High Like a Goddess: Surprise Goddess Cozy Mystery, #3

By A.M. Canavan

Being a goddess is hard work, but someone's got to do it.

Every day is the same for Evangeline Lewis. She goes to work, saves the Olympians from whatever problem they've gotten themselves into, then she goes home. Day in and Day out. Just when she least expects it, a plane crashing might expose Olympus in a way she can't fix.

Her investigation turns into a race against time to discover who wants to expose the gods. Eva's growing powers as a goddess and her visions of the future help guide her through a world dominated by memories in order to find the truth.

As the consequences of exposing the Olympians become clear, Eva's visions reveal the true villain, but leave her helpless to stop him. Eva must be willing to sacrifice everything in order to save them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Canavan Novels LLC
• Release date: Jul 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393163626

Book preview

1

There was never any downtime in Evangeline’s life. From early morning interruptions that kept her from sleeping in, to late night calls that pulled her from her dreams. Working as an all-around fixer for the gods of Olympus had started to take its toll on her personal life.

That’s why, when she got a phone call from one of the gods in the middle of the night, demanding she get out of bed and come help, Eva just rolled back over and went to sleep. Nothing was so important that it couldn’t wait three more hours for her to get out of bed at a reasonable hour.

When she did finally get out of bed later that morning, Eva was caught off guard by the fact that her house was completely silent. She had three roommates, there was no reason that they shouldn’t be making noise. She knew their schedule. None of the guys had to be at work until later in the morning, and it was only pushing 8 a.m. She shrugged, and shuffled down the hall into her kitchen, craving coffee more than her next breath. It wasn’t until she’d poured her coffee, filled it with cream and sugar, and sat down at the kitchen table that there was any movement in the house.

A door in the distance slammed, followed by another, until all three of the gods who lived in her house were standing around in the kitchen.

Hey, little star. Skee plopped down next to her and grabbed an apple from the center of the table. How’d ya sleep?

Eva just side-eyed him and kept drinking her coffee in blissful silence. They buzzed around her, making plans for the day and discussing things that were happening at Three Kings, the company that acted as a shell corporation for the interests of all the Olympians.

Finally, she felt ready to face the day after her second cup of coffee, of course. Sighing deeply, she let herself begin to process what was happening around her. It looked like Kai and Skee were in the middle of a heated discussion

I just don’t think it’s smart, that’s all I’m saying. Kai looked at Erie, holding a cup of coffee in his hand and waving it around like it wasn’t full of precious liquid. Eva wanted to punch him for the sacrilege

How could it not be worth it? Erie was standing at the sink, leaning back against it. I mean, it isn’t like I’m leaving the business entirely. I’m branching out and it’s going to be good for all of us.

You’re sure about this, Erie? Kai ate the apple he’d taken, crunching loudly.

Yeah, He said. I just want to do more with my life, and it's hard to do that when everything has just been laid out for us.

Eva listened to their conversation, feeling like maybe she should interject or say something to contribute to it. They might be gods, but she had tons of experience not being able to come to terms with the life that she’d been given. After all, she’d started as a waitress outside of Amarillo, Texas. It wasn’t until she’d turned twenty-five and randomly inherited a house that her life had changed.

Eva watched her roommates talk and thought about how much her life had changed over the past year. It had been a year, too. Well, two weeks shy of a year since Eva had moved to Surprise, a city in Arizona. She’d learned so much, and just a few days before her birthday, she was worried that she wasn’t enough.

Whatever you want to do, Skee said, interrupting her thoughts. We’re going to support you, and you’ll always be a part of our side of the business, you know that.

Erie just laughed, I think that’s probably only because you don’t want to get called out in the middle of the night to help someone with a tow.

Eva couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped. It was true. Out of all of them, Skee hated getting out of bed the most and he always groaned about the work that he had to do after hours. When he heard her muffled laughter, he just rolled his eyes and grabbed an orange from the table. Eva watched him peel it slowly, then take his time as he ate it.

Why are you ignoring your phone? Kai looked at her with eyebrows raised. It’s been going off steadily now for like five minutes.

Eva looked at the offending object, which had indeed been vibrating constantly the last few minutes. I don’t want to talk to anyone right now.

He patted her shoulder like she was a petulant child. Oh, you poor thing. Are you upset that your birthday is next weekend?

