Skin of a Goddess (Goddess Ascension Book 1) (3 page)

Apate follows my eyes. “We really need to go shopping. It does nothing for us to be seen with someone who looks like that more often than not.”

“Girls, try to be on your best behavior,” Nemesis chides us all. “You know why we’re here. If we can’t get this done within the next century, we won’t get any other chances. Focus on the goal, and let me know if you make any progress.”

The Olympians thought they were sending us to be their errand girls. They’re clueless about our real purpose for coming here. One day soon, we won’t need them or anyone else. We’ll be powerful in our own right. Unfortunately, I’m no closer to breaking the boundaries on my magic.

“Until then, let’s enjoy ourselves.” Ana laughs before leading our group down to the singing and drinking.

“Aunt Enyo! Father sent us to make sure you’re doing well,” the daimon Deimos materializes and shouts out from across the crowded room.

His twin, Phobos, is there a half-second later. “It’s true; he was ever so sorry to miss your send-off.”

“It’s so disturbing to hear anyone call Ares ‘father.’ Though, I guess the alternative of ‘daddy’ is really no better,” Apate says with a grimace.

I groan aloud, looking out at the room, where the shifters are watching in avid interest. I suppose it’s not every day that two large, identical men show up out of nowhere. I just wish it wasn’t them. Deimos is pure dread, literally, and Phobos is panic. I guess they’re pretty enough, with short black hair and black eyes rimmed in red.

The only thing is … they’re my brothers. Well, half brothers. They never had much to do with our mother, Aphrodite. Not that I can blame her, but Mother really does get around. I have more siblings then I care to bother remembering. Practically everyone in Olympus is related in some way, so we base relationships more on interests than actual blood. I never really got to know any of them, until I realized they were close with Enyo.

“Really? How is my dear brother?” Enyo smiles at Deimos and Phobos.

“He’s been bored lately. He’s been mortal bound for the last few years, on vacation from Olympus. He’s been heading a biker gang,” Phobos explains.

“Wow,” Apate whispers to me with a laugh. “Is it sad that I can so see that? Complete with ass-less chaps?”

“You really are bad!” A deep voice breathes in both of our ears.

We can’t help but jump.

“Dolos! I should have figured you’d be near. I’ve missed you!” Apate says to her counterpart, the daimon of trickery. “What have you been getting up to? Hopefully you haven’t had too much fun without me.”

“Don’t worry, it’s never a party without you girls.” Dolos smiles at her before winking at me.

Dolos is tall and built with bronze skin, curly blond hair cut at his chin, and big brown eyes. He looks decidedly sweet, like a delicious teddy bear. You can’t help but feel warm and engaged around him, as if you’re basking in the sun. Fortunately, he’s not as good as Apate at hiding the dangerous twinkle in his eyes. Even I’ll admit I’ve given into that twinkle more than once. Granted, that was about four centuries ago. Everyone knows nothing past the last two centuries really counts.

“How have you been, Peitho? Getting into lots of trouble?” Dolos asks me with genuine interest.

“Me? Please, I’m practically on my way to a halo.” I grin. “Any day now the angels will come and suit me up.”

“Earlier, you missed her turn into Goldilocks,” Apate tells him. “It’s always a show stopper. She totally gave everyone a hard-on. Stole the sexy werewolf boy from me! Even has a dragon chasing her tail. No pun intended.”

Dolos’s eyes visibly darken. “Is that so? I’ve only seen her go gold once. It was brilliant, though. We stopped at a tavern after a hard day’s work. There wasn’t much in the way of entertainment, as I’m sure you remember in those days. Anyway, she naturally thought to make her own, as she often does. She got the entire tavern frisky with all that gold of hers. If I remember correctly, it turned into a week-long orgy. There’s even a saying in the siren and merman kingdom. Once you go gold, you’ll always be poled.”

Apate frowns with envy. “Ugh, we never get to do fun stuff like that anymore! I wish I had been there. It sounds simply divine.”

“If by that you mean more than one god, goddess, or supernatural joined in, then you’d be right.” I smile in memory, licking my lips.

“Hey! Ares sent them with ambrosia!” Enyo’s voice chimes in, bringing all of our attention to her, holding up bottles of the drink of the gods and goddesses.

It’s like a beast comes out of me. An alcoholic beast with sharply placed elbows, growling, “Move out of my way, motherfuckers!”

I have a wineglass in my hand that I don’t remember getting when I slink up next to Enyo. She’s holding a bottle of prime ambrosia, and Deimos and Phobos are holding two more each. I look at my full glass of perfectly good human wine and do the only thing I can think of.

