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Chapter 69 Chapter 71
“Mother!” Eros said, striding into Aphrodite’s dining hall. “You must put a stop to this.”
Aphrodite briefly paused before popping a grape into her mouth.
“Why?” she said between chews.
“Psyche has more than proven she’s worthy. You went too far with that last task,” Eros said.
“Oh, but the trial isn’t over yet,” Aphrodite said, rising and wiping her hands on a napkin.
She walked towards him.
“Don’t forget Eros, this is all because you refused to give her the punishment I had decreed,” Aphrodite said.
“Mother, this is well beyond — “ Eros began.
“I’m not finished with Psyche,” Aphrodite interrupted.
“But she is my wife,” Eros said.
“Is she?” Aphrodite said, raising an eyebrow. “She doesn’t love you. She’s afraid of you.”
She leveled her gaze at Eros and stepped towards him. Her confidence forced him to step back.
“You made her marry you. Did she choose it? Did she want to? She had no idea who you were or what she was getting into,” Aphrodite said.
“I couldn’t let her marry some fool. I had to protect her,” Eros said.
Aphrodite laughed.
“You call that protection? No, Eros. You were ashamed that you had let your own powers get to you. Your desire blinded you, took over. You had no choice but to have her,” Aphrodite said. “But did you consider Psyche? What she wanted? No. You forced yourself on her.”
Eros faltered.
He couldn’t deny that he had certainly desired Psyche. She was more beautiful than any woman he knew. Certainly more beautiful than the Goddess of Beauty. Psyche outshined every single goddess on Mount Olympus.
Had he forced Psyche into something she didn’t want? Would Psyche have chosen to marry him if she had been given the choice?
Eros stood silent for a moment.
Aphrodite softened.
“Eros, I am sorry you have had to go through all of this,” she soothed. “This whole thing will be over soon. Leave everything to me.”
That snapped Eros back to the problem at hand.
“No, Mother,” Eros said.
One thing he did know. Psyche had been through enough.
“This has to stop. These trials are too hard for her,” Eros said.
Aphrodite scoffed.
“She’s not even doing them. You’re all helping her. It’s hardly a trial anymore,” she said.
“Then let her go. Let her be with me,” Eros said.
“No,” Aphrodite said sharply. “I’m not done. It’s time for her third and final task.”
Aphrodite started walking away.
“And remember Eros,” Aphrodite said as she retreated, “interfere with any of this and you doom Psyche to exile.”
Eros sighed.
He never should have agreed to any of this.
If I Had Words 
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