Goddess of Light (Goddess Summoning #3)(89)

"What? Are you suddenly struck wordless now that your shrieking has actually roused Olympus?"

Pamela narrowed her eyes at him, recognizing the same arrogant tone she'd heard countless times in Artemis' voice. "First save him," she demanded. "Then you're free to bully me."

The god raised his brows in surprise. "Do you realize to whom you speak, mortal?"

"Yes." She spat the word in frustration. "Your flying feet mean you must be Hermes. Talk later. Save him now."

Hermes huffed out a puff of indignant air. "Impertinent!" He glanced at the still body of Apollo and shook his head in disgust. "I believe he must be spoiling you."

Pamela wanted to wrap her fingers around his throat.

"Oh, there's no need for such a passionate show of concern. Zeus would not let Apollo die."

As he spoke he waved his crystal wand in Apollo's direction, and light showered down on his body like a Forth of July sparkler. The instant the first of the sparks touched him, Apollo's chest lifted as he drew in a long breath, and then his eyes shot open. He looked around in obvious confusion, but when his gaze found Hermes, he frowned.

"Oh, I know, I know," the hovering god said. "You were expecting Hades or Charon or someone equally as dreary."

"I have explained to you that Hades is my friend. Watch how you speak of him." Apollo's voice sounded rough, as if he had to struggle to speak through a raw throat. "What are you doing here, Hermes?"

"Being underappreciated." Hermes waggled his fingers delicately at Pamela. "Your mortal shrieked for Zeus. Apparently, you were dying." He sighed and looked bored.

"Zeus sent you," Apollo said.

"Of course Zeus sent me. Your father is angry with you and the delectable Artemis, but he would hardly allow you to die."

Pamela's knees felt suddenly very wobbly, and she plopped down beside Apollo, who automatically pulled her closer to him. She wanted to sob with relief at the strength she felt in the arm he put around her.

Hermes watched Apollo's show of obvious affection for the mortal woman and decided that the God of Light had more to worry about than just the anger of his father. When a god loved a mortal, there was always a price to be paid.

"You should know that although Zeus is not going to allow you to die, he has decided that you need to be taught a lesson for disobeying him. Your wound will not kill you, nor will it actually damage your body, but your father is allowing you to feel the pain of the venom. All of the pain of the venom," he finished gleefully.

"Hermes, you would do well to remember that I am only temporarily without my immortal powers." Apollo's raw voice had gone flat and dangerous.

"Obviously you're temporarily without your sense of humor, too," Hermes huffed. "Nevertheless, I'm not finished delivering the Storm God's message. Zeus will open the portal at sunset on the mortal world's Friday. He expects you and your sister to appear before him directly after that. Have I mentioned that our Supreme Ruler is not pleased?"

"It was Bacchus' scheming that caused us to be trapped here. Take that message back to my father, and tell him that Artemis and I will be pleased to formally confront the God of the Vine with his misdeeds in the Great Hall."

Hermes rolled his pale eyes. "Zeus knows all about Bacchus and his incompetent plan to wreck divine havoc in the modern world in an attempt to keep the mortal kingdom to himself, which is why it is his decision that the portal to Las Vegas be closed. Permanently. With the corpulent Bacchus banished from the modern world as a part of his punishment."

Apollo ground his teeth against the pounding pain in his body and rasped, "Zeus is closing the portal? No, he cannot. That would mean - "

"That would mean," Hermes interrupted smoothly, "that you have until Friday to decide if you want your little mortal to join you in Olympus. Unless" - he drew the word out, tapping his temple in mock contemplation - "you would rather remain here as a mortal man." Hermes made a tisking sound. "And it doesn't appear that mortality agrees with you." Then the hovering god grinned mischievously and brushed his hands together as if he had just rid himself of a bothersome task. "Well, I have delivered my message and done my good deed for the day. Rumor has it that Aphrodite is hosting a gambling party, and I am planning on losing big to her."

With a flick of his delicate wrists, the flying god disappeared back through the fold in the sky.

Hugging his pulsing hand close to his body, Apollo shifted so that he could look into Pamela's face. Her cheeks were still wet with tears.

"I wish you wouldn't cry, sweet Pamela. All is well."

"Was he telling the truth? Are you really going to be okay?" Pamela said, brushing at her wet face.

"Hermes is Zeus' messenger. His manner is caustic, but his words are true."

She sagged with relief against him. And then she suddenly straightened, took his face between her hands and kissed him with ferocity. Ignoring the blazing pain in his body, he kissed her back, tightening his arm around her so that he could feel the curve of her breast and her soft hip pressing into him.

"Don't ever scare me like that again," she said against his mouth. She started to kiss him again but pulled abruptly away when she heard the scrambling of booted feet coming quickly up the trail. She straightened her shirt and ran a hand though her short hair. "I'm supposed to be keeping you calm."