Turning my head, I twist around and tilt back to look up at who has just plucked me from the ground, their horse at full speed and not slowing. Then I scream again. He tips his head, but I can’t see anything other than his black eyes.
He’s wearing a full-on metal mask with one of those red Roman type mohawks down the center. He looks like one of those sexy guys from the movie 300 or that show Rome.
I open my mouth to scream again, but he shakes his head hard and the way his eyes stare intently at mine, my breath is stolen as I continue to just stare at him in shock.
What the hell just happened?
Where the shit am I?
Who the hell is this?
TIBERIUS
This is her. It must be.
She is practically nude, running barefoot in the forest. I was just out for a morning hunt, something that I don’t do nearly as often as I used to anymore. I was called to the forest today and now I know why.
Curse the gods.
She is frozen in my saddle, her violet eyes wide and terrified as she looks up at me. She would be even more terrified if she saw my face without my mask. I’m a monster. A hideous monster. If she saw my face, it would give her instant nightmares.
I was hoping that the beast was wrong, praying that he was, but it seems he was not. She lets out a breath, her body trembling in my arms. I ride toward the domum. She belongs in my dwelling since she is apparently my intended.
Intended.
It is a joke of the gods. Clearly. I never intended on finding a wife, unless it was something that needed to happen for the empire. A woman to plant my seed inside of, bear me a boy with a spare, and that is all.
She doesn’t even try to squirm from my grasp, and I wonder if the gods have any rules on this union.
“I am going to futuo you,” I announce.
She doesn’t respond to my words, instead, her brows snap together and she shakes her head a couple of times. Then she opens her mouth and starts to speak. I cannot understand a single thing that she says.
Her words sound familiar, but I do not speak her language. The gods have played the ultimate trick on me, not only have they delivered this woman to me, but they have also ensured that we cannot communicate because we do not speak the same language.
With a heavy sigh, I shake my head and continue to forge ahead.
As soon as we approach the courtyard, I pull on Felix’s reins to halt him before I dismount. The girl slides off of him and almost hits the cobblestone ground before I catch her in my embrace.
I cannot hide her from the people that have started to gather around us. Nobody dares approach me, as they know it is not their place. I am the emperor, and although I am not a tyrant the way that my father was, I am also not approachable.
Scooping her in my arms, I ignore the silent questions and jerk my chin toward Felix. He neighs but doesn’t question my silent demand before he slowly trots toward his quarters.
My domum is quiet as I enter, though I can hear movement around and I go in search of Cassia, knowing that she will at least make sure this woman is comforted. I do not see her immediately, so with a heavy sigh, I carry the stranger toward the room in which she will now reside.
Mine.
I do not know exactly what the gods have in store, but if we are fated then they will no doubt desire us to create an heir. This will kill two birds with one stone, and I can make my people happy as well by taking this woman as my wife.
This may not have been the plan that I wanted, but as a warrior, I have learned to adapt to ever-changing situations. Thankfully, I have had a little time to prepare for this one. Climbing the stone stairs, I swiftly make my way toward my room.
Pushing the door open, I walk inside and deposit her on the bed. She lets out a gasp, tilting her head back to look up at me. Her lips are parted in awe and her cheeks tint pink as her gaze travels down my torso and stops at my hips before her eyes fly back up to mine.
I watch her mouth move again, the words come out far too quickly, but even if she spoke slowly I would not understand them. Crossing my arms over my chest, I shake my head once, then decide to leave her to Cassia. I will come back and visit her to sleep, to plant my seed inside of her, for my duty and nothing more.
Though, if that were just the case, why didn’t I put her in one of the other rooms? I have many empty ones. The answer is uncertain, I had planned on putting her elsewhere, but upon seeing her, practically nude, I just couldn’t do it.
She calls to me.
Frowning, I turn away from her and close the door, then place the outside lock in place, something that I don’t often allow on our doors, especially mine, but had installed just in case I needed it, like today.
Turning down the hall, I make my way toward the gardens where I know Cassia tends to spend her afternoons. She is indeed there painting as I arrive.
“Tiberius, take that awful thing off, you are not in battle,” she announces without even having to turn to look back at me.
I chuckle, not doing as she demands. “She has arrived. I found her in the forest as I was hunting.”
“I am