“Drink this up, shifter.” I smother a nearby guy with my drink. He gulps and coughs until it’s gone. I turn to Enyo with, “Hit me.”

“Sure thing.” She opens the bottle with a flourish and pours the ruby red liquid into my cup. The sweet, spicy scent that greets me has my mouth watering. “Don’t forget to tell us how it is.”

I sip the wine and can feel the power from it warm my body down to my toes. Groaning aloud, I open my eyes and say, “Delicious.”

“Give us a taste,” Dolos says before turning me to him in a sudden and tight embrace. He slants his lips on top of mine, feeling unbelievably soft and hard at once. His tongue sweeps into my mouth for a thorough and gratifying “taste.”

“Here, have some of your own.” Apate pulls Dolos away to hand him a glass, carrying one for herself in her other hand. “I think Ana has something to tell you, as well. Something about a tiger shifter?”

He dutifully trails away.

Addy has materialized out of nowhere to glare at me, mirroring Apate.

“Peitho, you really must be more careful,” Addy says softly. “I know you don’t mean to be the way you undoubtedly are, but try to cool it a bit.”

“What do you mean?” I ask her.

“This kiss gathered more than just immortal attention. Hunter seems quite, quite taken with you,” Addy says, eyes troubled.

I turn to Apate and raise an eyebrow. She explains more bluntly, “Boy is jonesing for some Peitho, if you catch my drift. If someone else gets it before him, I think his caveman instincts will come to light.”

“You mean he’ll cut a bitch? Me being that bitch?” I ask.

“Great goddess, no! He’ll kill whomever you fuck, and possibly the ones who pay you too much attention, depending on how into you he is,” she explains, as if I’m so funny.

“That’s just not right! I haven’t given him permission to think he owns me, or that he has any right to me at all. I don’t intend to. If there’s anything that guy isn’t, it’s a nice no-strings-attached fuck. Which means I don’t want anything to do with him.” I sniff regally.

Addy raises a brow at Apate. “Okay, new tactic. You may not know much about dragons. Most people don’t, including me. There’s one thing we can all agree on. They’re territorial. If he thinks he has some future claim to you, or is in the process of forming one, he’ll see it as a personal insult if anyone ignores that. In this case, the fault will lie with the men who come after you, since you’re still what he wants.”

“What a damn asshat bastard. Why did he have to go all eighteenth century? Is he going to ask Aphrodite for the great pleasure of courting me, for God’s sake? I don’t want him, and he won’t be getting me, period. It doesn’t get clearer than that,” I say angrily. “I mean, sure, I’d give him a go around, but he seems way too involved already. Damn, the boy is hot, though. I’d love to drizzle chocolate all over his abs, leading downtown with a maraschino cherry left to mark the spot.”

“Let’s just take this away for a moment while we chat,” Apate says, taking the nearly empty wineglass from my hand before I can stop her.

Addy looks at me wide-eyed, mouth hanging open. “Um, are we talking about the same Hunter? Big guy? Dark hair?”

“Right, and yummy scar I could lick right down to his mouth.” I nod with a moan. “And what a mouth.”

Addy makes a gargling sound. Fine, he may not be a traditionally handsome pretty boy, but he’s got dangerous good looks that even I am not immune to.

“So, what’s the problem, then?” Addy finally asks.

“He looks clingy as hell, and he’s a royal. I’m out for the count,” I answer dismissively.

“You are such a snob about slumming it with your patent deadbeats. Goddess forbid you choose someone with a nice family, education, and overall good hygiene.” Apate sighs, and warns, “Just be a little more private about your ‘fun,’ and everything should be fine from now on. No one should get hurt or anything.”

“Okay, what did the big dummy do when he saw Dolos kiss me?” I ask, trying to actually pay attention with a clear and logical mind.

Addy once again shares a look with Apate. “A bit of steam came out of his nose, he broke off a chunk of the table, and Julian dragged him out of the room while he was still staring daggers at you. Other than that, nothing much. He came back into the room about five minutes later, none the worse for wear.”

“Really, all that and you think the boy is going to kill dudes who show an interest in me? Hell, I’ve had a guy cut off his own hand while watching me flirt with someone else, to distract himself from the
inner
pain.”

“Paris, right? That was pretty memorable. Got a big head after that,” Apate agrees fondly.

Addy looks at us in horror. Nymphs are lovers, not fighters. I’m more of a lover than any of my companions, but I’m a fighter too. That can’t be too surprising after what I’ve lived through. Still, the girl looks at us like we have daggers held at her throat. People are so soft these days.

