Aphrodite's Passion Read Online Free PDF Page A

entirely. Hale has the primary responsibility for this mission. You’ll be providing backup. This task is critical, however, and I wanted you here for a full briefing.”
    “I understand.” She clasped her hands in her lap, showing no sign of distress, and Hale felt a swell of pride.
    “So, why me and not Zoë?” he asked, even while Elmer started singing.
    Hooray for Hollywood. Tra la la la la la la Hollywood...
    Zephron raised an eyebrow, but essentially ignored the frantically hopping ferret. “I’ll explain in a moment. First, to bring you up to speed, the girdle has been missing for years.”
    “Centuries, I thought.”
    “That is what you were meant to think. In truth, the belt surfaced once in recent history. Early in the twentieth century the Elders of the Council became aware of a mortal who possessed the belt but we were unable to reacquire it. Now, we have again detected its presence.” The Elder sighed. “Hieronymous’s spies have undoubtedly informed him of this development as well.”
    Hale nodded in understanding. His uncle, Hieronymous, had once been a powerful Protector. But his ambition was to control mortals, not keep them safe and he’d been Outcast for years. Forbidden to use his powers under threat of the direst punishment, Hieronymous had been somewhat kept under control. Slowly but surely, however, the man was organizing an underground band of other Outcasts. He also had recruited a few Protectors—traitors who had yet to be discovered—within the Council. As soon as he had the chance, Hale and the other Protectors knew, Hieronymous would try to overthrow them.
    He’d already used his halfling son, Mordi, as part of his first serious attempt, the one Zoë had managed to foil. But if Hieronymous got his hands on Aphrodite’s girdle, he’d have another clear shot at the prize. That would be a bad deal all around for Protectors... and pretty much the end of the line for mortal freedom.
    Well, that sucks
, Elmer said. Hale just nodded. The ferret’s assessment summed up the situation quite nicely.
    “I only know a little bit about the belt,” Zoë admitted, shooting Hale a scathing look.
    He slunk further down into his chair. The belt had been the focus of a little white lie he’d told his sister not too long ago, when she’d been pitted against Mordi. The verdict was still out on their cousin’s loyalty—whether he was for the Council or his father—but there was no question that the verdict had been reached on Hale’s lie: Zoë was still miffed about that.
    “I know it makes the wearer irresistible to whomever he or she desires,” his sister continued. “It’s like a focused aphrodisiac on the object of your affections.” She smiled, perhaps imagining the possibilities. “Aphrodite certainly had an obsession for that kind of thing. But that’s all I know. Is there more?”
    Zephron nodded toward Hale. “Tell her.”
    Oh, great. A pop quiz. But he smiled and turned in his chair to face his sister more directly. “You know that Aphrodite—”
    “Our great-great-great-great-et-cetera grandmother.”
    “—forged it centuries ago.” When Zoë nodded, he continued. “Well, it has all sorts of powers. On a mortal, it causes what you said—love and adoration by whomever the mortal desires. It’s sort of a sensual magnet. It also works even if there’s no romantic desire, although the effect is much weaker.”
    Zoë frowned. “I’m not following.”
    Hale’s brow furrowed as he tried to think of an example. “Okay, let’s say you’re a mortal and you have the belt. Whoever you desire—romantically, sensually, sexually,
whatever
—is going to love and adore you.”
    “Like a love potion.”
    “Right,” Hale said, looking to Zephron for confirmation.
    “Very true,” the Elder said.
    “I understand that,” Zoë said. “But you said it works even if I don’t desire the guy.”
    “Right.” Hale shrugged. “Maybe you’re in a department store and want