Christina Phillips - [Forbidden 01] (42 page)

Morwyn shoved her savagely, and she tumbled onto Maximus’s armored chest. Enraged, she glared over her shoulder, but Morwyn’s face was twisted with a matching fury.

“What did you tell him about us, Carys, as you fucked the Roman barbarian?”

“I told him nothing of us.” She ripped open her bag and hunted for a reviving elixir, trying to ignore the hurt Morwyn’s accusation caused, trying to ignore the way her hands shook.

“So why is he here? How did he penetrate the sacred spiral if you didn’t tell him?”

She turned back to Maximus and pulled the stopper from the small pottery jar. The pungent aroma caused her eyes to water.
Sweet Cerridwen, let him wake
.

“The Romans aren’t stupid, Morwyn. They were always going to find the way into the spiral sooner or later.”

“Yes, with your help. I can’t believe you’ve betrayed your people.”

She laid her palm over his forehead, then felt his rapidly strengthening pulse. “I betrayed no one.”

But was that the truth? Hadn’t she, in reality, betrayed both her fellow Druids and Maximus by her actions?

Maximus gave a harsh cough and opened his eyes. And Carys knew, with soul-deep conviction, that even if she was tried and found guilty of treason by her people, she would never regret anything she’d done for the hours spent in his arms.

“Get out of my way.” Morwyn pushed her shoulder and Carys dragged her gaze from Maximus to stare at the other woman.

“Morwyn, sheathe your dagger.” Instinctively Carys angled herself between Morwyn and Maximus. “I won’t allow you to harm him.”

“You won’t
allow me
to destroy the scum who’ve raped our land and people?” Morwyn spat on the ground at Carys’s feet. “I don’t need your permission, whore.”

Before Morwyn had time to take a breath, Carys smashed her right fist against her jaw, and her left hammered the wrist holding the deadly dagger. As Morwyn crumpled, Carys wrenched the dagger from her hand.

“Cerridwen led me here.” She jabbed the dagger in Morwyn’s face before sheathing it at her own waist. “If she didn’t approve of my choice, do you think she would have allowed me to find him?”

Morwyn spat blood before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Perhaps you manipulate the Wise One, as you’ve manipulated us all.”

Denial sprung to her lips, yet a terrible doubt throbbed in her mind. Had she manipulated those she loved?

She thrust the thought aside. There wasn’t time to agonize over her actions now. “No mortal can manipulate the gods.” Especially not Cerridwen, the wisest of them all.

Maximus rolled onto his side, kicked off the shredded sackcloth still clinging to his legs and let out a rasping groan. Instantly she turned to him, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders for support.

“Can you stand?” It was imperative they leave before Aeron returned.

He rubbed his neck where the dart had penetrated.

“How did I get here?” He cast a suspicious glance around the chamber, pausing only briefly to assess Morwyn’s antagonistic glare, before refocusing on her.

“I think Aeron brought you here. But we have to leave immediately.” She hoped the poison hadn’t affected the strength in his legs. He was far too heavy for her to drag any distance, and Morwyn certainly wouldn’t help.

“Who’s Aeron?”

“Yes, Carys,” Morwyn said in accented Latin, venom dripping from every word. “Tell your Roman lover who Aeron is. Tell him what Aeron plans for his precious Legion this eve.”

Carys saw the sharp glance Maximus shot her way, as if he suddenly realized Morwyn was no peasant from the settlement, but an educated woman with enough status to speak to her as she pleased.

She picked up her dagger from the ground. “Cerridwen charged me to stop him, and that’s what I intend to do.” But first she would ensure Maximus’s safety. If only he would stand up.

“Be silent!” Morwyn, once more resorting to Celtic, was on her knees and glared at her with loathing. “Cerridwen has nothing to do with this, and you know it. This is all you, Carys, wanting what you can’t have.”

“What does Aeron intend to do this eve?” Maximus heaved himself upright. And then his features hardened. “Where’s my gladius?”

