Love Divine

By Genella DeGrey

In the Highlands of Britannia, a Druid beauty and a reformed rogue-turned-missionary of the new Roman religion find salvation in each other.

In the Highlands of Britannia, Aslyn, was raised a Druid by her late mother. Rome has returned, but instead of a legion of solders, a single man comes to the little village of Cardamon Long, peddling a new Roman god.

Ryus Jorian was sent on a mission for the new religion. But instead of a cave of barbaric souls in need of saving, he finds an intelligent, beautiful, hedonistic distraction, who makes him question the very reason for his journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Mar 22, 2010
• ISBN: 9780857150530

Genella DeGrey

Born and reared in Southern California, Genella DeGrey longed to be your typical blonde, tanned, surfer girl but failed miserably. Unable to sit idle without falling asleep, she embarked upon several artistic endeavours. Make-up and set dressing for the entertainment industry, Resort Enhancement for The Walt Disney Company and writing sexy historical romance top the list of her favourite activities. A consummate closet goth and amateur music and (red) wine enthusiast, she is also a hopeless romantic awaiting the arrival of her very own Mr Romance/Soul Mate with whom to share the rest of her life.

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A Total-E-Bound Publication

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Love Divine

ISBN # 978-0-85715-053-0

©Copyright Genella deGrey

Cover Art by Natalie Winters ©Copyright March 2010

Edited by Christine Riley

Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing.  Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2010 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning:  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers.  This story has been rated Total-e-burning.

LOVE DIVINE

Genella deGrey

Author’s Notice

Dear Reader,

So little is known to us about the dark ages. It could be said that the reason is because the unstable times were all but void of art and literature, rather like when they call a theatre dark in between productions.

Starting around 43 A.D., most of Great Brittan was controlled by the Roman Empire. Around 410 A.D. the Romans pulled out of ‘Britannia.’ It is said that economic decline, Attila the Hun and the impending Saxon invasion were some of the reasons. However, the Church of Rome continued to send missionaries into the world to gather the uninformed into their fold.

During the reign of the Roman Empire, Latin was the preferred idiom. We could go on and on about the different evolutions of the Latin language, but for the purpose of this particular story, the characters are speaking classical Latin. Now, instead of writing the dialogue in Latin, we’ve brought the prose closer to how we speak today for the modern reader.

One final note—It is unknown what they called windows in 420 A.D., so instead of ‘ventilation way’ we went ahead and used the word window in the book. Hope you don’t mind too much.

~ Genella deGrey

Dedication

To Tex for his love, respect and never ending support.

And

 To Radha for your devotion to humanity and Mother Earth, your selflessness and for teaching me inner peace.

To truly love one another, we must learn to coexist.

Namaste –

G.

Chapter One

The Highlands of Britannia, late spring, 420 A.D.

Aslyn stood in the centre of Ardwinna, the sacred forest, wringing her hands to stop the shaking. The man who awaited an audience with her wished to speak about religion.

He is tall, my lady—broad of shoulder and exceptionally handsome, Shana said, then lowered her voice to almost a whisper. He has the look of a warrior rather than a priest, if truth be told.

Peddling Gods and bearing a fine appearance. A lethal combination, to be sure. She groaned inwardly. Bid the missionary come to me, Aslyn replied, dismissing the young lass who had waited for her reply, and a reaction to the bit of gossip. The latter of the two Aslyn purposefully left unobserved, much to Shana’s disappointment Aslyn was certain. She shook her head at the chin-wagging which never rested in the small village of Cardamon Long.

Aslyn turned her back to the entrance to Ardwinna, from where this handsome missionary would emerge at any moment, and took a calming breath. Had a Roman legion found out her tiny village still embraced the old ways, the Goddess, the earth, the moon? Or did they come unawares, to secure their Gods Jupiter, Apollo, Diana, Venus, Mars, and a handful of others she could not recall at the moment. Perhaps they came to introduce new Gods.

She smoothed a hand over her worried brow. This would mark the second visit from Rome within the last twenty years or so. The Romans had intimidated and prodded until the people of Cardamon Long included their new Gods. However, when the soldiers departed, they went back to worshiping the Goddess. Aslyn had been only six years old at the time, but remembered it well. To her, whom or what Cardamon Long chose to worship was their business, not Rome’s. But that represented only the top of the woodpile.

