Chapter 48: The Daughters of Artemis

Maeve

I followed the group of women down into a steep, rocky valley. Myla and Pete flanked me on either side, still in their wolf forms. They were beginning to tire, their breathing heavy as we made it to the base of the valley, the sun beginning to set over the mountains to the west.

We approached a wall of vines growing up the side of a rock wall. The trail we had been walking on ended abruptly at the wall, and I looked around, confused.

But then the women walked into the vines, one by one. I followed them, holding back the vines and entering a long, lightless tunnel.

“What?” I murmured, apprehension tingling across my skin. Light began to trickle in, the tunnel opening up to a valley of green, rolling hills and towering cliff faces. I gasped as I stepped out into the light, seeing the buildings carved into the rocky mountain behind me and the waterfall flowing into a wide creek in which several bridges weaved over the water.

“Welcome to the city of Dianny,” the woman said, her dark eyes creasing into a smile. She hadn’t yet told me her name, but based on the fact that her pack mates were coming up to her, bowing their heads in greeting, I assumed she was their leader, or at least their Luna.

The city was ancient, the buildings built into the mountains were totally carved out of stone and towered high above our heads. All of the facades had carvings on them, symbols etched into red stone. The lower levels were painted in colorful, sweeping murals, telling some story I didn’t understand.

I heard a yelp behind me and turned, watching as Myla and Pete were surrounded and led away.

“Hey!” I called after them, but I lost them in the crowd.

“Don’t worry,” the woman said kindly, “They’re not in danger. We will give them clothes and food, and reunite you when they’re rested.”

“Who are you?” | asked, my tone brass and slightly bitter. I was nervous.

“My name is Una. I’m the Alpha of the Daughters of Artemis.”

“The Alpha?” I looked around at the crowd of people that had begun to gather, ripples of hushed conversation surrounding us.

“Yes,” she laughed, waving her hand in dismissal, “Much like the White Queens, we are led by a female line. Come, I will take you to your mate.”

“He’s not,” I shut my mouth, biting my lip to stop myself from saying anything further.

The crowd parted for us as we walked across the soft grass of what looked to be a market square, and soon we passed under the entrance of one of the tall buildings built into the side of the mountain.

It was cool inside the building. It was lined with archways leading back outside, a cool breeze wafting through the open space and as we turned down a hallway, several children ran past us, squealing in delight as they tossed a ball back and forth.

So many people, I thought, how did I not know about this place?

Una motioned me to follow her as she turned a corner. I walked beneath a large, ornately decorated archway into a courtyard bursting with fruit trees and tropical flowers.

“Troy?”

He looked up from the book on his lap, his eyes blinking as he straightened up, looking at me as though he’d seen a ghost.

short of Una, his eyes narrowing suspiciously on her for a moment before

come,” Una

his mouth to my ear, “Who are these

of Artemis,” I replied, looking at Una. She

impossible,” Troy said, looking Una up

you

the myths,” Una said, her voice

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The Daughters

I asked, and Troy opened his mouth

first, I must say that you are not prisoners here, any of you. You are able to leave whenever you want,

to speak, to say we would be taking our leave now, “It would be wise for you to stay, at least long enough for us to show you what

took a step forward,

the archway and back into the corridor. We followed, glancing at each

level, and she led us to a door. She turned, handing me a

your

dubious, but I unlocked the door, pushing it open to reveal

pale wood furniture. Troy’s mouth dropped open as he

on the doorknob. “Dinner is in a few hours. Please join

Troy and I alone in the incredible

hills and great waterfall that was so close

she say ‘the White Queen’s apartment?” Troy asked as he walked into the bathroom, running his hands over the giant bathtub that had been

the fabric a vivid white and soft to the touch. I pulled off my clothes

can see your nipples,” Troy snorted, coming out of the bathroom

a hanger and held it up to him, noticing the strange clothes he was already wearing for the first time.

to the usual garb he wore on a daily basis, but the people I

happened to

they believed to be Wolfsbane, how they had met a group of men when they awoke, the leader

kind of tea to help the pain in my arm,” he lifted his arm, rotating it, and clenching

a sudden burst of jealousy rippling over my skin. “I thought White Queens

his head, sitting down on the edge of the bed, then laid back against it, closing

of the fable of

“Of course, everyone has.”

fable. These

down and propping myself up on my elbow to

what I’ve gathered in the short time

“How is that possible?”

you all supposedly descended from the Moon

“Yes…”

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