I had to tell him.
“He’s after us, you know.”
Jack’s entire body went rigid. Like a sparrow sensing a hawk overhead.
His voice came out hoarse. “He’s after who?”
“Olivia and I.” I met his gaze, unflinching. “Balthazar is hunting all Timebornes. He wants to kill us—even my twin brother.”
Jack’s eyes widened. “You have a twin brother?”
I nodded. “I thought I lost him when I was cast into Rome. But it turned out… he was thrown there, too.” My gaze settled on the ceiling, lost in memories I’d rather forget. “We were separated at birth.”
Jack remained silent, his fingers twitching slightly.
“In Rome, we were both gladiators.” I exhaled. “I was stronger. Faster. I won more fights. Marcellious hated me for it.” A muscle in my jaw tightened. “And then he made me do the unthinkable. He made me kill my best friend, Marcus.”
Jack’s breath hitched.
“I thought Marcus was my brother. I hated Marcellious for a long time. We both hated each other.”
Jack whispered the name like it was a ghost from another life.
“Marcellious…” He blinked as if struggling to process it all.
“That’s your brother?”
I reeled my mind back from the memory that had snagged me and exhaled. “Yes. I have Olivia to thank for bringing us together.”
Jack remained still, listening intently.
“Marcellious and I were pitted against each other in the Colosseum. A fight to the death.” The words felt heavy on my tongue. “I was ready to kill my brother—my flesh and blood—when Olivia intervened. She transported us all to the Americas.”
A wave of warmth surged through my chest at the thought of her—my beautiful bride, my heart song, the flame of my life.
“She believed Marcellious and I were more than just enemies.” My voice softened. “She’s a good woman. Sometimes I wonder… if I deserve her.”
Jack reached across the table and patted my hand. “Don’t say that. I can see it in your eyes—you love her. That means something. And you, Roman, are a good man.”
He looked toward the window, his expression unreadable.
“Alina was a good woman, too. At least, I try to tell myself that.” He let out a breath. “I often wish she had told me the truth—about who she was, her purpose here, her lover. Then maybe… she’d still be alive.”
His voice cracked at the end.
I shook my head. “She might not be.”
Jack turned back to me, his brow furrowed.
“I don’t know how much you know about Balthazar,” I said carefully. “But he’s pure evil.”
Jack’s frown deepened. “Lee told me about him. Why would my wife love a monster?”
The question hung between us, unanswerable.
“The darkness…” I murmured. “It has a compelling sway over people.”
Thoughts of Balthazar soured my stomach. I needed to steer this conversation elsewhere before my rage took hold.
