Page 47 of Eris

When Enzo got to his vision of the goddess, his hands began to shake. Eris put an arm around him, her grip growing tighter and tighter as he spoke about Atana Potinija, Enesidaon, and the Thunder Bringer.

"I think he put the memories of who she truly is into the palladium. All that emotion, the grief and anger, it was all trapped into the tree," Enzo said hoarsely.

Eris let out a long breath. "This makes so much sense. Hermes, Thoth, and I have been debating about Athena and her origins. She and Zeus both might have thought her memories being taken would be a kindness, but they were wrong. Those kinds of things fester, and the Fates knew it. They told me that it's not only my curse that needs to be broken. Athena gave her power and loyalty to Zeus. Now that he is dead, she must be so lost and confused without him to anchor her in the purpose that he gave her."

Enzo didn't like the shock that spread across Eris's face. "What? What is it?"

"I just suddenly realized that maybe my curse wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to me. Athena—Atana—relinquished everything to Zeus because she wanted to save her people. At least I know who I am, and what I have done. She doesn't."

Enzo kissed her and tucked her head under his chin. "We will break both of your curses."

"I will thank you for it," Eris said, holding him tighter. "But Athena might not be so happy about it."

CHAPTER THIRTY

Eris woke from an uneasy sleep to a cloudy day with light, sprinkling rain.

She didn't like the tightening threads of fate that were spinning around them. The Fates had really outdone themselves with the tangle she was now tied into.

It kept running over and over in her mind—Enzo, Athena, Aeneas, Aphrodite, and her throwing that stupid apple at Zeus. After centuries upon centuries, it was now coming to its end.

At least, Eris hoped it would be the end. Enzo still looked too pale and haunted, and she hated that she had drawn him into the mess of her curse. If anything, she wanted to blame the Fates. He was a descendant of Aeneas, but hadn't they suffered enough? Suffering Eris herself had inflicted all because of her hurt feelings. She had always thought that she was the most cursed creature in creation. She had acted from that place from the very beginning.

The birth of the twins might have drawn her back to talking to her brethren more, but she had always isolated herself. But she had liked it when Hades had invited her to stay in Elysium, to get to know them all. She didn't know how to take the kindness at first. It was so different from the times when theOlympians had been in charge. She had stayed away from them as a form of self-protection.

Eris couldn't stop thinking about Athena either and how she had always dismissed her as just another of Zeus's lackeys. Who supported male heroes and seemed to only care about logic and reason. Had Zeus taken other things away from her apart from her memories? She had been a 'virgin' goddess, but her origins in Crete depicted her as a goddess of fertility and magic and of transformation. The double-bladed ax and Minoan culture had always been deeply tied to the matriarchy. That she had sacrificed parts of herself to Zeus to save her people made sense, and he had remade her into his image.

A part of Eris wanted to throw the palladium into the sea, wrap her protective shadows around Enzo, and take him far, far from the machinations of fate, her curse, and the spirit of Atana Potinija.

She had spent the night watching over him again, keeping the ship on course to Turkey. If they kept making good time, they would sail around the island of Lesvos and arrive at Akcay Limani to dock in a few hours. From there, they would go inland to Edremit, and hopefully, on to Troy.

They were currently below deck for breakfast at the tiny table, and Eris didn't like the feeling of panic building up inside of her. Everything suddenly felt heavy and loaded, like a calm before a storm.

"Talk to me, Eris. You are looking like you want to destroy something," Enzo said, putting down his mug of coffee.

Eris looked Enzo over, checking for any signs that he could be in pain or distressed. He looked fine, if a little tired.

"For once in my life, I am actually more concerned with protecting something," she admitted, her heart hurting. "I don't know how to keep you safe, and it's stressing me out."

Enzo bumped his knees against hers under the table. "Hey, look at me. I don't need protection right now. The Fates wanted me to help you, and that's what I'm doing."

"You being hurt wasn't part of the deal!" she whispered, the words being torn out of her. "I don't want my curse broken if it means sacrificing you."

Enzo's smile was heartbreakingly soft. "I get it. I love you too."

"I didn't say love!" Eris said, her panic growing. She got up and made for her cabin, unable to calm herself. Enzo caught her up in a hug, making her turn in his arms.

"It's okay, Eris. The emotion is not going to hurt you, and neither am I." Enzo rubbed the tip of his nose against hers. "Just kiss me and stop fighting it. I don't care if the palladium has made me a bit unwell. I'll survive a bit of nausea, trust me. This is still the best time I've ever had."

"You can't mean that," she said, her fingers stroking his beard.

"I do." Enzo brushed his lips against hers, and it was all that was needed to send desire shooting through her. Her mouth opened for his tongue, and she was lost in the taste and feel of him.

Eris dragged him into her cabin and went softly back onto the bed, tugging him down on top of her. Enzo's hand stroked up her arm for the satin strap of the black slip she had slept in. He pushed it off her shoulder so he could kiss his way over her skin and along her collarbone. His gentleness was undoing her even more than their frantic fucking on the deck of the boat. How could she handle feeling so much after being so cold inside for so long?

Eris tugged at his shirt until he lifted off her long enough to pull it off. Her pajamas were next, in-between unhurried kissesuntil they were both naked. Enzo sucked her nipple into his mouth before spreading kisses lazily down her body.

Eris threaded her fingers into his thick hair and tugged it in the way he enjoyed. He laughed huskily against her inner thigh before spreading her pussy and taking a long, slow lick over her clit.

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