Koda reached around me, making me jump and squeal. He laughed. “Sorry, I figured you had heard the water turn off.”
“I was focusing on the makeup and what I should use,” I said as my heart calmed down.
He held up the black eyeliner that he’d grabbed. “This around the bottom of your eyes and…” He grabbed white eyeshadow and black mascara. “These. Go light, but with just these things you’ll look great.”
He moved away from me and started brushing his teeth in the sink next to me. “You have a great voice,” I said to him as I applied the eyeshadow.
Koda smiled with toothpaste filling his mouth. “Thank you.”
I giggled at him and finished with the makeup. My purple eyes stood out drastically with the makeup on and with the white dress below I looked amazing. Was I conceited? “Koda? Do you think it’s conceited for me to think I look amazing now?”
Koda shook his head. “No, just truthful. Sidhe women are generally beautiful anyways.”
I heard the front door open and ran towards the closet. “Shoes!”
Koda followed me in and quickly got dressed in a pair of black slacks and a deep blue button up shirt. “Don’t wear the shoes,” he said quickly and quietly, “I forgot that we were going to dinner with the town. We don’t wear shoes to events that the King and Queen are attending.”
“Why not?” I asked curiously.
“Werewolves need to be able to change at any time and shoes are often destroyed in a change because it takes too long to take them off.”
Ares and Matt were walking up the stairs, so I tossed the shoes back in the cabinet and adjusted my dress. Koda whispered, “You look great. Stop worrying.”
Ares spoke from the bedroom doorway. “I’m going to change before we go, Achilles. We’ll be down after I’m ready.” I hid in the cubby area where my cabinets were. Ares walked into the closet and started rummaging around in the front area. “Why are you hiding, Artemis?”
“I’m waiting until you’re ready before I let you see me,” I said.
Ares began speaking to Koda. “Darius wants to speed the process up. He wants it to be finished in six months.”
Koda groaned. “That’s crazy. I mean it’s not like it can’t be done, but why? Why not just let the chaos linger for a while?”
“I need to do my hair,” Ares said before walking away.
Matt peeked his head around the corner making me jump since he hadn’t made a noise. “Wow, you look great.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
Koda cleared his throat. “Matt, shouldn’t you be getting changed?”
Matt sighed and turned around. “Alright.” Matt was acting different. I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly it was, but something wasn’t right.
Ares spoke from nearby, “Artemis? Are you ready?”
I smoothed my dress down, checked the placement of my necklace and took a deep cleansing breath. “Yes.” My heart was beating faster than it should have, but I tried to keep the smile on my face to show I wasn’t that worried.
Ares stood outside of the closet in a pair of black slacks and a black button up shirt. His eyes sparkled like diamonds, catching my attention. “It looks better on you than I would have imagined,” he said softly.
“You look amazing, Ares.” I managed to say between the back flips the butterflies were doing in my stomach.
Ares slipped his hand in mine and kissed me on the lips. “You’re breathtaking.”
I inhaled his scent and the butterflies released. “Thank you.”
Koda stepped out of the closet with his arms spread. “What about me?” Ares shook his head and I rolled my eyes at him. Koda twirled in a circle. “So?”
“You look great, Koda,” I said as I tried not to laugh.
Koda frowned. “Ares is amazing and I’m only great? Now you’ve hurt my feelings.”
Matt stepped out of the closet in a pair of dark blue slacks and a white button up shirt. “We better hurry or they’ll eat without us.”
Ares squeezed my hand. “Let’s go. I can’t wait for you to meet my mother.”
I groaned. “Great, the mother-in-law.”
Ares kissed my cheek. “She’ll love you.”
Koda and Matt were discussing female names as we walked down the stairs, so I chose to ignore them. Achilles stood by the front door, leaning against it. He was wearing a black suit that hugged the curves of his body. The sight of him made me gasp, which made Ares growl, which made me blush.
Achilles frowned at Ares, but simply asked, “Are you all ready to go?”
Matt growled. “He’s coming?”
Ares growled at Matt and turned to face him. “Be kind to our guest, Matthew. You forget your place and the fact that Achilles is Prince of the Sidhe.”
Matt stopped growling, but his face still showed his anger. “The sidhe’s ranks have nothing to do with me.”
Achilles folded his arms across his chest. “You were always the most volatile of the three, especially towards my kind.”
Matt smiled. “Thank you.”
“Enough,” Ares barked. “Let’s go.”
Achilles opened the door and walked out first. Ares followed with me by his side and Matt and Koda brought up the rear. Ares stayed silent as we walked through the town. I looked around and noticed how deserted it was. “Where is everyone?” I asked.
“They’re all gathered at the dining hall,” Ares said without looking at me.
“Does everyone always go to the dining hall together?” I asked.
Achilles answered before Ares could. “No, they’re all gathered to see the return of the Prince and to see his mate. Ares had quite a reputation with the females so I’m sure they’re all dying to see who he finally chose.”
“Oh. So, I’m going to have to deal with irate women? Again?” I asked quietly.
Ares pulled my hand up and kissed the back of it. “Just remember, that you’re the one that has my heart.”
