Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(100)

"Perhaps it is much like the night you insulted her," Iapis said slowly. "You have only to ask, and then be wil ing to remain and hear the answer."

Hades shook his head and turned back to the window. "She bared her soul to me and I betrayed her. Now she is beyond my reach."

"But if you would agree to see Persephone - "

"No!" Hades snarled. "I wil not see a frivolous shel who mocks the soul that once resided within her body."

"Hades, you do not know that the Goddess mocks Carolina."

"Cerberus rejected her. Orion loathed her. The dead cal ed her a charlatan. That is knowledge enough for me," Hades said.

"She is a very young goddess," Iapis reminded him.

"She is not Carolina."

"No, she is not," the daimon said sadly.

"Leave me now, Iapis," Hades said.

"First let me draw a bath and set out fresh clothes for you." When Hades started to protest, Iapis blurted, "I cannot remember the last time you bathed or changed your clothing! You look worse than the newly dead."

Hades' powerful shoulders slumped. Without looking at the daimon he said, "If I bathe and change my clothing, wil you leave me in peace?"

"For a time, Lord."

Hades almost smiled. "Then so be it, my friend."

Hades settled back into the steaming water. The black marble pool was built into the floor of his bathing room. He rested against a wide ledge that had been carved from the side of the pool. A goblet of red wine and a silver platter fil ed with pomegranates and cheese had been left within reach of his hand. The few candles that were lit glowed softly through the rising steam like moonlight through mist. Hades drank deeply from the goblet of wine. He had no appetite and he ignored the food, but the wine left a satisfying wooziness in his head. Perhaps, for just one night, he would drink himself into oblivion. Then he might sleep without dreaming of her. In one gulp he upended the goblet and looked around for more. Iapis had left a pitcher close enough that he did not have to leave the soothing heat of the pool to refil his cup.

"That daimon thinks of everything," he muttered.

"Not quite everything."

Hades jerked at the sound of her voice, and dropped the goblet. It clanged as it bounced against the marble floor.

Persephone blew on the steam. It parted and suddenly she was visible to Hades. She lounged on the ledge opposite him, and though she was submerged in water up to her shoulders, her naked body was as fully exposed to him as his was to her. The Goddess's eyes rounded in surprise. Carolina was certainly no fool. She had had no idea the dour Lord of the Underworld was so delectable.

"Hel o, Hades. I do not believe you and I have been formal y introduced. I am Persephone, Goddess of Spring."

He averted his eyes from her and lurched from the pool, quickly wrapping himself in a robe. She could see his jaw clenching and when he spoke it sounded like he was forcing his words through gritted teeth.

"Leave my presence! I refused to see you."

"I know you did, but I have a problem, and you are the only god who can help me solve it, though Apol o is definitely more hospitable, and would be very wil ing to aid me in this particular venture." She ran her fingers playful y through the hot water. "But after talking to Lina, you appear to be my only recourse."

"Apol o!" Hades said fiercely. "What has he to do with Carolina?"

"Nothing, even though he wishes otherwise."

The rest of what she had said broke through his shock. "You have spoken to Carolina?"

"Yes, I have. Actual y, I just left her bakery," Persephone said smugly. Hades drew in a ragged breath. "She is well ?"

"Her body is in excel ent shape and her business is thriving." Hades studied the drops of wine that had splattered from the goblet to the floor. "Good. I am pleased that she has - "

"I was not finished," Persephone interrupted. Flicking her fingers across the top of the pool, she rained water on him.

He glared at her. "Then finish."

"What I was going to say is that her body is good, her business is fine, but she is miserable."

"I... she..." Hades began and then stopped. He raked his hand through his damp hair.

"I - she - what?" Persephone prompted. "Lina told me that sometimes it was difficult to get you to relax, but if I was stubborn enough I could get you to talk."

Hades felt his face flush. Then his gaze sharpened on hers. "She wanted you to talk with me?

Why?"

"Oh, I do not believe she real y wanted me to talk to you. She just said it because she thinks that you're in love with me."

Hades snorted. "That is ridiculous."

"Thank you, kind God."

"I did not mean any offense," Hades said quickly.

"Oh, I know, I know," Persephone said.

She brushed her hair back from her face and one of her br**sts broke free of the surface of the pool, its taut mauve nipple pointed directly at Hades. The God cleared his throat and turned his head, focusing on the platter of fruit and cheese.

"I think it would be easier to talk with you if you joined me in the other room." He pointed to a cabinet near him. "There are robes there in which you may cover yourself."