Goddess of Spring (Goddess Summoning #2)(93)

The more she drank, the easier it was for her to admit it, Persephone did sound like fun. Lina read the rest of the recipe with a wine-induced smile.

During the night of a ful moon, take the mixture and place it under the old oak tree. You know the one. It is in the courtyard next to the fountain. I sprinkled a little of the magic of Spring there (do not be surprised if you see a nymph or two, although they seem to be very shy about showing themselves in your world). Before you leave the mixture there, you must dance three complete circles around the tree while you focus your thoughts on the sweet beauty of the night. (Lina, there are no particular dance steps you must complete. Simply listen to your soul and frolic! I think your body may surprise you... It has certainly surprised me.)

Lina groaned and re-read the line. It has certainly surprised me. She didn't even want to guess what Persephone meant by that, but the searing looks Scott had given her, and the fact that he had a hard time keeping his hands off her, gave her a pretty good idea. well , it wasn't like she'd been particularly chaste in Persephone's body, either. She didn't want to think about that, though. She returned her attention to the end of the recipe.

Retrieve the finished mixture the next morning. You must dilute it ten times for mortal consumption. (Lina, be careful. I can only imagine what would happen if Anton sampled some of it while it was ful -strength.)

"No kidding," Lina muttered. "Talk about a nymph. He'd probably sprout wings and fly." She laughed.

Then she caught herself. Persephone had just made her laugh - twice. And she wasn't even there. No wonder everyone loved her so much.

"Wel , kids," she said to Patchy Poo the Pud and Edith Anne. "I'm going to finish up this last glass of wine, then I'm going to take this honeysuckle-colored crock, put it under an old tree, do some quick frolicking before I pour myself into bed." She hiccupped and her pets stared at her with accusatory eyes. They always seemed to know when she'd had too much to drink. Lina wrapped an arm around the crock and started wearily for the door. Edith Anne, of course, stood directly in her way.

"Don't fret, old girl. I'm not going anywhere without you." That was one good thing about her dog being so umbilical y tied to her - she didn't have to bother with a leash anymore. "We'l be back soon. I promise," Lina told Patchy Poo the Pud, who was watching her with eyes that were somehow disdainful and worried at the same time.

The night had gotten colder, and Lina wished she had grabbed her coat, but the cashmere turtleneck Persephone had added to her wardrobe was snug and warm - even if it was a delicate pink color that Lina thought would look better on a teenager than a middle-aged woman, no matter how many compliments she got whenever she wore it.

Forget it, she told herself. She didn't have the energy to worry about her wardrobe, and if she didn't want to go on a major shopping spree, there wasn't much she could do about it. In six months Persephone had replaced every single item in her closet. Everything. From shoes to jackets to a whole new line of sexy silk panties and matching bras.

"Where did the girl find the time?" she asked Edith Anne. The dog made a snuffling noise while she kept pace at Lina's side.

Lina shook her head. "I don't know either. I think she needs to be renamed the Goddess of Shopping instead of the Goddess of Spring."

Lina giggled. Quite frankly, she was a little drunk. She needed to be for where she was headed. She fol owed the little brick path that led from her condo to the central y located courtyard. She heard the fountain before she saw it. Six months and two weeks ago, it had had a calming effect on her. Now as she came closer to the courtyard, her stomach clenched.

Thankful y, the area was deserted. Lina glanced at her watch, twisting her wrist so that the dials could be il uminated by the light from the ful moon. 10:45 pm. How had it gotten so late? Steeling herself, she approached the old oak - the same oak under which she had discovered the beautiful narcissus.

It looked much as it had six months before. Then the branches had been bare except for buds of new growth waiting to open. Now the branches were almost bare again. There were just a few leaves the color of paper grocery bags clinging to its boughs. Lina cast her eyes down. Thick, gnarled roots crisscrossed the ground at its base. Slowly, Lina walked its circumference, studying the shadows.

Except for dirt and roots, the area around the tree's base was empty. There was no hidden flower that smel ed of first kisses, moonlight and springtime. What had she expected? Frowning at herself, she tucked the crock of cream cheese and wine in a semi-flat niche between two roots near the trunk of the tree. Then she stepped back.

In her mind she could see Persephone's directions. Before you leave the mixture there, you must dance three complete circles around the tree while you focus your thoughts on the sweet beauty of the night. Okay, she rubbed her hands together. I'l think about how pretty the night is - I'l dance around the tree - and I'l be done.

She looked around her. Except for Edith Anne, who sat a few feet away from her watching attentively, the courtyard was stil deserted.

"Good," Lina muttered. "They'd think I was crazy." Edith huffed at her.

"Don't worry, this won't take long."

Think about the beauty of the night, Lina told herself. She looked up. The moon real y did look pretty, sitting up there like a glowing silver disc lit from within.

Lina took a tentative step, lifting her arms over her head she half turned. Moonlight filtered through the branches of the tree and stroked the cashmere that covered her arms, making them glow a silvery blush color that reminded Lina of the breast of a dove. She skipped over a root, surprised at how gracefully her body responded.