I looked down at the diamond necklace and smiled. “Right.”
Achilles stopped in front of a large concrete building, the only concrete building in the entire town. I could see the outer wall of a castle a mile or so away. “They have a castle?”
Ares nodded his head. “The King and Queen live in the castle.”
“Wow,” I said just before the doors were pushed open. Achilles stepped to the side, allowing Ares and I to walk inside. The room was filled with wooden tables and reminded me of a medieval movie I’d watched where everyone had gathered in the hall to eat, just before being slaughtered by a grotesque creature. All eyes turned to me and the tension in the room quadrupled.
Darius stood up from his seat at the front of the room. “Greetings! Everyone, please welcome back your Prince, Ares, and his mate, Artemis!”
Most of the crowd clapped, but I could see at least four women glaring at me. This was going to be wonderful, I could tell. Ares walked up the center aisle and bowed to Darius. I curtsied as low as I could, keeping my head down. Ares stood up and I matched his movements. “Greetings, King Darius. It’s good to be home. My pack brothers Matt and Koda have come with me as well, but also my guest Prince Achilles of the Sidhe.” Ares was smiling as he spoke, but as he said Achilles’ name, his lips thinned.
Darius nodded his head. “Greetings, Prince Achilles and welcome.” Why was he suddenly so nice? Was it just because he was in front of the rest of the pack?
Ares looked around. “Where is the Queen? I was hoping she would be here.”
Darius opened his mouth, but a woman spoke from the farthest corner of the building. “I’m here, good Prince. I’m here.”
I watched the woman walk towards Darius. She was older, she looked to be about forty, which made me wonder how old she really was. Her gray hair was braided nicely against her back and her face looked familiar. Of course! She was Ares, Koda and Matt’s mother! The Queen kissed Darius’ cheek before walking towards Ares and me. Her presence made me bow my head in submission. She
was definitely an alpha female.
“Ares, my son,” she said just before wrapping her arms around his shoulders. I released his hand and took a step away from him to give her room.
“Hello, Mother,” Ares said lovingly. “I’d like you to meet my mate.”
She gasped. “So, the rumors were true! You did take a mate!” She stepped towards me and then started walking around me. She stopped in front of me again. “Look at me. I will not harm you, daughter-in-law.” I looked up slowly and smiled at her. She stared at my face for a moment before gasping and turning on Ares. “Ares! Why?! How?!”
Ares frowned at her. “She’s my passt genau.”
The room was filled with gasps and loud discussions. I hadn’t realized until then that while Ares and his mother were talking no one else in the entire building had been.
Darius raised his arms and the talking stopped. The Queen looked at me again. “Who are your parents?”
“Darren is my father, but I do not know my mother’s name,” I said softly as I tried to hide my face from her. Did she think I was ugly? Or was I just not good enough for her son?
“What do you mean you don’t know who your mother is?” She demanded.
“My mother left us when I was five. I never knew her name and my father refused to speak of her to me.”
“Then how did he explain your purple eyes?” she demanded. She was angry with me about something, but I hadn’t done anything, had I?
Ares took my hand and pulled me so that I was standing next to him again. “That, Mother, is something that I have already discussed with King Darius. If you would like to hear her tale, I’d prefer it be done in private.” He was angry too. What had I done to upset them?
The Queen smoothed down her dress and turned her head. “Very well.” She walked past me to Matt and Koda. “Matthew. Koda. My sons.”
Ares released my hand to wrap his arm around my waist. “She was just caught off guard by your eyes, Artemis. It’s alright,” he whispered.
I nodded my head numbly as he led me towards a table at the front of the building. Two thirds of the women in the building glared at me as I walked with Ares. It was starting out to be a wonderful night. Darius clapped his hands. “Come now, let’s eat.”
~~~
Chapter Three
Ares pulled me down next to him on a wooden bench and kissed my cheek. “It’s alright, Sunshine.”
A woman a few rows back snickered softly, but still loud enough for me to hear. “He used to call me ‘Sunshine’.”
I growled softly and Ares whispered, “They’re just trying to get a rise out of you. Ignore them.”
Koda and Matt sat down at a table behind us and women instantly surrounded them. The sight of the women flirting with them set me on edge. Achilles sat down across from me and frowned. “Why are you jealous?”
His presence made me relax and look at him. “What?”
“You’re jealous of Koda and Matt, why?” He asked.
Ares looked at me curiously as I answered. “It’s not jealousy. I just…I don’t want to add another person to our pack yet. I just got here and I’m finally settling in. I don’t want a female coming in and trying to fight me all of the time.”
Ares smiled. “You don’t have to worry, Artemis. Koda and Matt aren’t allowed mates.”
I blinked twice in confusion. “Why not?”
“We travel around a lot and as my guards, they need to be focused on me. If they both had a mate then their attention would be focused on her, instead of me.”
“That’s not fair,” I said to him.
Ares shrugged. “They agreed to it. It’s not like I just told them that’s how it was and they didn’t have a choice.”
Men in tuxedos started walking out of a back door carrying large trays of meat. The men set the meat on each table and then quickly retreated back to the door they had come through. I inhaled and turned to Ares. “Humans? You have humans working for you?”
