I didn’t want to take my chances with anyone else. And though I couldn’t admit it yet, I didn’t want to be parted from him.
“I didn’t hand you off to just anyone, Lela. I trusted Fausta. Rightfully so.”
“Until the praetorians came for her.”
“Do you mean the guards that you apparently sliced to death?”
“I didn’t do it. The guards did it to each other,” I said flippantly, knowing I sounded like him.
He chuckled, dipping his head closer. “The guards who were told to kill each other by a powerful bloodsinger.”
I narrowed my gaze and opened my mouth, but he stopped any more protests with a kiss. I melted against him and nipped his lip, kissing him with aggression that dragged a growl from his throat.
Suddenly, he broke off and lifted onto an elbow, staring at the bedchamber door.
“Who is it?” I hissed. “Alba?”
His nostrils flared. “No. Koska. I was expecting him. Get dressed.”
He shot out of bed and slipped on a tunic hanging over a chair then headed for the door, stopping Koska in the hallway in hushed tones. I quickly scurried toward his wardrobe and dressed, knowing Trajan already had a plan in motion.
XXIILELA
They both entered the bedchamber as I tied a rope belt around the loose tunic and stepped out to greet them. Koska was drenched from the rain and wearing a hooded cloak. He flicked it back before noticing me and started in surprise.
“Why aren’t you at Fausta’s?” he asked me.
“Because she’s dead,” I answered evenly.
Koska froze and looked at Trajan. “Bellona?” he asked fearfully. “Is she—”
“She’s okay. She’s alive and well,” Trajan assured him.
“Bona dea.”Koska clutched his chest. “What happened?”
“One of the guards who stopped us in the litter on the way to Fausta’s last night recognized Lela,” Trajan added. “He showed up and executed Fausta on the spot.”
Koska blinked. “So now what?”
Trajan stepped around us toward his wardrobe. I heard a drawer open and close then the jingling of coins. He returned and handed over a small pouch to Koska.
“Find Euphemia’s port worker.”
“And what am I to tell him?” asked Koska.
“We need a ship, to go out right after sunset. One that can carry and hide three people.”
“Three?” I asked.
Trajan held my gaze. “Lela, my grandfather… and me.”
I swallowed and tried to still my pulse, relieved beyond belief that he was coming with us. Then I asked, “Is your grandfather in danger now?”
He nodded.
“Because of me?” I asked.
“Because of me. I chose to involve Fausta. Now she’s dead.” Pain was etched in his brow. And guilt. “Euphemia’s smuggler isn’t ideal. We don’t know that he’s trustworthy. But all we need is for him to get us out of the city tonight, and then he can say whatever he wants.”
