Victor shook his head. “It’s a winery.”
I rolled my eyes. “You know what I meant.”
Victor smiled. “There are hundreds of miles of tunnels below us and we earn money from the winery to sustain a comfortable way of life. The humans get great tasting wine and we get a place of solitude. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”
I frowned. “Except the people you eat.”
Victor shrugged. “Eat a few, release a thousand. It’s still a good deal.”
The mansion we pulled up in front of was easily three times the size of any of the celebrity’s in the United States I had ever seen on TV. Two muscular men stood beside two giant wooden doors that must be the front entrance. I looked closely at their bodies and noticed the low percentage of body fat and extra ounces of muscle. I turned to Ares. “The vampires use werewolf guards?”
Ares smiled. “I’m surprised you could tell they are wolves from here.”
“Low amounts of body fat and high amounts of muscle suggest steroids or inhuman metabolisms. I figured the vampires would feel safer with werewolves than steroid using humans.”
Victor laughed making me shiver in delight. “You are very perceptive.”
Ares frowned. “You need to eat, Victor.”
Victor cleared his throat. “Sorry about the voice thing. As Ares said I need to eat or…well let’s not discuss that.” The driver opened the door for us and Victor climbed out first, smiling at the driver flashing his fangs and walked up the steps towards the werewolf guards and the entrance. Koda and Matt climbed out next waiting a few feet away from the limousine.
Ares smiled at me. “It’ll be alright. No one will harm you, especially not with me beside you.” I nodded my head, but licked my lips nervously. Ares asked, “Would you let me hold your hand? It’ll make me feel better.”
He climbed out of the car before I could answer and I sighed in relief. All I want is for him to hold my hand. I climbed out of the car and reached for his hand. He squeezed my hand reassuringly and we started up the steps. The two guards at the door placed their fists over their hearts and bowed at the waist to us. Ares mimicked their gesture and smiled. “Greetings brothers.”
The guards smiled and spoke in unison, “Greetings Prince.”
Ares pointed at me. “My passt genau is with me during this visit. If she needs anything you come to her aid. Her needs are the most important out of anyone’s here.”
The guards sniffed the air and Ares face went neutral as he waited. I stared at the two guards who were at least six and a half feet tall and built like walls. My feet started to move towards them and Ares nodded his head, simultaneously letting my hand go. I walked slowly up to the guards and inhaled the smell of forest, fur and also getting their individual smells mingled in as well. They inhaled deeply and smiled wide. They both spoke in unison again, officially creeping me out, “Greetings sister.”
I smiled. “Greetings brothers.”
Ares took my hand and pulled me away from the guards and into the mansion. The mansion was dimly lit and there were only a few servants running around in uniforms. Ares whispered, “The vampires are all downstairs since it is still daylight. When the sun sets they will all come up here to mingle.”
I asked, “Do I have to dress up tomorrow too?”
Ares nodded his head and kissed my cheek. “Don’t worry. One of the seamstresses will have something to fit you.”
I wanted to protest, but a beautiful woman walked up to us speaking in rapid French. Ares nodded his head and then spoke back to her in French. She looked down at me and frowned, slowly letting her eyes travel up my body from my feet. She looked back at Ares and spoke again quickly pointing rapidly at me then back to herself and then at Ares. Ares sighed and shook his head. “Sophe…” His words were French again so I couldn’t keep up, but at least I knew her name.
Koda ran his hand down my right arm and my body relaxed a little. He smiled at me. “It’s alright. He’s just explaining who you are.”
I frowned and looked at the beautiful French woman. “She’s one of the women he’s slept with, isn’t she?”
Ares turned to me and frowned. “Artemis…”
I pulled my hand out of his and smiled. “It’s alright. Talk to her and I’ll talk to Koda.”
Ares looked like he wanted to object, but Sophe was speaking angrily to his back trying to get his attention. Koda opened his arms and I stepped forward into his body. Matt walked up behind me and hugged me from behind wrapping his arms around Koda in the process. I asked, “Aren’t you going to make a comment about him hugging you?” I asked Koda.
