“Gaius is a follower of the old ways.” He sipped his wine, his bloody fingers more apparent now that I was facing him and paying more attention. “There’s no room for men like him.”
A new fear gripped my chest and squeezed. He would kill my grandfather to supplant him.
As if he saw that thought flicker in my eyes, he said, “I’m depending on you to keep Gaius on the right track. I want no defiance along our path to an all-powerful Rome.” His eyes flashed even brighter gold, his teeth elongating. “TomyRome.” He held my gaze then asked, “Do you understand me, Trajan?”
“Yes, Caesar.”
I was to control my grandfather. If he voted against any of Caesar’s laws, he’d kill him.
“Good.” He grinned, flashing his fangs. “Who knows? Kato can’t be long for this world. You might even serve as consul right alongside your grandfather,” he added amiably as if he hadn’t just threatened to assassinate the most important person in the world to me.
“Kato is getting long for this world,” I agreed.
Caesar chuckled, looking back at the prisoner slouched in his bindings. “Yes, well, we all have our time,” he added soberly.
It grew quiet for a moment, the only sound from the labored breathing of the man bound to the statue.
“I was thinking of visiting my sisters in Ravenna for Marilla’s upcoming birthday,” I said offhandedly, having thought of this as an option to get out of the city and take Lela with me. “Would you grant me permission, Caesar?”
The new law required I get permission. I held his unsettling gaze.
“No, Trajan,” he answered evenly, holding my gaze intently. “You need to keep close to home. Keep an eye on your grandfather. Your sisters are welcome to return to Rome and visit you here. They’re at an age where they need husbands, aren’t they?”
Like fucking hell I’d bring them home. I’d already sent them farther away than Ravenna, into one of the many homes we owned in the wide empire.
“Perhaps.” I chuckled. “My sisters love their villa on the sea.”
“I’m sure they do.” He continued to study me then abruptly changed the subject. “Don’t you miss the battlefield?”
But I knew that Igniculus didn’t make small talk. He never said or did anything without a motive. Without a direct purpose.
“I do.”
He glanced at my simple tunic. “You don’t look like a soldier anymore.”
That was an insult, but I simply nodded. “Life in Rome is different than on campaign.”
“Indeed. But no less treacherous.” He waved to the prisoner. “Just ask Adolfo.” He laughed.
I snickered along with him, then he sobered quickly.
“Why don’t you give him a go? You seem a man who needs to let the beast loose once in a while.” He tilted his head, looking more animal than man. “As a matter of fact, I believe your dragon is scratching at your skin. Been a while since you’ve been in half-skin, hasn’t it?”
For a split second, I thought he knew. I thought he somehow saw that I’d been in half-skin only two nights ago.
“Yes, Caesar. It has.”
“Hmm.” He nodded down at the whip. “Why don’t you let some of that beast out then?” It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command. “It’ll feel good.” He studied me with predatory senses. “You need it.”
Drussus stared coldly, watching me far too intently as well. They were suspicious of everyone, as they should be.
I glanced at Adolfo, his one-eyed gaze on us, on me, and full of hatred. Though beaten and tormented, he was still quite alive. A lot left in him to torture. It wasn’t Caesar’s questioning that had sparked fear enough to elevate my heart rate. It was being ordered to whip a helpless man. Even if he was an enemy of Rome, no one deserved to die like this. And now I was to contribute… or appear weak and disloyal. The greatest fault Caesar saw in other men, other dragons.
Without another second’s hesitation, I stalked forward and bent over, lifting the gladius, not the rope. Pulse thudding hard beneath my ribs, I marched forward, holding the gaze of Adolfo. He stood up straighter as I approached, readying himself for whatever I planned to do—perhaps pluck out his other eye.
But I did none of that. Lifting the gladius, I pointed the blade’s tip over his heart, curled my other hand around the back of the hilt. Adolfo met my gaze, realization dawning. He exhaled a breath and closed his eyes. I gave him that split second to prepare himself then shoved straight through bone to his heart with a sickening crunch. Adolfo gasped at the sharp pain, his face tightening before he went entirely slack. My hands were still on the hilt.
With a swift tug, I pulled the blade free and walked back toward Caesar, the gladius dripping a trail along his white stone. Taking the sharp end in one hand, I presented it to the emperor, hilt-first. Igniculus grinned with a revolting kind of satisfaction as he took the knife from my hand.
