Goddess (Starcrossed)

hands, swirling his fingers through it in frustration. “Helen’s the one in control.”
    “I’ve been hearing that a lot lately.” Andy looked down at the patterns he was making in the sand and frowned. “So all we can do is wait for Helen to come back? That’s pretty annoying.”
    “That’s why I needed a swim. There’s some water nymph in my family, and I’ve always felt at home in the ocean,” he said, smiling and looking down at the sand. “Helps me calm down.”
    “Me too.” She stared at his profile, wondering how it was that they had so much in common already. They’d never said more than a few words to each other, but she understood him perfectly. “And almost getting in a fight with a god isn’t exactly calming. Sorry about that.”
    “No. Don’t say that.”
    He looked up at her, and she forgot how to breathe. He was beautiful, sure. But beauty is easy. That wasn’t what moved her. What moved her was all the life she saw inside of him. He had such a strong spirit it seemed to reach out of his eyes and grab her.
    “You showing up was the best thing that’s happened to me all day,” he said, totally ruining the moment.
    Andy cringed. “Yeah, well. Thanks?” she said dubiously. “But I’d be more impressed with that line if I didn’t know what a crap day you’ve had.”
    They both cracked up.
    “That line was pretty pathetic, wasn’t it?” he asked, making fun of himself.
    “I’ve heard worse, but yeah. It was pretty bad.” She grinned at him and threw up her hands incredulously. “What happened? I had you pegged as this total smoothie.”
    “What can I say? I’m off my game,” he laughed, and looked away, growing almost shy. “I am so not smooth around you.”
    “Good,” she said quietly, letting the joke go. “I like you better like this, anyway.”
    When he looked at her out of the corner of his eyes and smiled, Andy knew she’d never mistake him for anyone else again. It didn’t matter who he looked like. Hector was unique. Andy also knew that, like it or not, from that moment on no other man would ever quite equal him in her mind.
     
    Matt watched Apollo leave Hector and Andy on the beach and relaxed his grip on his dagger, thankful that nothing had happened. He knew he couldn’t have allowed Apollo to hurt the girl but interfering would have caused a whole mess of problems. Matt was still trying to convince himself he could live with a few misgivings as long as the greater evil was exterminated. He was just glad he didn’t have to confront those misgivings yet, and he hoped the gods didn’t put him in a position where he would have to.
    Matt stole up the beach silently. Quiet as he was, he knew the only reason Hector hadn’t heard him was that he was distracted by Andy.
    He and Andromache were reunited. From what Matt saw they had the same kind of love as before. A tender, humorous companionship that could survive anything—even war, famine, and the loss of other loved ones. Their love was one of the reasons Troy had withstood the siege.
    Matt wished them the best and hoped it would turn out differently this time. He really liked Hector. He always had, despite their deep political differences. Hector was the only one who really understood him.
    That’s the thing about walls, Matt thought. The men on either side of them sometimes have nearly everything in common—except for the one detail that they are willing to kill each other over.
    Running up the beach to Great Point Lighthouse, Matt could vaguely make out the tents of his army’s camp. Well camouflaged even during the day, they looked like nothing more than sand dunes to the casual observer, but Matt could see them for what they were. Myrmidon nests.
    “Master,” Telamon said, appearing soundlessly next to Matt.
    Matt smiled at him and clasped him warmly by the forearms in greeting. He was surprised to feel such a deep tie to the captain. Fond memories welled up in Matt, reminding him of the bond they once shared. Telamon peered into Matt’s face.
    “I look nothing like him, Telamon,” Matt said with a chuckle.
    “It’s not the looks that are important,” he replied sincerely. “It’s your conviction that counts.”
    “I know what I believe. I would have believed it even if the dagger never came to me. I realize that now, and I know what I have to do,” Matt said sadly, and released his old friend.
    He became aware of a mass of men moving out of the dunes. They gathered around Matt