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One
Aphrodite
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Why was everything pink?
It was a bad question, I knew exactly why everything was pink, Aine had decided that's what her brand is for her paranormal dating agency, and that's what she was going with. I could almost admire it if it wasn't quite so obnoxious.
It really did make me question what I was doing here.
I'm reminded a moment later when I spotted Ares sitting at the bar already with a glass of wine in his hand. I waved in his direction and weaved through the crowd to take the seat next to my best friend.
"Remind me why I'm here," I said.
"Because it's a great place to meet people," he responded, flagging down the bartender so I could order myself some wine. "And the refreshments are good."
"Hmm, I almost expected you to say you were trying to find love."
"Well, I am meeting Bellona later."
I groaned. "Not again. I don't know why you're still hanging out with her," I said. "She's your ex."
"So?" Ares leaned back in his seat. "We're exes."
"That's not the same. It was several thousand years ago and you know I was just rebelling over the whole mismatched marriage thing." Guilt flooded through me even as I thought about it. It wasn't really Hephaestus' fault that we were a bad match, though we'd both done our share of distasteful things in retaliation.
Ares gave a mock gasp. "Are you trying to say I meant nothing to you? I'd heard you were cruel, but I never thought I'd be the victim of it."
I rolled my eyes. "You can knock that off. You know I'm right at Bellona. All that's going to happen is you're going to backslide and end up with your heart broken all over again." This was why Greek and Roman deities should never mix. It was bad enough he kept getting himself involved with another war god, but the fact she was a Roman war god made it even worse.
"Hmm, maybe. But you know what they say about second chances?"
"No, I really don't. If it didn't work out the first time, then there's a good reason for that." The bartender set a glass of wine down in front of me and I took my chance to pick it up and take a sip.
"You're a love goddess, surely you don't believe that's actually true."
"Because love is what I'm actually known for." There was no escaping the bitterness in my voice.
"Oh no, you're known for two things, Aphie. Your temper, and your vengeance."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Don't make me acquaint you with either." Though he was well aware that I'd worked hard to get both under control. Along with just about everything else.
He laughed. "All right, I meant your temper and your beauty."
"I don't know whether I should be insulted that you think my vengeance is nothing to worry about." I drank some more of my wine. I had to hand it to Aine, she'd done well in managing to get such good vintages behind the bar for her events, especially when Jinx had only been up and running for a few months.
He shrugged. "I'm a god of war. What do I care if you cause another Troy? I get my supporters and I get to enjoy watching all the gods at odds, and you get your revenge."
"I didn't cause Troy."
He raised an eyebrow.
I sighed. "Paris wanted Helen's love. And she was at least a little infatuated by him. How was I to know it would lead to a war?"
"Hera was involved," he pointed out. "And Athena."
I closed my eyes and let out a small groan. "This is all Zeus' fault. If he hadn't made Paris judge the beauty contest..."