Koda shook his head. “We’re pack and the touch of our pack mates is soothing. Like Ares’ touch to you, but not the sexual part. Matt is my brother.”
Matt kissed the top of my head then stepped back. “Don’t be so upset Love. He’s simply trying to calm ’er down. Angry female werewolves are not fun to deal with.”
I pulled away from Koda and stared at the animated conversation that was going on between Ares and Sophe. “She loves him.”
Koda nodded his head. “She does, but she also knows that he never loved her.”
“I can’t handle this.” I started to walk away, but Koda and Matt walked beside me. Ares watched me out of the corner of his eyes, but was trying to pay attention to the yelling French woman in front of him.
Luckily she kept his attention while we started on our way. Koda gave me a tour of the main floor of the mansion, which consisted of a dining room, a living room, a kitchen bigger than my house, a game room with poker tables, pool tables and two giant televisions, and six bedrooms. We were about to walk out to the back patio and to the pool that Matt said was just beyond when Ares caught up to us. He whispered, “I’m sorry Artemis.” He held out his hand and I accepted it. He hugged me against him. “Are you alright?”
I shook my head. “No, but there’s not much that can be done.”
He tilted my chin up and kissed my lips. “Would an hour back massage make up for it?”
I smiled. “It’ll help.” Ares smiled at me and I couldn’t stay mad at him. I groaned. “It’s not fair that I can’t stay mad at you.”
Ares kissed me again. “Not fair at all.”
Matt cleared his throat. “Could we continue now?”
Ares bowed at the waist. “Of course, my liege. Forgive my rude interruption.”
Matt rolled his eyes. “Jerk.”
Ares smiled. “Baby.”
Matt opened the patio door for me and continued the tour of the acre patio with dining tables and candelabras, then onto the two-acre wide pool. Ares and Koda debated over whether it should technically be considered a pond or lake, since it was so large, but Matt argued that the fact that they used a pool pump and chlorine made it a pool. I tried to engage in their debate, but there was a strange weight resting on my chest and back. I tried to figure out what it was when the words popped into my head on their own: powerful darkness. The presence became heavier as the sun moved down towards the horizon. Ares rubbed my arm and kissed my cheek, as we walked back towards the mansion.
Koda led the way down the hallways as if he owned the place and into a large bedroom. The bedroom had one giant bed, which could sleep at least five people comfortably. A desk and chair as well as a couch sat against the walls on the room. One door led to the bathroom with Jacuzzi tub and open shower. The second door led to a walk-in closet bigger than my bedroom had been. Ares stopped at the entrance to the bedroom and spoke quickly to a maid in French. The maid left and then Ares walked to stand beside me at the large bed. “We had these specifically made for those wishing to sleep in packs.”
I jumped up on to the bed and sank into the cushions, sighing in pleasure. I started to push the mound of pillows off the bed, but decided it might be rude. I buried myself under the pillows instead. The bed moved and I smelled Ares before he pulled the two pillows that were covering my face off. “Does this mean you like it?”
I n
odded my head and took the pillows back, recovering my face with them. The men were talking about something serious and boring, so I decided to take a shower. I climbed off the bed and rearranged the pillows as close to the original shape as I could remember, then walked toward the bathroom. Ares asked from close behind me, “Are you taking a shower?” I nodded my head then froze when I felt him behind me.
“Ares, please.” Ares shrugged and picked me up in his arms walking towards the bathroom. I gasped, “No! Ares, that’s not what I meant!”
He set me down and frowned. “Why are you scared?”
My heart was beating faster than it ever had before. “Ares, you can’t come in there with me.”
He sighed. “Oh, I see. I was raised better. I’m sorry.”
I hurried into the bathroom and showered quickly. I wrapped myself in a towel and peeked my head out the door. “Can one of you bring my bag?”
