the path to your own murder with such smooth stones.”
Murder. Lydia’s heart hitched, and it was all she could do not to fall to her knees to beg for her life.
“You’ve made it so easy.” Lucius clapped his hands like a child. “Almost since the moment we were betrothed, you’ve been maligning me.” His smile fell away. “I’ve heard the words you use to describe me, darling. Reprehensible. Loathsome. Disgusting.”
The seething burn of hate filled his eyes, and Lydia took an involuntary step back toward the pool.
“Very shortly, I shall send word of concern to your father explaining that you never arrived for the little romantic interlude I had planned.”
“He knows that I did.” Lydia shook her head violently. “His own personal guard escorted me. The servant girl in the dressing room saw me…” She trailed off as a smirk grew on his face.
“Ah yes. The servant girl who is even now leaving through the side gate wearing your dress and a long dark wig. At least a half dozen of the staff working in the gardens will attest to having seen her—to having seen you—sneaking away from our meeting. And just as many will attest to having seen you board a ship leaving for Sibern.”
Lydia opened her mouth to protest, but all that came out was a soft whine of fear. Lucius’s confidence was deserved. He’d used her own actions against her. Everyone would believe she’d fled.
“The shame alone might be enough to kill your father,” Lucius said. “However, Vibius is eager to claim his birthright, and his hand isn’t particularly steady when he’s in his cups. A bit too much poison and a weak heart flutters its last. I will, of course, ensure Senator Valerius is granted a funeral befitting a prior consul and a man of his station.”
Something in Lydia snapped. She flung herself at Lucius, clawing at him. “You will not hurt my father, you disgusting wretch! I will not let you!”
But Lucius moved with surprising speed, the back of his hand connecting with Lydia’s cheek.
Stars burst in her eyes; then she found herself staring at the black tile of the floor, her mouth full of blood. A blow from Lucius’s foot struck her in the side, flipping her onto her back. Then another as he screamed, “You think you have a say, you little bitch? You are worth nothing! What you think is worth nothing! What you say is worth nothing!”
Abruptly the legatus dragged him off, slamming him against the golden doors. “This wasn’t what we agreed to, Cassius. You had your moment to gloat. Now get out.”
Curled around herself and barely able to breathe against the pain, Lydia watched as Lucius glared at the soldier before straightening his toga. “I’ll avail myself of the baths. Be quick about it, Marcus, and mind you don’t make a mess. I wouldn’t want anything to take away from the enjoyment of my soak.”
His cruel laugh echoed even after the golden doors thudded shut behind him, leaving Lydia alone with the legatus.
“Are you all right?” he asked, reaching down to help her up, but Lydia recoiled from his hand, scrambling backward.
“What difference does it make if I’m all right given that you intend to kill me?”
The legatus didn’t answer, only scanned the room, the flickering flames in the sconces casting shadows across his face. Then he shook his head. “It seems he has us both trapped.”
Pressing a hand to her battered ribs, Lydia climbed to her feet. “I struggle to understand how you equate our circumstances, Legatus.” Maybe if she could keep him talking long enough, someone, anyone, could come. “You will walk out of here. I won’t.”
“Only if I do what Cassius wants, which is something I’d hoped to avoid. But it seems Cassius’s choice of location was not merely theatrical.” His voice was as steady as though they were discussing a change in dinner plans, not her murder. Which made a certain sort of sense. His whole life was dedicated to killing. He was a murderer of the first order.
But that didn’t mean he was infallible.
“Why are you helping him? Why are you doing this?” Lydia demanded, mind racing as she tried to think of a way around him. A way out. But without a weapon, she had no chance. “Do you desire conquest so badly that this is what you’ll do to have him send you to the Dark Shores?”
“Conquest?” The legatus’s voice was incredulous. “Conquest is the last thing I want. What I need