Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(32)

"Amethyst matches your eyes perfectly."

His voice was rough and dangerously sexy. Lina's borrowed body responded to it as quickly as her soul and she looked deeply into the God's eyes.

"Thank you, Hades." This time experience took over and she didn't stutter or blush, she purred. Hades was overwhelmed by the rush of heat that coursed through his blood. Persephone couldn't possibly know what a temptation she was to him. She was a goddess. She was accustomed to commanding the attention of males, mortals and immortals alike, but she was not accustomed to the Lord of the Underworld. She could not know how painful it was for him to see her there before him, so young and beautiful and desirable. With the return of passion, the old emptiness reared alive within him as the ancient difference between Hades and the other immortals reawakened. He forced his gaze from the velvet trap of her eyes.

"Would you like wine?" he blurted.

"Yes, please," Lina said, confused as he suddenly lurched from the table, shouting for wine like he was in the middle of a fish market. What had just happened? He had complimented her eyes, and she had thanked him. Electricity had passed between them. Even a young woman would not have had trouble recognizing that spark, and Lina was no young woman. She had even thought he was leaning toward her, then pain had flashed over his face and the attraction had been shattered. Lina felt like someone had thrown cold water on them.

Two servants rushed into the room, each carrying a pitcher of wine. Hades glowered, pointing to Persephone.

"Do you desire red or white, Goddess?" one of the servants asked.

"Red, please," Lina answered automatical y, not caring whether Hades was serving fish, fowl, beef or pasta for dinner. She just hoped that the red was dark and rich and strong. She took a long drink. Thankfully, it was al of the three.

"Leave this wine and bring more," Hades ordered the servant after he had fil ed the God's goblet. The two immortals drank without speaking.

Hades studied his empty plate, wishing that he were different... wishing that her very presence didn't remind him of why he must remain withdrawn from the rest of the immortals.

"The wine is excel ent," Lina broke into the silence.

Hades made a sound somewhere in his throat that might have been a grunt of agreement.

"I like red wine best," Lina said. Now that she had started speaking she didn't seem to be able to stop. She held up the crystal goblet and let the diamond light sparkle through it. "This wine reminds me of rabies."

Hades cleared his throat and al owed his eyes meet hers again.

"Rubies," he repeated her last word, pouncing on a harmless subject. "Did you know that jewelry set with rubies can be worn to banish sadness and negative thoughts?"

"No, I didn't," Lina said, studying the blood-colored wine. "What else can it do?"

"Ruby-set jewelry can also produce joy, strengthen wil power and confidence as well as dispel fear." Hades noted the irony of his words. Perhaps while Persephone visited his realm he should take to wearing rubies.

"I had no idea jewels could be so fascinating," Lina muttered, looking from the diamond chandeliers to the gleaming chrysocol a candelabrum and then back to her ruby-colored wine.

"Actual y, I haven't given jewels much thought at al , especial y lately." Hades quirked one dark eyebrow up at her. "A goddess who hasn't given jewels much thought. That would make you a unique goddess indeed."

Lina felt a prickle of warning. Had she said too much? She had been so involved in what Hades was saying she had forgotten to remember that she wasn't herself - as confusing as that seemed. A stream of semitransparent servants carrying trays laden with food, fol owed by Iapis and Eurydice, entered the room. Lina breathed a sigh of relief at the distraction. "Oh, Persephone, wait until you see what has been prepared for you!" Eurydice gushed. "I've never seen such delicacies." Lina was already staring at the trays, and she couldn't agree more with the little spirit.

"It smel s fantastic," Lina said, and watched in hungry anticipation as trays fil ed with color and scent and texture were laid reverently before her. There were clusters of white delicacies that Lina realized were several different kinds of flower petals, al of which had been sugared, crystal ized, and frozen in perfect bloom. Olives, ranging in color from light green to black crowded against blocks of cheese that were thick and almost as fragrant as the slabs of warm bread that rested beside them. But it was the fruit that kept drawing Lina's eye. It commanded one tray by itself. Its dark pink skin had been broken open, and fat, red beads spil ed forth, begging to be consumed.

"Pomegranates." Her lips felt numb.

"Do you not like pomegranates, Persephone?" Hades frowned at her troubled expression. "I can have them taken away."

Lina glanced up to see the covey of servants peering at her with large, pale faces fil ed with concern.

Don't be paranoid, she told herself, it's just a sil y coincidence. "I love them. Everything looks absolutely perfect." She purposefully scooped up several of the drops of red fruit and popped them into her mouth. Flavor burst against her tongue and she sighed with delight. "They're wonderful!" She slurred through the sweet juice.

The servants let out a col ective breath of happiness.

"Al appears to be to my liking, too," Hades said sardonical y. Persephone seemed to have cast the same spel over his servants as she had over his horses. "You may leave the platters. If we need more, I wil cal for you."