Koda started towards the door with the bag, but Ares took it from him and handed it to me. Koda stuck his tongue out at Ares behind his back making me giggle. Ares turned around, but Koda sucked his tongue back in and winked at me. I quickly changed into my bathing suit and turned on the giant tub and its jets. I walked back to the bathroom door and opened it before hopping into the large tub. A few moments later Ares stuck his head inside then smiled. “You know that is a tub, right?”
I shrugged. “It looks and feels like a spa to me. Plus it’s big enough to fit me and at least three other people.” He walked in and sat on the edge of the tub trailing his hand in the bubbling water. I swallowed the nervousness I was feeling and asked, “Would you like to join me?”
He smiled at me and then disappeared from the bathroom. I heard low quick whispers and then he was back in the bathroom wearing a pair of swimming shorts. I stared at his muscular body and couldn’t help the reaction of my lower body. I sat up straighter as he climbed into the spa. He frowned. “Isn’t this a little hot for you?”
I shook my head. “No, but if it’s too hot for you I can turn it down.” I reached behind me to the complicated controls and hit the down arrow to decrease the temperature. Sometimes modern technology is a Godsend.
He smiled at me. “You look great in that bikini.”
I blushed and looked down at the water. “Thanks.” I started swirling the water with my hands and felt the water move as he shifted across the tub.
He sat down beside me and whispered, “I know this is all new to you and I’ll try to be as well behaved as I can.”
I turned to him and saw the desire in his eyes. I suddenly reached up and kissed him on the lips. He kissed me back and heat exploded between us. He wound his hand through my thick hair and gripped the back of my neck pulling me against him. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and ran my hand through his hair. His hair was as thick as mine. Our kiss grew until he pulled back to gasp for air. I smiled at him and ran my hand across his sculpted chest. He flexed his chest, but it didn’t appear to be on purpose, simply a reaction to my touch. I leaned forward and kissed his lips again and he stayed perfectly still. He slowly released his grip on my hair and slid his hand away from my neck to rest beside him in the water. I could see the need in his face and could tell just how much he was holding back by the stiff posture and the white of his knuckles as he made a fist. I hadn’t ever been with a boy or man before and didn’t know what to do or not do. I kissed his cheek then his lips and climbed off of him to sit beside him. He exhaled and I realized that he had been holding his breath. I stared at the water and wondered what he thought of me and my moments of hormonal insanity.
He stayed very still for a few minutes then turned to me. His eyes blazed with power and he asked deadpan, “Why did you stop?”
I smiled at him. “You were holding your breath and I didn’t want you to die.”
He smiled. “With you touching me I would fight death to the end.
I frowned at him. “You can’t die.”
His smile faded and he wrapped his arms around me holding me against him. “I won’t die as long as I have you.”
I sniffed and realized I was crying. “You’re all I have.”
Someone cleared their throat and Ares and I turned around slowly, with Ares keeping his arm around my shoulder the entire turn. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, but that only spread the water from my hand on to my face. Koda and Matt stood in the doorway smiling. Koda spoke with a soft voice that had an Irish lilt to it. “You have more than Ares. You have us too. We’re pack now and if Ares leaves or dies we will still be with you.”
I stared at him in shock, realizing that he was opening himself up to me. I waved at him to come closer and Matt and Koda jumped into the tub still wearing their jeans and t-shirts. Water splashed over the sides of the tub and on to the floor. I moved forward and hugged them both at the same time. They inhaled and I did too, taking time to memorize the smell of my pack. They both smelled like the forest and underneath lingered a scent of crisp clean grass. Koda and Matt hugged me for a while then let go and pushed me back towards Ares. Ares put his arm around my waist and squeezed me against him. “See Artemis, you aren’t alone anymore and you won’t ever be again.”
I started to cry again and they all held me in the center of them in a group hug. My wolf swirled inside me and reached out with some invisible force to touch each of their wolves. I could see all of their wolves staring at me and I wasn’t afraid. These wolves won’t hurt me. These wolves are my pack and they will do everything to protect me and keep me happy. I realized it was my wolf’s thinking and frowned at her, but she was too happy to pay attention to my feelings. We sat in our huddle for a few minutes longer as my tears faded and then everyone got out. I dried off then sighed at my now wet bag on the floor. I started to pull everything out when something cold fell into my hand then began burning. It felt like acid burning my skin, but it was solid, not liquid. I dropped to my knees and screamed in pain trying to pull my hand out.
