Page 28 of Perfectly Matching Again

“And yet, there was my little sister, pining like a fool for a muse. A muse who seemed entirely indifferent to her. A muse who fucked her, cut her losses and ran. Leaving Demeter to pick up the pieces?—”

“I didn’t run— She’s the one who ran— How could she pine for me? She barely knew my name?”

Hera huffed out a breath.

“Dear Hestia, help me not smite this muse, for she is for some reason the chosen one for my fool of a sister.”

“I am?” Erato gaped.

Several bears theatrically smacked themselves on the foreheads. One of them grumbled. “I don’t get that either. You are kinda slow.”

Hera threw him a decidedly warm look and Erato felt herself turn crimson.

“Do not encourage the bears.” She turned back to the bar and downed her drink in one gulp. Where Hera hadn’t even winced, Erato’s entire body caught fire. She gagged and heard tutting from her left.

“The bear is right, though. Because I don’t get it either, Muse. And honestly, I was just ready to see what in Hades’s Hell she was doing delaying spring and thus setting off all those lazy godsto Olympus and to bother me, since I am the only one tending to the damn business. I had no peace. And believe me, I really need that peace at this exact moment in time.”

“You’re plotting something?” Erato perked up. Maybe if the conversation moved away from her?—

“Now, who’s not minding her affairs? What does concern you, however, is when I walked on that accursed boat, I saw my sister, who has not taken a lover in centuries, wrapped around a muse. The Muse of Smut of all things.”

Erato put her face into her palms.

“I hate what I do.”

“You do not. Not only are you good at the writing part, and believe me, as I’ve mentioned, I read and tried hating it. Then I could’ve called Aphrodite and mocked her mercilessly for the company she keeps. But I enjoyed it. And myself…” Hera’s smirk was sly and slow. Erato groaned.

“What were you saying about that smiting? Because I think I am ready. Take me now.”

Hera tsked again.

“I have no idea what she sees in you, to be honest. But I thought okay, writing good sex, giving good sex, if all the nymphs and dryads were to be believed. So maybe Demeter deserved some fun.”

Erato lifted her face.

“You bonded us together so that Demeter could get laid?”

Hera flicked a piece of lint off her dress.

“I have done more for less, Muse. But I figured a few days and the entire spring situation would be resolved. Imagine my surprise when I see her all enraptured by you, dancing with you for Hades’s sake and, miracle of miracles, rejecting Poseidon.”

Erato narrowed her eyes.

“Why miracle of miracles? Did he and Demeter date or something? You cannot be serious about that last assertion. Poseidon?”

“Yeah, he’s a douche and a tool and he owes us money. He’s not good enough for Demeter. We don’t know what you ever thought when you suggested he court her, Hera.” The bear’s gruff droll was somewhat muffled by him laying his face almost on the pool table to try and hit a difficult shot. It was Erato’s turn to smirk. Hera rolled her eyes.

“So he wasn’t my best idea. I do have it in me to acknowledge when I am wrong. I told that Cupid as much.”

Something tingled at the corners of Erato’s conscience.

“Which Cupid?”

Hera waved her away.

“Sabine. But that isn’t important.” She’d said it a bit too quickly and Erato was ready to latch onto the obvious lie, but Hera powered forward. “It isn’t. What is important is that spring is still not here. And it is entirely your fault.”

Erato furrowed her brow.

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