This was not an official assignment. It was not even an unofficial one. Aphrodite did not even know how His Holiness had come by the request, but it had been quietly handed to him nonetheless.

And here he was, days later, watching his breath almost as intently as his target. Or, more correctly, his charge.

The straw goat would burn quickly and nights were the most dangerous. So there he--

A flicker of flame caught Aphrodite's eye and he moved faster than the would-be vandal could even see.

Safe, again. Aphrodite smiled.

And the news reports never mentioned the roses.