hand her one, then Apate.
“Yeah, more environmentally friendly.”
“You’ve so turned it into like, a stealth flask! I love it.” Peitho grins, then takes a sip, and her face fills with bliss. “Thanks to this little stunt, you are so in like sin.”
Apate chomps on a chocolate bar, adding, “Hell yeah! Thanks, man.”
“No problem. Thought you’d be thirsty and need a sugar rush after this. You’ve been going at it for what, three hours?”
“More like”— Apate checks her watch—“three hours, seven minutes, and fifty-four seconds. But good guess!”
I try not to make any expression when she gives me a congratulatory thumbs-up.
“I’m going to bounce and soak my old rickety bones in a hot tub. Catch you fools later! I’m sure you’ll come up with a suitable alternative, but if not, see you there.” Apate grins at Peitho with a wink before fading away.
“She sure is energetic,” I comment.
Peitho nods after a gulp of liquid. “Yeah, she goes and goes. One thing about us, our natural highs are usually more potent than any drugs humans take. They hit hard, fast, and keep coming back. Apate and I are quite susceptible to them.”
“Yeah, that makes sense.” I nod.
“At a party, it totally seems like I’m gone to the world when I’m just having fun and on a natural high. Plus, being around all the people lusting gives me a power buzz. But I totally fit in because I seem high as a kite!” Peitho giggles.
“So she’s like that?” I ask.
“Are you kidding? She’s way worse!” Peitho says. “Most people are lusting half the time and give me a power burst. Something people do even more than lust is lie and deceive in all ways possible. Apate gets even more of a power high than I do.”
“I get it now,” I say.
Apate and Peitho probably have connections to things that people feel the most. Almost everyone lies, and if not, illusions of appearance like makeup probably even affect Apate. Plus, everyone lusts. I mean, how many dirty thoughts do people have a day? They probably all give Peitho a little kick-start.
“Peitho, group meeting. Now.” Apate is suddenly back in the room in the blink of any eye.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Ran into Nemesis. Aergia was attacked. Everyone is being gathered to the suite—come on,” Apate says grimly. “She said Hunter can come too, if he’s quiet.”
Peitho’s face shows no expression, but I can feel sudden tension around her. “We’ll be up there in a minute.”
Apate nods, saying, “Need to go find Dys.”
Peitho turns to me with a serious expression. “If you don’t want to go, that’s fine. If you do, there are some rules I should explain.”
“I’d like to go, and I’ve already been to a meeting with all of you,” I say, confused.
“That was informal, at best, and the meeting was called because of you. Outsiders at serious meetings aren’t allowed to talk unless directly spoken to. You can’t talk about information you’ve learned at the meeting to someone who wasn’t there. You also can’t use said information against us. That should get you through everything, okay?” Peitho says.
I try to ignore the speak when spoken to rule, and just say, “Sure, I can handle that.”
“Then come on,” she says, and I follow her.
When we get to the suite she shares with the other goddesses, I can’t hear anything going on in there from outside. Every other time I’ve come up here, I’ve been able to hear them talking, shouting, or listening to music from well outside the hallway. The lack of sound gives the entire situation an ominous air. Which I could, quite frankly, do without.
“About time,” Enyo says angrily to Peitho when we enter. Her hands twitch as if wishing for weapons.
“We were just told,” Peitho says, slightly defensive.
“Aergia’s over there with Ana and Lyssa,” Enyo says, nodding her head in the direction of the living room.
Peitho and I go to the couch where the three women are lounging. Aergia looks calm, if a little startled, in a white cotton dress and tangled hair. In fact, her eyes look a little smudged, as if she hasn’t gotten enough rest. Which I know isn’t true since she’s practically been asleep since they got here.
“You okay?” Peitho asks her simply.
Aergia looks up at her, and her face darkens. “I’m pissed, if that’s what you’re asking. The fucker woke me up from my nap! Can you believe that shit? Me! It took a little time, but I finally woke up.”
“What happened?” Peitho asks.
Aergia sighs. “I was asleep in the stairway, and I guess someone tried to smother me. With a shirt, no less. I didn
’t wake up for a while, but finally did when they dropped me. Can you believe the indignity of that? They thought I was out from the suffocation and accidentally dropped me down the stairs when they were trying to take me away. That’s when I woke up and whoever they were left. I didn’t get a look or anything. You know how I am when I first wake up.”
Peitho whispers to me, “Aergia pretty much sleeps like the dead. She’s most vulnerable when she sleeps because it’s almost impossible to wake her up. When she does wake up, she’s very disoriented for a few minutes before she’s fully aware.”
“According to Harold, the smells in the hallway were werewolf, human, tiger, and griffin. I’m not sure which of those we’re looking for.” Aergia says this calmly.
“I’m sorry,” Peitho says with a frown.
“So am I. It can’t be helped that I’m not real with it when I just wake up. I just wish I got a look at them. It really sucks. I was woken up for absolutely nothing!” Aergia growls.
“Um, why was she asleep in the stairway?” I whisper to Peitho.
“She just kind of stops and drops where she pleases. She’s been known to sleep in odder places, no worries. Now she’ll obviously have to be more careful about that.”
I can’t help but think she should have been more careful well before now.
“Back!” Apate bursts into the room. “Brought Dysnomia too. Everyone here, then?”
“Yes, I call this group meeting to session,” Nemesis says, standing in the middle of everyone. “We’re here today to discuss the violence done to one of our own. About twenty minutes ago, Aergia was attacked in the stairway.”
“This is kind of dumb since the idiots already took three people the other day. Like, how greedy can you be?” Ana says with a disappointed shake of her head.
“Are we assuming it’s the same people who have been kidnapping at this convention, or one of our old enemies?” Dysnomia asks.
I put the topic of “other enemies” in my mind for later discussion.
“That’s a very good question,” Nemesis tells her. “I think right now, it’s safe to assume that the people targeting supernaturals here are the ones responsible. None of our enemies would be stupid enough to target us this way. They would not fail to carry out a plan against us, for fear of retaliation. We can also narrow down the suspects to werewolves, tiger shifters, humans, and griffins. These were the only scents to be found around the crime scene, and all of those types of creatures can be found here.”
Skin of a Goddess (Goddess Ascension Book 1) Page 13