“I understand,” I say, taking the clover between my fingers.
“You must keep it intact as well, if one leaf falls off, it’s even worse than losing it.”
“What will happen?”
“Don’t break a leaf and you won’t find out,” she warns as she steps into the pool and slowly—gracefully—descends into the water.
I blink down at the liquid, no bubbles come up, and I swear I can see glinting gold on the water’s floor, but as soon as I blink, it vanishes.
Well, that was an unforeseen turn of events.
I spin the four-leaf clover in my fingers and examine it. There’s nothing particularly unique about it, but Lady Luck said she had blessed it. As long as I keep it safe and on my person, then my luck can change.
Maybe this is the push I’ve needed. Maybe a little luck is what I need to figure out who I am and the kind of cupid I can be.
I quickly move my quiver to the front and place it safely in a pocket where it won’t get smooshed and I know I won’t lose it. As soon as I get to Cupidale I’ll figure out a better way to keep it safe and as close to my body as possible. I’m going to soak up every single ounce of luck that I possibly can.
“So… how was Lady Luck?” Love asks as we walk through the Renaissance Fair. Love said this is basically a cupid’s wet dream when it comes to love matches. Something about being the same brand of weird and the sharing of mutual interests.
“Good.”
“Give me more than that!”
“She was pretty, and she gave me something.”
“Pretty in what way?” Love pries.
“I don’t know, like some sort of Earth goddess,” I reply, shrugging.
“Like an Earth goddess you’d like to fuck? Or an Earth goddess you think is pretty.”
I blink over at Love, and she shrugs her shoulders.
“She seemed a little too flighty to me,” I reply, and Love grins.
“So you’re totally down for a dip in the lady pond, I knew it.”
I clear my throat and look around at the festival where everyone is dressed like they’re from a different time and talking in exaggerated accents.
“I mean, I don’t know what I was into during my mortal life. I’ve only been a cupid for a few weeks. It seems like most cupids are… open,” I say shyly.
“That they are! There’s nothing wrong with experimenting. In fact, I think it’s the zest of life.”
“Is that why you went outside the norm and dated a reaper?”
“I did that mostly to make Eros’ head explode. It’s just an added bonus that he’s the hottest thing to ever walk or float in any realm. I mean, what do you think about reapers?” she asks, arching an eyebrow, and I wonder what this cupid is up to.
“I mean, Death is the only one I’ve met. He seems to treat you like a princess, and he doesn’t seem as scary as people say.”
“Too right. The reaper propaganda is totally bullshit. Some of the nicest people I know are reapers.” She turns and squints her eyes. “The dude dressed like a pirate and the chick dressed as a fairy princess at ten o’clock,” she says.
I look in the direction she’s pointing, and for the first time, I both see and feel their interest at the same time. She’s fiddling with her fake fae ear and the man is showing off his sword (his actual sword, not his penis).
“You’ve got this, Juliet,” Love cheers me on and I take a deep breath as I string back my bow and aim for the pirate first.
I exhale as I let the string go.
“Fucking bull’s eye. You did it!” Love beams and something fills my chest.
