I realized that my skin wasn’t tingly anymore and my heartbeat was almost normal. “He’s close by,” I said.
Achilles frowned. “Hm.”
I sat down beside him and sighed. “Can you wait to tell Ares about what happened? I’d rather deal with him being mad at me for trying to fight the vampires first instead of him being mad at me for touching you as well.”
Achilles huffed a laugh. “I think you’re right.”
We sat in comfortable silence for an hour before I felt Ares approaching. I walked out of the ring of logs and towards the direction he was coming from. My heart beat faster each time I turned in the right direction, like a homing beacon.
Ares, Koda, and Matt finally came into view, and I exhaled happily. Ares sped up, running ahead of the others and picked me up in his arms, swinging me around a couple times before setting me back down on my feet. “Artemis, you’re alright.”
I kissed his face and lips several times before I looked into his eyes. “Of course I’m alright.”
Ares kissed me roughly on the lips and hugged me tightly again. “Don’t you ever try to fight without me again.”
I nuzzled my nose into his neck and whined happily. “I’m sorry.”
Koda and Matt finally arrived, and Ares released me so that I could hug each of them and rub noses to inhale each other’s scents.
Ares picked up my hand and walked the rest of the way to the camp fire. “Thank you for protecting her,” he said softly.
Achilles bowed his head. “Anytime, Brother.”
Brother?
Ares growled. “We are not brothers.”
Achilles sighed and poked at the fire with a new stick. Matt and Koda worked together and hung skinned rabbits and a skinned fox over the fire to cook. Looking at the cooking animals made me realize how thirsty I was. I stripped from my clothes, setting them on the log beside Ares and changed to my wolf form. I stretched and shook after the shift and then trotted over to the small stream I’d heard on the other side of the meadow. The men watched me until I started drinking from the stream and then turned back around and began talking.
After I had my fill of water, I jogged over to the logs, changed forms again and pulled my clothes on. It felt good and right to change forms now. I wish I’d known about it sooner so that I could have enjoyed it more.
I sat down beside Ares and rested my head against his shoulder. He was involved in a serious debate with Achilles, but he pulled me in against him so that his arms were around my shoulders while his thumb lightly stroked my skin. I tried to pay attention to what they were discussing, but I felt a presence out in the dark of the night. It was as if I was being poked in the stomach. I stood, and Ares grabbed my hand. I turned to look at him and saw his mouth moving, but I couldn’t hear anything. I put my hands to my ears and then shook my head. Ares’ and Achilles’ mouths moved quickly and Koda and Matt ran off into the night. The poking in my stomach grew stronger until it felt as though something had pierced my skin. I screamed in pain and fell to the ground as I felt my energy being drained.
I couldn’t see my attacker. I didn’t even know what my attacker was. How could I fight it?
Ares had his hands resting against my face as he talked to me, but I couldn’t hear his words. Tears streamed down my face as the unseen attacker continued to drain me. What could be so powerful that it could kill you without ever even touching you?
Achilles pushed Ares aside and grabbed me in his arms. His wings sprung from his back and then we were up in the air. I hung limp in his arms as he flew. Achilles’ mouth was moving fast and then he pressed his forehead to mine. Images and thoughts filled my mind and I realized after a few moments that they were Achilles’ memories. I gasped and then the images and thoughts stopped, denying me the chance to make sense of what I’d seen.
Are you alright?
I gasped again as the question was spoken in Achilles’ voice, but through my mind. “How can I hear you in my head?”
Achilles shook his head and I saw his chest heave as he sighed. It would be best if you didn’t speak out loud.
“Is this like the werewolves’ communication while in wolf form?” I asked out loud.
Yes. Now please stop talking out loud.
Sorry. Why can I hear you in my head anyways?
We’ll discuss that later. For now, we must discuss what happened. You were attacked by the Queen of the Light Court, Hera—
Wait…isn’t the queen your mom?
Yes, but…
Why did your mom attack me?
She was simply testing your powers first, which is why I didn’t interfere, but when she realized that you are more powerful than her, she grew angry and tried to kill…
I’m more powerful than her? How is that possible? Does that mean that I—
Stop interrupting me! Listen to me, Artemis. We don’t have much time. She’s following us. I’m going to take you to my father’s kingdom because he will protect you. My mother and he have been fighting for decades, and she’s not allowed to enter his kingdom. It’s the safest place for you. Ares will meet us soon.
Why is she following us?
She wants you dead. She’s very jealous and has always tried to kill those more powerful than her. Vanity is one of her negative qualities that have caused many wars over the centuries.
Achilles landed on top of a hill covered in bright green grass beside the ocean and set me down on my feet.
Where are we?
Ireland.
How did we get here so fast?
Achilles rolled his eyes at me. We’re not as slow as birds or airplanes. We’re preternaturals, which means we have extraordinary powers. Powers great enough to fly across the world in an hour. He walked down the hill a little way and stopped in front of a square patch of dead grass. He placed his hand against the patch of grass and then his skin began to glow. The dead grass dropped down and the hole widened until it was at least ten feet by ten feet and a set of stairs was visible leading into the ground. Achilles picked up my hand and started walking down the stairs. I followed him down and swallowed nervously as the top shrank and the grass returned to cover the hole behind us. We continued down the steps in complete darkness.
