“You do not have to hide yourself from me, Laurentia. You are my only friend. You are my equal.”
“No, I am not,” she whispers. “I could never be.”
Taking another step toward her, I reach out and take her hand in mine. She allows it, but only barely, and she’s trembling the entire time.
“You are, in here. I am Drucilla and you are Laurentia. Nothing else matters. We’re friends.”
“You really must be from another world,” she murmurs. “One that I wish I could be part of.”
“We have our own issues,” I say with a smile. “But I would love for you to have your freedoms and there you would.”
There is a sound outside, more howling, but it’s growing louder. Turning around, I rush toward the window and I gasp at the sight below. Instead of just a few wolves circling and howling, there are at least a hundred, if not more.
“You are their queen,” Laurentia informs me.
“I can’t be. I am a woman, and not even from this freaking place,” I exhale.
Laurentia reaches for my hand and takes it in hers, squeezing it gently. “You command the wolves and the Emperor commands the bears. You are truly his destined empress.”
Just as I am about to tell her no, to deny her words, the door flies open. Well, as much as a heavy as shit old door can fly. Spinning around, I’m surprised to see Tiberius, Marcellus, and another man that was in the office, but looks a hell of a lot like them waltz through the door.
“Tiberius would like me to translate,” Marcellus announces.
The other man watches me, and I hold up my hand, as if I’m in elementary school all over again. “Can I ask a question?”
Marcellus’ brows rise and he jerks his chin toward me. It’s in this moment that men are kind of the same, no matter what world we’re in. They aren’t much for talking, it seems. They are more action guys, and it shouldn’t surprise me, but Marcellus has been all about the communication the last few days.
“Who is the new guy?”
Marcellus smirks, then turns to the new guy and Tiberius before speaking to them. Both of them chuckle. “This is our cousin, Brutus. You know his sister, Cassia.”
“Wow,” I breathe. “Cassia is so tiny,” I whisper.
Brutus isn’t fat, but Brutus is sturdy and all muscle, he’s also a few inches taller than even Tiberius which I would guess puts him at about six-foot-three. He’s a big guy and Cassia is super petite.
They all laugh at my words, then Marcellus clears his throat. “The wedding will take place tonight,” he announces.
“Excuse me?” I exhale.
Tiberius begins to speak and Marcellus translates. “We must not waste a moment. It seems you are much stronger than anyone could have imagined. We do not want to anger the gods.”
“Anger the gods, or are you scared of me?”
There is a moment of silence after Marcellus translates. Shifting my gaze from the floor, I slowly lift it to meet Tiberius’ intense one. He arches a brow and grunts his next words.
“A woman does not frighten me, no matter how much power she holds. It is not possible. The woman you are could never frighten me.”
“Then why the rush?”
“The wolves are here to protect you. Your fears have called them here.”
“And marrying you will make those fears vanish?”
His lips curve up into a sexy grin and I hate that I find it so damn sexy. I feel like the past two days have been on hyperspeed. We went from not even knowing one another’s names, I went from a whole other world, to now getting married.
Married.
How?
No wonder I’m scared, not only that, he freaking keeps locking me up in this room like a prisoner. Plus, there’s the little fact that only about two people speak my language.
“It will calm everyone,” Marcellus says.
I want to laugh, I really do. I also want to cry. So, instead of doing the latter, I just stare at him in complete disbelief that this is my life.
“I want my sisters,” I whisper. “I want my sisters right now.”
There is a moment of silence after Marcellus translates and I continue to look Tiberius in his eyes. I see it, even if he doesn’t realize that he’s giving it to me, I see it. It flashes. He knows something and he’s not telling me. He knows something about my sisters.
“Where are my sisters?” I demand a bit forcefully.
“We are to be married,” Tiberius states. Then he looks to Laurentia. “Prepare her.”
Without another word, he whirls around in his glorious man-skirt, something that I notice that Brutus is wearing as well and they walk away, together. I hear the damn lock slip into place as soon as the door closes and I curse that lock. I curse it with everything that I have. Nothing magical happens though and I stomp my foot in annoyance.
Walking over to the window, I look down at the wolves again and idiotically lift my hand, giving them my best princess wave. “Go on and go home, faithful animals,” I call out.
I feel ridiculous, but I don’t know how else to get rid of them. I have a feeling that the gods gave me this gift for some kind of reason, but I have no clue why or who did all of this. I don’t even know if I truly believe any of it, all I know is that everyone here believes it, so I’m going with it.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to get the hell out of here soon. Because I have no reason to stay. Screw this shit completely. I am out of here as soon as possible. Pinching my eyes closed, I try to wish myself back home. Back to Florida. Back to my
