Page 33 of Conquered Obstacles

“I apologize,” she bit out.

Fine, I healed her, her eyes a bit too wide. “Then prove it. You talk and talk and bitch and run your mouth on so much—time to prove it, child.”

“Then we should fight,” she purred, a bit too much in her eyes that was starting to remind me of Hera.

People went silent again before bursting out laughing at the absurdity. I simply shook my head, but then I saw that Barb was truly confused.

“How could her priests ever have ra—hurt her if she wasn’t weak?” she asked her cousins.

“There was magic on my temple to make me human so people wouldn’t be intimidated by me,” I told them. “Keep up and listen, idiot. We’ve discussed that in front of you. Your mother knew that. You’re always so busy barking that you know the most, you never learn much.”

I used my power to appear right in front of her and grabbed her arm, barely moving my wrist and breaking her bone.

“And no, I cannot tone down my strength unless I use magic to become human. I won’t. Not for you or ever again. I’m stronger. I win.” I healed her and let go. “I am one of the four original gods. Yes, I am stronger, idiot. Now go fight my champion and get a dose of reality.”

Then I went back to the ring and was shocked when Renee knelt in front of me.

“I apologize, my goddess, but…” She sighed.

“What? Tell me,” I muttered, feeling her distress. “Stand. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

Renee did, sighing again as she rubbed her forehead. “I don’t want to fight.” She nodded when I couldn’t hide my shock. She gestured to Barb. “I don’t care if she’s stronger than me. Like so what? Seriously, it’s so stupid.” She winced when I flinched. “I understand why you have to do this and smack them into line.

“You’re protecting all of us. I even understand the point you’re making and why she needs the lesson, but I don’t want to be part of it. I don’t want to be known as the one who beat her and the target it will put on me next. They drugged their own cousin. She’s not pissed they drugged her brother. She’s amused they took her side.

“I don’t want to get involved with that. And I really don’t care. I care about my job and things are going better. I have enough saved to put a down payment on a house soon, especially with the raise you gave me. I can have my own home which I never thought I could after I was infected. I survived being infected and their hopes to claim me like a trophy.

“That is what is important to me. I made it through. You helped us make it through. The kids are safe. We are healing more every day. More are being saved and having better lives. Even taking the cookie dough off our plates is huge and we’re more productive. The decorations being gone is great and we’re so much more efficient. That is what I care about.”

“She really is the smartest one here today,” Poseidon praised.

I agreed.

I moved towards her and cupped her face as I kissed her cheeks. “I apologize for not consulting you first. I am not the type of goddess to use mine as pawns. I always care about your feelings and desires. Thank you for showing everyone here that I am reasonable and would listen to someone loyal and trusted. You are a gem, Renee.”

“I just want to help your power grow and for more of us to be happy,” she whispered. “No more of this crazy and bullshit. That’s what I want to fight for, not beat down some privileged delusional bitch. I’m too tired for that.”

And she was. I could feel it in her very bones.

“I notice you’ve not once doubted you would win,” Kary teased from outside of the ring.

Renee gave her a look not to be silly… Or start problems.

I laughed. It was too funny. I glanced at Kary. “You will help Renee find a house within her budget over spring break and work out all of the tedious adulting. She’s more than deserved it making so much happen. Libby as well if she wants. They can take in people as roommates to make it work—help them.”

“Yes, Mother,” she agreed, beaming at Renee. “I told you that she would do it if you told her.”

“Getting people off the street and with jobs is more important,” Renee argued… Even as she hugged me.

“Yes, but giving them hope that their lives will turn around with hard work is just as important, love,” I whispered as I petted her hair. “We all need that hope and faith in people. Thank you for restoring some of mine. Thank you for reminding me of what’s most important when the crazy has been eating me as well.”

9

I thought that was going to be the end of putting Barb in her place and moving on to punishing her cousins, but someone else had other plans. The moment we moved out of the ring, Colton of all people jumped up there. He stared down Barb and pulled off his shoes before yanking off his shirt.

Something she very much enjoyed.

“Renee’s smart to not want the target on her, but I’ve already got it, and half of your hate for Arabella is your jealousy that I don’t want you,” he said, smirking when rage filled Barb’s eyes. “I. Don’t. Want. You. I didn’t before Arabella. I certainly would never consider you after spending time with her. And now I don’t have elders gagging me or holding threats over me.

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