“Just something to think of,” Addy says and nods. “Try to be a bit more careful if you can. Now, where did I leave Eve?”

“Here,” Apate hands me my cup right after she drains it herself. “I think we need refills. Tonight sure is going to be fun. I can’t remember the last time we had so much interspecies intrigue.”

Three glasses of wine, ten horrible songs sung by wolves, and all inhibitions later, I find myself on stage with the seven other girls. Ana and Dysnomia open the song, and we all sing along with the chorus. I gyrate with the others as Lyssa sings the next verse. Apate goes low, shaking her ass at the crowd. To put it lightly, they go apeshit. Ana shimmies to Lyssa as she sings. We all dance and parade on the stage as everyone else watches us. It’s really a shame it isn’t being taped.

I blow Dolos a kiss as we get off the stage.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” a deep voice asks as a hand grabs my arm.

I look up and make out Hunter, though he’s a bit fuzzy around the edges. “What do you want? I’m a little busy.” Luckily, I don’t slur my words too much. Composure is really key in these sorts of situations. Composure and tact—you would never want to hurt any feelings.

“Think you’ve had enough of flaunting yourself around for everyone to see?”

“What the fuck kind of business is it of yours?” I ask, jerking my arm out of his hand, almost falling in the process. Tact, my ass!

He growls low and hard. “What did you think I meant when I said we’d be talking later?”

“Um, that we might talk? If I cared to?” Was that me and my smart mouth?

“I meant that I had an interest. You will value that interest or insult me. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to do that,” he says with forced calm.

I point my finger at his chest. “You listen here! You don’t own me, and we haven’t even talked before. I can do whatever and whomever I wish for as long as I’m here and unattached, you got that? Now, get out of my face!”

I walk away in a huff, which I’m sure would have been more impressive if I didn’t stumble quite poorly along the way. I catch up to Apate, who gives me a sympathetic smile, a full glass of wine, and a group of yummy shifters to flirt with. Oh, what would I do without friends?

Chapter 3

Hunter

All right, to be fair, I’ve always had a slightly impulsive personality. A bit obsessive, even. Okay, a lot obsessive. I get fixated, I claim, I enjoy, and then move on. Being a prince, even the youngest, comes with certain advantages. I always get what I want. I’m a dragon, plus I’m an obsessive freak. Of course I get what I want when I want it.

Well, that and the family is a bit indulgent. I guess they think of me as a loner, and they do what they can to make me happy. I don’t like being around the court and all those people. I’m a terrible diplomat. Last time I was forced to go to court I trampled over the tail of some stupid dragon who was blocking my way to the buffet. I mean, really, who comes between someone and éclairs? So, the family doesn’t mind that I don’t come around too much. I like my cave, treasure, and solitude.

I just need to remind myself that people can’t be treasure. No matter how sparkly and delectable they seem, they are not possessions. Even though I do love shiny things. It’s a common dragon trait. Besides, this one shines more than the finest gold. So many colors!

The first time I saw her I knew she was special. Who couldn’t see that? She’s a fucking goddess. It doesn’t take Christopher Columbus to know I’m in totally uncharted territory as the youngest prince from a long line, and the family embarrassment. Still, she’s so shiny I can easily forget all that. I can easily tell myself I’m fucking awesome and deserve her. Nay, am owed her. She’s been long overdue, really.

We were in a group to go horseback riding together. I came in a little late for the convention, so I hadn’t spotted her before that. Anyway, there she was talking to some little blonde, and all I could do was stare. Her hair was a perfect mixture of ruby, gold, and rich brown. Her eyes glowed like warm amber, large and looking up through her hair seductively, her lips perfectly full and deep red. The most amazing thing by far would be her skin. It’s gold. Not tan, not brown, but burnt gold.

I know I’m sounding like a love-struck sissy, but I’m a collector of treasure. I’ll be damned if she isn’t a gem, especially when she fell. Now, I shouldn’t look back on the moment with pleasure, but her skin darkened and became molten, liquid gold in color. I bet if I got a closer look I’d have seen specks of gold in it. Or if I’d touched it (cue moan) gold dust would have been left on my fingers.

“Fuck.” I drop my head on the table with a definite thud.

“It’s a good thing you have a hard head,” Julian, sitting across from me, says with easy amusement.

I met him when he came as a representative with his family to court. We both suck as diplomats, so it was an instant alliance. His family was proud that he was able to get the “grumpy” prince to hang around with him. My family was glad I didn’t beat the shit out of him when he bothered talking to me. A win-win for all. We’ve stayed in touch ever since.

