“Don’t seem so surprised,” I added, stepping farther into the room, listening intently for movement on the other side of the house. No one stirred.
She gave a stiff nod as if understanding. “You want to take his place in the senate.”
I wasn’t ready to confess my reasons. But I needed her to trust me.
“Why haven’t you tried to kill him before? Why tonight?”
“I wasn’t ready to die for it,” she answered easily. “But now I am.”
“That’s not necessary. We must get rid of the body. I—”
A sound in the distance. Footsteps.
“Someone’s coming.” I reached out an arm, my wings flaring wide, readying to take flight. “Come with me.”
She scoffed and stepped back. “So I can trade one master for another?” She shook her head, her long hair brushing her hip. “I’m not going with you.”
“It won’t be like that. I don’t want to be your master. I want to save you from execution.”
The footsteps were drawing closer. They must be nearing the corridor leading to his bedchamber.
“I don’t trust you,” she said simply. “I’d rather death than more of this.” She gestured around her.
“Lela. The emperor will make an example of you. You killed the consul who did all of his bidding, his hand of power in the senate.” I pointed down at her feet. “You took that away from him. He’ll have you ripped apart publicly in the arena. Only when you’re barely breathing will he have the praetorians set your body on fire and put you out of your misery.”
Her eyes rounded as she let that sink in. I extended my clawed hand.
“Youcantrust me. Remember, you were the one who foretold I would protect you. Let me protect you.” I glanced at the door. “They’re almost here, and then I’ll have to kill half the household.”
“No.”She leaped over the body and set her hand in mine.
Scooping one arm beneath her legs, I cradled her in my arms and took three long strides out onto the terrace and then flew into the night. I didn’t dare waste a second, flying low and close to the rooftops to avoid being seen by the deathriders circling the city high above.
Her arms wound around my neck and she held on tightly as I made evasive maneuvers when I heard a voice on a balcony or on the street not far below. I didn’t want anyone catching sight of me in half-skin, but it was the only way to get back to my house quickly and safely.
Fortunately, I didn’t live far from Valerius. A fact that I’d onceloathed, but now found quite convenient. Within minutes, I was landing on the wide veranda that led into my bedchamber on the back of the house facing downhill.
As I set her down, she shoved out of my arms. I marched immediately into my bedchamber, transforming back into human form as I went. I grunted at the sting of forcing the dragon back. He growled in my chest as I shoved him aside.
Even in this form, I could smell the few blood drops of Valerius that had transferred from Lela to me. After shoving into a plain tunic, I grabbed a rag and soaked it in the water bowl on a stand near my bath chamber. I wrung it out then walked back out to the veranda where Lela still stood. Right where I left her.
“Here.” I held out the wet rag. “I have a full bath to wash if you like.”
She narrowed her sapphire eyes at me. “This will do.”
I figured she’d say that. I kept my distance while she wiped her face, arms, and hands.
I’d seen her in the shadowy temple without the bridle, but seeing her by the torchlight on the veranda so clearly, I was mesmerized. I took note of every fine detail—the lovely soft lines of her jaw and nose, perfectly rounded cheekbones, the gentle slope of her wide forehead. But it was her eyes that entranced me the most—cerulean like the deepest clear sea.
“Why would you save me?” she asked directly.
I clasped my hands behind my back.
“You did something I was going to do. Now, instead of looking for me as the culprit, they’re looking for a slave woman.”
That should keep her curiosity at bay. It was also true, though I hadn’t planned it. Her expression relaxed further.
“How fortunate that I did your dirty work for you.”