No, Eva scoffed. I just don’t want to listen to Ares complain about how his latest plan to get Eris to pay attention to him has failed.

I still can’t believe he asked you to help with that. Skee tapped the table. He’s going to end up doing something crazy.

Eva snorted. You didn’t see the fiasco that he caused yesterday at Three Kings? If you had, you’d know he’s already reached that point, and there’s no coming back from it now. I just don’t want to see the chaos that’s left in his wake.

To prove her point, she picked up her phone to see a dozen missed calls from the god of war and over ten text messages on top of that. Oh, and there were four voicemails too.

She hit play and set her phone down so that everyone could hear.

Eva, you need to answer your phone. Ares’ voice boomed through her speaker. I screwed up and I need your help to fix it. He sighed loudly. She’s never going to give me a chance after I hit that man in the lobby. I need you. The distinctive sound of the phone disconnecting filled the air and Eva picked it back up again.

I don’t even have to listen to the rest of them to know that it’s more of the same thing.

So, what? Kai looked at her. He punched someone in the lobby yesterday? How come that’s a big deal?

Oh, Skee clapped his hands together. Come on tell us the story, Eva.

Suddenly, all three of them were watching her with rapt attention, and Eva couldn’t help giving them exactly what they wanted.

Well, she started. You know that Eris has been blowing him off since he decided he wanted her back. Eva tapped her fingers together. She decided to stop waiting for him. Since she’s not ‘fated’ to be with anyone. She rolled her eyes at the idea of being fated. She’s been seeing one of the Oceanids and I guess that Ares found out about it. He showed up at Three Kings yesterday completely out of his mind. If I didn’t actually know him, I’d think there was something wrong. I mean, he started yelling at Eris and I’m pretty sure she was going to hit him. Then in walked Boreas with the guy Eris is dating. I think his name is Aidan or something like that. She waved her hands in the air dismissively. "So, he walked up to Eris like nothing was going on and just kissed her. Right in front of Ares. He seriously acted like he had absolutely no clue what he'd just walked into and kissed her like there was no one else in the universe but her."

What happened next? Kai and Erie were both hanging on her every word, staring at her with wide eyes.

Ares' temper was known literally all over the world, and it had started more than one war in the human realm. At least, that's what Eva had been able to learn over the past year.

Ares coughed, I think at first he was trying to be discreet. Everyone around us could see the way his face was burning up with embarrassment. People were just standing around watching what would happen next. Even Prometheus was standing there with rapt attention on the scene at hand, but she didn't tell them about that part, or that his hand had been around Apate's waist.

Continuing with her story, Eva took a deep breath and said, Eris completely ignored him, and then Ares just reached out, swung Aidan around and hit him. Knocked him out cold. Then before Eris could hit Ares, he took a step back and snarled at her like one of Cerberus' heads.

What did he say? Erie gasped and put had a hand over his mouth, shock clearly in his eyes as he waited for Eva to go on.

He said 'If you're not going to give us a chance, I'm going to make sure you don't give anyone else a chance.' I swear to you, it was beyond creepy. If I didn't know Ares, I'd think that he had gone into stalker mode. Eva shuddered. I'm not sure I want to know, but at some point today I'm going to have to go deal with him.

She looked at her phone as it went off again, and sure enough, it was Ares.

Sighing, she answered and pressed the speakerphone button. Might as well give the gossips something good to listen to while she was at it.

Eva, Ares said relieved. Thank the gods you're up finally. I need your help. Did you get all of my messages?

No, Eva snapped and rolled her eyes. I didn't get the dozen or so missed calls either.

Listen, he interrupted her, and Eva was left wanting to hang up the phone just to see what he would do. I screwed up yesterday and I don't know how to fix it.

Oh, Eva snickered. I saw what you did yesterday. I'm surprised you're even alive right now to call me.

She didn't let me get away with it either, Ares muttered. That's for sure. He sounded frustrated, and Eva really couldn't blame him.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out before she spoke, Eva put her thoughts together and made a decision that she'd been debating for months.

Fine, Eva said. I'll help you. In exchange, you're going to have to listen to what I say, and you're going to have to tell me everything ... and I mean everything.

Done, he said instantly. Anything else?

Yeah, she said thoughtfully. I don't want any more late-night calls unless it's an actual emergency.

