Warrior Rising (Goddess Summoning #6)(49)

* * *

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"Yes, yes, you’re quite right. You were doing very well together.” Venus had materialized in an almost obscenely short silk tunic that showcased her long, shapely legs as she stood at the edge of the surf, letting the soft sea waves flow over her bare feet and calves. “I particularly liked when you cast that little spell over him and brought both of you to orgasm. Well done you!”

Kat felt her face flame. “Let’s make a deal. If my clothes come off, you stop peeping at me.”

“But, darling.” Venus smiled. “You didn’t have your clothes off.”

“You know what I mean,” Kat ground out between her clenched teeth.

Venus sighed prettily. “Yes, of course, I understand. Actually the reason I was watching was to be quite sure Achilles wouldn’t change when he became aroused by you, as he almost had earlier on the beach.”

“And he didn’t,” Kat said.

“No, not while he was under your spell.”

“Venus, it’s not a spell. You must know that. It’s just hypnotism—a trick that can be played with the subconscious mind. It’s used to get conscious barriers out of the way. Suggestions can be implanted during hypnotism, too, like don’t smoke. Or don’t eat so much.”

“Or only remember what happened if you want to?”

“Yes, like that. And, again. No more watching. But speaking of—did you happen to listen in when he told me about raping to death the girl he was going to marry?”

“Achilles did not do that. The berserker did. You know they are not one and the same,” Venus said.

“I understand that, but it doesn’t change the girl’s outcome, or mine if I happen to trigger a berserker possession.”

“Katrina, darling, I don’t believe you will.” The goddess paused, studying Kat carefully. “And I don’t think you believe you will, either.”

“Actually I believe that he can learn to control what triggers the possession. I may have figured out what it is that has to happen to call the berserker to him, and it’s not as simple as him being physically aroused or emotionally excited. It has to be a very specific combination of the two,” Kat said.

Venus nodded. “So you simply need to make sure both don’t happen at once.”

“Well, it’s not so simple. And both are bound to happen at the same time eventually. What I think I can do is get him to control himself enough so that he’s just on the edge of the berserker’s possession, but he doesn’t trip over into it.”

“And all of this will take time and keep him away from the battle-field so that a quick, decisive Trojan victory can be orchestrated. Excellent! I will report everything back to Hera and Athena.” Venus’s smile was brilliant. “I knew you were the right choice for this job.”

“Thanks. I think.” But she couldn’t help smiling back at the beautiful goddess.

“Oh, and you should know that I would never allow Achilles’ berserker to harm you. Had you awakened him last night, I would have protected you. So feel free to experiment with your lovely hypnotism spell.” The goddess raised her shapely arm, obviously getting ready to disappear.

“Wait! Okay, not that I’m unappreciative about you saying you’ll be sure the berserker doesn’t rape and pillage me, but can we work out some way you could know I need your help without you spying on me in way too intimate moments?”

“Darling, goddesses do not spy. We watch attentively and oversee our adoring subjects.”

“Fine, let’s just have your watching be not so personal, and your overseeing be slightly less attentive. Can’t I have like a panic button I could press or something?”

“What a lovely idea! And I saw the perfect thing on display at one of Tulsa’s exquisite jewelry boutiques on Brookside called Nattie Blue. My mortal friend, Pea Chamberlain, and I have recently discovered the delicious Garlic Rose restaurant there. Their food is fit for a goddess.” Venus laughed. “And, of course, I would know!”

“The panic button. Remember?”

“Oh, of course, darling.” Venus lifted her arm again and made a fluttering motion with her long, elegant fingers causing diamond glitter to form in the air around her. And then, with a pop a golden heart locket was suddenly dangling from her fingers. Venus held it up in front of her face and frowned. “Well, it’s more modern-mortal-world-looking then I remembered. But not a problem. I can fix that.” Venus closed her hand around the locket and then blew gently into her fist. When she reopened her hand Kat saw that the locket was the same basic shape and size, but the golden color had changed. Now it reminded her of the buttery color of the golden jewelry Agamemnon had draped himself in. “Perfect!” The goddess motioned for Kat to turn so she could fasten it around her neck.

Kat looked down at the heart that rested between her breasts. “Venus, it’s pretty, but how does this help me?”

“Simple, darling. If you need me you open the heart and call my name. I’ve inserted an oracle within it. I will hear and come to you.”

“And you’ll only hear me when I open the locket?”

“Yes, of course.”

Kat lifted the locket and studied the outside of it. “And it won’t let you watch me oh, so attentively?”