Page 31
“She is staying out of London. She has run afoul of the British Museum.”
Hera couldn’t hide her surprise.
“You’re still after the Caryatid.”
Clio crossed her arms and pouted.
“I will never let it go. She’s all alone. In the fucking corner of that damn museum. Her sisters are waiting for her in Athens; they literally left space for her, waiting, hoping. And she’s just—”
Nemesis shook her head, and History went silent, her pout still firmly in place.
“Yes, we know, hence this arrangement.”
Nemesis waved her hand around the bags of equipment littering the floor.
“Arrangement?” Hera couldn’t help but repeat the word. She really should not be this invested.
“She helps me with Zeus’s collection. I assist her with the Caryatid.” Nemesis kept sliding tools and all sorts of gizmos into her pockets and under her belt.
Clio handed her another tool. “You wouldn’t have refused to help me with my girl even if you hadn’t gotten into this harebrained idea. You old softy.”
Nemesis flashed Clio a cold sideways glare, and the muse fell silent, her face pale. Hera felt the need to cross her legs. This was… Why was this hot? Why was Nemesis showing off her power sexy? Had the AC gone off? Hera fanned herself.
“Figures that you’d find her scaring unsuspecting muses hot.” Clio mused, her smirk firmly back in place.
“You are the least unsuspecting anything, History. Get going.”
Clio threw Hera a salute and swept out of the room, her pristine dark bob bouncing with her step.
“She is too astute for her own good,” Nemesis grumbled. Hera bit her lip to hide a smile of her own.
“It goes with her territory.”
“I think she’s been bored ever since she and Athena broke up. She seemed to have a purpose back then. Can’t you get her paired up with someone?” Nemesis hoisted a heavy bag on her shoulder and turned to face Hera fully. Something about this woman, dressed all in black, hair pulled back into a luxurious ponytail, a few flyaways framing the sinful face, carrying around heavy machinery that weighed more than her, made Hera’s stomach flutter. Or maybe it was the fact that Nemesis believed Hera could just wave a magic wand and make things happen. When was the last time someone had faith in her like that?
Hera shook her head and decided not to delve too deeply into wherever these thoughts could lead her.
“Setting aside the fact that you are confusing me with Aphrodite and her Cupids, who would you have me pair her up with? Everyone thought Athena was the one for her, and look how that worked out.”
Nemesis scowled.
“I mean, Clio is… Well, but Aphrodite is also…” There was mischief in those ice-cold eyes that were suddenly a lot warmer. Hera smacked her lover on the shoulder, none too gently.
“Go, by Hestia, steal, rob, pillage!” Hera made a face. “Okay, maybe not pillage, but just go. There is nothing wrong with Clio. She’s a beautiful woman and Aphrodite isn’t all that. Now go!”
Nemesis’s answering grin could’ve powered the entire skyscraper, Hera thought.
“So you think Clio is attractive? And you did not just say that the Goddess of Love is not the most gorgeous being ever!”
“Oh titans, we already had a whole damn Trojan war about this! Just go already!”
Hera put her hands on Nemesis’s chest and pushed. She might as well have tried moving a mountain; the strength behind the muscle and bone was absolutely implacable. She took a careful, deep breath. Nemesis’s smile faded, and she caught one of Hera’s hands, caressing the palm before bringing it to her mouth and planting a kiss where her thumb had just been. Hera shivered but refused to show it.
“He is a wily bastard, and if Clio is right, this won’t be as easy as a game of poker. But your wish is my command, Empress.” She planted another kiss on Hera’s palm.
“Nemesis…”
Hera didn’t know why she even began speaking. What was there to say? This was the third assignment, they were halfway through. It was too late to back off now. Things were going according to plan. So why did her heart scream at her to fuck the plan and drag Nemesis back to bed, if not to do said fucking but to keep safe—
