That night Ares did in fact, visit me in my dreams. I knew it wasn't him, but the dreams felt real enough. I shivered when I thought about the more sensual parts of the dreams. Why was every thought I had, about him. Why wasn't I hurt about Ambrus, why wasn't I ever in love with Ambrus. Mate bonds are supposed to magical. They're supposed to be the only person you have eyes for, you can feel their feelings, sense where they are, you pick out their scent first in any room. Not with Ambrus. I hated him.
Skade had woken me from my slumber, and was now sitting in the corner of the room, writing down a lot of notes in a dark black book. I got up and picked up my comb, my hair was a disaster, I'd been coated in sweat from my dreams. I hadn't changed out of the clothing I was wearing yet, or had time to take a bath. I sighed, and was about to ask a question, but she beat me to it.
"Nike, you made a blood pact with that Alpha, is that something you often do?"
I looked at her while brushing out my long dark hair, "no, Skade. I've never made a blood pact in my life, then I meet Ares, and I've managed to make two."
"How many wolves do you talk to in that head?"
"There are three, plus me."
"Is there a reason you go by your wolf's name, and not a different name?"
"I've always been Nike, are you sure the wolf doesn't have a different name?"
The answer rewarded me with an internal growl from my wolf.
"Sit on the bed child," she motioned to it with the book still in hand, "talk to each of them for me."
Now I raised a brow at her, "you know, for someone that was sent to teach me about who I am," I quoted her from the day before, "you sure are asking me a lot of questions."
"Its research Nike," she scolded, "you're just 21, and you have a lot going on up in that head, I have theories, but I need you to confirm them."
"Aren't you a Seer, can't you just touch me, and look into my life?"
She smiled softly, "technically, yes. However, Ares would disapprove."
My brow furrowed, I was confused, but shrugged anyway, just accepting the answer she gave me.
"I want to see him," I looked at the ground, my cheeks turning rosy.
"I'm sure you could find him, if you asked for guidance," her words shocked me, in a pleasant way. I could find him, if I went back to that cave. Slipping away during the day before the challenge tonight would be a bit risky, it could raise questions from other pack Alphas. I sighed, looking at her, she had a grin on her face, and I rolled my eyes at her.
"Would you like to keep answering my questions instead?" Skade raised a brow at me and I pondered the thought, with a dramatic exhale, I nodded.
"Do the other wolves have names?"
"How'd he die," I answered her question with another question. Skade shut the book she was taking notes in and looked at me, rubbing her head.
"I know, I know, Selene, Peitho, Enyo, and me, Nike. Now can you tell me?"
"It's not my story to tell," and she opened the book again and scribbled some more. I huffed at her, and stood up, "fine, then I want to go find him." Skade nodded to me and closed the book, "lay down then."
"What?"
"Lay back, and close your eyes," she came over to the bedside and motioned for me to lay down.
"Are you sure you aren't just going to kill me?"
"I wouldn't dream of it, but I will help you dream of him."
Everything she said was confusing, but I did as she asked, and laid down. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. Her finger tips were cold on my temples, and she mumbled something to me. It felt like lightning shot out from her fingers and my world went dark.
I was still conscious, but I was no longer laying in my bed. Skade's fingers weren't putting pressure on my skull anymore. My hair was wet, and I realized I was laying in a warm, sticky liquid. It was thick, and smelled like oil. I sat up, and tried looking around, but everywhere I turned, it was dark.
I got to my feet, and there was a chuckle behind me. My head snapped around, and I was met by dark, burning orbs that were embedded in my mind. Though I was looking for him, I still jumped slightly.
"What a pleasant surprise, Little Wolf."
I smiled soft, happy that it was actually Ares' voice echoing in here. I tried taking a step to him, but the thickness of the oil held me in place.
"Why can't I move," I asked, so quietly I was wondering if he even heard me.
"You're stuck unless I allow otherwise, this is my realm, Nike." I gave him my best pout, but I couldn't see a reaction from him. In fact I couldn't see anything other than his eyes.
"How'd you do it," I asked another question, only receiving another chuckle from him.
"You did it, Little Wolf," the baritone of his voice sent shivers down my spine.
"I didn't kill the King," I declined.
"Did you not ask, for my help, to kill the King?" I could tell he raised a brow at me and I smiled.
"I did," I nodded, holding my hands behind my back and twisting gently from side to side.
"Then you killed him," I could tell from his tone that he was smiling.
"Yes, Ares."
In a moment he had closed the gap between us, and cupped my face between his hands. He was gentle, like he was holding a flower. I felt like he towered over my 5'8 frame more than he did the first time I met him.
"What did you say," his eyes flicked back and forth and I thought I could hear a slight arousal in his tone.
"Yes, Ares." I inhaled, contemplating if I should keep toying at him, "I killed the King."
He growled, confirming my my previous thought, "you're fated to me, Little Wolf. My blood, in your system, when he marked you, killed him." He tilted my head away from my marked shoulder, and trailed his other hand down my neck and ran his fingers over the mark.
"Do you know what that means," I shut my eyes, begging my body to relax under his grip, and shook my head. "It means, that you've completed your transition. You're a true Moon Queen, Nike." He let go of my face, and recomposed himself taking a step back from me now, "you're all three Moon Queens before you, and you. You have four Goddesses up in the head, and until you understand who they are, I will only see you in your dreams."
I whimpered, "I want to be with you now though," I rubbed my palm, nearly ashamed I was practically begging him. "I can't stop thinking about you, I don't even know what you truly look like," I didn't stop, "Enyo, something about you, she loves."
"Soon Little Wolf, you will too." He took a step to me again, placing a kiss into the palm he had cut open, and my blood boiled with a burning passion, "I'll see you again, don't disappoint me tonight in the Coliseum."
I gasped for air, suddenly no longer surrounded by darkness. No longer covered in an oily substance. My palm burned and I looked at it, it was healed, but the scar was black.
Skade giggled from her chair in the corner, "he likes you."
"Who are these wolves, he said their goddesses.." I sat up slowly.
"They are, Selene, Goddess of the Moon, the Moon Goddess herself, and now, you are her, in the flesh. Peitho, Goddess of Persuasion and Seduction. Enyo, Goddess of War and Destruction. Nike, yourself, Goddess of Victory."
There was too much to follow there, "I'm sorry, what... I have four goddesses, living inside my head. So, that means, all of my different personalities that Ambrus hated, was actually him, hating a Goddess. I'm a Goddess? Am I immortal?" I gulped, realization hitting me like a train, "Ares, God." My eyes darted back and forth over Skade's facial expressions, "God of War..." I scowled, ashamed of how stupid I felt.
I shuddered in an excited kind of way, a rush of adrenaline coming over me, "we can rule the world."