“It was awful.” I rubbed my arms, still feeling their wicked little legs crawling all over me. “And then Balthazar did what I said and showed me parts of my mother’s life. My mother had many lovers when she wasn’t with Balthazar. Apparently, they had what you might call an open relationship.”
I wrinkled up my nose.
“Whoa, whoa,yourmother wasBalthazar’slover?”Marcellious arched backward as if I’d hit him with a log.
I nodded. “They supposedly had some sort of special relationship throughout time. And when Balthazar was away, my mother took other lovers.”
“That’s not uncommon, Olivia,” Marcellious said evenly. “I find it hard to think you’re that naive.”
“Of course, I know it’s common,” I said, my arms shooting into the air. “But she was mymother.Don’t you get it?”
“Mothers are only human,” he said, playing Devil’s advocate.
“How can you say that? She didn’t love me and tried to kill me when I was born. That hurts,” I said. In the back of my mind, I marveled that I was telling all this to Marcellious, who barely tolerated me.
And he was listening intently.
What had happened to him while we’d been gone?
“I know all about a mother’s rejection, so don’t think you’re special.” Marcellious’s expression grew ugly, letting me know the real Marcellious was still there.
I continued talking, wanting to take advantage of his generous mood. “So, now I’ve got to find my mother’s journal. Balthazar wants it. And he’ll only release Roman if I can produce this mysterious book, and no one seems to know where it is. Roman might die, Marcellious, and it’s all my fault. And Balthazar kept my dagger!”
A few pesky tears escaped my eyes.
“Don’t fret,” Marcellious said, patting my back. “Roman is the strongest man I know. He was a gladiator. He’s survived worse. He’ll live.”
His effusive comfort baffled me.
Emily appeared in the distance, stopped, and stared at me. Then, she broke out in a run. She threw her arms around me when she reached me and hugged me tightly.
“Oh, Olivia! You’re back! We were both worried sick. You’ve been gone for three days!”
“Three days? I can’t believe we were gone so long.” I eased away from her.
Her blond hair glistened like she’d washed it, and her blue eyes shone. She clasped both of my hands and said, “Where’s Roman? What happened to him?”
“Oh, gosh, Emily! He’s badly injured, and Balthazar is holding him captive. I had to leave him as collateral until I find Alina’s journal.” I turned toward Marcellious. “We have to go back and find Grey Feather. He must know more than he lets on. I’m desperate, Marcellious. If Roman dies, I may as well kill myself.”
His eyebrows rose on his forehead. “Let’s not go that far. Like I said, he’s a strong warrior.”
“We can’t go anywhere,” Emily said, looking me up and down. “You’re badly injured.”
I glanced down, noticing a gaping cut on my arm and gashes on the back of my leg, from ankle to ass. “Balthazar threw me against the wall, and I must have cut myself on the stones.”
“So, that’s it, then. Let’s stay here. Let me care for you, and then we’ll go,” Emily said.
I shook my head. “I can’t stay, Em. Don’t you see? If I don’t find my mother’s writing, Roman will die.”
My voice quavered.
“When she makes her mind up, there’s no stopping her,” Marcellious said.
“Well, at least let me patch you up,” Emily said. “I’ve found some healing herbs. Let me put a poultice on your wounds, and we can get on our way.”
“I’ll go get the horses. I’ll meet you out here as soon as you’re done tending to Olivia,” Marcellious said, giving Emily a warm smile.
As Emily hustled me toward the house, I asked, “Why is Marcellious so nice to me?”