“Thinking about the girl?” he asks with curiosity.

I guess I can’t fault him that. I’ve never been much of a relationship guy. When the girl starts talking, I begin planning my escape. Though it’s not just girls, it’s people in general … most of the time.

“Her skin is gold,” I say defensively.

“Sure, I’m quite certain all dragon shifters would react the same way. In fact, there’s a griffin here. They like treasure almost as much as you all do. Maybe I’ll ask him if she has any effect,” Julian says clinically.

I growl at him. “It’s not like she needs any help getting attention.”

I can’t help but glare in the direction where she appears to be holding court. Sure, she’s with a few of her goddess friends, not that that’s much of a comfort, but there’s also about a dozen men on the outskirts of the group. They’re obviously waiting for her to just glance their way so they can bask in her glory. Hell, the guy all over her has done more than simply watch her.

“Calm down. It was bad enough when you smoked from their little kiss,” Julian says.

“
Little
kiss? There was definitely tongue,” I rumble. If anyone is tasting those ruby lips, it should be me.

“Oh, man, I forget you’ve never been to the siren kingdom. Just trust me, that was nothing, especially for someone like her,” Julian says.

I’m instantly in his face. “Someone like her?”

“Hunter, she is the goddess of seduction,” Julian finally says with some annoyance.

“It’s persuasion, not seduction,” I deny faithfully.

“Right.”

“Think she noticed when the steam came out?” I ask, suddenly worried. I wouldn’t want her to start to fear me.

“No way, she seemed pretty busy with what she was doing,” Julian says, oh-so helpfully. “Besides, since when do you feel that pesky emotion others like to call shame?”

“Best not to start bad habits now,” I agree. “Still, I guess I overreacted a bit.”

“A bit.” Julian snorts, and we both take a moment to look down at the table, where a nice hunk of wood happens to be missing, coincidentally about the size of my hand. That was the moment Julian decided to drag me from the room to cool it. Luckily, no matter how angry I’ve ever been at him, I’ve never actually been mad enough to hit him. Though if he continues to push me …

“I’m a dragon,” I say defensively.

“Yeah, testosterone overdrive with a steroid complex,” Julian grumbles.

I ignore him to think about the slight but meaningful contact Peitho, whom I secretly call Goldie in my mind, and I have had. I did try to help her when she fell, but that pretty boy wolf bastard got in my way and stole my shine. Literally. She even let him touch her! I can’t help but growl just from the memory. Still, later, when we were eating, she did try to influence my mind. I’m not sure what she was doing, but I’m quite certain she wouldn’t have tried if she didn’t care. A little.

Then, I caught her staring at me earlier in the meeting. I mean, really staring. So much that I looked down to make sure everything was in order, which it was. I’m not used to being looked at like that. She looked at me like … I’m hot. The way girls look at Julian. With all his merman mojo going on, he’s like a playboy to them.

I’m usually looked at in fear because I’m not a tiny guy, or with interest by my kind, as a way to get some political power. Sometimes even with disgust, since I’m the royal grump of the family. Not like she looked at me. Peitho even paid special attention to my scar. Although it didn’t seem to bother her … since she proceeded to lick her lips. I barely manage to suppress a shudder from the memory. She also seemed to like my arms; I flex them a little at the thought. Maybe I should start weightlifting.

All of it put together was enough to give me the courage to talk to her. Even if it was in my head, so others wouldn’t be privy to my possible humiliation. It didn’t go as badly as it could have. She didn’t cower away or look disgusted at my interest. In fact, she seemed a little pissed that I entered her mind. She even yelled at me. It was damn sexy.

“Earth to Hunter?” Julian says in a token bored and exasperated voice.

“Eh?” I ask.

“You’re like a puppy, wanting to mark your territory, and with the attention span of a gnat. I asked if you’re staying here for karaoke.” Julian sighs.

He really is kind of moody.

“Oh, yeah, I’ll, um, probably socialize a bit more,” I tell him, then look from our table of two to the area around us, and the solid five-foot radius that no one has dared cross.

I mean, a couple of girls look moonily at Julian, but they don’t have the balls to come say anything. Which is just as well, since it would only annoy my friend. Julian is a bit shy with the ladies, and their unintelligent flattering of his merman genes does nothing for him.

“You’re really turning into a creepy stalker, you know that?” Julian asks me.

I glance over where Peitho seems to be getting hammered on the good ole nectar of the gods. Would it kill her to wear a bit more? I mean, sure, she looks great, but we’re in public after all. Now, if we were in private, just me and her? She could wear as little as possible. But right now? What would be wrong with a nice sweater?

