Ophiomormous
(adj.) Snakelike.

It had been more than twenty minutes and still I hadn't received a response from Kieran. I had managed to wrap up my conversation with the Viktor and his siblings, confident enough to think we'd have a new ally but before I could escape and begin hunting for my mate, I was approached by an unknown vampire.

He had bright red eyes and dark brown hair. Like all vampires, he was quite handsome but he had an air of superiority about him, making him even more intimidating than everyone else.

"Artemis is it?" He asked, his eyes never leaving my face. It was quite unsettling but I didn't want to look weak so I met his eyes.

"Yes and who might you be?" My tone was polite but I let my suspicion leak in.

"Nikolai Valesky, Third Prince," he held my hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it, his lips lingering longer than polite. I gave him a slight smile and pulled my hand back.

"I'm sorry to cut this short but I must find my mate," he quirked a brow, giving me a smirk like he knew something I didn't. 

"Your mate? He's with my sister, doing quite alright," he jerked his head slightly and I followed his direction, finally spotting Kieran at the far end of the hall, talking to a familiar dark haired woman.

I was confused. I thought he had left to get some air.

An arm snaking around my waist had me snapping out of my thoughts.

"Let's dance shall we?" I pursed my lips, letting my protest die in my throat in favour of diplomacy. He wrapped his arm around me tightly, pulling me much too close so our bodies were pressed against each other, his nose almost touching mine when he looked down at me. I leaned my head backwards to create some space.

"I've never been with a wolf before," The double meaning behind his words was not lost on me so I gave him an unimpressed look.

"I doubt tonight will be your first," I quipped back. He raised his brow at me, pursing his lips for a second before giving me a larger and cockier smirk. His grin and creepy eyes reminded me so much of a snake.

"So fiesty. Is it all bark and no bite?" He taunted.

"Trust me I bite. Hard," He leaned down, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered.

"What will it take to get you to ditch your mate?" I was disgusted by his words, stopping in the middle of the dance and pulling free immediately.

"Nothing. I would never do that," I hissed. Diplomacy be damned, no one could question my loyalty to my mate.

"Not even for one night?" I didn't answer verbally, just growled lowly at him. I felt my eyes glow gold and he thankfully got the hint and shut up. Unfortunately though, his smug look returned once more.

"Your loyalty is admirable but do you think your mate will return the sentiment?" I didn't like the look he was giving me but no matter what, I trusted Kieran.

"Without a doubt," I stated confidently. "Now if you'll excuse me," I stepped off the dance floor and grabbed the first champagne glass that went past me and chugged it down. Setting the glass back down on another passing tray, I ambled my way through the crowd, trying to locate Kieran.

He still wasn't answering his mind link and I was growing worried. Although I caught a glimpse of him perfectly fine, there had to be a reason why I couldn't access his mind.

Surely he wouldn't block me right?

People stopping me on the way were beginning to frustrate me. I tried to remain polite and excuse myself as gracefully as I could when in all honesty, I felt something was off. I had to squish down my worried thoughts because panicking wouldn't do me well.

I tried accessing his mind once again but I came up short. Instead I traced his mental signature and walked out of the ballroom through a side door. The cool gust of air that greeted me made me shiver, despite the cold not having any real effect on my werewolf heat.

I heard voices, quiet murmuring and I followed it, the sounds leading me towards Kieran.

The large garden had several trees and bushes, all with different types of flowers. The sweet smell of them in the air was inticing but I was way too nervous to enjoy anything at that moment.

I found myself walking towards a spot, hidden by the trees. The darkness of the moonless night and the large trees obscuring the bench almost made me miss it, but the undeniable scent of Kieran and someone else had me walking towards it.

It was startling what I was witnessing.

The first thing I realised was the woman was the same one from that first night we came to Romania. She had been blatantly flirting with my mate, right before my very eyes. Her long black tresses were tangled, Kieran's hand fisted in them.

She was perched on his lap, perfectly oblivious, their mouths smashed against each other, making horrible wet sounds.

I wasn't sure what was worse in that moment; the fact that I caught my mate with another woman or the fact that they were still continuing and hadn't noticed my presence.

I decided that it didn't matter and either way, my heart was slowly shattering in my chest, crumbling and forming into something else: rage.

"So when you said you wanted to go outside, this is what you meant?" I asked loudly, startling the couple apart.

I didn't bother looking at the smug face of the vampire and instead focused my anger on my mate. He had the audacity to look confused, glancing between me and the other woman.

"Artemis? What's going on?" His lost and innocent tone was almost convincing and I was unsure whether I should laugh or scream. I settled for cold indifference, not wanting to show any weakness in front of the vampire.

"I was-you were...?" While he stumbled for words, I gave the vampire woman a glance, her smug and arrogant face so similar to her insufferable brother I had the misfortune of meeting earlier.

"You were getting cosy with my brother, I thought it'd be only fair to take care of your lonely mate?" I snarled at the vampire, grabbing her by the throat before I even realised it.

I held her high over the ground with one arm, watching as she struggled to loosen my grip on her. Her claws dug into my arm and hand, trying to break free but I only increased the tightness of my hold.

"I want you to know, that in this moment, the only thing stopping me from taking your life, is the king," I sneered, baring my large canines at her. "Since this is a happy occasion, I will spare him the grief of losing a sibling,"

I let my claws dig into her throat deeper before throwing her away. She scrambled to her feet, hissing at me before disappearing into the night. I took a second to retract my claws and fangs before turning back to Kieran.

His blue eyes were wide and fearful, still so lost and confused. I didn't know what to say to him, no amount of words could express my heartbreak and disappointment in that moment.

I decided to try probe though his mind and this time, I was surprised that he let me in.

'I promise Artemis, it's not what it looks like,' His voice echoed.

I watched as he showed me his memories, skipping through until that moment where we had split apart. I watched through his eyes as he saw me walk away with Viktor and his family. He walked through the crowd with every intention of getting some fresh air when an arm stopped him.

"Need some company?" The woman purred. I watched as she trailed her hands on his chest and he grew uncomfortable and pushed her away.

The woman pursed her blood red lips, her smile growing into an unsettling grin, like the Cheshire Cat. Her red eyes looked so hypnotic, drawing me in until everything else around me became a hazy blur.

I watched with abject horror as her face transformed into mine and I felt Kieran relax. This time, he didn't push her hands away.

"Come on, let's go outside," She suggested, with my voice. Kieran nodded silently, his body moving on autopilot as his mind was still caught up in her spell.

I quickly pulled out of Kieran's mind, slumping on the bench besides him, trying to decipher what I just witnessed.

That vampire bitch had used her compulsion on Kieran.

I sighed, feeling all my anger give way to exhaustion.

Stupid vampires and their stupid seductive nature.