Relieved she didn’t have to explain Aeron’s plans, Carys glanced wildly around the chamber. “I don’t know. Here, take this.” She handed him the dagger he had given her the other day. “We don’t have time to search, Maximus,” she said, her voice rising in desperation as he gave the weapon a derisive glance. “Please, you have to trust me. We need to go before Aeron finds you.”

With obvious difficulty, Maximus got to his feet. He looked as if the slightest shove would send him reeling. She pulled his left arm around her shoulders for additional support, and tightened her grip on her dagger.

“What the fuck happened to me?” Maximus stumbled against her, his balance clearly still compromised by Aeron’s poisoned dart. “The last I recall I was in the forest. And then—here.”

“But what were you doing in the forest, Roman?” Morwyn, stalking by Carys’s side, slung him a condemning glance.

He grimaced, as if every step pained him. Goddess, she hoped she could take his weight until they were safe. Already the ache in her shoulders was spreading along her spine. “Searching for Carys’s kin.”

Even without looking her way, Carys could feel the surprise radiate from Morwyn, as if the truth was the last thing she had expected Maximus to utter.

“Searching?” Morwyn’s voice was haughty. “Surely you knew the way to our domain, Roman.”

Another step. The pressure against her shoulders eased slightly. She peered into the passageway ahead, praying incessantly that Aeron would not suddenly appear in the distant circle of light.

“If I’d known the way to your
domain
. . .” Maximus spoke between gritted teeth as if Morwyn’s question, or his muscle weakness—probably both—irritated him. “I wouldn’t have been searching for it.”

The pressure against her shoulders eased a little more. Thank goddess, he appeared to be regaining his strength. Just a few more steps and they’d reach the mouth of the mound.
Don’t let Aeron return yet
.

Morwyn gave a derisive snort. “You may have found us. But rest assured, none of us will allow you to leave.”

Maximus gave a humorless laugh. “I don’t require your permission, lady.” His steps became surer. “How many of you are there?”

“Enough.” Morwyn stamped toward the opening and then stopped dead.

“What is it?” Carys stiffened as Morwyn sank against the wall of the mound and motioned for them to keep back.

“Aeron’s approaching the altar.” Morwyn’s voice was low. “But Druantia’s with him.”

Alarm prickled over her skin. “Aeron’s never required Druantia’s assistance before.”

Maximus left her side and took up position on the opposite side of Morwyn. Carys saw him stiffen, and his fingers tightened around the dagger he held. Hastily she followed him, and held on to his arm in case he had the insane notion to race outside and attack Aeron.

“A Druid’s temple.” It was a statement, and as her heart catapulted against her ribs, her breath shortened with nervous anticipation as to his inevitable question.

She couldn’t lie to him. She was a Druid and always would be, and he had to know that. But still her palms grew sweaty and her mind trembled at the confession she was about to give.

He didn’t turn to her. His gaze was fixed on the altar, on the two people who approached their way.

“That’s Aeron.” Another statement. “Your High Priest.”

“Yes.” Her fingers clutched around his muscular biceps, as if she could somehow deflect the fury she could feel radiating from every pore. “Maximus, please. Listen to me.”

He ignored her cajoling whisper. “You know him.” There was a chilling tone in his voice and she shivered, unsure how best to answer him.

“All my life.” She wouldn’t hide the truth from him anymore behind obfuscation and omission. She knew Morwyn was glaring at her, but what did it matter now what she told Maximus?

He’d found them out.

Tension vibrated from him, as if he held on to his temper by the slenderest of threads.

“Your High Priest, the man you’ve known all your life.” He hissed the words over his shoulder while still staring outside. “That’s the one I caught at your Cauldron, Carys. The one who’d ripped your gown from your breasts and was about to rape you.”

Shock punched her gut, sucked the air from her lungs. “Aeron?” Surely she had misunderstood him. “But that’s not possible.”