“I might need another beer.” I say gloomily.

“Oh, great, there’s the sister and her shadow.” Julian sighs, watching as Eve and her good friend Addy saunter over.

“Brother, the point of the convention is to talk to others, not just the people you already know. No offense, Hunter.” Eve spares me a glance.

He glares at her before nodding significantly at Addy.

The person in question chirps up with, “But we’re talking to people we don’t know too, not just each other.”

“I could introduce you to some friends I have here. I even know some of the goddesses,” Eve tells him a bit desperately.

I perk up at that. “Which ones do you know?”

Eve looks at me, and it’s obvious her wheels are turning. “Um, well, I know Enyo, Ana, Apate … you know.”

“That’s it?” I feel decidedly suspicious.

“Eve, silly, you’re forgetting our bestest goddess friend! Peitho is
so
the life of the party at the siren kingdom.” Addy grins as she grabs another tequila shot from a passing waiter.

Eve gives her a sharp stab in the ribs, courtesy of her elbow.

“Funny, you forgot to mention that,” I say with a raised brow.

She shrugs uneasily. “Didn’t seem important.”

“Have you met her before too?” I ask Julian.

He raises a brow at me. “Heh? Me? Surely you jest. I spend as much time away from court as possible. I mean, I’ve heard talk of her from the others. She’s kind of a celebrity to us.”

“You didn’t think to tell me?”

“What would be the point? I’ve only heard about her crazy partying ways. She really fits in back home. That’s basically what we’ve all heard about her and all of her goddess friends.”

I grumble. “That’s not necessarily true. I’ve heard other stories about some of the crazier ones. Like Enyo, or that mad one, Lyssie?”

“That’s Lyssa, and if you think those are the only crazy ones in the bunch, then you have another thing coming. They’re all totally bonkers, and who can blame them? They’ve lived forever and never get in trouble,” Julian points out.

Eve perks up with, “To be fair, they have gotten in trouble before! I mean, they’ve totally had mobs after them, almost burned at the stake, etc.”

“Not to mention jail time,” Addy adds.

“How can they be held in jail? Can’t they do a little zap to human minds and sashay out of there?” I ask, perplexed.

Addy laughs a little and says, “Not mortal jail, silly. Immortal jail! They’ve totally been held there before. Sometimes all together, sometimes apart, but all of them have served time. I think the last offense was drunken teleporting. They’re usually bailed out pretty early. I don’t think any of them have spent any significant time there. A few years … or a decade, tops.”

I look at Julian meaningfully.

“Don’t give me that look, Hunter. I’m still trying to get over the fact that you used the word ‘sashay’ in everyday conversation.”

“Where the hell is their jail?” I finally ask.

“The Underworld holds the immortal jail. They also made a good amount of friends there and did some real estate shopping, so it wasn’t a total loss. Since that, they’ve made friends with the guards. There are rumors that they’re going to have to be kept in the overflow facility in Olympus if they ever get incarcerated again. Maximum security,” Addy says in a confiding whisper.

“Addy, shut up!” Eve groans. “I’m sure they didn’t expect us to tell everyone about that.”

Julian and I raise brows at each other as they bicker.

“Peitho can’t be that bad. She’s not violent like those other ones seem to be,” I protest.

Addy starts giggling drunkenly, hiccups soon joining in. “If you think she isn’t violent, then you obviously don’t know her well. She might be a sexy persuasion goddess, but she’s also gone through how many wars? She’s a fighter just like all of the other ones, even if she doesn’t have extra fighting powers. From what I hear, she’s been knee-deep in shit from more than one war, especially that Helen of Troy business.”

I groan. “What have I gotten myself into?”

“Nothing, so far. You should just forget about her,” Eve suggests.

Easy for her to say. My single-mindedness won’t turn off that easily.

“I mean, the odds aren’t looking so good anyway. Better to cut your losses now.”

I just frown at that, unable to form words from the momentary shock. Like Peitho really has a choice in the matter, at this point. I’m attracted to her, she’s a prime piece of treasure, and I’m a royal dragon. Both of us are caught up in my dragon side, and neither of us really has a hope of getting out.

Julian sighs again. “You’ve talked about him to her, have you? What do you think? Does he have a chance? Or better yet, what does she think?”

Eve looks quite frozen on the spot. “Oh, um,” she sputters, “you know Peitho. She’s a lot of fun and stuff. She’s like the life of the party, any party. But, she’s not really girlfriend material.”

“What does that even mean?” I can’t help but whine-growl. Everyone always says that. Usually it means they’re just not interested.