As Hera worked through her thoughts, she took a sip of the juice in her hand, but Athena hadn’t touched her drink. Hera noticed this and observed Athena swirling the wine in her ss, lost in thought. Time passed, and Athena still hadn’t taken a sip, prompting Hera to ask, "Aren’t you going to drink?"


    "Huh?!" Athena blinked, as if pulled out of her reverie, a faint shadow of uncertainty lingering in her eyes. "Oh! It’s just that it’s still too early for wine. I’m only holding it for show." She chuckled awkwardly, biting her lip. Hera could see something was on Athena’s mind, and for a moment, her nervousness was evident.


    "Are you worried about getting drugged again?" Hera asked gently, pulling a small pill from her bag and showing it to Athena. "Don’t worry, I came prepared," she reassured her, offering aforting smile.


    Liz gasped in shock, her eyes widening before she leaned in closer, lowering her voice instinctively. "You guys got drugged? When?" She nced around, making sure no one else could overhear.


    Hera, sensing Liz’s concern and realizing that the danger had passed, decided to be open about it. "Yeah, we did. The same night Alice tried to drug my lovers," she whispered, her eyes shing with a brief but intense anger.


    "Wait, what?!" Liz’s hands flew to her mouth in disbelief, her eyes darting back to Alice, who was still mingling with the wealthy. Liz’s expression twisted into one of disgust and anger as she observed Alice’s carefree attitude.


    Liz hesitated for a moment, her voice wavering slightly as she asked, "Then, you guys...?"


    "Don’t worry," Hera reassured her with a calm smile. "Luke managed to get me out of there, and Athena was taken care of by Zen."


    Hera instinctively nced at Athena, but as she did, she noticed Athena flinch nervously. Then, Athena’s face flushed a deep pink. Hera’s mind clicked, and she couldn’t resist teasing her. "Athena, don’t tell me... you devoured Zen that night? Ha ha ha."


    Usually, Athena would have joked back without thinking twice, but this time, her face turned an even deeper shade of red. She looked at Hera, biting her lip, clearly nervous. Hera blinked, surprised by her reaction.


    "Didn’t you say you’re friends with Zen? You treated him like a brother... Would you be angry if I told you I <i>really</i> devoured him that night?" Athena said, her tone serious, though the word "devoured" made Hera burst intoughter.


    She couldn’t help but imagine what Zen might have looked like afterward—perhaps like a pitiful puppy, lost and so shocked he might’ve even cried. She wasn’t sure, but Zen was always straightforward and fiercely protective of her. She’d always seen him as a brother.


    Both Zen and Athena were single, though they seemed somewhat averse to the idea of starting a rtionship. Hera had no idea what would happen if the two of them got involved. But Athena’s question? It definitely suggested something had gone on that night between them.


    Hera’s eyes widened as she looked at Athena, her curiosity piqued.


    "Athena, you... you didn’t, uh, force yourself on him, did you?" Hera asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.


    Athena immediately pped her on the arm in exasperation.


    "Do you really think I’m <i>that</i> kind of person?!" Athena’s voice was tinged with anger, but her face was so red, it looked like it could bleed. Then, with a deep sigh, she deted. "I... I couldn’t control myself. He probably got so shocked he ran off first thing in the morning. When I woke up, he was gone. I felt like a total beast that night."


    Her voice cracked as she spoke, and Hera watched in stunned silence as Athena, usually the confident, yful one who never stopped joking or talking about men, now seemed on the verge of tears.


    This was the same Athena who had always been a love tutor to Hera, full of wild stories and more experience than Hera could ever dream of. But now, she was just a young woman, vulnerable and worried about the mess she might have made with someone Hera cared about.


    "Athena, don’t tell me... you’ve fallen for Zen, haven’t you?" Hera teased, and watched as Athena’s face turned even redder, like a monkey’s butt.


    "No way!" Hera yelped in mock shock. Liz, who had been quietly observing their back-and-forth, felt like she was watching the juiciest gossip unfold before her eyes. It was so hot and ridiculous that she almost wanted to grab some popcorn and a drink, but she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt. The drama was too good.


    "No, it’s not like that," Athena stammered, flustered. "I just... I think I might have scared Zen away. I mean, even though my memory’s a bit hazy, I remember him looking like a little puppy, all teary-eyed... while I, well, kind of... tortured him all night."


    Hera gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. Athena quickly corrected herself, but her words only made things worse. "What I mean is, I, uh... <i>rode</i> him all night?"