Ares, Koda and Matt surrounded me and started growling. Ares reached towards the bag, but jerked his hand back at the last second. “Victor!” Ares yelled.
Victor appeared over me and hissed, flashing his fangs. The others moved back a ways to give him room. Victor reached down and pulled the bag off exposing my hand and what was attached to it. I stared at the silver photo frame with a picture of a tall slender woman with purple eyes and wondered how it had gotten into my bag. Victor started to pull the frame from my hand, but it was burned into the skin and hurt like hell. Ares growled and Victor frowned. He spoke in soothing tones to the wolves surrounding me, “I have to get it out of her hand before this enters her blood and kills her.”
Ares nodded his head, but was still snarling at Victor. Koda had dropped down and was cradling my head in his lap. Apparently I had fainted at some point. Matt held my other hand as Victor yanked the frame from my hand. I screamed and blacked out.
~~~~
Chapter Nine
I woke up surrounded by heat and tried to kick the blankets off, but kicked empty air. I was fully clothed when I had previously been in a bikini. I turned my head and realized I was surrounded by Koda on my right, Ares on my left and Matt at my feet. I started to sit up when searing pain made me whimper and stare at my bandaged hand. All three men sat up at once and stared at me. They were all wearing blue jeans and no shirts, making me look from one muscled chest to another. Ares stroked my face and frowned. “You’re sweating.”
I nodded my head. “It’s too hot.”
He gave a single quick nod and Matt and Koda climbed off of the bed, letting a cool wave of air hit me. I inhaled and then coughed, nearly gagging. “What is that smell?”
Ares stroked my cheek. “Your burnt flesh.”
I groaned as I remembered the picture frame. “I didn’t even pack that. I’m guessing it was silver and that’s why it burned me?”
Ares nodded his head. “Silver is our weakness. I’d like to know how it got into your bag.”
I frowned. “I
don’t know, but I think it was a picture of my mom. Can I see it?”
Ares shook his head. “Victor had to destroy it.”
“What?!” I gasped. “He couldn’t have just taken the picture out and then destroyed the frame?”
Victor spoke from behind me, “I did not have time. Your pack’s instinct to protect you was on overload. They might have attacked me if I took too long.”
I whimpered. “I didn’t even get a good look at her. I only remember fragmented memories. Enough to know that I look like her.”
Victor sat one hip on the edge of the bed beside me. He was wearing a pair of black slacks and a dark blue button up shirt that looked like silk. He smiled. “I am sorry that I did not think about what you would have liked. I just wanted to get it away so I didn’t have to fight your pack.”
I nodded my head and turned my gauze wrapped hand around. “Thank you.”
Ares asked, “Why would Darren have had a silver frame anyway? He wouldn’t have been able to hold it.”
I smiled. “It was my mom’s frame.”
“How do you know that?” asked Ares.
“Dad said he only had one thing of hers and never let me see it, so I’m guessing the picture frame was it,” I responded quietly.
Ares whispered, “I’m sorry we didn’t keep the picture for you.”
I shrugged. “It’s alright.” I felt something tingling on my hand under the gauze and squeaked like a scared mouse. “What the hell?” I started unwrapping my hand and Ares and Victor tried to stop me. Once I had it unwrapped I stared in shock at the mutilated skin that used to be my hand. The tingling increased and the burned skin shed off on to the floor as a new layer of skin replaced the old. “What happened?” I asked in shock.
Ares smiled. “Interesting.”
Victor said, “It must be because of her other…” Ares growled, stopping him from speaking further. Victor bowed his head and continued, “It must be from her mother. Perhaps silver is not a permanent problem for our little Goddess.”
Song of The Moon Artemis Lupine Page 22
