Free Lesson in Love (Olympians, 2) by Marie Medina

thoughts
straight, let alone explain them. She couldn’t explain the doubt
and fear she felt. She also couldn’t deny the guilt filling her
heart. “It’s not any one thing. It’s the whole situation. It was
unfair. I should have been cold to him.”
    “ He wouldn’t have gone
away. It would only have hurt him and delayed the happiness you’re
on the verge of finding. I’m sure it would have caused you pain as
well to turn him away. You’ve wanted him for so long.”
    “ That’s just it. I don’t
deserve a present for being a good servant. I don’t deserve a prize
for being a long-suffering lover of an unattainable
man.”
    “ That is not what this is.
Can’t you simply believe happiness would come your way without
someone making it happen?”
    She shook her head. “That’s what I’m
unsure about.”
    “ You’ve wanted this so
long and so much you’re afraid it’s going to turn out to be nothing
more than a dream?”
    Iris stopped and walked toward the
pond at the center of the maze. “Something like that.”
    “ There’s nothing I can say
then. It’s up to you to accept my son’s love.” Aphrodite turned to
go, but she stopped. She didn’t turn around and face Iris, but she
added, “Make sure you stay on Hera’s good side. You break my son’s
heart, and you’ll need her protection.”
    Iris watched Aphrodite leave. She felt
as if an icy hand had gripped her heart. She had never displeased
any of the Olympians. None of them had ever even frowned at her,
let alone threatened her. She fought back the urge to cry out for
Hera. She sat on a stone bench by the water and gathered her
thoughts. After a few moments, the panic subsided.
    One thing kept running through her
mind. Aphrodite would not have made the threat if she didn’t truly
believe Iris might break Eros’ heart. If his heart could be broken,
he had to really love her, didn’t he?
    * * * *
    Eros stared at the wine in front of
him when his waitress left. He didn’t feel like looking at his
uninvited companion.
    “ You are no fun today,”
Ares said.
    “ No, I’m not.”
    “ I’m sure I know
why.”
    Eros glared at the wall. “I’m sure you
do. Everyone is making my life their business lately.”
    “ So what else is new
around here? Just tell me what happened.”
    “ Why do you care?” He
couldn’t help being suspicious, given Ares’ tendency to do anything
to please Aphrodite. He refused to be pumped for
information.
    “ I’d like to
help.”
    “ You sure my mother didn’t
ask you to help?”
    Ares narrowed his eyes. “Why would she
do that?”
    “ Seems she has a vested
interest in my love life.”
    “ She wants to see you
happy, yes.”
    “ Maybe.” He took a sip of
wine and looked down into the glass, swirling the liquid in it
slowly. “It’s what she keeps telling me.”
    “ You think it isn’t true?
What’s she done to you?”
    “ She didn’t do anything to
me. It’s Iris.”
    “ Your mother is all for
you and Iris. Everyone loves Iris.”
    He slid the glass across the table and
finally looked at Ares. “That’s not the problem. Iris doesn’t trust
me because my mother wanted this.”
    “ That’s ridiculous. Your
mother has never tried to make a match for you before. She would
have broken the spell that made you love Psyche if Zeus hadn’t
forbidden it.” He leaned forward. “Just get Iris and your mother
together. They can talk it out.”
    “ That’s not going to help.
Hera and my mother set all this up, so now Iris refuses to believe
how I feel about her.”
    Ares stopped with his glass halfway to
his lips. “How do you feel about her?”
    Eros groaned. “This isn’t helping. I
need to get out of here.”
    Ares put his glass down and held Eros’
arm. “Just hold on. You think you’re in love with her?”
    Eros suddenly wished he’d gone home.
“I know I am. Can’t blame it on a backfiring spell this
time.”
    “ Well, this is big. Only
thing bigger would be your mother falling in