Page 81 of Incubus

There were more than a few “oh, gods” from my titillated sisters at this remark.

“But Ares?”

Apollo’s gaze darkened, and his fists clenched. In that moment, he looked every bit the god, fearsome and powerful. “He won’t touch you.” He gave a slight shake to his right hand, as if remembering a pain in his knuckles. I only hoped it was from beating Ares senseless. “He knows if he touches one hair on your head, it will be war.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise—Apollo was ready to go to war over me? A war among the gods was no small thing, and the lives of scores of immortals would hang in the balance if the likes of Ares and Apollo were to battle for supremacy.

Before I could question it, Apollo’s demeanor lightened once again, and he exuded that same schoolboy charm.

“I see my work here is done, Lilah de Apollo.” he stretched, giving the maidens a clear view of his muscled chest and arms. “Guess I’ll be seeing you at Pergamos—my city—when you get all healed up. We’ve got business.” He strolled away through the whispering masses.

After the spectacle of my new master was gone, I turned again to Elena. “Roth?”

“I can’t tell you much, only that he—”

A horn sounded. Artemis was calling her maidens to the arena.

“We must go.” Elena threw my arm over her shoulder. Iphi took my other side and pulled me to my feet.

Before I could get another word in, my sisters hustled me into the arena, placing me before Artemis’s dais. I knew the spot well—over a hundred years ago I had been exiled while standing on this very piece of ground.

I stood on my own, thanking Elena for her help. Though I was weak, I would meet the goddess as a true warrior, even though I now served another.

I didn’t know what to expect, but I certainly didn’t foresee what happened next. Artemis appeared on her throne. Next to her, with his arm entwined with the goddess’s, stood the vampire Paris.

A collective gasp shot through the crowd. A male in Artemis’s inner sanctum, and a vampire at that. The rattle of blades and the tightening of bowstrings caused a clatter that died away into a tense silence. The maidens sensed a threat in Paris, and they weren’t about to let him survive an affront to the goddess.

Artemis raised a hand and gracefully motioned for the warriors to lower their weapons. “Paris is welcome here as my guest. And he will be accorded every honor you offer me.”

Artemis rubbed a hand on Paris’s arm, stroking what was clearly her prize. Though Artemis was beautiful and fierce, I had never seen the goddess look like a lover. But there she stood, dressed not in her green tunic but rather wearing a flowing white dress in the style of old Hollywood. Paris was dressed in black, which set off his bad-boy reputation perfectly.

His gaze rested on me, and I could detect the warning that lay within his eyes. It seemed Paris hadn’t let Artemis in on the little lap dance he’d tricked me into giving him. And if I were to share that information? Artemis would likely gut Paris right here and now. But I thought better of it. After all, I’d been fooled by a total cad. Now it was Artemis’s turn.

To quell the muffled whispering of the crowd, Artemis continued, “Paris and I have been an item for quite a while, but I just didn’t know how to tell you all.”

She sounded like a triumphant schoolgirl who’d finally won the love of the football hero. Only I knew she’d been fooled by the tricks of an old pro.

The entire thing seemed so implausible as to be hilarious—at least until I remembered the questions Paris had been asking me when I was under his thrall. He’d wanted to know about Artemis and the Forgotten Forest. And now I knew why. He had been trying to worm his way back into Artemis’s heart, and it worked.

It was odd, though. I couldn’t help but notice Paris glancing at Elena. He did it so surreptitiously only I, standing directly before him, noticed. Interesting.

I didn’t have time to investigate what dark motives were at play. My sudden anger toward the goddess overrode any conscious thought.

“You let me rot in the mortal world for the same sin you’ve been committing with Paris, of all creatures?”

Just hearing my own words echo around the chamber made me burn with wrath. I would never have done this before, never have questioned the goddess I served. But I no longer served her, now did I?

“Answer me!” I ignored the shocked gasp that went up from my sisters. No one had dared challenge Artemis, especially not with her pantheon of warriors surrounding her. But I wasn’t going to let this go. I could not forgive missing my sisters for a century at the whim of the goddess.

“I understand why you’re angry, Lilah.” Artemis adopted a petulant tone and rose to her full height. “But I did give you your powers back when Ares had you. Remember? So don’t act like I’ve done nothing for you. I am your mother, after all.”

“My mother lived and died in Killdeer Hollow. All you did was keep me here in perpetual servitude.”

“I gave you your immortal life.” Artemis fired back. “And I can take it away.”

“Can you?” I pointed at my neck. “Would you willingly start a war with your brother?”

Artemis seemed to calm a bit, considering my words as she continued to stroke Paris’s arm. A slight smile began at the corner of her perfect lips. “I see I trained you well, Lilah. Another boon from me, your mother. In your heart you know that’s true. Why else spend a century trying to get back in my good graces?”

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