Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(23)

Lina glanced back at the silent horses. "First, I better make things right with them." Hades watched as without any hesitation or sign of fear, the Goddess stepped into the middle of the massive stal ions so that she was surrounded by living horseflesh. An odd little bal of light fol owed her, causing the animals' slick, black coats to glisten and shine while encasing the Goddess in an il uminated globe so that her face was clearly visible and Hades could see her grinning girlishly as she patted each horse in turn. Where was the flighty, self-absorbed Goddess of Spring? This well -composed, horse-loving Persephone was not what he had expected.

"Oh, you're al good boys. Don't be sad. I'm not mad at you." Hades stil found it hard to believe, but his dread steeds nuzzled her and whickered softly. Like they were tame ponies.

Final y, laughing, she emerged from the nest of horseflesh. She felt his eyes on her again, and smiled up at him. "I love horses, don't you?"

The radiant expression on her face caused his stomach to tighten. Had a goddess ever looked at him like that before? His mouth felt dry. He swal owed hard.

"Yes."

Lina thought she could get lost in that one simple word spoken in Hades' rich, deep voice. For some ridiculous reason, she felt her cheeks warm with a blush, and she turned hastily back to stroke the stal ion's slick neck. What the hel was wrong with her? She seriously needed to get a grip on herself. She was a grown woman. There was no reason for her to get al limp-kneed and goo-goo eyed just because Hades hadn't turned out to be a bore or a trol . She glanced at him. Jeesh, he made her nervous. "Reclusive and somber," merda! Demeter had failed to add gorgeous. She needed to start thinking of him as nothing more than an upper-level executive. An incredibly powerful upper-level executive. Business - this trip was meant to be business. Remember that, she told herself firmly.

"I'm ready now." She straightened her shoulders, gave the stal ion a final pat, started to join Hades and then stopped. She had just been scolding the horses for their bad behavior, and here she was, reacting to the presence of a handsome man like a sil y schoolgirl and forgetting al of her own manners.

"Eurydice," she cal ed, stepping away from the chariot so that she could see the spirit who was standing nervously a little way down the path. "Come on. Hades is going to give us a ride." Eurydice's eyes were wide and frightened. "Oh, no, Goddess. I could not go with..." The young spirit's words ran out, leaving her silent and helpless.

Lina thought she looked like a pale, frightened little fawn.

"Honey, I wouldn't think of going on without you. You've been a wonderful guide and a good friend." Lina turned to Hades. "Isn't your palace on the way to the Elysian Fields?'

Hades nodded.

"So it would be fine for Eurydice to ride there with us?" She asked the God. Instead of answering her, Hades shifted his attention to the little spirit and spoke directly to Eurydice.

"Do not fear, child. You may join your Goddess."

His voice had changed again. Lina thought that now he sounded like a father coaxing a shy child to his side. His expression had softened, too, and gone was the intense look with which he had been studying her. In exchange his face was kind, and he looked suddenly approachable and understanding - and somehow older than he had original y appeared.

"As you wish, my Lord." Eurydice's sweet voice answered Hades. She even managed the shadow of a smile as she skirted around the four stal ions to join Lina. "You don't have to worry about them now," Lina told her, forcing her eyes from Hades' shifting face and nodding her head at the horses.

"They'l behave."

Eurydice sent the four beasts a nervous glance, and she was careful to keep the Goddess between herself and them, even though they gave no sign of striking out at her. They were too busy whickering at Persephone and sending her adoring looks.

The lip of the chariot sat well above the ground, and Lina grateful y accepted Hades' help to climb aboard. His large hand engulfed hers in instant warmth, and Lina was surprised to feel the roughness of well -worn cal uses against Persephone's smooth palm. She wondered what work Hades did with his hands, but she didn't have time to ponder the God's habits long because as soon as she pulled Eurydice up next to her, Hades barked a command and the chariot lurched forward, whipped around in a tight circle and plunged back through the jagged opening in the earth. Glancing over her shoulder, Lina caught sight of the crevice closing behind them. She gulped and drew Eurydice in front of her and grasped the smooth ridge that ran along the top of the chariot, effectively locking her within the circle of her arms so that she could be sure the girl didn't tumble off.

Lina's bal of light kept pace with them, hovering just above her right shoulder, but its il umination wasn't needed. Torches blazed from silver wal sconces, lighting the smooth, high sides of the dark tunnel through which they flew.

"It is like the Bat Cave."

Lina realized she'd spoken her thoughts aloud when Hades' head tilted down in her direction and he gave her a questioning glance.

"I was just wondering if there were bats in this cave," Lina said sheepishly.

"Yes, often there are." Hades said.

Lina watched his cape bil ow behind him. "I'l bet they're big bats," she said wryly. Hades snorted, sounding much like one of his dread steeds. "Do you fear bats, Goddess?"