Free Christina Phillips - [Forbidden 01] by Forbidden Page A

them.
    “We’ve discovered no evidence of further Druid activity locally.” They’d found plenty of evidence that the Druids had fled the area before the Legion’s arrival, which was somewhat at odds with the behavior of the previous group of Druids they’d encountered.
    The Legatus grunted and hooked a finger at a pretty dark-eyed masseur. “They’re long gone. I told the Senate in my last communication that they had doubtless scurried across the water to their heathen isle.”
    “It’s the logical conclusion.” Maximus agreed with his commander. Had the Druids attempted to escape over the border into Britannia, the legionaries would surely have captured them.
    “Of course it is. The Druids pose no immediate threat to us here.” The Legatus unwound his towel as the masseur approached with her oils. “Undoubtedly at some point we’ll need to crush their stranglehold across the strait, but we’re not at that strategic point as yet.”
    Maximus rose, and his commander arranged himself facedown on the bench.
    “You informed the Senate of this?”
    The Legatus grunted as the girl began to oil his back. “I did.” Then he opened one eye and looked up at Maximus. “Meet with me after assembly tomorrow. We have matters of import to discuss.”
    It was both dismissal and permission to continue with his plans for the night. Maximus gave a sharp nod of respect and turned on his heel, instantly relegating the bloodthirsty Druids to the back of his mind.
    He had an assignation to keep.

    Carys peered through the arched entrance of the gigantic circular mound of earth, within which they all now lived, toward the cromlech. Aeron, as always, prowled the perimeter of the monoliths as if he were their self-appointed gaoler.
    She ducked back inside and leaned against the smooth earthen wall. Her friend Morwyn, an acolyte of the Morrigan, clasped her hand in sympathy. “Aeron?”
    “He doesn’t usually stand guard until just before the sun sets.” And there were almost three hours until then. Plenty of time to ride to the Cauldron and undertake the necessary preparations.
    But only if she could slip past Aeron unnoticed.
    Morwyn squeezed her fingers. “I’ll distract him for you.” A knowing smile lit her face, which caused Carys to give her a searching glance. She had told the older woman she needed to see someone urgently, with the implication that it was a medical emergency.
    So why did Morwyn have that look of barely suppressed glee on her face? As if she guessed Carys was going to meet a secret lover?
    “Thank you.” Carys decided to give more credence to her deception. “Because I’ve given my word, Morwyn. It’s imperative I see this person.”
    “Of course it is,” Morwyn said, nodding far more vigorously than the situation warranted. “And Aeron will never let you leave if he sees you.” She stepped to the threshold before turning back. “I’ll lead him away from here,” she whispered. “But hurry. I don’t have what he requires to maintain his interest for more than a few moments at most.”
    Carys watched Morwyn saunter toward Aeron, and wondered why he had never shown any interest in her. Morwyn made no secret of the fact she wanted Aeron in her bed, and it was a source of much good-natured teasing among their fellow acolytes.
    Not that the dark-haired, vivacious beauty ever lacked for bed partners. And neither, until fleeing to this sacred place, had Aeron. But, since his tastes favored the young of either sex outside their spiritual circle, as far as Carys could gather, he’d been celibate for the last seven moons.
    That could, she supposed, be the reason why he had started to press his attentions on her again.
    She suppressed a shudder at the thought of once again becoming his lover. And wondered why, of all the acolytes, he had chosen her as the only Druid he ever fucked.
    “Aeron.” Morwyn’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She watched the other woman run her arm along Aeron’s, saw