Maximus by Jayne Castel

Author:Jayne Castel
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-09-30T16:00:00+00:00

Leaving the clifftop, they picked their way down the steep hill beyond. Reaching the bottom, they then took the narrow path that climbed to the gatehouse. Luchag made easy work of the slope, although Maximus let the garron have his head, while he and Heather leaned forward to aid him.

And all the way, Maximus was aware of stares tracking their progress. He glanced up, spying the outlines of men and spears upon the walls. He tensed under their scrutiny, aware they’d see he was armed. Yet, since there were just the two of them approaching, the guards wouldn’t view them as too much of a threat.

The mood was tense throughout Scotland these days. Years of battles against the English had led to a period of uneasy peace—one the English seemed intent on shattering. As such, all the northern strongholds would be wary of strangers approaching their gates.

Maximus and Heather didn’t speak on the way up to the walls. Maximus wasn’t one for filling silences with prattle, and during the days they’d traveled together, he noticed that neither was Heather.

All the same, he meant what he’d just told her. He would miss Heather De Keith.

He hadn’t wanted her to discover his secret, but in the days that had passed since, she’d surprised him.

Heather was a survivor.

She’d been full of questions—some of which were easier to answer than others—but her fear and horror had quickly transformed into unceasing curiosity. Sometimes that curiosity got too much, and Maximus had been forced to steer the conversation in a safer direction, but he’d enjoyed her company nonetheless.

More than enjoyed it, in fact.

She was warm and clever, with a sharp wit and dry sense of humor. He’d been content to just sit and listen to the lilting cadence of her voice. They’d shared meals together and camped out under the stars while he listened to her grumble about the tree roots that kept sticking into her back.

Maximus hadn’t even minded that.

Heather’s company reminded him just how lonely his life was. He’d chosen this solitary existence, and yet just a few days in this vivacious woman’s company, and he longed for more.

This was what was missing in his life: a woman to love and cherish. Someone to build a future with.

But such a desire was foolish and dangerous.

Just because Cassian had summoned him here didn’t mean they were on the cusp of solving the riddle. In a millennium, they’d managed to decipher two lines. There was every chance the Broom-star would fade from the sky in a month or two, and he and his friends would still be immortal.

After seeing what Cassian had endured, he didn’t want to make the same mistake of falling for a mortal woman, only to see her wither and die while he remained young.

Maximus clenched his jaw and shoved his spiraling thoughts back into the recesses of his mind where they belonged. He’d only known Heather a few days, and he was already weakening. He’d told her about Evanna, and she’d seemed to understand.

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