“I know that it is the children that will inherit this earth,” he says, as though this concept is new. It is not. It has always been the children who inherit the earth, it will always be this way.
He clears his throat. “It is said that there will be four sisters. Four sisters will be born. They are not of this world. Four sisters who are born of the same mother and father, yet do not share the same appearance. They are the only ones of their kind in the entire universe. Across our world and all others.
“Four sisters will marry and love the fiercest warriors from all four corners of our world. Once all four relationships are consummated, the events foretold in the prophecy will be set in motion, becoming unstoppable.
“If the four sisters come together once their fate has been sealed, they will absorb all of the powers this world holds. Four sisters will be the most powerful creatures in this world. It is not known if this will be used for good or evil.
“The future is uncertain and unknown if these sisters gather together in our world. Only the fates know what the final outcome will be. If this prophecy is not fulfilled, then there is no hope for humanity. The world will be wrought with wars, fires, famine, and disease. It will be a great culling.”
“How do we stop this from happening?” I demand.
The pontifex maximus inhales a deep breath, then releases it as he lifts his gaze to meet mine. “You must fall in love with her and you must create a child with that love.”
“I do not love,” I announce. “And she will never love me. So, preparing for war, famine, fire, and disease is our only hope?”
The pontifex maximus shakes his head. “You are fated, Emperor. The gods would not match you with someone that you could not love and they would not keep you from finding that for yourself. You must open yourself up for love.”
The fact that he is telling me that I must feel, that I must fall in love with Drucilla angers me. Who is he to say such things? Who is he to demand that this happen? Who is he to know anything on the subject?
“What happens when she bears a child that is not created in love?” I ask.
The pontifex maximus shakes his head once. “The gods did not enlighten anyone on that, however, I could imagine that nothing good would come of it. I feel as though it is best you try, Emperor. Try with all that you have.”
“Can you give me magic to speak her language?”
The pontifex maximus lifts his gaze to mine and he shakes his head once. “I do not have such powers.”
“But someone does?” I ask.
He shifts his gaze from me to the window, then back to meet mine again. “There are stronger venefica, but they live alone, sequestered together on an island.”
“What island?” I growl.
He clears his throat, looking down at his feet, then lifts his gaze back up to meet mine. Nodding his head, he finds my gaze with his own. “Curia.”
“My father emptied that island. He cut off trade and supplies years ago.”
“He also forced the most powerful venefica there when they tried to go against him.”
Brutus growls, then he takes a step forward. “He banished the women there who fought against him? The women?”
“Yes,” the pontifex maximus says with a nod. “It is exactly what he did.”
Jerking my chin up to Brutus, I grin up at him. “Would you like to make a trip?”
“I would indeed,” he spits.
Chapter Ten
DRUCILLA
The pontifex maximus tugs me behind him, and I think that he’s going to take us to a dark and dingy dungeon or something, but he doesn’t. Instead, he tosses Laurentia and me straight into Tiberius’ room, the room that I’ve been staying in the last few days. I hear the door lock, but I’m oddly okay with that. I’m comfortable here, I’m okay here. At least that’s what I tell myself over and over.
“What is going on?” I whisper as I look up to Laurentia.
Her back is plastered against the door, and her eyes are wide as she stares at me in what I can only describe as—fear. “You command the wolves,” she breathes.
“I don’t understand that at all,” I state.
She lifts her hand and points her finger to the window behind me. “I can hear them,” she hisses. “They symbolize war, they are only led by the god of war. No human can tame them, no man can call to them, not like with other animals.”
“What are you telling me?” I demand, my heart beginning to race.
“You are war. You will cause war. There is no other conclusion to this. Send them home, do not allow them to harm the good people of Savona. Banish them to their caves.”
Shaking my head, I lift my gaze to meet hers. “I would not, even if I knew how,” I whisper.
“Why?” she practically cries.
Lifting my chin, I decide that this is bullshit. But if this is what these people believe, then they will just have to understand that this is the prophecy and I don’t control shit, it controls me.
“Because the prophecy was not something created or controlled by me. I am not here of my own free will. I can’t control any of this.”
“Fate,” she whispers. “Fate cannot be controlled, but we can always control ourselves.”
I snort, shaking my head. “We can’t. I cannot control myself, nothing about me is controllable right now,” I snap.
Her eyes widen, then I watch the exact moment she realizes that she has said something to me that is out of line for her station. She instantly shrinks.
“I am so sorry. I should not have spoken. It was not acceptable.”
Taking a step toward her, I’m careful not to get too close. She is scared of me, and