Chapter Seven
We descended the stairs in complete darkness and I felt my nerves increasing.
Achilles?
Yes?
I know it’s childish, but could you maybe… Before I could finish my thought, Achilles’ skin began glowing and Lit the area around us. We were surrounded by stone instead of dirt and we walked down a narrow stairway that seemed to never end. I gripped Achilles’ hand tighter as I began to feel claustrophobic. The wolf didn’t like feeling trapped and deep underneath a hill in a stone stairway, close enough to a cage for us as a real one.
Achilles spun around suddenly and put his hands on each side of my face and stared into my eyes. Easy. We’re going to be fine. The door is just ahead and through that we enter into my father’s realm. It’s completely open. You’re not trapped. This is not a cage—simply a passageway. You can’t change.
His touch and words relaxed me until I could breathe normally again. He turned back around and walked faster.
Why had his touch relaxed me? Only Ares should have been able to do that? Did it have something to do with his new ability to communicate telepathically with me? Did he do something? Or was he right about the destined mate thing?
I was trying to figure out an answer when he pushed open a door and sunlight temporarily blinded me. Achilles continued to pull me forward as my eyes adjusted. I tugged on his hand to stop him and rubbed my eyes with my palms. I slowly opened my eyes, and then my mouth dropped open.
In books, the fairy realm was simply an underground castle or a large underground room. They were completely wrong. It wasn’t an underground anything. Birds flew in the blue skies above us and the oceans splashed against the cliffs nearby. I turned around and instead of seeing the door we’d come through I saw even m
ore beautiful grassy land.
How?
The Sidhe do not live in the underground as humans like to believe. We live in a different dimension, which you can get to by using a portal, such as the one we used to get here.
A different dimension? That’s crazy.
Crazy, but true. Come, we must hurry.
Achilles picked my hand up again and led me towards a giant stone castle. We had to walk through a village, and I stared in awe at the people dressed in fine clothes. Why are they dressed as though they live in the medieval era?
Achilles continued walking as he talked to me. The medieval era is my father’s favorite, so those that live in the Dark Court wear that period of clothing and even speak as they would during that time period. My father is somewhat egotistical, as you can imagine.
The people all wore medieval clothing yet their skin was of every color of the rainbow with various designs on their skins. Some had their wings out, but most had their wings hidden. Men, women and children stared at us as we walked. Achilles seemed to ignore the looks while I couldn’t help but look back. Were they staring at Achilles or me?
We made it to the castle and Achilles smiled. “Morning, guards.”
The two guards, dressed in full armor, pushed open the doors and bowed their heads. “Greetings, Prince Achilles.”
We started to walk past them when I caught their scent. I stopped walking and stared at them in shock. “Werewolves?”
I realized my hearing returned, and would have been excited if the two guards hadn’t started sniffing at me. One of them reached out towards me, and I growled at him, snapping my teeth. He pulled his hand back and gaped at me. “Who are you?”
I opened my mouth to answer when a tall man with a long white beard stepped through the doors to stand beside Achilles. “She is Artemis, daughter of Darren of the Werewolves and Athena of the Sidhe, and fiancée of Prince Achilles of the Sidhe.”
The man looked like Achilles, except he was slightly older and had a long white beard. I knew who he was instantly. I curtsied and bowed my head. “Greetings Zeus, King of the Dark Court of the Sidhe.”
Zeus laughed happily. “I see you’ve started training her.”
Achilles sighed. “We must speak father. It’s important.”
Zeus picked my hand up, and I straightened to look at him. He kissed the back of my hand and smiled seductively at me. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
A blush instantly covered my cheeks, but I found my voice and said, “It’s an honor to finally meet you.”
Zeus took my hand and placed it on the inside of his elbow as he led us into the castle. The hallways were wide enough to ride three horses abreast and torches sat in decorative iron holders every five feet or so. Achilles walked on the other side of me as we made our way past large rooms filled with Sidhe of every color. I tried to stop to look, but Zeus continued to pull me along. He stopped in front of a set of large, ornately carved wooden doors and snapped his fingers. The two guards in front of the doors pushed them open and then stepped out of the way as Zeus led me inside.
The king’s bedroom is expected to be elegant, but the King of the Sidhe’s bedroom was magnificent. He kept to his medieval time period though, not having a single modern item inside. Zeus released my hand, and I walked quickly to the balcony, pushing aside the red drapes to look out over the ocean below.
The wind whipped against my face, sending a light spray of water to chill me. I’d never seen anything so beautiful. I looked up and felt the sun’s rays heat my face. Everything felt so real, yet how could this exist without the humans knowing about it?
Achilles walked to stand on the balcony beside me and leaned his elbows on the stone railing. “This is my favorite spot in all of the Dark Court.”
“I can see why,” I said softly as I looked out over the ocean. A whale breached the waves a mile or so away from us and sprayed water up into the air.
Achilles picked my hand up and turned me to face him. “Your eyes are glowing with energy. You’re even more beautiful when standing beside the ocean.”