No. He said. We'll discuss that later. When can you come over?

Let's meet at Three Kings after I get dressed. Thinking about it for a minute, Eva corrected herself. Never mind, I'll come over after I have another cup of coffee. Skee was already pouring her a refill before Eva could even raise an eyebrow in question.

Thank you, Eva. I'll see you soon. Ares disconnected the call before she had a chance to press the red end button, which worked out just fine.

So. Kai looked at her pointedly. How are you going to explain to one of your best friends that you're helping her ex-boyfriend win her back.

Shut up, Eva snapped at him only partly playfully. I'll just have to keep it a secret.

Who's keeping secrets? Iris walked into the kitchen with her husband Zephyr right behind her.

Eva looked at her best friend, the woman whose family had raised her when Eva had been in foster care growing up.

Our dear little star here, Skee said as he handed her mug back full of coffee. Eva has decided that she's going to help Ares get Eris back, which makes absolutely no sense.

Eva threw a banana at him, which he caught and then started to peel.

That's a great idea, Iris beamed at her.

Has anyone ever thought about how hard their names are to say together? Kai looked bemusedly at what was left of his apple. Seriously, try to say Ares and Eris together five times fast and see what it sounds like.

Eva didn't say anything, but she privately thought he was right. Freaking Olympians and their weird names. She was glad that she hadn't regained any memories or thoughts about who she was. She liked her name the way it was and was definitely not looking forward to the day that she had a different name.

How are you gonna help Ares get his girl back? Zephyr sat down at the table and pulled Iris into his lap.

His wife just giggled and shifted so that she was comfortable.

I don't have a clue, Eva admitted. Don't you two have a house of your own to go to. She didn't mention that it was right next door. That was beside the point.

We miss you guys, Iris said simply, shrugging.

She reached forward and grabbed the last mango from the middle of the table. Zephyr immediately stole it from her and peeled it so that Iris could eat it without getting her hands dirty. Eva wanted to roll her eyes again, but refrained.

I gotta go, she announced needlessly to the table at large. Ares isn't gonna leave me alone for long before he starts to pester me.

Good luck, girl. Iris smiled at her, and Eva saw her light up from within. I'll find you later. We have a lot to catch up on.

Eva stood up and pulled Iris into a hug, which was awkward since Zephyr didn't move for any of it. He ended up pressed between the two women, since Eva had hugged her from behind.

Movie night?

Definitely, Iris said. I'll make sure the guys all have plans.

Wouldn't it make more sense, Zephyr interjected. For you guys to go to our house and the guys can stay here?

Iris just laughed, Obviously you don't know anything about tradition. You guys can all go out. We'll stay here.

There were four groans from around the room, and Eva wanted to smile at it, but she didn't. Instead, she threw a mock glare at them and narrowed her eyes to slits.

If you know what's good for you, you'll make yourselves busy tonight. Eva flounced out of the room on the wave of playful muttering and groans that followed her.

She took her time getting dressed, braiding her long hair into a braid that fell almost to her waist, and grabbed a hat and sunglasses to keep the hot Arizona sun out of her eyes. Looking in the mirror on her way out, she was pleased with how she looked. Short and curvy, the yoga pants she was wearing made her hips look smaller than they actually were. The tank top she was wearing made her boobs look bigger than they actually were, and the Keds she wore on her feet completed her carefree look.

Sometimes, it was good that she didn't work regular office hours. Oh, and the fact that she could wear whatever she wanted wasn't half-bad either.

Eva left through the living room, grabbing her massive purse off the hall table as she went. Her phone was tucked safely into the band of her yoga pants, and after rifling through her bag for her car keys she was ready to go.

Her purse had become something of a joke to the Olympians. She had almost everything she needed on a daily basis in it, and often had things that others might want without even checking.

Aphrodite had offered to get her a new, smaller one, but Eva was attached to it. She'd had it since she graduated high school, and it was made out of really durable canvas. Actually, Iris had given it to her as a present and Eva had sworn that it would go on every adventure she did. It needed a little bit of TLC, but she had become a pro at taking care of it through the years.

Smiling to herself, Eva closed the front door behind her even though she could hear the others still in the kitchen talking. They'd be there for her later, there was no doubt about it. Right now, Eva had a job to do. Ares wasn't going to fix his love life all on his own, and that's what they