Goddess of Light

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Delving into mythology and reworking ancient myths is fun! In
Goddess of the Sea
I retell the story of the mermaid Undine—who switches places with a female U.S. Air Force sergeant who needs to do some escaping of her own. In
Goddess of Spring
, I turn my attention to the Persephone/Hades myth, and send a modern woman to Hell! Who knew Hell and its brooding god could be hot in so many wonderful, seductive ways?

From there we take a lovely vacation in Las Vegas with the divine twins, Apollo and Artemis, in
Goddess of Light
. Finally we come to what is my favorite of all fairy tales, “Beauty and the Beast.” In
Goddess of the Rose
I created my own version of this beloved tale, building a magical realm from whence dreams originate—good and bad—and bringing to life a beast who absolutely took my breath away.

 

Praise for
Goddess of Light

“A charmer . . . Cast continues her unique brand of delightfully mixing a modern-day romance with a mythological legend . . . Creative.”

 

“Pure enjoyment . . . Anything can [happen] when gods and mortals mix.”

 

“A fanciful mix of mythology and romance with a dash of humor for good measure . . . Engages and entertains . . . Lovely.”

 

 

“Suspense, fantasy, time travel, all topped off with a very healthy dollop of romance . . . The good news is that this is just the beginning.”

 

“Captivating—poignant, funny, erotic! Lovely characters, wonderful romance, constant action, and a truly whimsical fantasy . . . Delightful. A great read.”
—The Best Reviews

 

“A fun combination of myth, girl power, and sweet romance [with] a bit of suspense. A must-read . . . A romance that celebrates the magic of being a woman.”
—Affaire de Coeur

 

“[An] adult fairy tale . . . the audience will cherish.”

—
Midwest Book Review

 

“Vivid and colorful . . . Splendid blend of fantasy, history, intrigue, and passion . . . Outstanding. Watch out for this author.”
—Rendezvous

 

“Most innovative . . . From beginning to end, the surprises in P. C. Cast's new page-turner never stopped. Its poignancy resonates with both whimsy and fantasy . . . I loved it!”

—New York Times
bestselling author Sharon Sala

 

“Sweet and funny.”
—Huntress Reviews

“One of the top romantic fantasy mythologists today.”

 

“As always, there's a dash of humor and lots of meltingly hot sex.”

 

“Enchanting . . . Lovely.”
—The Romance Readers Connection

 

“A veritable feast for readers who just can't get enough fantasy dished up with their romance. Mythology has never been so fun!”

 

 

“P. C. Cast [is] well-known for her blending of mythological tales and romance . . . [A] beautiful adult fairy tale . . . Readers will be enchanted.”

 

“Outstanding . . . Magic, myth, and romance with a decidedly modern twist. Her imagination and storytelling abilities are true gifts to the genre.”

 

 

“Sexy, charming, and fun,
Goddess of Love
is the fantasy romance of the year! You will fall in love with this book. (I did!)”

—New York Times
bestselling author Susan Grant

 

“Touching, clever, and an excellent heiress to the Goddess Summoning series. Cast's ability to subvert misogynistic mythology . . . and reaffirm what makes women wonderful is always worth celebrating . . . I bestow my snarky blessings on this book.”
—Smart Bitches Trashy Books

 

“Scorchingly sensual, utterly delicious! P. C. Cast is a true master of her craft.”
—New York Times
bestselling author Gena Showalter

 

GODDESS OF THE SEA
GODDESS OF SPRING
GODDESS OF LIGHT
GODDESS OF THE ROSE
GODDESS OF LOVE
WARRIOR RISING

 

 

MYSTERIA
(with MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, and Gena Showalter)
MYSTERIA LANE
(with MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, and Gena Showalter)

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada
(a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
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Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Copyright © 2005 by P. C. Cast.

 

eISBN : 978-1-440-64365-1

 

PRINTING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / August 2005
Berkley Sensation trade paperback edition / December 2008
The Library of Congress has cataloged a prior edition under LCCN: 2005575681.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you and a wink to my fabulous webgoddess, Shawn Wilson, who bears an amazing resemblance to Vernelle . . .

 

And, as always, I am grateful for my Goddess Editor, Christine Zika, and my friend and agent, Meredith Bernstein.

PROLOGUE

“I have made my decision, Bacchus. The portal will remain open.” As Zeus spoke, he turned his back on the corpulent god and rested his hands against the smooth top of the marble railing that framed the balcony. He gazed down at the Great Banquet Hall of Olympus. The magnificent room was teeming with young gods and goddesses. Zeus' smile became self-satisfied. The immortals were matchless in their beauty, and when they gathered as they did on this evening, their combined allure was more resplendent than all the stars in the heavens. Then his expression sobered. No matter how perfect their exterior, he had slowly been forced to admit to himself that there was something lacking in the group below him.

They lacked the sublimely mortal touch of humanity.

The Supreme Ruler of the Gods indulged himself briefly in a particularly enticing remembrance. Aegina . . . she had been the most lovely of maidens. Her skin had been seductive mortal cream. He could still feel the imprint of its unique softness as she had pressed herself willingly against his feathered back when he changed himself into a mighty eagle and carried her away to make love to her. No, her body had not had the sheen of perfection that gilded a goddess's complexion, but she had responded to his touch with a naive exuberance that no goddess could ever match.

“Exuberance!” Zeus thumped his palm against the balcony railing, causing thunder to grumble across the sky in response. “That is what our young immortals are missing.” He didn't turn to look at Bacchus; instead, his gaze roamed restlessly across the sparkling crowd. Considering, he squinted his dark eyes. What was it that Hera had said . . .
They take for granted the gifts of their immortal power. They need to spend time away from the Ancient World. Somewhere they are not idolized and worshiped.
He had to admit that Hera tended to be right, even though he often had reason to wish his wife's powers of observation were less accurate. He grimaced, wanting to forget the knowing look of her sharp gaze, which always seemed to see into his soul.

“They have languished too long in Olympus. It is past time that they mingle with modern mortals,” Zeus said suddenly.

Bacchus tried to keep the irritation from his voice. “But I am the only one of the immortals to ever show an interest in the modern world. Why must you insist that they clutter up my realm?”