Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning #4)(85)

And she daydreamed about him. Her body felt deliciously sore in places she'd forgotten she had. It had been almost a year since the last time she'd had sex, but she'd never experienced anything like making love with Asterius. His body . . . the man/beast mixture had been intriguing . . . alluring, but what she'd found most seductive was the freedom she felt with him. She could let her own beast loose when they were together and trust him not to turn away from her. He matched her, passion for passion. And he knew her - he saw into her soul. Asterius, Minotaur, Guardian - he knew what it was to be an outlander. Well, they had finally found their home - together.

"The rain was a clever idea, Empousa."

Mikki thought she'd stroke out at the sound of Hecate's voice. "Good grief, you scared the bejeezus out of me!" Then she remembered to whom she was speaking, cleared her throat and turned around to face the goddess with a heart that pounded painfully in her chest. "I'm sorry, Hecate." Mikki curtseyed as she had seen the handmaidens do so often. The goddess was sitting on a marble bench just a few feet behind her. "You surprised me. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."

Hecate waved her hand dismissively. "My Empousa is allowed liberties few others will ever know." She gestured beside her. "Come, sit with me."

Swallowing down her nerves, she approached the goddess. The enormous dogs were at their position by her side, and they ignored Mikki completely. Hecate was clothed in the colors of night - black, the deepest blue and gray. She had manifested as the striking middle-aged woman again, and the light misting of rain looked like jewels in her dark hair.

"The spell of protection and health you cast yesterday was well thought out. I agree with your instincts. The rain refreshes the roses and the realm. Also, the little insects you commanded Earth to provide were a lovely surprise, and Wind was delighted to carry them here" - the goddess paused and then surprised Mikki with a musical laugh - "although you cannot see their red-and-black bodies through this mist."

"Ladybugs feed on aphids, and roses hate aphids," Mikki said, a little overwhelmed by Hecate's effusive praise.

"The roses thrive again. I am pleased."

"Thank you, Hecate."

"It was also good that you instructed Flame to illuminate the rose wall, most especially at the gate. Now that men will be coming and going again, you must take special care with the gate."

Mikki rubbed a hand across her brow. "I didn't even think about that. Uh! I'm a fool. How did I expect them to get in and out of the realm?"

"It is not a bad thing that you have allowed men here again. You've made many of the women very happy. All night I heard the names of lovers whispered in invitation and carried to the ancient world where they were eagerly accepted." Hecate's expression became sultry. "Still this morning lovers are being called and enjoyed by my women, who have long been revered as some of the most beautiful and intelligent in the ancient world. Having males about means we will have new life in the realm. Girl children are a blessing, and I look forward to the births."

"But Dream Stealers are in the forest. We have to be careful if that gate is opening and closing at all hours."

"You are the Empousa, Mikado. You may place limits on when the men are allowed to come and go." Hecate gave her a kind look. "It is good that you understand the dangers that lurk on the other side of the rose barrier, but you need not worry yourself. The Guardian's strength will protect the realm. Couple his vigilance with your nurturing of the roses, and all will be well in the Realm of the Rose."

Mikki tried not to think or react at all. She kept her mind blank and nodded respectfully.

"Excellent. Now, what I came to tell you is that I have matters to attend to which will take me far from my realm. You are not to be concerned if I do not visit here for" - she moved a round, white shoulder - "some time. Within this realm my powers are always here if you have need of them. I sense that you are relying more confidently upon your instincts, and for that I applaud your wisdom. Let your intuition guide you. If your blood and heart and spirit tell you something, then you may always believe it. And remember, Empousa, I applaud what you have done for the roses, but it is not so much your actions that have begun their recovery. It is your presence, and the blood tie you have with them that assures they will thrive. Be wise, Empousa. The dreams of mankind depend upon you . . ." Hecate raised her hand and disappeared in a glittering of mist.

Chapter Thirty

MIKKI couldn't say she wasn't relieved that Hecate would be gone for a while. Of course she'd have to tell the goddess about her relationship with Asterius. Telling her would be ever so much better than Hecate reading her mind or finding out on her own some other way. Mikki wanted to run and hide just thinking about it. So she'd tell her, but she sure as hell didn't want to do it soon. It wasn't that she was ashamed that she loved Asterius, and it wasn't that she was afraid of Hecate, though the goddess was definitely intimidating. It was just that Mikki wanted to keep Asterius to herself. Why couldn't they have privacy to discover the shared secrets of new love? Even had she fallen in love with a man back in Tulsa, Mikki would have wanted time for the two of them to get over the newness of love before she hauled him around and opened their lives up for everyone to poke and prod. She was private, and the more important something was to her, the more private she was about it. Asterius was very important to her.