F I V E

I jumped down from the ledge and wandered back to the center, nobody dared to move again. My eyes connected with the Alpha Female from Lykos' pack. I cocked my head slowly to the side, a small voice inside my head telling me she was my last victim. I stuck a hand out to her, and watched a tear roll down her face. She didn't turn me down as I expected her too, but took a step towards me. Making her way down the stairs now, members from her pack trying to stop her.

She didn't say a word, just came and rested her hand in my palm. I pulled her into me, "don't forget, this is his fault," I snarled to her. I licked the side of her head, "Keres..." and whispered into her ear. The wind picked up, and the vultures all left with annoying squawks. I turned around, letting her fall to the ground, and walked towards the center of the coliseum, so I could exit. Skade met me there, the wooden door to underground already open.

We walked in silence, the entire way up to the tower. Once there, she looked at me, I was still naked, and the blood that covered me was now dry.

"What did you turn them in to... Nike," she questioned.

I smiled, "I'm not sure, it was just a word I knew, a word that popped into my head."

She didn't say anything else. I simply waded into the cold water of the tub, and sank into its depths. Ares' eyes flashed through my brain. The way they'd trail over my nakedness. The way they might be proud of me if he had seen everything today. The way they would flutter shut if I trailed my mouth below his waist. The dark reds were alluring. They were terrifying, but intriguing.

When I ran out of air I popped back out of the water. I stood, but was met with a giant hand on my throat pulling me close to a solid chest. I didn't open my eyes because the water was still streaming down my face, my hands instinctively grabbed for the wrist.

"You're playing a dangerous game, thinking about me like that, Little Wolf."

His breath was hot on my neck and my skin seared from his touch, I only smiled, "how do you know what I think about?" I sassed, the familiar scent of oil filling my nostrils.

"I know everything about you, Nike," he growled a retort, his lips brushing against my ear slightly, "I'm impressed, you managed to bring yourself back to my realm, without Skade." He inhaled my scent deep.

"And what happens if I," I opened my eyes now, and looked directly up to him, "want to keep thinkin-" his hand tightened around my neck and I saw his mouth turn into a slight grin at the fear that flashed through my eyes for a moment.

"I'll turn your thoughts into reality, Little Wolf."

I felt my body become aroused by the words that left his lips, and he released my neck. I nearly gasped for air. Why was I only scared for a moment, but really found his dominance over me arousing?

"Don't leave yet.." I pleaded, giving him my best begging eyes I could manage. I could tell he was about to send me back to my realm.

Before he could say anything I kept speaking, "you told me you were seeking me too, when I found your cave."

He curled one side of his mouth up in amusement. A gentle finger traced my hairline and his eyes followed the movement before they wandered down to my lips.

"I was," he pressed his mouth on mine and I melted into him.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my tub. Disappointment filled a small hole in my chest, he was only half real. I got out of the tub at the sound of a knock on my door, Skade's scent filled my nose and I wrapped myself into a towel. She stared at me in shock when I opened the door.

"Child," she touched the corner of my mouth and smelled the black substance that rubbed on to her thumb, "you.." she rubbed her fingers together, "he kissed you in his realm.."

I nodded, and she continued to look puzzled, "how did you get there?"

"I thought about him," I shrugged.

"He's a powerful God, Nike," she grabbed my hands, "you must be careful."

"I thought you were here to teach me," I sassed.

"I am, I'm just letting you know, to be careful." She gave my hands a squeeze, "you're strong, and there's a reason he's had his eyes on you."

I rolled my eyes, pulling my hands away, "it'd be nice if one of you would elaborate."

"Tomorrow, you start your training," she scowled at me.

I inhaled, that would probably be good for me. I nodded at her, before she turned and left. I pulled a night dress over me, and started to dry my hair with the towel. I sat on the edge of the bed, watching out the window. Some packs chose to leave after the challenge, you could hear them howling and yipping in grief.

I laid in the bed, once content with my hair, and buried myself deep into the blankets. I paid close attention to how the silk felt on my skin, it was smooth, and it wrapped me in warmth. I thought about sleeping next to Ares, though, I was sure there wouldn't be much sleeping.

--

That night, my dreams were filled with the lives of past queens before me. Selene and her mate's curse, Peitho and the trouble she loved to cause. Enyo laying secretly with Ares, even though she adored her mate. Ares promised her glory, riches, but now it made sense as to why she liked him so much when he was around me. Why I was so drawn to him, why I didn't shy away from his hand closing on my throat. She loved him, I craved him.

The dreams were not all happy, each queen went through so much, either during or right after being marked. Selene, survived her mark, but her mate didn't. He went crazy for blood. Peitho, accused of seducing someone else's mate for her benefit, but died during her marking. Enyo, killed by Ares.

Enyo's death was enough to wake me from my nightmares, screaming. Ares had killed her, out of jealousy that she had a mate. I was confused by this, she'd never turn into a Moon Queen without her true mate, but Ares wanted her for himself. My dreams brought me knowledge, I felt as though I knew just about everything about Moon Queens now. Ares wanted Enyo to be at her full power, so they could take the world on together, but she needed to complete her mark in order to do that.

I gulped at the thought of him, he really only wanted me, for the same reasons he wanted Enyo. Death. The thought of him having many women disgusted me, it made my blood boil. I growled to myself, and got out of bed to pace around. It was still the middle of the night. If Ares wanted to sack cities together, fine, so be it, but the God of War would make me a deal too. As Queen, I was going to use this to my advantage. The only cities we would sack would be the ones with Alpha's and other lowly men that abused their women, and refused to join our alliance, and the only women in his life, would be me. I snarled to myself, but it turned to a giggle. I was acting as if he'd already made an offer to me, as if he was truly interested in me. A very small part of me, really thought he might still love Enyo, and if that's true, then he shouldn't have any issues with this deal.

I was already fated to him, his blood ran through mine, and killed my mate.

I shivered, and crawled back into bed, pulling the blankets back over my face. I pondered names of Alpha's that I knew had hit their mates. It wouldn't be tolerated. Alpha's that refused to follow me, would be given a choice, lose their mate to the Keres, or lose their pack to me. There would be war, and I would set the world on fire to rid it of abuse and emotional torment.

I let sleep take me with ease, getting lost in thoughts of Ares.