In Olympus, forest nymphs are responsible for the gathering of many things: herbs for potions, grapes for wine, flowers to bedeck the palaces of the immortals
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Her internal monologue was interrupted by Hades' voice.
“It is, of course, Persephone's decision,” Hades said, obviously surprised at her hesitation.
“Well, I . . .”
“Oh, please, may I watch?” Eurydice rushed forward and grasped her hand. “I have never witnessed the gathering of nectar for ambrosia. Nor have I even seen a nymph, not in the flesh or in the spirit.” Eurydice beamed at her.
Lina smiled at Eurydice's infectious exuberance. “Of course you may watch.” She felt a trickle of relief. Gathering nectar for ambrosia couldn't be that difficult. She'd just follow the lead of the Lemonade-whatever-their-names-were nymphs.
“Thank you, Persephone!” Eurydice danced to the door.
“May I watch, too?”
Lina looked up at Hades, surprised by his question. He was, after all, God of the Underworld. He had the power to command anyone within his realm; he certainly didn't have to ask her permission. Yet there he stood, doing just that. A little half smile played around his full lips. Sweat still beaded his bare skin, making the bronze muscles of his chest look erotic and exquisitely touchable. Lina felt a tug deep within her, an elemental response to the virile beauty of the dark god.
“No, I don't mind,” she said breathlessly.
“Good. It pleases me to watch you,” Hades said. Then he repeated his earlier gesture by gently touching the blossom tucked behind her ear. When he withdrew his hand, he allowed his fingers to brush the side of her face in the whisper of a caress. The goddess still shivered under his touch, but this time Hades saw only the reflection of his own desire within her eyes.
“Hurry, Persephone!” Eurydice called from the doorway without looking back at her goddess. “I can't wait to see the Limoniades.”
Hades sighed again, quelling the frustration he felt at having to share Persephone. But would he really have it any other way? No, he wanted the goddess to be accepted within his realm, and with that acceptance went the responsibility of sharing her attention. Reluctantly, he moved from her side to reach for a length of dark material that hung from the wall behind him, which he wrapped, toga-like, across his body.
“I'm coming,” Lina said, hurrying to catch Eurydice as she scampered through the door and along the pathway. Hades strode beside her, and Lina felt his presence like he was a live wire, humming in time to her own electricity. She was energized by his closeness and by the lingering thrill of his touch. How long had it been since a man had made her feel breathless and excited? Too long, she told herself, ignoring the little voice of reason that counseled her to think about what she was rushing into, that reminded her that she was only there to complete a job and that she didn't know anything about immortals, or the Limoniades, or nectar, or . . .
The path turned abruptly around the corner of the stable and then it opened onto the expanse of the palace's rear gardens. Lina stumbled to a halt, drawing a deep, surprised breath.
Shapes made of incandescent light filled the first tier of the trellised lawn. As Lina came into sight, the glowing forms trembled, and then with a noise that sounded very much like the coo of doves, they surged forward until they surrounded Lina, Eurydice and Hades. Lina stared at them in wonder. Naked women! Her mind registered that the lights hovering and cooing around her were fashioned in the shapes of hundreds of naked women. They were tiny and delicate, the tops of their bright heads barely reached Lina's shoulder, but each one was unique and beautiful in her own rightâlike flakes of snow, or petals on a flower. And sprouting from the back of each spirit was a pair of sparkling, gossamer wings that looked as fine as mist.
Eurydice giggled. “Why are none of them dressed?”
The echo of Eurydice's youthful laughter rippled through the Limoniades like water over a pebbled brook.
“Look closer, child,” Hades' deep voice answered Eurydice. “They are dressed in light and laughter and the brilliance of their souls. It is the only dressing spirits of flowers and meadows require.”
“I think they're perfect,” Lina said.
The sound of the goddess's voice sent a wave of excitement through the group, and several of the spirits twirled and leapt in glee.
“Join us, Goddess of Spring. Bless the gathering of nectar, which will become the ambrosia of the Underworld.”
