Cupid’s Match

When I open my eyes again, a white ceiling floats above me and my ears are filled with a steady beeping sound. I swallow. My throat feels like it’s on fire and as I try to raise my head, it feels like it’s going to explode.

I squeeze my eyes shut again, staying still so as not to cause more pain.

What is going on?

Then it all comes flooding back to me. I remember thinking that Cupid was dead. I remember Venus’s face inches from mine. And I remember plunging an arrow into her heart.

Was it the Finis?

Suddenly, I scramble into a sitting position, ignoring the pain. My eyes widen. I look around. I’m in a hospital ward. On the chair next to me is my dad, his eyes closed and his chest softly rising and falling. As though sensing me regaining consciousness his eyes flicker open.

“Lila,” he says in relief. “I was so worried.”

I look around through bleary eyes. Two figures stand outside the door, facing away from me.

“Dad?” I say through sudden tears.

He reaches forward and pulls me into a hug. On hearing our voices, the two figures in the doorway turn around. I am overcome with relief.

Cupid and Cal. They’re okay.

As they enter the room, I notice Cal’s subtle limp and the bruising around his wrists where the cables bound him to the metal pole.

My dad pulls away. “I should get a doctor, tell them you’re awake. You gave us quite a scare. It’s a good job these two young gentlemen were around to get you to a hospital. They’ve watched over you this entire time.”

He looks approvingly at Cupid.

“Some scaffolding fell on you, Lila,” my dad says, seeing my confusion. “The doctors said you might forget. I’ll go and get someone now.”

Behind him, Cupid grins as my dad kisses me on the forehead and hurries out of the room. He throws himself into the chair beside me while Cal lingers by the door.

“Got to be careful of that scaffolding, lovebug,” Cupid says, winking. He’s wearing gray sweatpants and a white cotton T-shirt. He looks tired, but unharmed.

“What”—I cough, my voice a croak—“what happened?”

I rub my throat. Cupid picks up a jug on the side table, pours a glass of water, then hands it to me. I take a gulp. It cools the fire in my throat and I attempt to speak again.

“What happened?” I ask again “Is She dead?!”

Cupid nods, his face suddenly serious. “She nearly killed you. You managed to grab the Finis as she was choking you, and you stabbed her in the heart with it. After that she kind of imploded.” He shakes his head. “You were thrown back with the force of it, and you knocked your head pretty hard against the wall. For a moment we thought . . . we thought—”

“We thought we had lost you,” Cal finishes quietly from the doorway.

I’m surprised by the intensity of his tone. But when I glance over at him, he looks away.

“What about Venus’s army?” I ask.

Cupid shrugs, taking a glass of water for himself.

“They were never truly behind her. Once you destroyed her, a few of the more extreme agents tried to fight us—the Commander, members of the Arrows—but they were outnumbered. It wasn’t hard to beat them. There’s a lot of work to be done to bring order back to the Matchmaking Service. They’ll be holding an election at the end of the week to nominate a new leader.” Cupid looks at Cal, still standing rigidly in the doorway. “It won’t surprise you that my rule-abiding brother over there is one of the forerunners for president.”

Cal gives Cupid a reproachful look, but I notice that he seems to be fighting a smile.

“What about the others? Charlie, Crystal?”

Cupid nods. “All fine.”

I sigh with relief and take another sip of water. “Sorry I shot you.”

Cupid’s face cracks into a grin and he waves a dismissive hand. “Nah, don’t worry about it,” he says. “It was quite invigorating. I saw my whole life flash before my eyes, and I’m quite an interesting guy. It was like watching a movie.”

“Plus you did jump out in front of me.”

He laughs. “True. Anyway, we have something to show you.”

I look at him curiously and he gestures to the hospital corridor, where my dad is talking to a doctor. I can tell from his expression he is telling one of his dorky dad jokes. She laughs and his face lights up.

Is he flirting?!

I look at Cupid, suddenly catching on. “Are they . . . are they matched?”

I can barely hope to believe it. He’s been so down and alone for so long. Cupid nods. I look at the two brothers, and then back at my dad. He gives me a small wave from outside.

“I thought everyone only had one match,” I protest. “You said so yourself. That once a person’s match was gone, they would be alone forever.”

Cupid shakes his head. “Not anymore,” he says. “Now that Venus is gone, the rules are gone too.” He grins. “We’re free,” he says, squeezing my hand. “You freed us all. And not only does that mean that your dad is free to love again, it also means that us cupids are too.”

His eyes twinkle mischievously. “I hope that doesn’t ruin the whole forbidden love thing I’ve got working for me.”

“So you’re sticking around then?” I ask, serious.

He nods. “I’m staying right here with you. You saved me. You saved all of us. Everything is different now.”

I sense Cal watching me from the doorway, something new, something almost like passion, burning in his silver eyes. The corner of his lip quirks up into a half smile.

“Everything is different now,” he agrees softly.