Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(56)

The ache within him pulsed and took on a life of its own, and the God gave name to it, final y understanding what it was that caused him such elusive, unending pain - what it was that Persephone had awakened along with hope.

Loneliness.

Hades clenched his jaw against his inner turmoil and turned blindly away from the sight of the lovely young Goddess frolicking joyously amidst the spirits of his realm. He ran right into Eurydice. Hades stifled his groan of frustration as he caught the little spirit and kept her from tumbling to the ground. He forced his stiff face into the semblance of a smile. "I was not looking, child." He changed his path of retreat, but Eurydice's voice gave him pause.

"But, you aren't leaving? What shal I tel Persephone?" she asked in her sweet, shy voice.

"Tel her," he ground his teeth, "that I had the business of my realm to attend." Eurydice's eyes were large and round and they seemed to reach into his soul. Her disappointment was obvious, as was her concern for her Goddess. The God raked a hand through his hair. "And tel your Goddess that I wish her to ride with me on the morrow."

Eurydice's face lit in a smile. "Persephone wil enjoy that very much." Wil she enjoy it enough to stay with me? the God wanted to rant and rage and roar. Instead he pulled the familiar mantle of sternness over his features and made certain that when he spoke his voice was free of his seething emotions.

"I wil send Iapis to escort her to the stables after daybreak."

"Yes, Lord."

Hades strode away, muttering under his breath about goddesses and young girls. As soon as he was out of sight, Iapis materialized beside Eurydice. She glanced at the daimon, her look betraying no surprise at his sudden appearance.

"How goes it?" Iapis asked her.

"I am pleased," Eurydice said, sounding wise beyond her years.

"Do you think he took my advice and thought of her as one of the dead?"

"Not for long," Eurydice said enigmatical y, remembering her Goddess's flushed face and the heat with which Hades' eyes fol owed her. "Not for long..."

The daimon smiled and took the little spirit's hand in his. Raising it to his lips, he kissed her gently. Eurydice's pale cheeks pinkened slightly, but her large eyes gazed steadily at him. She returned his smile.

Chapter 17

" Good-bye! Thank you!" Lina waved to the Limoniades as the glowing spirits faded into the distance, taking their shining golden drops of nectar with them. Their farewel coos tumbled musical y on the wind.

"That was wonderful to watch, Persephone." Eurydice was al smiles as Lina rejoined her at the edge of the gardens.

"I'm so glad they cal ed me. It was an amazing experience," Lina gushed. She felt giddy and energized, like she'd bad too many double-shot cappuccinos before breakfast. "Oh, Eurydice, this world is incredible." She grinned, slinging an arm around the spirit and hugging her. Lina glanced around them. "Hades left?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"He had to attend to the business of his realm. But," she added quickly as the Goddess's shining face dimmed, "he commanded me to request your presence at the stables on the morrow."

"Riding Orion again." Lina's smile turned dreamy as she thought about the black stal ion. She would definitely look forward to the morning ride - almost as much as she'd look forward to seeing Hades. Her mind skittered around, jumbling images of the God's sweat-beaded body, the sensuous song of the Limoniades and the way Hades' lips had burned against hers. Lina's young borrowed body tingled erotical y.

"That horse frightens me," Eurydice said.

Lina blinked, refocusing on Eurydice's pale face. Merda! She needed to stop letting her mind wander.

"He's nothing to be frightened of. Real y, he's like a puppy in my hands," Lina said breezily, trying not to think about Orion's master, and how unlike a puppy he felt under her hands.

"I think I'l just stay away from him," Eurydice said.

Lina told herself that's probably the attitude she should have about Hades. He was too damn dangerously attractive. She should just stay away from him. But the low ache in her body murmured that she wouldn't.

She definitely needed to get her mind off Hades.

"Hey, how about we go find me something to drink?" Lina wiggled her eyebrows at Eurydice. "Al this nectar-gathering has made me thirsty for ambrosia."

Eurydice tittered, "It has also made you sticky."

Lina glanced down at herself. Shiny speckles of golden dots were sprinkled like dew al over her body. She touched one of them and then put her finger to her mouth. It tasted like sugarcane mixed with honey mixed with something like caramel or maybe butterscotch. It was delicious. But Eurydice was right, she was a mess. And she certainly was not going to think about how it would feel to have Hades lick the sweet drops off her body.

"I need a shower. A cold one," she muttered.

"You wish to be caught in a cold rain?"

Lina laughed. "Not exactly. A shower isn't just rain from the skies. It's kind of like bathing, only you're standing up and water is being poured over you."

"Oh, that sounds like my mother's bathing ritual, although she did not like her water cold," Eurydice said.

Startled, Lina asked, "Real y, what kind of bathing ritual did your mother have?" Eurydice grinned impishly. "I could show you. It would probably be an easier way to get the nectar off of you." She touched one of the drops and it trailed long, gooey tendrils from her finger back to the Goddess' skin. "They might make your bathing water a sticky mush."