Goddess of Spring (28 page)

“The night grows cold. We should return to the palace.” He brushed a long lock of hair from her face, noting the disappointment that flashed through her eyes. Good, he thought. He wanted her to desire him and yearn for him, until it was more than his body that she craved.

He led her back to the path that would take them to the palace. Lina's thoughts were spinning. Her body still felt overheated, and her heightened physical sensitivity somehow merged with the incredible beauty of the scene she had witnessed between the soul mates. The poignancy of the lovers' devotion stayed with her. Under her hand she could feel the pulse of Hades' blood, which was steady and strong. He had brought her there to witness the rebirth of the soul mates, but he hadn't used it as a seduction device—if that had been his intention, he could have taken her right there on the ground. But he hadn't. Hades obviously wanted more from her than sex. Her soul quickened even as alarm bells rang within her mind. Love—he had shown her his idea of love. Hadn't he already said that he believed mortals understood love better than the gods? Did the gods have soul mates? She had no idea. All she knew about the immortals was what she had inattentively read decades ago. What she did remember was that the ancient gods were fickle, that they discarded lovers at their whim. That didn't fit with what she was learning about the god who walked by her side.

She glanced up at his dark profile. Who would ever believe that she had found such desire and romance in the Land of the Dead? As if he felt her gaze he looked down at her. Hades' lips twitched and then curved up.

“You look as if you have many questions playing through your mind. You know I have already given you leave to ask me anything, and I promise you that this time I will remember my manners and not insult you as my guest.”

Lina felt herself blush and she hoped that the dreamy darkness hid her suddenly pink cheeks. She had completely forgotten about snapping at him and his instant withdrawal from her. It seemed like it had happened an age ago, and that they had been two totally different people then. She leaned into him, loving the strong feel of his arm and the way he bent attentively over her.

“It was a magical thing we watched tonight,” she said.

“Yes, it was the most perfect type of magic—that which is created naturally by the soul and not contrived by the gods.”

“The gods don't bring soul mates together?”

Hades snorted. “No. Mortal souls find their own match; they do not require the meddling hands of the gods.”

His words brought another question to her mind.

“Can the dead fall in love?” she asked, thinking of the shy looks Eurydice had begun giving Iapis. “Or is it only soul mates that have the ability to love after death?”

“You can answer that question yourself, Persephone.”

Lina glanced sharply up at him, but his tone was instructional and not patronizing.

“Think, Goddess. What is it that loves? The body or the soul?” He prodded.

“If you're asking about real love, and not just lust or infatuation, I'd have to say the soul.”

Hades nodded. “The body is just a mantle, a temporary covering for our true visage.”

“So that means that the souls that exist in Elysia, or even in your palace, can fall in love?”

“Any of the unnumbered dead who are capable of it may find new love.” Hades frowned. “But you should know that not all souls are capable of that emotion.”

“Are you talking about mortal souls, or do you mean the souls of the gods?”

Hades stopped walking and turned to face her. They were standing very close and her hand still rested on his arm. The god hesitated before answering her. Then his fingers brushed her cheek in a familiar caress.

“I cannot speak for the other gods, only for myself. My soul longs for its eternal mate.” He bent and brushed his lips against hers. He gestured to the space behind her. “It seems we are back where we began.”

Lina looked over her shoulder and blinked in surprise. They had stopped at the mouth of the little path that led to her balcony.

Without speaking, Hades cupped her face in his hands in such a gentle gesture that Lina expected the kiss to be sweet and brief. When his lips met hers she realized that she had been very mistaken. The god took his time tasting her, splaying his fingers into the thickness of her hair until he was caressing the sensitive nape of her neck. Lina ran her hands up his arms, thrilled anew by their muscular strength. He nibbled at her bottom lip before ending the kiss. Still holding her he spoke against her mouth, “Will you ride with me tomorrow?” His voice was husky with desire.

Heart fluttering, Lina nodded.

“Yes.”

“Until tomorrow then.” He released her reluctantly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Then he bowed to her, turned and strode away.

Lina climbed the steps to her balcony and entered her room on shaky legs. As she sagged onto the bed she caught a reflection of herself in the mirror situated over the vanity across the room. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair looked wild. Hades' cape had fallen down around her waist and her sheer nightdress was smudged, a couple of pine needles clung to the side of her hem. And even from across the room she could see the clear outline of her aroused nipples.

“Misericordioso madre di Dio!”
she said, using her Grandmother's most potent exclamation. “You're forty-three years old,” she told her reflection. “And you haven't felt like this since . . . since . . .” She shook her head at her strange, youthful image. “Since never. No man has ever made you feel like he does. And he wants eternal love.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh, Demeter. What am I going to do?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“HONEY, I think you have the makings of a real artist.” Lina studied the charcoal sketch on the parchment. She had expected Eurydice's map to be a crude little drawing, but when the spirit unrolled the parchment Lina had immediately been impressed by the quality of her work. The palace blueprint was laid out with strong, clear lines, each section labeled in a flowing script, but what impressed Lina the most was the meticulous detail with which Eurydice had symbolized each section of the palace. To mark the main dining room she had reproduced in miniature the ornate table, complete with candelabrum. The Great Hall had been labeled with a dais on which she had drawn Hades' throne. She had even sketched in the flower-filled courtyard and outlined the massive fountain in its center.

“Do you really like it?” Eurydice asked breathlessly. “It is not completed yet. There are still many finishing touches I should add.”

“I love it. Have you always been an artist?”

Eurydice's face was animated with excitement. “Yes! I mean, no, not actually an artist. My father did not believe drawing was a proper pastime for a young lady—even as a hobby. But I used to draw things in secret. I sketched pictures of flowers on dry patches of ground with a sharpened stick. I dipped a bird's quill in my mother's dye and drew animals on old rags.” She grinned impishly at Lina. “My father would have been very upset if he had known.”

“Well, 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 tell 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.”

“Tell Iapis I said to load you up with supplies. You are now officially Personal Artist to the Goddess of Spring.” Lina raised her arm regally 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 all the world!”

Lina laughed. “That is exactly the opinion I expect from my Personal Artist.”

“You must task me with a commission. What shall I draw for you?”

“Shouldn't you finish the map first?”

“That will 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 will 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 will 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 excellent taste in artists?” Iapis said gallantly.

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. “Well, 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 hallway 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, falling in and out of teasingly erotic dreams.

“It pleases me to hear it,” Iapis said to Eurydice. “Especially after the restless night my Lord spent. I do not believe Hades slept at all.”

“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 finally reached the wrought iron gates.

“I think I will stay here, Persephone,” Eurydice called 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'll 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 followed 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 carefully and with respect.

An ear-splitting neigh brought Lina up short and she stopped her inner tirade. Orion was standing outside the stable. His mane had been combed and braided with ribbons the color of moonlight, which was the exact color of the narcissus tucked under the crownpiece of his bridle. He caught her eye, arched his neck and snorted, taking a few frisky side steps to show off. Beside him stood another stallion that could have been his twin, except that the other horse's night-colored coat was broken by a single white splotch on his forehead in the shape of a lopsided star. The two steeds were almost as magnificent as the god who held their reins. Hades was scowling impressively at his lead stallion.

“Settle down you great foolish beast!” Hades told Orion. “You see that Dorado is not making such a fuss.”

Lina hurried to join them, trying not to be obvious about staring at the way the god's arms and shoulders bulged as he pulled Orion to order. He was wearing another short tunic which exposed an excellent amount of his arm muscle as well as most of his legs. His black cloak billowed around him. Batman. A delectable, ancient version of Bruce Wayne. Lina fought the urge to fan herself.