The Sacred Flame by Nanette Littlestone

Author:Nanette Littlestone [Littlestone, Nanette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780996070935
Publisher: Words of Passion via Indie Author Project
Published: 2015-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter XXVI

T

he talk with Kaeso pricked Livia’s joy with deep darts of regret. As she neared the spring at Camenae where she would meet Gaius, she thought about postponing their outing. Her doleful mood would spoil his plans and she had already ruined one person’s day. Another time would do just as well.

She was alone now and first at the spring. In the twilight the water sounded more powerful, as if Neptune had opened an underground gate and let the natural stream gush forth. She remembered their last meeting here when she had dipped her toes in the water and daydreamed of being naked. If Gaius had not surprised her she might have steeped her entire body in the spring. She had defied the Vestal rules and come unattended that time. Tonight she did the same. How far would her boldness carry her?

She raised her arms over her head and closed her eyes, enjoying the currents of air that tickled her skin on this soft July night.

Where would Gaius take her this time?

“You look like a goddess calling upon her inner power,” said a familiar voice.

“Gaius.” How wonderful he looked seated on his warhorse, as casual and at ease as the time at the beach. Even though they were meeting on Vestal ground, Livia felt out of place. Nervous, she fussed with her palla, smoothing the cloth over her arms.

“Are you ready?” he asked. The evening sky was threaded with tufts of pink.

“It is almost dark,” she said. “Where are we going?”

“Nowhere and everywhere.”

She could not ride with him in public. They were in the city, not at a deserted beach. “Someone will see us like this.”

“It is dark. No one will notice.”

“No one will notice a golden-haired god astride a war horse?” Goddess, the words that came out of her mouth these days.

“If they do notice, all they will see are shapes.” Before she could protest Gaius helped her up. He put his arm around her and settled her against his chest then draped a dark cloak over them both. “We are shadows passing in the night. Do not worry.”

She leaned back, their bodies meeting and shifting. As the horse broke into a canter, she nestled her head against the warmth of Gaius’s neck. For a while she rocked in easy comfort, soothed by his touch.

“There is no better feeling than this,” she said.

Gaius kissed the top of her head and stroked her arm. Her daily worries seemed to fade. Lulled by the horse’s steady pace she could even forget about Kaeso. Her mind was becoming blank. And in that blankness was peace.

Darkness blanketed the surrounding hills. Apollyon picked his way along an unknown path guided by the pressure of Gaius’s knees. No words were spoken.

Ghostly columns rose into the sky as they made their way back to the Palatine Hill and passed familiar temples—first Apollo Sosianus then Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus and Leda. The small Temple of Vesta lay hidden amid the jumble of half-formed squares and rectangles.

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