They spoke with one melodic voice that was magnified magically on the soft breeze.
“Come with us, Persephone. The flowers await the Goddess of Spring.”
Their voices were enchanting. Instinctively, Lina's body responded. She stepped away from Eurydice and Hades, joining the Limoniades. Musical notes and the whir of hundreds of wings engulfed her. On feet that felt like air, Lina moved with the spirits out into the flower-filled grounds.
The Limoniades began humming. It was a sound that thrummed through Lina's blood, reminding her of the feel of warm summer nights, the smell of newly cut hay and the taste of fine dark chocolate. Entranced, she watched the glowing forms separate and descend upon the listening blossoms. Wings blurring, they hovered above the ground like elusive hummingbirds, and then, as one they dipped their fingers within the open blooms.
Lina watched the nymph spirits draw beads of golden drops from the flowers. Hades was forgotten. Eurydice left her mind. The only thought that filled her body was how very much she would like to join the Limoniades.
“Yes! Call the nectar to you. Take your rightful place as Goddess of Spring amidst the Limoniades.”
The whisper within Lina's mind sounded restless and impatient. It was the final goad she needed. Her heart drumming in time with the song of the Limoniades, Lina approached a cluster of milk-colored tulips. Their stems were long and thick and their blooms opened to expose the crisp yellow of their pistils.
She needed to call the nectar to her. Lina squinted her eyes, dipped her finger into one of the tulips and concentrated. The first blob of golden liquid spurted from the bloom with such force that Lina yelped in surprise as it flew into her hand and disintegrated into a sticky mess.
The deep base of Hades' chuckles framed the light, trilling sound of laughter that trickled through the watching Limoniades. Lina glanced over her shoulder at the god. His eyes sparkled at her. She tossed her long hair back and sent him a saucy look. Then, a thought drifted through her mind. . . . She felt alive and sexy and incredibly, amazingly seductive. With a wicked smile Lina caught Hades' gaze. She arched one brow up, raised her hand and let her soft, pink tongue slowly lick a trickle of the sweet, syrupy nectar from her middle finger. The Limoniades responded with appreciative coos and trills as Hades froze, slack jawed and speechless.
“Gently, Goddess, gently,”
the Limoniades purred.
“The nectar already desires to come to you. You need only coax it, not command it. It is not a god. . . .”
Without looking at Hades' reaction to the nymphs' words, Lina stifled a smile and turned back to the cluster of tulips. She tickled another blossom with the tip on one slender finger and sent the gentle thought to it that she might like the nectar to come to her, please.
A pearl of gold drifted from the center of the flower to perch on the tip of her extended finger. Lina smiled triumphantly at it.
“The gathering, Goddess. Join the gathering.”
Still smiling, Lina gazed around her. Each spirit nymph was creating a pile of glowing golden drops beside her as she flitted from flower to flower, calling the nectar forth.
Okay, Lina thought. She could do that. And she began weaving her own pile. Without stopping to think or understand or question, Lina used Persephone's perfect voice to harmonize with the spirits of the flowers, and when she joined the Limoniades in their song, Hades' garden seemed to inhale with a tangible sense of joy and then erupt into glorious full bloom. Every flower opened itself. Every blossom dripped golden drops of nectar, aching to be harvested.
Amidst it all, Lina shined.
Hades couldn't take his eyes from her. In his entire existence he had never desired anything as much as he desired Persephone. He was becoming consumed by her, and the thought made his immortal soul shiver.
What would happen when she left? She would, he reminded himself. She was the Goddess of Spring. She belonged to the world above. He was the dark God of the Underworld, scorned by everything living.
Everything except Persephone. But for how long?
The ache within him pulsed and took on a life of its own. And the god gave name to it, finally understanding what it was that caused him such elusive, unending painâwhat it was that Persephone had awakened along with hope.
Loneliness.
Hades clenched his jaw against his inner turmoil and turned blindly away from the sight of the lovely young goddess frolicking joyously amidst the spirits of his realm.
