Calliope kept speaking of reason, but in Melpomene's experience of the world, reason rarely played a central role. Pain is stronger than reason she'd told Will Scarlet, and it was still true.
And pride, pride could drown reason like a kitten. Aphrodite's pride was legendary. Good luck reasoning with that.
"You can try your way," Melpomene unfolded her arms and wrapped them, protectively and churlishly, around her stomach instead. "I'll try mine. I'll fight anyone who tries to take him," she swore it outloud, to her sisters, to herself.