“Not possible?” Morwyn darted across the mouth of the mound and flattened herself against the wall behind Carys. “Of course it’s not possible. The High Druid would never do such a thing. Your beloved Roman spews lies with every breath he takes.”

Maximus never took his eyes from Aeron, and an uncanny shiver raced over her arms. He must have been mistaken. Morwyn was right. Aeron would never do such a thing.

“He has silver eyes, as cold as a frozen river at midwinter.”

Nausea washed through her, congealing in the pit of her stomach. She recalled the way Aeron had looked at her yesterday, as if she were a spirit from the Otherworld, and the way he’d spoken to her, as if the inherent respect he’d always afforded her had been obliterated.

She remembered Maximus’s words as he’d tried to comfort her when she awoke in his quarters;
the barbarian who attacked you
, and in her confusion she thought he referred to his own country-man. His legionary. But he would never call another Roman such.

And in that moment she knew Maximus hadn’t been mistaken. Aeron had come upon her while she was in the throes of a horrific vision, and, instead of trying to assist her, he’d violated her.

Her world, everything she valued, trembled on a precipice of doubt. How had he thought to get away with such a crime? Sweet goddess, it had been foul enough when she’d imagined a Roman barbarian had attacked her. But one of her own? A Druid?

The High Druid himself?

“See how he corrupts your mind and integrity with a few choice words?” Morwyn’s whisper bit into her stupor. “I’ll not hide here any longer, Carys.
I’ve
done nothing wrong.”

Without thinking, Carys grabbed her arm. “Wait, Morwyn.” But she could think of nothing to persuade the other woman to stay, to hold her tongue, to allow them time so she could somehow smuggle Maximus back to the Cauldron.

Maximus raised his arm in a warning gesture, and Morwyn bristled with affront. But before she could say anything, he shot them a penetrating look.

“Is this how your High Druid treats your elders?”

Still holding on to Morwyn’s arm, Carys frowned as she peered outside. Aeron grasped Druantia’s elbow and appeared to be pushing her toward the stone altar. But that couldn’t be so; he would never manhandle their ancient queen. It had to be the gathering dusk playing tricks with her eyes.

And yet Aeron had tried to rape her while she was insensible to the mortal realm
.

Morwyn sucked in a shocked breath. “What’s he doing? Druantia will fall. She’ll break her bones. Goddess, is he mad?”

As if by unspoken command, they all sank back against the wall of the mound. Morwyn no longer appeared inclined to reveal herself to Aeron, and instead gripped Carys’s arm in obvious confusion.

“I see no other Druids here, Aeron.” Druantia’s voice came to them clearly, as she and Aeron halted by the stone altar, a mere stone’s throw from the mouth of the mound.

“They’ll be here in time for the Renewal.” The chilly smile he sent Druantia caused shivers to race over Carys’s arms.

“As would I, my son.” Druantia placed one hand on the stone altar, as if steadying herself. “And yet you were most insistent I come with you now, to meet with the other Chief Druids.”

Carys dug her fingers into Maximus’s arm as a terrible foreboding crawled over her scalp. His muscles tensed, as if he didn’t appreciate her touch, but she didn’t let go. Whatever he thought of her now, his presence gave her comfort, and she’d take that comfort for as long as she possibly could.

Aeron didn’t answer, but instead knelt and removed a bowl from his sacred cache beneath the altar before placing it in the center of the pentagram.

But that didn’t make sense. That was reserved for the blood of the sacrifice, and Aeron hadn’t yet made his sacrifice.
And he never would
. She’d plunge her dagger into his evil heart before she’d allow him to take Maximus.

“Are you still planning to obliterate the Roman Legion this eve?” Druantia shifted, as if her bones ached.

“So you know about that.” Aeron sounded amused, although Carys couldn’t think why. And how much longer could they hide here, without being discovered?

“I know many things, Aeron.”

“Ah, yes. Because of your long and illustrious bloodline that you can trace back to the Morrigan herself.” He sounded scathing, and Carys felt Morwyn shiver, as if spirits from the Otherworld brushed through her soul.