Warrior Rising (Goddess Summoning #6)(73)

“Sounds good to me.”

“Let’s drink on it.”

“That sounds good, too.” They clinked their goblets together again and settled in to wait for their men.

"By the shaggy testes of satyrs you were right!” Venus paced back and forth across the inner chamber of Hera’s Mount Olympus Temple. The Queen of the Gods’ oracle swirled with images of Odysseus leading the Greeks in charge after victorious charge against the Trojans. “Athena gifted him with something more than her goddessly juices. The man is clearly invincible.”

“What did I tell you? She never takes lovers so she’s completely enamored with her human plaything,” Hera said, frowning into her oracle.

“It just proves what I’ve been saying for eons. She’s incredibly repressed and needs to loosen up. Athena should have been trysting with Odysseus on the beach for years, then this wouldn’t have been such an emotional experience for her.” Venus sighed dramatically. “And you know this means there will be absolutely no reasoning with her.”

“So we were both right. What are we going to do about it? This war needs to end. Now.”

“I really hate to say it, but I think we may as well back the Greeks. Let’s just get this thing over with,” Venus said, frowning into the oracle.

“So you’re going to command your little modern mortal to persuade Achilles to lead his Myrmidons back into battle?”

Venus hesitated, obviously not wanting to answer her queen.

“Venus! We are in agreement. You simply must be sure Achilles leads his Myrmidons into the battle.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Venus said reluctantly.

“Of course I’m right. We’ve already established that. Now let’s just be sure all of this happens very quickly, before Zeus gets wind of anything. He’s supposed to be staying neutral, which is why we’re supposed to be staying out of it, too,” Hera said.

“But we all know his weakness for the Trojans, especially for old Priam,” Venus said.

“I know, I know, Zeus started the whole thing by supporting Laomedon against Poseidon all those years ago, though he should have never backed a mortal against the Sea God, but those two are always arguing about something and Zeus is terrible about holding a grudge. I really wish he would—”

“Hera! Wife! Where are you?” Zeus’s voice thundered throughout Olympus.

Hera jumped guiltily.

Venus rolled her eyes. “He’s so demanding. And it’s really rude of him to bellow across Olympus for you.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Hera hurried to her oracle and waved a hand over it to clear the scene from Troy. “When I want him do you think he’s ever to be found? Of course not. But let him have even the smallest need for me and his great blustering voice doesn’t hesitate to search me out.”

“Perhaps I should have a word with him,” Venus offered helpfully. “You know Love has rights other immortals do not. Not even the King of Olympus is above a little marital advice.”

“No, no, no, thank you, but no. Our marriage is just fine.”

Venus looked doubtful. “Well, darling, I can tell you that you need to keep him occupied while I work my magic down there.” She made a little gesture at the now blank oracle.

“Hera!” This time Zeus’s voice was much closer.

“Yes, of course! Go. I’ll take care of things here,” Hera said.

“This will help.” Venus flicked her fingers at Hera, showering the Queen of Olympus in diamond dust that soaked into her skin.

“Wh—” Hera began, then gasped as her body flushed and her nipples instantly hardened.

“Just a little lustful present from Love to her queen.” Venus winked and then disappeared.

Body tingling, Hera rushed out of her inner chamber and ran into her husband’s imposing body.

“Zeus! Whatever are you doing sneaking up on me like that?”

“Sneaking! The Supreme Ruler of the Gods does not sneak! And why are you running about guiltily?” he asked, peering over her shoulder into the inner chamber she’d just left.

“I am not running, and I am certainly guilty of nothing. I was simply answering your summons in a timely manner, as any considerate wife would.”

Zeus snorted.

“Why are you bellowing for me and disturbing all of Olympus?” she countered.

“I could not find you. You weren’t in our throne room. Nor were you in the gardens where you usually walk at this time of day. So I called for you. I did not bellow,” he said petulantly.

“Of course you didn’t bellow,” Hera assured him, shifting her mood smoothly and smiling as she waved away the comment. “What is it you desire, my lord?”

“I’ve seen so little of you lately I thought you might enjoy accompanying me on a visit to the ancient world.”

Hera made a mental note to be much more visible to him—at least until this silly war was over. “As usual, you are so right, my love,” she said sweetly. “I have been far too busy lately with my divine duties.”

He gave a pleased little grunt. “Good. It is decided. You will accompany me to Troy. I hear rumblings that the Greeks have made sudden headway in the war—so sudden that there are rumors of divine interference, even though I have forbidden the Olympians to take an active role in the battle. So.” He held out his arm for her. “Let us visit Troy. Perhaps you and I can have an intimate lunch on the beach after I make quite certain no one has been disobeying me.”