Goddess of Love by P. C. Cast

can.”
    Persephone raised one delicate eyebrow. “Love?”
    â€œNaturally. Genitals equal love—love equals genitals. Persephone, darling, do we need to have a more private talk? How have your orgasms been lately? Are you experiencing multiple releases? And when you don’t have a partner, have you been pleasuring yourself adequately?”
    Persephone raised her hands, palms out. “Stop. You win. Use whatever curses please you most. Just be prepared to be questioned about them.”
    â€œI’m always prepared to answer questions about love.” Venus smiled sweetly. “But first I want…” She caught the young waitress’s eye and waggled her fingers at their two almost-empty martini glasses.
    â€œDid you ladies want another round?”
    â€œDarling, you said your name was Jenny, didn’t you?” Venus asked.
    â€œThat’s right.” The waitress smiled. “Two more martinis?”
    â€œYes, but this time let’s try the Wake,” Persephone said.
    â€œExcellent! You’ll love it. I’ll bring those right out.”
    â€œThe Wake?” Venus asked Persephone after Jenny hurried off.
    â€œIt’s yummy—chocolate liqueur, espresso, vodka, ice crystals…” She licked her lips and shivered in delight. “Trust me on this.”
    â€œOh, I do! It sounds decadent. I’m certain I’ll love it. I’ve loved everything else in this kingdom.”
    â€œOkay, you’re really going to have to quit calling it that. There’s no such thing as a kingdom of Tulsa. It’s just Tulsa. Like Rome is just Rome, not the kingdom of Rome.”
    Venus scoffed. “Try telling those obsessively patriotic ancient Romans they’re not a kingdom.”
    â€œPoint taken. I used a bad example. Here’s the thing—you can be eccentric and different here—that’s fine. You’re incredibly beautiful—”
    â€œWhy thank you darling!” Venus interrupted.
    â€œI’m just stating the truth. Anyway, you can get away with being…well…what modern mortals will consider weird because of your beauty.”
    â€œWeird? I am not weird.”
    â€œBy Athena’s widening ass you certainly are!” Persephone said, mimicking her friend’s voice and using one of her all-time favorite curses.
    Venus’s violet eyes sparkled. “Athena’s ass is getting big. Come on. Admit it. She’s become far too serious! All, ‘Look at me! I’m the gray-eyed Goddess of War, Wisdom and the Arts.’” She exaggerated a yawn. “She needs to loosen up and in more ways than one. A few stretching exercises and a good jog would help her out as much as taking a lover or two.”
    â€œYou’re incorrigible.” Persephone laughed. “And you’re not going to get me off the subject that easily. You can use your genital curses. You can even get way too personal about other people’s love lives. But you can’t go around calling Tulsa a kingdom.”
    â€œFine, fine, fine. It’s not a kingdom. It’s a city. I’ve got it. I’ll remember. It’s just that I’m having so much fun! I adore Tulsa and its mixture of cheeky modern men and confident modern women, especially because none of them have any idea who I am.”
    â€œI told you it would be a freeing experience to visit the modern world.”
    â€œWell I am Love, and I can officially say that Love is in love with Tulsa!”
    The waitress put two fresh martinis on their table, along with two slender white slices of an exquisitely decorated cake. “Here are your Wakes, ladies. And the owner, Lola, is testing out a new dessert—personal wedding cake. Please sample it with her blessing.”
    â€œWedding cake!” Venus laughed and clapped her hands together in a spontaneous show of girlish pleasure. “How perfectly appropriate.”
    â€œAre you getting