Free Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) by Stacey Brutger Page B

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    Samuel groaned as he settled his portly shape behind an equally littered desk. An abundance of wispy white hair covered his head. His hunched shoulders and bent back showed his devotion to years of study. A pair of wire-rimmed glasses never left his face, but they did not dull the bright, inquisitive eyes staring at Gabriel.
    “Don’t ever get old. It’s the very devil on your body.”
    He slapped a book shut, setting dust flying, and he coughed until his chest rattled.
    Gabriel rose, poured a glass of water, and handed it to him in concern.
    After a few sips, Samuel cleared his throat as he set aside the water. “What can I do for you?”
    Gabriel ignored the question, worry tightening his gut. “How are you?”
    “Fine. Fine. And you?”
    He rubbed his jaw, debating whether to push the matter, but didn’t want to bruise Samuel’s pride, so reluctantly let it drop.
    “I am getting married.” He blurted it out, and couldn’t help grinning, still dazed at the news.
    “Congratulations! We must celebrate. Grab yourself a glass.” Samuel picked up his water, twisting about as he glanced around the room, then headed for a back corner, dumping the contents in a dead houseplant without missing a beat. He tipped his head back and studied the shelves before grabbing a box and setting it on the desk. He scurried toward the door, peering into the hall, then firmly closed the latch. He quickly flipped open the lid to the box, and reverently lifted out a dusty brown bottle, which he wiped off and gave an affectionate kiss. “I’ve been saving this for a special occasion.”
    Gabriel rubbed his mouth to smother his smile and dutifully retrieved another glass and wiped out the dust.
    Samuel popped the cork and poured a healthy dose in each glass. “Cheers.”
    Samuel swallowed it in a single gulp and smacked his lips. “Ahhh, that hit the spot. Did you come just to celebrate, or do you have something else to share?”
    Shrewd eyes studied him, and Gabriel sipped the aged whisky, sighing in pleasure. “What do you know about Druids?”
    “Druidism?” Samuel smoothed his hair, his eyes unfocused as he dug around in his head for information. “Not much.”
    Gabriel resumed his seat, deflated by the answer. “Tell me what you know.”
    “While they had no true written language, a few symbols have been recovered, but little is actually known about them.” He turned to survey his heavy-laden shelves. His fingers hovered over the spines as he moved from one book to another like a hummingbird, but never quite landing. “It is said they can divine the future. Some have even counselled kings. Ah, here it is.” Samuel lifted down a heavy tome, grunting under the weight, and placed it on the desk. “Anything about old religions can be found in here. It has a few passages that might be helpful.” He sat and flipped through the book, taking care not to crack the brittle pages.
    The whisky soured in Gabriel’s gut, and he set aside his glass, suddenly ill at the thought the pastor could actually be after Diana for her skills as a Druid.
    “So Druids are real?” Gabriel scowled, not sure what to believe. It would have been easier if Samuel had told him they were just a myth.
    “Not anymore. No true Druids, anyway. Oh, we have our secret societies, but most are a mockery of what they once were. The true religion, I fear, has been lost.”
    “So it’s not possible for the old Druid ways to have survived?” Gabriel leaned forward, then grunted in frustration when he was unable to read the language displayed in the book. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear the answer. If Diana was a real Druid, that meant the threat was much bigger than he could ever have imagined.
    He could almost believe she was a part of the ancient religion who had stepped out of time.
    “Well,” Samuel waved a hand, waffling as he said the word, “very slim. They would have had to hide themselves very well.”
    Gabriel raised a brow in