Page 71 of Desired By Eros

Artemis laughed along with her, clearly amused. “Sounds like it requires a lot of patience,” she remarked, her eyes twinkling.

Psyche nodded, her smile widening. “Definitely. Some days it feels like we’re barely making progress, but then you find that one little piece, and it makes it all worth it.”

“That sounds…painstaking.”

“It is, but that’s part of the appeal. There’s something satisfying about it, you know? Finding something that’s been buried for millions of years and carefully bringing it back into the light.”

“I get that. It’s like tracking—patient work, but the reward is worth it.”

Psyche tilted her head, considering. “Yeah, I guess it is kind of like that.”

Liam babbled something unintelligible, smacking a tiny hand against Psyche’s knee.

Artemis grinned and ruffled his hair. “They’re fascinated by you, you know.”

Psyche looked down at the child, who stared up at her with wide, curious eyes. “They’re just being babies.”

Artemis shook her head. “No, theylikeyou.”

Psyche smoothed the fabric of the baby’s onesie absentmindedly. “They like everyone, don’t they?”

Artemis gave her a knowing look. “They’re a little picky, actually.”

Psyche let out a small laugh. “Well, I guess I should feel honored then.”

“You should,” Artemis said, settling back against the couch. “You have good energy. Babies are drawn to that.”

Psyche didn’t know what to say to that, so she just smiled and focused on the warmth of the tiny body against her. She didn’t always understand how people saw her, but right now, in this moment, she felt…steady.

She shrugged. “They’re easy to understand. When they want something, they just let you know.”

“Speaking of things that aren’t so easy to understand…what about Eros?”

Psyche’s smile faltered for a moment, then she said, “Oh,” her voice barely above a whisper.

Artemis studied her for a beat before continuing. “Well, I saw him earlier, and he wasn’t himself, so of course, I couldn’t let that go.” She shook her head. “He told me what happened between you two, and that was so out of character, you know? He seems really off.”

“I see,” Psyche said as she absorbed Artemis’s words. She thought back to everything—the connection, the confusion, the ending.

“We were seeing each other, but that’s ended.”

“I’ve known Eros his whole life. He’s never been with anyone like he was with you,” she said, her words hanging in the air.

Psyche fell quiet, and she absently traced patterns on the fabric of her pants. “I don’t know what to say,” she finally murmured.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Artemis said. “But I think you should at least hear me out.”

Psyche exhaled through her nose, still not meeting Artemis’s eyes. “Go ahead.”

Artemis shifted in her seat. “Eros doesn’t open up to people. He never has. And when he does let someone in, it’s never for long.” She paused. “But with you, it was different. He changed.”

She scoffed lightly, though there was no real humor in it. “Did he?”

“Yes.” Artemis leaned forward. “Do you think I’d say this if I didn’t mean it? I’ve never seen him like this. He’s always been distant when it came to love, to relationships. He never let anyone get too close.”

Psyche looked down at Liam, who was now contentedly babbling in her lap. “Maybe that was the problem. Maybe I got too close.”

Artemis tilted her head. “And is that why you ended it?”

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