Epilogue
WHERE A CUPID DECIDES TO TAKE ONE FINAL SHOT (AND THE HOTTEST THING HAPPENS)
A s targets went, Sabine Goddard rarely, if ever, missed a certain one. And looking from her position to the side of the adoring, enraptured crowd that applauded and sang Demeter’s name, she knew this target was worthy of coming out of her retirement yet again.
The Goddess of Vengeance stood far from the swarm, muscular arms bunching under a white silk shirt Demeter’s rain had thoroughly drenched. Her face was expressionless, and she watched only one person in the crowd, ice-blue eyes focused and inscrutable.
Sabine reached for her quiver. Next to her, Aphrodite followed her gaze and shuddered.
“You cannot be serious.”
Sabine ran her fingers over the arrow’s feathers.
“Think she will annihilate me before I take aim?”
Aphrodite covered her abdomen protectively.
“I’m not sure I want to know. And I’m not sure you want to mess with her, of all goddesses. Can’t you find someone else?”
Sabine shook her head.
“This is my last shot, Dite. Ever. And it’s the surest I’ve ever made.”
She was met with a suspicious look.
“No, I mean it this time. This is my last arrow ever. It’s time to really hang the quiver. And I’m dead serious that this is the most Perfect Match I have ever attained.”
“I wouldn’t use the word “dead” when it comes to this particular one.” But Aphrodite looked in Nemesis’ direction speculatively. “If you miss, Sabine, you’re on your own.”
Sabine smirked and let the arrow go.
“I never miss.”
They both watched the silver fly on a curved trajectory, sailing through the rain soaked air, its target half turned away, seemingly oblivious of everything except the one person in the crowd Nemesis was so intent on.
Sabine’s chest tightened, the rush of hitting the Perfect Match overtaking her. She held her breath?—
Nemesis extended an arm and snatched the arrow out of thin air. Sabine choked on nothing at all. Nemesis looked her right in the eye and, without a word, broke the silver shaft in two, letting the pieces fall out of her hands to the ground.
“I had no idea that was even remotely a possibility.” Aphrodite sounded both shocked and… dare she say it, aroused? Sabine turned to catch the Goddess of Love fanning herself.
“You’re pregnant, woman. Get a hold of yourself. Athena is back in New England.”
“I’m pregnant, not blind, and you have to admit that was quite possibly the hottest thing that either of us has ever witnessed. And Athena will be getting a conjugal visit in that wilderness of hers today.”
Sabine would’ve made a joke, except she was completely flabbergasted. She gritted her teeth. And no, she hadn’t known it was possible either.
In the distance, Nemesis smirked and threw a salute her way.
Aphrodite whimpered. Sabine groaned. Nemesis took a step, then two, and vanished in a cloud of red hair and arrogance.
When the smoke of her theatrical exit dispersed, there stood Abby, her quiver lowering slowly, a triumphant expression on her face.
Aphrodite gasped, and Sabine leaned closer.
“Well, I have to disagree, Dite. Because that is the hottest thing I have ever seen.” Sabine sent her wife an air kiss, and Aphrodite laughed.
“This may be your surest shot yet, even if you missed, Sabine. But also the most unhinged one.”
Sabine’s smile did not waver.
“I didn’t miss. I was, shall we say, waylaid? Aren’t the unhinged ones the most fun matches to witness though?”
Dite laid a hand on her friend’s forearm, watching Erato and Demeter kiss on stage.
“They really are, and if that right there is any indication, then Nemesis’s match will be quite a story.”
Sabine gave Aphrodite’s fingers a squeeze as Abby started walking in their direction.
“Well, we watched several of those unfold. So what’s one more?”