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“Who’d have thought?” Demeter wondered as she ran her fingers through Hera’s hair. It felt oddly far and not unpleasant. But also, would they stop asking foolish rhetorical questions? Nobody would have thought, Hera almost screamed herself hoarse in her dream.

Nobody, sister, so quit asking questions and provide answers!

“I did.” Erato? “I knew this old romantic would never resist Nemesis. And I knew Nemesis would literally fight Death. I mean, they are perfect for each other. Hence, the Perfect Match arrows.”

Hera struggled against the binds that seemed to drag her deeper into the fog. Her chest was heavy.

“Well, only two beings knew about Abby’s damn arrow. And certainly nobody was aware it was Hera who was Nemesis’s intended. Damn, those cupids are just that good,” Clio murmured.

“They really are. I guess that was why Zeus went on believing Sabine had granted him his Perfect Match. The old fool didn’t know he’d had it all along and threw it away,” Erato said. “And to think there was no arrow for him. That the arrow was for Hera, pairing her up with Nemesis from the start. Sabine is nothing if not perverse. I love that about her.” Somewhere close, Demeter tsked.

Hera felt the bed dip next to her hand and then a soft grunt from her future sister-in-law. Clearly, Erato was making herself at home on Hera’s bed.

“Listen, Zeus and his heart are of no consequence. It broke? Big fucking deal. Like, the fact that after terrorizing half the female population of Earth with his dick, it had been his ex-wife for him all along, was honestly a no-brainer. Sometimes, Justice and Fates do not work in mysterious ways at all. Biggest surprise ever this was not. Fuck him.”

No, thank you. Been there. Done that. Got the tiara that is useless now.

Clearly oblivious to Hera’s internal monologue, Erato went on.

“So Zeus and his heartbreak aside, can we talk about the Cupids? How good they are? Sabine and Abby in particular? So good at noticing true love. In this case, however, it was sort of obvious. The moment I saw the way Nemesis was looking at Hera, I knew it was all over for the old girl. Nobody survives Nemesis.”

There was a sigh. Demeter must’ve had enough of her fiancée and her puns.

“Hera survived because of Nemesis. Her standing up against the Fates and demanding the heart that belonged to her, arguing it wasn’t Hera’s to bargain with since it belonged to Nemesis after a confession of love… I admit I was impressed. Also, the tying of the thread⁠—”

“Did you even know it was possible?”

Clio’s voice was excited, like a nerd in a museum. Hera wanted to roll her eyes in her sleep.

“Seeing as how Apollo fell off the balcony, and Poseidon needed smelling salts⁠—”

“Ocean Boy always needs smelling salts.” Hera was happy to hear the voice of the shortest bear in the background. So, she was back at her penthouse.

“I mean, yes, sure, Poseidon is not the greenest algae in the sea,” Demeter acquiesced.

Hera wondered why they were discussing the damn God of the Seas; he really wasn’t all that interesting. As if reading her mind, Demeter graciously moved on.

“Still, clearly this was not something anyone had considered. But then, Nemesis and her power, her favors and her claims… Nobody disputes that which Revenge takes as her own. Apparently, even the Fates agree.”

There were steps and some parchment rustling.

“I think it’s the contract. No idea why Hera would sign this, mostly because, damn, it’s foolish, but Nemesis had a solid claim, Goddess of Vengeance or not.”

More rustling. Clio went on.

“Bargaining her heart on top of her soul is what saved her. Since it no longer belonged to her, Nemesis won on a technicality. Those Fates are nothing if not bureaucratic.”

“Are you all here to discuss bureaucracy?”

Hera nearly jumped out of bed at the sound of the one voice she had been desperate to hear. The air filled with the scent of gunpowder, steel with a hint of caramel, and she exhaled, her chest finally feeling lighter, breath coming easier.

“No, no, absolutely not!” Clio sounded flustered and harried. It was high time they all cleared out.

Nemesis obviously thought so, too.

“I left something for you in the living room. Your next assignment. See that you read the fine print before you go, History.” Hera all but swooned—insofar as someone in a state of unconsciousness could swoon—at the authority in the beloved voice. “Demeter, could you please collect your fiancée? Thank you for staying while I was away, but I got it from here.”

More shuffling, some whispered goodbyes, take care and let us know how it goes. Then silence. The scents of gunpowder and spun caramel grew stronger.