Page 20 of Eris

Eris wrapped an arm around her waist. "I'd like to say I adjusted, but it would be a lie. I was never welcome company before I was cursed, and I became even less so after."

"You seem to have some good friends now," Enzo said, glancing sideways at her. "Laverna and Rom are fond of you."

"Laverna and I reconnected some years ago after a really long time. Hades and Persephone welcomed me at their baby shower, and the gods there kind of took me in whether I wanted it or not," Eris said with an uneasy laugh. "Only the misfits seemed to have survived over the centuries, and we look out for each other."

"That's kind of lovely. It's good to have people you can trust."

"Do you have any?"

Enzo let out a long sigh. "I used to. Now, not so much. I lost a lot of people because of the divorce and then again when I left psychology. I've been too hurt to try and create a friend group again. But I can't complain. I have Nonna Bianca, though, no matter what I put her through."

"Don't worry. Rom knows who you are now, which means you will be a part of the misfit family going forward," Eris replied.

"I think I might like that," he said.

Her heart may have skipped a beat or three when he smiled widely at her before turning his attention back to the water, but she did her best not to notice it.

Eris didn't remember falling asleepthe previous afternoon, but when she woke again, she had been placed into her cabin. She remembered sitting on the soft mattresses on deck, watching the water and stealing covert glances at the captain before there was nothing. She didn't understand why she was suddenly so tired.

Maybe because, for the first time, your curse isn't going to hurt anyone or yourself,a voice needled her. She trusted Enzo enough to fall asleep around him too.Another miracle.

Eris used the small bathroom before changing her clothes and taking a peek into the other cabin. No Enzo.

Eris braided back her long hair and went back up on deck. They were docked, the bay of Naples a haze of aqua and cobalt.

Enzo was striding down the wood docks toward her, balancing coffees on a tray. He seemed oblivious to the nearby women on other boats leering at him with greedy eyes, not that Eris could blame them. He was wearing a dark blue T-shirt that showed just how solid he was. His curls were wild from the wind,and the aviator sunglasses he wore suited him. Enzo spotted her on deck, and his smile was a flash of stunning white.

There was no doubt about him being Aphrodite's blood. Unlike others she had known, Enzo seemed to have no idea about his effect on people's heartbeats.

"Did you sleep at all?" she asked when he drew near, a touch of guilt worming its way through her.

"Black, two sugars." Enzo took a coffee from the cardboard holder and passed it to her. "And yes, I slept fine. We got in about midnight, and I got up an hour ago. Are you feeling okay? I was a little worried when you didn't wake up."

"Just tired, I think," Eris said and sipped her coffee. "You remembered my order?"

"It's a part of my profession," Enzo replied with a smile. "Also, I wanted to ask you out for weeks before I blundered my way through it. It seemed like a good idea to know what drinks you preferred."

"You never turn it off, do you?" Eris said, the back of her neck warming.

Enzo looked confused. "Turn what off?"

"Never mind. Let's get the palladium, and we will see if we can figure out what it wants."

Sidonius had brought them a long bag, favored by hikers and backpackers the world over, and with a minimal amount of wriggling, they managed to fit the palladium into it.

Eris was careful to make sure only she touched it, and both of them breathed easier once it was covered again. Enzo finished his coffee and hefted the bag onto his broad back.

"Okay,bella, where do you want to start? I checked my copy of the Aeneid last night, and he went to see the oracle or the Sybil, if you prefer, when he was here."

Eris's brows shot up. "You brought a copy of it with you?"

"Seemed like a good idea if we need to stop where he did. You didn't think of that?"

Eris rubbed at her forehead. "I didn't. I was so caught up in the idea of breaking my curse and getting you on a ship before you changed your mind, I didn't consider it."

"A good thing I decided to tag along," Enzo teased and stepped up onto the jetty. He held a hand out for her, and she let him help her off the boat.

"It was that or ropes. You didn't decide anything," Eris said.

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