Goddess of Love (Goddess Summoning #5)(85)

"He rejected you?"

Venus let out a long sigh. "Please don't rub it in."

"My friend, you know I would never do that."

Venus smiled sadly. "Yes, I know."

"He hurt you," Vulcan said.

"He did."

"Shall I punish him for you? I could cause his blood to turn to lava and his brains to boil,"

Vulcan said cheerfully.

Pea frowned at him and elbowed the God of Fire. "I don't think that would be very nice."

"It is a considerate offer, and I thank you. But I'm afraid I'll have to decline. It seems when you love someone the thought of them being tortured doesn't bring you the pleasure it should. Even though he definitely deserves to be tortured."

"I could thrash him." Vulcan glanced at Pea, who was still frowning at him, and added, "But not severely enough to cause him permanent damage."

Venus shook her head. "No, thank you. I'm just going to return to Olympus and try to forget about Griffin DeAngelo. I hate to think about all the catching up I'll have to do. I really have been here ignoring my divine duties too long." She stood up.

"Wait! You're going to leave? Just like that?" Pea said.

"Darling, you knew I couldn't stay with you forever."

"But I didn't think you'd leave so soon. You'll come back, won't you? I mean, no matter what happens with Griffin, you'll come back and visit."

Venus touched the little mortal's cheek. "Yes, darling. I'll come back. How could I stay away?

We'll go to Lola's for pomegranate martinis and dancing and then come back here for hot chocolate and girl talk. And I do believe you'll be visiting Olympus from time to time yourself."

Venus turned her attention to Vulcan. "Which reminds me. My friend, it is past time you and I corrected a mistake we made eons ago. We meant well, you and I, but to marry for less than what you and Pea have is a sham and a lie."

"I will always wish you well, Goddess of Love. You have been a friend to me when the other immortals shunned me. I won't ever forget that," Vulcan said.

"I'll ask Zeus and Hera to hear our petition tomorrow evening. Join me in the Great Hall and together we will dissolve our union officially."

"Thank you, Venus," Pea said, blinking back tears.

Venus smiled. "Just promise me one thing."

"Anything," Vulcan and Pea said together.

"Promise me that you will love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live."

"I promise," Pea said.

"You have my eternal oath," Vulcan said.

"Good. I'll be watching. Don't make me have to come down here and smite either of you."

Venus tugged on one of Pea's curls, purposely lightening the mood before one of them started to cry. "Now, Pea, you'll need to close your eyes so that my zapping doesn't scare you."

"This one time I think I'll keep my eyes open. I love you, Venus," Pea said.

"And I love you, too, darling." The Goddess of Love lifted her arms and disappeared. Vulcan put down his coffee mug and turned to Pea. With his arms open he said, "Are you going to cry now, little one?"

"Yes!" she said on a sob, and burying her face in her true love's shoulder, Pea had a good cry.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"I 'm a f**king idiot!"

The words exploded from Griffin as he tossed the unbalanced ledger across his desk. For hours he'd been locked up in his office by himself, fuming. Then when the fumes had fizzled, he had been left with the stark, cold truth. He'd rejected the woman he loved with all his heart and soul. And why had he done something so asinine? Because he found out she was a goddess. And not just any goddess. The woman he loved was the Goddess of Love. Venus. Aphrodite. The woman men had been immortalizing for thousands of years in song and poetry and art. But he had rejected her. Griffin cringed, remembering the look of hurt on her face when he'd let his shock and fear explode as rage and rejection.

He had to figure out some way to make it up to her - to apologize to her - to win her back. Then he'd be a man about it and deal with the fact that the woman he loved was a real goddess. That she wouldn't age or die - that she had unbelievable power.

"She should have blasted some sense into my thick head!" he muttered. Actually, on second thought, he was probably lucky she hadn't.

So now what? How did he start cleaning up the mess he'd made? She'd said she was returning to Olympus. He groaned and rubbed his temples where the same headache had throbbed for hours. It wasn't like he could call her.

Or could he?

She was a goddess. So she heard the prayers of mortals. Didn't she? It was at least worth a try. He cleared his throat.

"Venus?" he called to the air. "Are you there? Can you hear me?" He swallowed and started again. "Venus, Goddess of Sensual Love, Beauty and the Erotic Arts, I ask you to hear me."

Nothing happened. Okay, he'd try it another way. "Venus, I'm sorry. I love you. Is there any way you could forgive me for being such a f**king idiot?" He paused. "Could you shake something if you hear me?" Still nothing. Obviously he wasn't going about this in the right way. So how the hell did one go about summoning an ancient goddess? He didn't have a clue. Then he sat up straighter. He didn't have a clue, but he knew someone who did! Venus had said that Pea had used a spell to evoke her aid. He'd get Pea to give him the spell! Griffin glanced at the wall clock. Shit! It was almost two in the morning. He'd have to wait. But as soon as his shift was over he'd go directly to Pea's house and camp out on her front porch if necessary until she agreed to help him contact Venus.