“If you joined us, we’d have the numbers to move soon. With our knowledge of the city and the generals and how Caesar operates, we could devise a plan together to defeat them all. Because make no mistake, if we allow his generals to live, they will rally and their vengeance will be bloody and brutal.”
He glared at me then snapped, “Set me free. I will do it.”
“Not now.” I glanced back toward the stone stairs but there was no one coming, no sound of footsteps. “I have a promise to keep to Lela first. Once she’s safe out of the city, I’ll get you out. We have until Lupercalia, which is in two weeks, so we have time.”
Lela stared at me, but I wouldn’t meet her gaze. In order to get this Visigoth king out, we’d have to fight and kill Romans. There would be a high probability that someone might recognize and report me to Caesar. I’d have to prepare my grandfather and the others to flee thesame night if I was discovered. We’d need to be outside of Rome with the Visigoth army by the time the emperor found out.
I would think of that later. For now, my main goal was getting Lela to safety. I’d devise an escape plan for the Visigoth after.
“During the festival will be the easiest time,” said Lela. “Most of the city will be distracted by the festival.”
“Then I will see you during Lupercalia,” the Visigoth said.
He sidled to the wall and slid down, his knees bent, watching us as we left. I didn’t waste any more time. I took Lela’s hand and led her back up the steps and down the darkened corridor. Still no sound but of those imprisoned in cells.
We passed the unconscious guards and then out the back archway where we’d entered. There was no sign of the chariot guard either, as expected. Lela’s magic was truly powerful. I marveled that we were able to get into the prison without killing anyone.
Now, the guards would wake and never remember us at all or what had happened. They’d simply believe they fell asleep on the job and keep that guilty crime to themselves. And Caesar would never know.
Once on the street, we could still hear the crowds gathered in the forum. Pulling our hoods back up, we hurried through the backstreets. When we neared Palatine Hill, Lela leaned closer to me.
“Will your servants be watching?”
“I gave them all leave to see the triumph and enjoy the afternoon off. The house should be empty, but we’ll enter through the garden to be safe.”
We encountered no one on Palatine Hill. I stepped through the gate to my large courtyard first, seeing and hearing no one. Ushering her in behind me, I urged her toward the gate leading to my back garden and the olive grove. We rushed up the back steps that led directly into my bedchamber, finally slowing down once we were safely inside.
Lela pushed the hood off her head, laughing. My heart jolted at the lovely sound.
“That was the most fun I’ve ever had in Rome.” She walked out to the wide terrace to the banister.
From here, we could still hear the people cheering in the streets. They would celebrate the triumph long into the night. I removed the black cloak and dropped it over a chair then joined her at the banister.
“Thank you for your help,” I said, transfixed by the blush on her cheeks, the life in her beautiful eyes.
There was always such sadness there that I became completely entranced at the sight of actual joy on her face. She turned her head to look up into my eyes. Lovely beyond compare.
Without thinking, I reached a hand up to cup her face. She flinched, and I dropped my hand. My gut tightened as I clenched my jaw, wishing Valerius were alive so I could kill the fucking fiend again.
“I apologize.”
Her eyes rounded wide, then she reached for my hand and cupped it against her own cheek. Her pulse thrummed quickly. My dragon senses could hear her heart beating wildly in her chest, but it didn’t appear to be from fear.
On our journey to the prison, she’d allowed me to keep her close within my arms as we walked and navigated the crowded streets. That was all a ruse, pretending we were husband and wife out to view the triumph. But now, we were alone.
The closeness, the skin-to-skin contact, felt different—intimate. Her mouth was slightly ajar, her warm breath puffing against my wrist. She was so soft and delicate, it hurt. I ached to tilt her head up and take her mouth with mine. But I didn’t want to frighten her.
My blood pumped faster, my fantasy taking hold as I eased my body closer. Slowly. So slowly. Allowing her to stop me if she wanted. In the distance, crowds cheered for Caesar and his general’s victory. Itwas all surreal. I was in a dream, completely entranced by this beautiful, beguiling woman.
I brushed a thumb along the swell of her cheek. She leaned into my touch, catapulting my pulse faster. She seemed to yearn for this too, and the realization struck me hard. In the deep, my dragon purred, fierce longing binding my chest in an iron grip.
Gently, I tilted her head upward, letting her see my intentions first, before I bent closer. Her eyes widened, the black devouring the blue until there were only thin sapphire rings. I brushed my thumb along her silken skin, completely enraptured by this moment, by the idea that she might want my mouth, my kiss, on hers.
With a sliver of air between us, I whispered, “Lela.”
Then there was no space between us at all. My lips brushed hers, coaxing and pressing softly. When she didn’t retreat, I slid my other hand to the nape of her neck, beneath her hair, and cradled her head while I pressed my mouth more deeply, drinking in the sweet taste of her. Tenderly.
Gods above.She was divine. Her plush mouth, her warm tongue, her soft moan, altogether the most sublime sensation I’d ever known.
