* * *
“I called you all here because I need your help.” Fate gazed at the puzzled faces of the modern muses. She had chosen a beautiful garden setting, hoping the pastel colors and floral scents would put everyone in a cheerful mood.
Brandee, the muse of photography and videography, raised her hand. “May I ask why Gaia isn’t here?”
“Well, er—yes. I am Mother Nature’s sister and acting in her stead. I know you’re used to taking your orders directly from her, but this must stay between us and the other goddesses. Trust me when I say it’s for her own good.”
Bliss, the muse of online communication, narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “And what does that mean? I know she can be a pill, but she’s the boss. Going behind the boss’s back is usually a bad sign.”
Fate nodded. “I understand, but let me explain the situation.” She took a deep breath, knowing this could go either way. Best to flatter them first… “Because you’re her trusted, talented,modernmuses and this is a modern problem, I really can’t do this without you.”
“Ha, I’m not only a muse—I’m a dragon queen. I know when me arse is bein’ kissed,” Chloe Arish, the muse of fire safety, said in her Irish lilt. “Get to the point, woman.”
Fate marshaled her frustration and forced a smile. “Quite right. I need to find a mate for Gaia. She has already given me permission to find suitable candidates. As you can imagine, finding someone she can learn to love and respect is a tall order. I thought you might have some ideas.”
The muses gazed at each other. Their wide eyes seemed to indicate surprise—or disbelief. Fate hoped it was the former.
Misty, muse of modern parenting, raised her hand. “Don’t you still put soul mates in each other’s paths regularly?”
“Well, yes, but this is different. Gaia has no soul mate. She has no equal. I can certainly arrange a meeting, but I was hoping you’d tell me where to find quality single men.”
Kristine snorted, and a curl of smoke escaped from her nostrils. “Well, don’t look in bars.”
Fate, remembering how Gaia took to alcohol, realized it might be theperfectplace to arrange a meeting. She would be more relaxed and unable to use her supernatural talents in public—hopefully.
“I think most of us would agree that firefighters are some of the nicest guys around,” Kristine offered.
“Yes! They’re selfless heroes,” Bliss agreed.
“O’ course you’d be thinkin’ that. We’re all married to firefighters,” Chloe said. “However, Iwasa firefighter, and let me enlighten you. Not all are ‘nice guys.’ One was downright disrespectful to me because I was a woman and he thought I couldn’t do the job properly.”
“Until you proved yourself. I’m a firefighter too,” Kristine said. “In fact, I’m a captain. I know several of these brave men and women better than most.”
Fate perked up. “And do you know of any who Gaia might be interested in? Someone without faults? Someone able to stand up to a supernatural mate who will always think she’s superior?”
Kristine’s posture deflated. “Ah, no. I’m afraid not. All humans have faults.”
“All paranormals have faults too,” Misty added.
“Some more than others,” Kristine said and elbowed her.
Misty rolled her eyes. “Yes, Gabe was a challenge, but totally worth it in the end. He’s the best husband and father anyone could ask for.”
Fate wasn’t sure she was getting what she needed, but at least she had allies. “Thank you for coming. I know you’re all busy. Please keep our meeting in the back of your minds. If you think of someone who might be a good match for the goddess of all, I’m just a shout away.”
Chloe snorted a curl of smoke, just as her fellow dragon Kristine had. “Sure, we’ll think on it, but don’t expect any shouts soon.”
* * *
Fate drummed her fingers on her antique desk. She’d learned one valuable lesson from the meeting with the modern muses. Her biggest challenge wasn’t to find someone without faults. It was to find someone whose faults didn’t clash with Gaia’s faults. What she usually did with soul mates was to find someone with strengths to fill in their partner’s weaknesses and hope they fit like a jigsaw puzzle.
So all she had to do was list Gaia’s weaknesses and find someone with the opposite strengths. Right? Easy!
A pencil and paper appeared on her desk. Taking a deep breath, she began to list her sister’s many faults.
1. Impatience
2. Knee-jerk reactions
