Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(51)

The Goddess moved to the black steed's side and grabbed a fistful of mane, obviously preparing to mount and leave. Apol o couldn't believe it. She'd said good-bye to his horses, but she hadn't spoken another word to him.

"Al ow me to aid you, Persephone," Apol o said, moving quickly.

"How rude of me, Apol o. With al this" - she waved her delicate hands at the horses - "excitement I total y forgot about you. It was real y nice to meet you, too."

"Meet me." Apol o smiled suggestively at the lovely Goddess. "It is not as if we were strangers before today."

Persephone blushed an attractive pink. "Oh, of course not. I didn't mean... I'm just discombobulated."

Apol o threw back his head and laughed. "Discombobulated? From here after I am going to think of you as Goddess of Surprises rather than Goddess of Spring." He touched the side of her face gently. "And I wil think of you. Often."

Lina felt the warmth of his hand on her face. His body was so close to her that she thought she could hear his heartbeat - or maybe that was her own. His eyes were such a vibrant shade of blue, the perfect match for his sun-colored hair and his golden skin. Without realizing it, she leaned into him.

Orion snorted.

Lina jerked back.

Apol o smiled knowingly. Before she could refuse him, he took her waist in his hands and slowly lifted her onto the impatiently waiting stal ion's back, being careful to brush her body firmly against his own as he did so.

"When wil I see you again?" Apol o asked when she had arranged her seat and placed her feet in the stirrups.

"I don't have any idea. There's a lot I have to do." She nodded her head behind her in the direction of the entrance to the Underworld.

"You sojourn with Hades?"

Apol o's incredulous tone irritated Lina. "I am vacationing in the Underworld." Apol o laughed again. Orion's ears flattened to his head and Lina worried that he would bite the God.

"Vacationing with the dead? I have never heard of such a thing."

"I am finding that the Underworld, as well as its God, has been vastly underrated. Have a nice day, Apol o." Lina nudged Orion. The steed spun on his back hooves and lunged forward into a gal op, eager to return home with his treasure.

"I wil be here every dawn, Persephone!" Apol o shouted after her. Lina leaned forward, grabbing two fistfuls of Orion's mane. She ignored the Sun God, concentrating instead on keeping her seat, even though Orion's gal op was smooth and a childhood in Oklahoma had taught her to be an excel ent rider. Apol o was handsome, seductive, and interesting. But she

- unlike Persephone - had a job to do and would not let distractions get in her way. Nor did she -

again unlike Persephone - want to create a situation that might cause embarrassment for either of them when their bodies were re-exchanged.

The breeze whistling past Orion's head brought with it the enticing scent of the narcissus blossom. Without realizing it, Lina's lips turned up in a wistful smile.

Chapter 16

Orion's fluid strides covered the distance from the entrance to the Underworld to Hades' palace in what seemed like minutes. Even the ferry ride was faster and easier with the big horse beside her. As the palace came into view Orion slowed his pace to a gentle canter. Without having to be guided, the stal ion carried her around the side of the palace and directly to the stables. A uniformed stableman jumped to attention at their appearance, catching Orion's bridle and holding him steady while Lina dismounted.

"Thank you," she whispered to the stal ion, kissing his silky muzzle. Orion nuzzled her affectionately. "It was a wonderful ride." Before she gave a final pat to his sleek neck, Lina reached up and pulled the narcissus from his bridle. She hesitated just a second, then tucked it behind her right ear before she turned to the stableman. "Do you know where Hades is?"

"Yes, Goddess. He is at the forge. You may fol ow that pathway. It wil take you to Hades." Lina smiled her thanks to him and started down the path. She knew Eurydice would be waiting inside with her meal, and she was hungry, but first she wanted to thank Hades for sending Orion to her. She thought that she also might ask him if he would mind if she rode the horse occasional y. The stal ion was definitely a horse-lovers dream come true.

The path curled around the stables. It was lined with a hedge of roses the color of cream. She took deep, even breaths, enjoying their fragrance as it mixed with the tangy sweetness of the narcissus behind her ear. The little path angled to her left, and Lina could see that it led toward a smal building that sat a little way from the main stable. From it a rhythmic clanging drifted to her on the wind. It was metal pounding on metal, proclaiming that she was heading in the right direction. The door to the building was slightly ajar, just enough so that Lina could slip silently into the dimly lighted interior. She blinked, trying to adjust her vision from the brightness of outside. She heard a strange whooshing noise, which was fol owed by more clanking. In the far corner of the building flames from an enormous, openmouthed furnace flared, licking the air and adding sudden bursts of light to the darkness.

A man stood before the furnace, magnificently silhouetted against the orange fire. His back was to Lina. He was almost naked, covered only by a loincloth-like wrap that fit snugly around his hard bu**ocks. With long, powerful strokes he hammered a flat metal object held firmly in place by an ancient looking pair of tongs. With each fluid movement his muscles tensed and released. His body was slick with a glossy sheen of sweat, highlighting the strong ridges of his well -shaped form. His hair was tied back in a thick, dark queue.