Page 19 of Perfectly Matching Again

Erato extended her arm a little, ensuring Demeter could go as far as possible from her and whatever lecture she was about to get from Aphrodite.

Except the universe and whichever god was currently running the show had decided Erato didn’t have enough trouble on her hands. So they sent some more.

“If you think she is paying any attention, you are mistaken. Poseidon has been bending her ear and boring her out of her mind for the past half an hour. Must be the whales again.”

Sabine Goddard in all her cupid resplendence swanned closer to Erato and Aphrodite. Air kisses were exchanged. Erato had to smile at the almost comical way all three of them turned to observe the scene in front of them. Demeter all but arching backwards from Poseidon’s hulking over her, him totally ignorant of her reaction.

“He is drooling. Dite, can you send the orcas to cause more justified trouble and distract him?” Erato could feel her mood sinking like those ships those majestic creatures took their anger at. She could completely understand their actions. Men were infuriating. Oblivious, entitled men even more so.

“I don’t control the orcas.” Aphrodite’s smile was one of a cat watching the National Geographic Birder show.

“Pity.” Erato bit off the word. Sabine and Aphrodite exchanged a look of pure enjoyment, which only annoyed Erato, thus making her brave. “I am glad, however, that I serve as your entertainment.”

Dite shrugged.

“Not a few months ago, I served as amusement for you.”

Erato bristled.

“You were finding your Perfect Match! I am being punished by a vengeful goddess.”

“Speaking of the vengeful goddess.”

A stunning redhead, tall and muscular, with arms that could probably break Erato in half, was bowing over Demeter’s hand, effectively boxing Poseidon out of her view. Erato strained to listen, but the chatter of the hundreds of guests around them was making it rather difficult, even at six feet tall. Sabine bit her lip. Aphrodite’s eyes narrowed. And then Demeter was embracing the newcomer and slowly shaking her head while nodding towards Erato and her posse.

Well. Erato knew this woman. The one who made Hades tremble. The one nobody ever messed with.

“Nemesis.” Aphrodite extended her hand, her voice so cold she could’ve frozen the surrounding air, and welcomed the Goddess of Vengeance into the middle of their circle.

Demeter stepped up as well and Erato watched as she laid a hand on the muscled forearm, peeking out from under the almost sheer white silk blouse. Vengeance was wearing knee-high boots over skin-tight trousers, the whole outfit was completed by suspenders. Honest to Zeus suspenders. Though that old dolt could never pull off wearing them. But this woman? As if trying to piss off Erato further, Nemesis flicked back her long mane of copper curls and smirked, patting Demeter’s fingers.

“Down, tiger.” Sabine’s whisper fell on deaf ears. Erato saw red as Nemesis ignored Aphrodite’s hand for almost twenty seconds.

Nobody made the Goddess of Love wait. Except apparently this one. The cheek. The rudeness. The disrespect. Full head of steam, Erato was ready to?—

“Aphrodite. Seeing you is always such a pleasure.”

Okay, so now Erato officially hated this woman. Because this voice should be illegal. It was criminal. It was something out of tales and myths. Greek, probably.

Everyone in their immediate and not so immediate vicinity of the voice trembled. Sabine wrapped her arms around herself. Even Demeter visibly shivered. Erato dug her fingers into her palm to hide the sudden dread that ran down her spine. It raced through the crowd like liquid ice.

Aphrodite alone remained unperturbed.

“It’s rare to bestow any pleasure upon you, Goddess of Vengeance. Since you almost never bless us with your company.”

“Some blessing…”

Erato realized too late that she had spoken the words out loud. The attention of all the goddesses and Sabine’s were on her in a second. Nemesis’s ice-chips scored her skin with their penetrative gaze. And then, as suddenly as they hurt her, the eyes softened.

Belatedly, Erato noticed Demeter’s hand wrapped around Nemesis’ wrist, squeezing tightly. Before she could draw any conclusions on whether the Goddess of Harvest had spared her the pain, Nemesis spoke up.

“The Mighty Muse of Smut… I would have thought you’d be somewhere seducing the dryads. I’m glad you’re allowed to mingle with the grownups these days and that Aphrodite has untied you from her bed.”

Now the silence was absolute. Pin, mouse, nothing moved. The entire ballroom was petrified. A beat, two and then Erato realized that she had exactly zero fucks to give. What was the worst that could happen? Immortal as she was being a muse, Nemesis was a worthy threat even to her, but her own insignificance in the big landscape of Olympus politics gave Erato an advantage.

“I’m surprised you not only know my name, but are so familiar with my proclivities, Nemesis.”

Aphrodite’s unsuccessful attempt at concealing a peal of laughter resulted in an escaped guffaw, one that Nemesis surprisingly joined.

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