He ran right into Eurydice. Hades stifled his groan of frustration as he caught the little spirit and kept her from tumbling to the ground. He forced his stiff face into the semblance of a smile. “I was not looking, child.” He changed his path of retreat, but Eurydice's voice gave him pause.
“But, you aren't leaving? What shall I tell Persephone?” she asked in her sweet, shy voice.
“Tell her,” he ground his teeth, “that I had the business of my realm to attend.” Eurydice's eyes were large and round and they seemed to reach into his soul. Her disappointment was obvious, as was her concern for her goddess. The god raked a hand through his hair. “And tell your goddess that I wish her to ride with me on the morrow.”
Eurydice's face lit in a smile. “Persephone will enjoy that very much.”
Will she enjoy it enough to stay with me?
the god wanted to rant and rage and roar. Instead he pulled the familiar mantle of sternness over his features and made certain that when he spoke his voice was free of his seething emotions.
“I will send Iapis to escort her to the stables after daybreak.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Hades strode away, muttering under his breath about goddesses and young girls.
As soon as he was out of sight, Iapis materialized beside Eurydice. She glanced at the daimon, her look betraying no surprise at his sudden appearance.
“How goes it?” Iapis asked her.
“I am pleased,” Eurydice said, sounding wise beyond her years.
“Do you think he took my advice and thought of her as one of the dead?”
“Not for long,” Eurydice said enigmatically, remembering her goddess's flushed face and the heat with which Hades' eyes followed her. “Not for long . . .”
The daimon smiled and took the little spirit's hand in his. Raising it to his lips, he kissed her gently. Eurydice's pale cheeks pinkened slightly, but her large eyes gazed steadily at him. She returned his smile.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“GOOD-BYE! Thank you!” Lina waved to the Limoniades as the glowing spirits faded into the distance, taking their shining golden drops of nectar with them. Their farewell coos tumbled musically on the wind.
“That was wonderful to watch, Persephone.” Eurydice was all smiles as Lina rejoined her at the edge of the gardens.
“I'm so glad they called me. It was an amazing experience,” Lina gushed. She felt giddy and energized, like she'd had too many double-shot cappuccinos before breakfast. “Oh, Eurydice, this world is incredible.” She grinned, slinging an arm around the spirit and hugging her. Lina glanced around them. “Hades left?” she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
“He had to attend to the business of his realm. But,” she added quickly as the goddess's shining face dimmed, “he commanded me to request your presence at the stables on the morrow.”
“Riding Orion again.” Lina's smile turned dreamy as she thought about the black stallion. She would definitely look forward to the morning rideâalmost as much as she'd look forward to seeing Hades. Her mind skittered around, jumbling images of the god's sweat-beaded body, the sensuous song of the Limoniades and the way Hades' lips had burned against hers. Lina's young borrowed body tingled erotically.
“That horse frightens me,” Eurydice said.
Lina blinked, refocusing on Eurydice's pale face.
Merda!
She needed to stop letting her mind wander.
“He's nothing to be frightened of. Really, he's like a puppy in my hands,” Lina said breezily, trying not to think about Orion's master, and how
un
like a puppy he felt under her hands.
“I think I'll just stay away from him,” Eurydice said.
Lina told herself that's probably the attitude she should have about Hades. He was too damn dangerously attractive. She should just stay away from him. But the low ache in her body murmured that she wouldn't.
She definitely needed to get her mind off Hades.
“Hey, how about we go find me something to drink?” Lina wiggled her eyebrows at Eurydice. “All this nectar-gathering has made me thirsty for ambrosia.”
Eurydice tittered, “It has also made you sticky.”
Lina glanced down at herself. Shiny speckles of golden dots were sprinkled like dew all over her body. She touched one of them and then put her finger to her mouth. It tasted like sugarcane mixed with honey mixed with something like caramel or maybe butterscotch. It was delicious. But Eurydice was right, she was a mess. And she certainly was not going to think about how it would feel to have Hades lick the sweet drops off her body.
“I need a shower. A cold one,” she muttered.