“There are no mistakes when something is fated by the gods. They do not make mistakes.”
Just as I open my mouth to speak, the man who is pretending to be Tiberius clears his throat. “It is time for Drucilla to retire for the evening,” he announces. “As it is time for you too, Cassia.”
Cassia rolls her eyes before she stands and turns around. I do the same, though I do not make a move to leave the gardens. The pretend Tiberius’ gaze is focused on her and only her. He says something to her and she snorts before shaking her head a couple of times and speaks very quickly, almost heatedly.
I make a mental note to ask Laurentia what was said, because it looks kind of juicy. They are in a stare down and then the pretend Tiberius jerks his chin, looking exactly like every man I know and grunts.
Cassia sighs before she stomps off, looking like every teenager I know. It’s then that I realize this may be a different world, but we aren’t all that different. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future, but what I do know is that this feels right and these people, they’re just like the people back home—mostly.
TIBERIUS
Cassia leads Drucilla away and into the gardens, probably to keep her away from Marcellus and to keep me from losing my mind at seeing them in such close proximity to one another all evening.
I watch them, they talk to one another, the famulus that I have assigned being their translator. It was not hard to find someone who spoke Drucilla’s language, it was harder finding someone who was a good fit to help her. The pretty famulus was just a woman who was in the kitchens, a good choice if I do not say so myself.
“Are you to take her to the other celebration this eve?” Marcellus asks.
Arching my brow, I think about the reaction she may have upon entering the venereum. I do not know her well enough, but I do know that we are one of the only countries that has venereums in this world.
“I do not think that she is ready,” I state.
“You or her?” he asks with a knowing smirk.
I lean back against the wall and watch him for a moment. I attempt to imagine allowing Drucilla to partake in the activities of the venereum. Even if she did not touch another man or another man touched her, I do not think that I could even allow her bare flesh to be seen by others, yet.
I am not there yet, perhaps after we are wed and she is truly mine in the eyes of the gods and the lands’ laws—perhaps.
“Both,” I grind out.
He bursts out laughing as his shoulders shake. “I will gather her and Cassia, escort them to their rooms before the activities begin.”
I don’t bother thanking him, instead, I watch the exchange between them. I enjoy seeing the way Drucilla reacts to things. She is pure, she does not hide anything at all. Her eyes widen in surprise, her lips will part when she is shocked or when she has something to say but isn’t sure she should speak it.
Then there is the way she watches Marcellus. She knows that he is not me. I can tell by her assessing gaze every time that it is on him. Her eyelids are not lowered with desire, she does not lean into him when he speaks or is near. She is trying to figure things out and is confused.
Other than having a translator, I do not know how to tell her the truth and I am not ready to do so anyway. She will just have to live in a state of confusion for a bit longer. Pushing off of the wall, I begin to make my way toward the bedrooms when Cassia appears in front of me.
“She already knows that Marcellus is not you. How you thought you could get away with that, I am unsure of,” she states with a snort. “She also knew nothing of the prophecy. Tell me, cousin, what are your plans with this creature?”
“You already know preparations for a wedding ceremony have begun,” I say with a sigh.
Cassia rolls her eyes to the gods, then brings them back to meet mine. “I know that she panicked about you being with her unsheathed last night. I also know that she expects once this prophecy is in motion that she will just travel back home with her sisters.”
I growl, but she holds up her hand.
“I told her it was not possible, but this is foreign to her, Tiberius. You must make her want to stay. Right now, she thinks this is temporarius.”
“It is not,” I snap.
Cassia grins. “This I can tell, cousin. She does not realize she has no choice. I have told her, but I am unsure she thinks what I’ve said is fact. You must make her want to stay. You must woo her, you must fall in love with one another.”
“This is a prophecy and has nothing to do with love. This is fated by the gods, Cassia. You live in a dream.”
She smiles, pressing her lips together, rising to her toes, she brushes her lips across my scarred cheek. She doesn’t respond to my words, instead, she takes a step back before she turns and heads toward her sleeping quarters. I watch her go, wondering if she is right.
Could I woo Drucilla?
Could I make her fall in love with me?
Could I make her want to stay with me?
Shaking my head, I push off of the stone wall knowing that I cannot. I could woo her in the dark with my body, that is about all, but that is only physical.
She will never love me, especially once she sees my scarred face.
She will never want to stay with me, and the only reason
