Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(65)

"Wel , I think being an artist is the perfect pastime for a lady, and I give you wholehearted permission to draw and draw and draw," Lina said.

"Thank you so much, Persephone!" Eurydice did a happy skip-step. "I cannot wait to tel Iapis. He said he thought that I drew very well , and that he could find more supplies for me if I wished to keep sketching."

"Did he?" Lina raised her eyebrows suggestively.

Eurydice's face, already luminous, took on a decidedly pink hue. "Yes, he did. I thought he was just being kind, because he is always so kind, but if you agree with him then I know it must be true."

"Tel Iapis I said to load you up with supplies. You are now official y Personal Artist to the Goddess of Spring." Lina raised her arm regal y to punctuate the proclamation. Eurydice's eyes grew round with wonder. Impulsively she threw her arms around Lina, hugging her tightly. "You are the most wonderful goddess in al the world!" Lina laughed. "That is exactly the opinion I expect from my Personal Artist."

"You must task me with a commission. What shal I draw for you?"

"Shouldn't you finish the map first?"

"That wil be done soon. Then what would you like me to draw?" she demanded eagerly. Lina thought for a moment. Then she smiled. "The narcissus is quickly becoming my favorite flower. Why don't you draw me a big, beautiful picture of a narcissus?" Eurydice's face glowed as she curtsied deeply to her goddess. "Your artist wil do your bidding, Goddess of Spring."

Lina inclined her head in her best goddess-like gesture, pleased at how happy she had made Eurydice. "I wil try to wait patiently for your first commission." The little spirit popped up from the curtsy. "Oh! My first commission!" Two firm knocks sounded against the door to Lina's room. Eurydice danced to open the door.

"Iapis!" she gushed. "Persephone has declared that I am her Personal Artist!" lina observed the daimon closely. His expression was warm and open as he congratulated Eurydice, and his eyes never left the girl's face. Lina's grandma would say that he looked very much like a man who was on his way to being well and truly smitten. Lina noticed that Eurydice touched the daimon's arm twice during her excited recitation. The girl's body language definitely said she was returning his interest - no, Lina corrected herself - she was going to have to stop thinking of her as a girl or a child. Eurydice was a young woman who had already been unhappily married once. In actuality the body Lina currently possessed didn't look to be much older.

"Goddess, may I commend you on your excel ent taste in artists?" Iapis said gal antly. Grinning, Eurydice hovered at his side.

"Thank you, Iapis. I think we are just beginning to discover Eurydice's talents." Iapis smiled fondly at Eurydice. "I must agree with you, Goddess." Then he bowed to Lina. "Hades awaits you at the stables. He asks that I relay to you that Orion is growing impatient." Lina's stomach gave a jolt at the mention of the God. "Wel , then, it's a good thing I'm ready. I wouldn't want to keep a dread steed waiting."

"They scare me," Eurydice said.

"Remember, just think of them as big dogs," Lina told her. The spirit and the daimon hurried after her as she walked briskly down the hal way and through the courtyard, fully aware that now she was the one who felt like dancing happily.

"Was your bath satisfactory last night, Goddess?" Iapis asked. Lina was glad that she was walking ahead of him. She knew the expression on her face would give away just how satisfactory last night had become.

"Yes, it was lovely. Thank you."

"Persephone said she slept very well ," Eurydice added.

Lina smiled. She had slept wrapped in Hades' cape, fal ing in and out of teasingly erotic dreams.

"It pleases me to hear it," Iapis said to Eurydice. "Especial y after the restless night my Lord spent. I do not believe Hades slept at al ."

"Perhaps you should try bathing him as I did Persephone," Eurydice said. Lina quickened her pace, letting the soft breeze that drifted through the courtyard cool her flushed skin. Her body already felt like a spring that had been tightly wound. She definitely didn't need to start visualizing Hades' naked body being bathed and covered in oil. Lina hurried past the central fountain and the lovely sculptures, relieved when she final y reached to the wrought iron gates.

"I think I wil stay here, Persephone," Eurydice cal ed from behind her. The little spirit pointed to a cluster of narcissus flowers. "I can begin some preliminary sketches while you are riding with Hades."

"And I must procure the proper supplies for your artist," Iapis said, but his eyes never left Eurydice.

"Behave yourselves. I'l be back soon," Lina said.

The pair waved her away and she hadn't taken more than a couple of steps from them when she looked back to see that they already had their heads together. Eurydice's girlish giggle was fol owed by the deep sound of the daimon's laughter. She was going to have to remember to talk to Hades about them. Iapis seemed like a good guy - if guy was the right word to use when referring to a semi-deity -  but what exactly were his intentions? Eurydice was recovering from a bad relationship, not to mention the fact that she was newly dead. That had to make her doubly vulnerable. Didn't it? No matter what, Lina was definitely responsible for her and she didn't want to see her hurt. Iapis should be told to take it slow. Eurydice needed to be treated careful y and with respect.