Ares nodded his head as he bit into a piece of steak. “They work for us, get paid well and if they want to, we’ll turn them.”
Ares set a large steak on my plate. I looked at it for a moment and then started eating. It was a little overcooked for my taste, but it was still delicious. I took a drink from the cup in front of me and nearly gagged. “What is this?” I asked quietly.
“It’s wine,” Achilles answered, “flown here from the vampires’ winery in France.”
I sniffed the drink. “I can’t get drunk off of this, right?”
Ares shook his head. “Not unless you drink three or more bottles.”
The girls around Matt and Koda were still giggling loudly and starting to get on my nerves. “Ares, I need to use the restroom,” I whispered to him. I needed to get away from the women or I’d lose the control I had over my wolf.
He turned around to face behind him. “Koda.”
Koda looked up from his plate and then quickly hurried from his table to crouch behind us. “Yes?”
“Artemis needs to use the restroom. You’re her guard now, remember?” Ares said softly.
Koda winked. “Right. Come on, Sweetheart.” Koda stood up and started walking towards the door the humans had used. I kissed Ares cheek before following Koda towards the door. “What’s wrong?” Koda asked once we were away from everyone else.
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
He rolled his eyes. “I can sense your irritation and worry. If you’re worried about the women, you really shouldn’t…”
I interrupted him. “I don’t want to talk about it right now, please.”
He nodded his head and pushed open the door. It led into a hallway, lighted with torches. He pushed open the third door on our right and waved me in. “Lady’s room.”
I walked inside and he closed the door, with him on the outside. At least he thought I was capable of using the restroom alone. I pushed open the first stall door and smiled. Indoor plumbing! Thank goodness the werewolves weren’t completely medieval.
After using the restroom I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I looked tired and felt tired. The stress of everything was beginning to weigh on me. Another stall door opened and an attractive red haired woman walked out of the stall. She stopped moving when she saw me and growled. “You!”
I looked around the bathroom before looking back at her. “Me?”
She snarled. “Why did he choose you? What makes you better than the rest of us?”
I frowned. “He didn’t pick me. I’m his match. Plus, I never said I was better than you.”
She jumped towards me and claws extended from where her fingernails used to be. I jumped sideways and slammed my back against the wall. “I don’t want to fight you!” I yelled as she came at me again.
She was swinging wildly and using only her claws. “I’ll kill you and then he’ll take me!” She yelled.
Koda threw open the door and stared at us in shock for a moment as the woman crouched to jump at me. He grabbed her around the waist and tossed her into one of the stalls. She hit her head against the back wall hard, stunning her. He rushed over to me and started running his hands over my face and shoulders. “Did she hurt you?”
I shook my head and batted his hands away. “I’m fine. She didn’t touch me.”
Koda turned to the woman who was holding her head in her hands and leaning against the wall of the stall he had thrown her into. “Attacking the Prince’s mate without challenge is illegal. Go visit the King after tonight’s festivities,” He said through clenched teeth.
The woman nodded her head and began sobbing. Koda led me out of the bathroom and down the hallway. “I’m sorry, Artemis. I should have stayed with you.”
I shook my head. “Nothing happened. I can take care of myself.”
“I’m your guard, Artemis. It’s my job to protect you,” he said angrily.
I placed my hand on his arm, making him stop just before the door that led out to the main room. “Don’t stress yourself over
me. I can take care of myself. Besides, everyone dies some time. I don’t want you blaming yourself if something out of your control happens.”
He wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said seriously. Apparently he wasn’t willing to listen to reason.
He released me and pushed open the door. I stepped out into the main room and stared at the women surrounding Ares. One woman in a short skirt was sitting beside him, running her hand along his arm. My lip rose in a snarl and I started to rush towards him. Koda grabbed my arm, stopping me. “Artemis, calm down.”
Ares looked away from the women and towards me. His smile disappeared when he saw my face. I pulled against Koda’s hold, but he held tight. “Let me go,” I growled.
Koda shook his head. “Artemis, they aren’t doing anything. They’re just…”
“Flirting,” I said angrily.
The women noticed Ares’ was looking away and followed his gaze. I snarled at them and they all smiled. I pulled out of Koda’s grip and walked towards the women, fuming. Ares stood up and one of the women ran her hand down his chest. “Don’t go. We were just starting to get back into the hang of things with you.”
“Don’t touch my mate!” I yelled at her.
“What are you going to do about it?” she asked with a smug smile on her face.
My hands started to heat up and my body began glowing. “I swear if you touch him again, I’ll rip your still beating heart from your chest.”
The smile left her face and her hand dropped away from Ares. Ares rushed over to me and a wave of fire knocked me backwards. “Calm down.” My body stopped glowing and my hands cooled. Ares reached out towards me and I took a step back, away from him. He frowned. “Artemis…”
One of the women spoke seductively. “Come on, Ares. Forget about that little girl and come play with us.”
My anger was feeding the wolf in me and I felt her eagerness to tear the girl apart with our claws. My body started to shudder and Ares grabbed my arm. “No.”
Kiss of a Star Artemis Lupine Page 3
