Morning came soon after I'd finally fallen back to sleep, too soon for my liking. I heard the birds slowly beginning to chirp, one by one they joined in until an entire chorus was waiting outside. The sunlight turned from dark golden hues to lighter yellows, and the smell of the dew on every single blade of grass gently came on the breeze. I pulled the covers over my head with a groan. Quite frankly I didn't want to get up today. I was still stiff from where I'd been stabbed, and shot with the arrow. I growled to myself, that Alpha was first on my list.
I shut my eyes, snuggling deeper into the bed. If I didn't get up, it'd be longer before I could see Ares, for real again. I wanted to wander off to that cave so badly. Who knew if he'd actually be there. Was he actually in his realm when I was, or did my presence summon him there. Or did his physical body go limp like mine while we were there. I rolled my eyes, I could ask Skade, but she probably would turn my questions down. With a final huff, I rolled out of bed.
Today we would travel home, it wouldn't be too long of a walk, but I knew Skade would want to teach me during that time. My brain was full of questions, do I pick a new king so I can forget this life, and be a lone wolf, do I stay and hope they all fall in line. Callisto came to the door, ready to gather my bags, and I. We walked in silence until we were met by Skade, and my Betas. Nikolaos gave me a smile, he had always had a soft spot for me. Once, he had come to my rescue just before Ambrus managed to strangle me into passing out. He'd taken a beating from Ambrus, just to save me. Elias on the other hand, had taken no sides. Neither were mated, and I wondered if they'd ever be.
"My Queen," they both dipped their heads in unison.
"Hello boys," I smiled and ran a finger across Nikolaos' chest as I walked by, "you'll have to inform me of any names that stood up to challenge me last night, from this pack."
"Yes, my Queen," they both spoke again.
Every one was gathered, and we began the walk home, Skade had made her way to my side.
"Lesson one, are you ready?"
"Just get to the point Skade," I watched my steps as we got closer to the woods, making sure I didn't trip on a tree root.
"Your impatience will not serve you well, child," she scolded. My head snapped to look at her, her face was stern.
"I know someone who quite likes my attitude."
"This lesson is about you, not him," Skade continued, an annoyed tone in her voice now. "You're a Moon Queen, Ambrus is the reason that opportunity presented itself. He was your true mate." She inhaled, knowing his name was a touchy subject, "he deserved what he got, but so did you. Those wolves in your head, they were Moon Queens before you. You're very powerful, Nike."
"Yes, you've both already told me that. Except when he said it, he mentioned that I need to understand who they are or I'll only get to see him in my dreams."
"Nikolaos," Skade paused as he turned around, "carry your queen."
I was swooped up into his arms and Skade pressed the heel of her hand to my head. My world turned black and I thought she was sending me back to Ares, but instead the background was filled with screams, and a fire was raging. It was Enyo, her entire village burning in the forest. I was her, seeing through her eyes, feeling her pain. She was heart broken, walking around watching the flames.
I looked down, my hands were blood soaked and I knew it was my mate's blood. I was wearing a white dress, what was left of it was covered in dirt and blood. My legs were scraped, and I stumbled around.
"You can't run from me, Little Wolf.."
His voice echoed in my head, and it erupted a new kind of fear in my chest. I was searching around frantically, but I couldn't find him, I stumbled again, this time falling to the ground. I winced from the pain, and tried to get back on my feet. My breaths increased in pace with panic, and I cried. I started to run, into the forest, everyone was already dead. I looked back, but as soon as I turned back around, there he was.
I fell to my knees, not holding in any of my the terrified cries. Not holding my breath. He slowly stalked towards me, all I could do was watch. He kneeled down on one knee in front of me, and placed a hand on my face.
"Its okay Little Wolf," he cooed at me. Ares lifted my chin with his finger, the blood on his hand smearing across my cheek. He pressed his lips on mine, and for a moment I thought he'd had a change of heart. My heart rate sped up, faster than I'd ever heard it. He pulled his head away from me, and stood, pulling me up with him. Just like that we vanished into his shadow, reappearing at our spot in front of the river. Tears continued streaming down my face, and he held me against his bare chest.
"Look at the reflection, Enyo."
I opened my eyes, all I could see were his gorgeous red irises. His hand was wrapped around my throat, and he leaned down to kiss the right side of my neck, "you let him take something from me," his lips were warm on my skin.
I sniffled, "I'm sorry, Ares.." I reached up and grabbed his wrist, "but I needed his mark, you don't understand.."
"No, Little Wolf, I could have given you that, you only needed him to activate those other Queens in that head of yours." He pulled my hair and rested it over my right shoulder, showing off the fresh wound of my mark, "but this," he inhaled, his canines scraping over my skin, causing me to wince, "this was mine to give."
I nodded, "I'm sorry.." my voice was coming out as a raspy whisper as his hand clamped on my throat harder. I tried wrapping my fingers around his, to fight against him, but he was much stronger than me.
"We were going to watch the world burn," he was starting to speak through a clenched jaw and I started getting light headed, running out of breath. He turned me around and I gasped for as much as air as I could take in.
"Please..." I begged him, "we still can, Ares you don't understand.."
He pressed his lips on mine, "I wish I could believe you, Enyo." In a swift moment his claws extended and his fist shoved up into my chest. I made a sound I'd never heard before, more pain than I'd ever felt erupting, "I'll see you again, and next time, you won't betray me." I coughed, drowning in my blood. He dropped me, and I hit the ground with a hard thud, my world fading to black as I watched him walk into his shadow and disappear.
I jolted awake, gasping for air, Nikolaos and Skade were in my room. We were already home again. Nikolaos jumped and turned to me instantly, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, "my Queen, welcome back."
"He killed her," I was trying to catch my breath, Skade only nodded, "but he told me to get marked, and I don't understand.."
"Well, child, Ares has his ways. He and I have had a very, very long time to study Moon Queens, we know more now than we did then, than HE did then."
"So Enyo was right, she needed that mark..."
"Theoretically, yes she was right, but so was he, he proved that point with you. He tested his own theory with you. He made a blood pact with you, assuming that his blood in your system, would tie you to him, and Ambrus would die when marking you. He was exactly right. You wanted Ambrus gone so bad, you were already searching for Ares, but we were watching you too." I raised a brow at her, but she continued, "Ares could have marked you too, but now that you're already fated to him, we have another theory, that his mark can take over Ambrus' later on, IF, that is what you want, after all, he is quite the violent type."
"That doesn't prove that Enyo didn't need her mate's mark," I sassed back.
"Not quite, but very very close.."
"No, if he wants to prove that point, he should have killed Ambrus and not let him mark me." I shook my head, and rolled my eyes, "leave me, thats enough for today. I'm tired."
Skade nodded, and her and Nikolaos both moved to leave.
"Nikolaos," he paused and turned to me, "stay with me?"
"My Queen?"
"Stay.." I kneeled on the bed, "with me.."
He cocked an eyebrow with a grin, but didn't hesitate, only nodded.