Unlike her late mother, lady Eymed, Priestess of Cardamon Long, the only gift Aslyn had been given was a bit of the second sight. But regardless, all elements needed to be perfectly aligned to attain any sort of connection. Aslyn had not been given any signs by the Goddess that she should take her mother’s place. ’Twas a fact she had shared with the people of the village many times since, and a small detail they persistently omitted from everyday conversation. At each and every special occasion, as well as some not so formal events, they referred to her as ‘The Lady.’ And it irked her so.

Besides not being ‘The Lady,’ she did not have the time to deal with this missionary. She had her own preparations to make for her private celebration at her personal altar near Loughery creek.

Ardwinna? a male voice called from behind Aslyn.

Aslyn had to stop herself from laughing aloud at the mistake.

He continued. I come in the name of Bishop Folious, and Jesus—

Still smiling, she turned to him.

Christ. The single word issued from between his lips in an expelled breath.

A prickling sensation crawled along her back and arms at the sight of him. If anyone deserved to be called a deity, ’twas the man before her. Shana’s report had indeed been accurate. This man must have been blessed by the Goddess. The ends of his brown hair brushed the tops of his ample shoulders, but upon further inspection, the fingers of the Goddess must have run through the sleek strands— there were thick yellow-gold streaks throughout.

Aslyn watched his confident expression melt into a young boy’s slack-jawed stare. She found it strange how his newly softened gaze conflicted with his intimidating size. He had a warrior’s bearing to be sure, but the way in which he looked at her seemed to warm the very air around her. Goddess, but he struck a fine figure. He appeared to be a man who could take care of his family—hunting, providing shelter—she certainly wouldn’t mind being the one he hunted. Her grin widened. She hoped he didn’t think she was laughing at him, but even still, her ribald humour threatened to bubble up and overflow like the spring’s rising at Imbolc.

Ardwinna is the name of a Goddess, she corrected gently, as well as the name of the wooded sanctuary in which you now stand. She sobered some, her smile not quite as explicit. I am Aslyn of Cardamon Long. She nodded in greeting.

His fine, well-formed lips, curled up at the corners as if he realised his error. Forgive me, Aslyn of Cardamon Long, he responded contritely. I am Ryus Jorian, a disciple of Bishop Folious and his priests, dedicated to the new era of the Christian religion.

His pronouncement out of the way, Aslyn nodded. And what do you want of me, Ryus Jorian?

When he hesitated, she tilted her head to await his answer.

I—the villagers said I should speak to you, that you are the religious authority here.

Aslyn bit back a smile. She loved the people of Cardamon Long, but they needed to stop wishing she were her mother. They are mistaken.

I thought this might be the case, you being a woman. Can you tell me where I can find the man in charge of your village?

What, exactly, did that mean? Aslyn pulled her shoulders back and raised her chin. No man is in charge of Cardamon Long, we are a peaceful people. We have no need to be led by anyone.

One of his eyebrows lifted as if he didn’t believe her. What happens when you have a dispute?

We speak honestly with each other and any resolution sought is then accomplished.

Impossible, he scoffed.

Is it? Venus is the Goddess of love, is she not? Love and kindness should be the highest priorities in all things. Do you not practice what the Gods teach?

Aye. Nay. What I meant to say was—we are confusing the issue, and confusion is a tool of Lucifer.

Lucifer. Is he a new God?

No, Lucifer—is—

Perhaps you should just tell me what it is you want of us, Ryus Jorian.

Ryus blew out a breath. What I have to say cannot be summed up in one sentence.

Nay?

Nay.

Hm. I’m sorry, but I have other things which require my attention. I must go.

Aslyn made to leave, but he stepped into her path, his immense shoulders blocking her way. May I beg an audience with you when you have more time? Perhaps we might, he paused and shrugged a shoulder, sit and talk?

I am sure it will be later rather than sooner. If you wish to wait, then do so at your discretion. Without another word, she stepped around him and left Ardwinna. On the other side of the ancient trees, she drew the cool breeze into her lungs and attempted to calm her racing heart.

* * * *

Ryus watched her glide from the clearing as if she were walking on air. Likely unable to hear him from the distance, he heaved