The wind whipped my hair from side to side as Achilles and I stared at each other. The desire to kiss him was almost as bad as it had been with Ares, but thinking of Ares helped cool my hormones and allow me to turn away from him. “Thank you.”
A table had been set up in Zeus’ bedroom while I’d been on the balcony. I hurried inside and sat down in a chair and began piling meat and cheese on to my plate.
“So, what brings you here?” Zeus asked Achilles.
Achilles sat down beside me and nibbled on some fruits and cheeses as he spoke. “Let’s see, where to begin? Well, first let me tell you that Mother attacked Artemis and wishes to kill her…”
Zeus stood up and stared at Achilles. “Is that why you…”
Achilles held up his hand. “Yes, I only did it out of necessity.”
“Did what out of necessity, my dear son?” asked a woman.
Achilles was instantly out of his chair and standing beside me, his skin glowing.
The woman was beyond beautiful. Her skin was like buttery cream with a beautiful filigree design which glowed as she looked at me and Achilles. “You had better explain why you are assuming an attack stance against me.”
Achilles spoke softly. “She’s my fiancée, Mother. I will not let you hurt her.”
Hera looked at me with clear disdain. I met her eyes as I continued to eat. If she wanted to kill me, she probably could, so I would at least die with a full stomach.
I won’t let her kill you.
My eyes flickered over to Achilles as he spoke to me, but I quickly looked back at Hera. Can’t she technically order you to kill me if she wanted to?
Yes, but she won’t do that because…
“Are you communicating telepathically?” she hissed.
Achilles glared at her. “You tried to kill her! What else could I do?”
“You. Bound. Her?” She asked in angry pants. Her skin began glowing again, and her eyes turned to white pearls as Achilles’ had done when I’d released his powers.
Bound me? What did that mean?
“There was no other way. I had to save her,” Achilles said through clenched teeth.
Hera stopped glowing and turned away. “You were always an impulsive man.”
I turned to Zeus, since he wasn’t involved in their conversation either. I might as well get as much information from them as possible while I was here. Who knew when the next time I’d be allowed to go to the Sidhe court would be? “Do all Sidhe have Greek names?” I asked.
Zeus smiled. “Technically we had the names first, but the humans used to believe that we were gods and so their stories were based on us.”
I looked from Zeus to Hera and then back to Zeus. “Is she really your sister?”
Hera gasped, and Zeus laughed. “No. Most of the family trees that the humans created are wrong. Hera is not my sister, only my wife.”
“So, can you really use lightning bolts?” I asked curiously.
Zeus put his arm out, palm up. His skin started glowing and then a sizzling lightning bolt appeared in his hand. “Some of what the humans recorded about us is true,” he said.
“Wow.” I chewed on a grape when it occurred to me that “Ares” was a Greek name, too. “Wait. Are the Sidhe who the humans based their stories off of the only ones with Greek mythological names?”
Achilles opened his mouth to say something, but Zeus said, “Yes.”
I stood up from my chair and walked quickly towards the balcony. That was it. That was what Ares had been keeping from me. He is part Sidhe, too.
Achilles stood next to me and put a hand on my back. “I cannot tell you his story. It’s very personal, and I feel it is best for him to tell you himself.”
“Who are you talking about?” Hera asked, narrowing her eyes at us. “I hate it when I’m out of the loop.”
Achilles turned around. “Why is she here? In your realm?” he asked Zeus.
I turned around and found Hera sitting on Zeus’ lap. Zeus sighed, “Well, son, you see…”
Achilles groaned. “You’re dating again! You remember what happened last time?”
Hera shrugged. “It was a small battle.”
Achilles scoffed. “A small battle? You call World War Two a small battle?”
Zeus turned to me and asked, “Do you have wings?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure. I didn’t know you had wings until Achilles showed me, and I haven’t tried to get them out.”
Zeus stood up out of his chair, helped Hera sit down in it, then walked to me and took my hand. “Focus on your surroundings. Do you feel the energy from all of the living things around you?”
I nodded.
“Good, now focus on those energies and ask them to loan you some of their strength.”
If my life hadn’t been as crazy as it was, I would have thought he was joking with me or that he was insane. Instead I closed my eyes and asked the plants to borrow some of their energy. I opened my eyes when I felt the excess energy flowing through me and lighting my body up like a fluorescent light bulb.
Zeus smiled. “Good. Now close your eyes and picture your back. In the center of your back between your shoulder blades I want you to picture two vertical slits, one foot long each.”
I pictured exactly what he said and then felt my skin rip apart and my wings flare out behind me. The pain forced me to my knees, and my body sizzled as though I’d been electrocuted. Zeus helped me stand up and walked around me to look at my wings and body. “Interesting,” he said as he came back to face me.
“How do I move them?” I asked after the pain had subsided.
Achilles smiled from beside me. “You just think what you want and they do it. Once you get used to it they move like your arms or legs, almost without thought.”
I moved my right wing forward and stared at the purple wings with purple vines. “Purple vines?”
Zeus whispered, “They match your eyes, your new skin marks and the streaks in your hair.”
Artemis Lupine- The Complete Series Page 38
