“Regardless”—I heaved a sigh and crossed my arms—“neither she nor you nor anyone else in this godforsaken city knows what it was like to be the muzzled pet of that psychotic dragon.”
He stood and walked to face me, but I kept my gaze on the city rimmed in the last light of day.
“You’re right,” he said quietly. “No one can know that. But you’re not free yet.”
I snapped my head to look at him, fear creeping back into my heart. “What do you mean?”
“They’re looking for you.”
And if I was found here, Trajan would be executed as a traitor. He didn’t say the words but his gentle expression spoke louder. He was trying to be kind in letting me know I needed to leave.
I nodded. “If you can give me some provisions. And perhaps Koska could help me sneak into the Aventine, I’ll hide there. I can be gone by tomorrow night.”
His scowl returned, a rumbling growl in his chest and his eyes flashing bright with the dragon. I took a step back.
“You won’t be sneaking off into the Aventine,” he hissed. “That’s exactly where Caesar’s praetorians are looking for you. Not only that, do you know how high the ransom is?”
I shook my head.
“Five thousand denarii.”
“What?” I gasped. “Five thousand?”
“A pretty ransom for your head. And I can promise you there are enough criminals and desperate plebs who will gladly tie you up and toss you on the doorstep of Caesar’s palace for far less than that.”
“Bona dea,”I whispered.
“Don’t even think about trying to leave on your own while I’m gone, Lela,” he emphasized. “It will be your death, I can promise you.”
“Then what am I to do?” I scoffed. “I can’t live the rest of my life hidden in your bedchamber.” I walked to the window and looked down at the garden. “It has a lovely view,” I added bitterly, “but I’m just as caged here as I was at Valerius’s.”
He didn’t like that response, but he knew I was right. “I can’t keep Alba from my bedchamber for long anyway.”
My heart tripped faster. “Your lover will come here?”
“No.” He gave a halfhearted laugh. “Alba runs the house and is the only person I allow to clean my bedchamber and study.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I am very private and protective of my possessions. I don’t like people in my personal space.”
“I’m in your personal space.”
He paused. “Not for long. I need to find somewhere else to hide you.”
“You know someone who won’t give me up for the ransom?”
He didn’t answer but examined my face and my tunic again.
“Alba will bring me a tray of food to my study in a while, so stay quiet until you hear her come and go next door. I’ll bring you some of my dinner.”
I wanted to protest, but I knew that I needed to keep my strength up. Even if I had little appetite, I had a feeling I’d need to be alert and strong for whatever path lay in front of me.
“Won’t she wonder why you don’t need a bath?”
I’d seen his large bath inlaid with ocean-blue tiles beyond his dressing screen.
“I often use the public bathhouses in the city. She won’t ask.” He nodded and turned for the door.
