by Gordon, Eva
Ulric bowed to Cassia. “Thank you for stitching my wounds and for your lovely company.”
She tilted her head in a quick bow. “I’m glad I was of service.” Cassia turned to Macula. “I will let Gaius know you wish to speak with him.”
Macula shrugged and gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “I will look him up soon enough. My next stop is the forum.”
Ulric followed them out the gates. His heart broke to leave Cassia. When would he see her again? Could he wait until the next full moon? He wanted to whirl around and taste her sweet lips one last time. Floretta watched him like a hawk protecting her nest. Did she know Cassia was more than a sexual conquest? Would the viper stoop so low as to have the woman that had saved her son killed? His wolf snarled. Stay and protect! No, the best way to protect her was to stay away. Please, Cassia, leave before Macula returns.
Once back at the pack compound, Macula glared at him. “You are to remain locked until my return.”
Floretta threw Ulric a wicked smile, “You are to obey my husband.”
“That is my intension, domina.” He met Macula’s cold stare. “Will you be staying long at the forum?”
“Not that it is any of your concern, but I have matters to discuss with the Emperor. He’s invited Floretta and I to spend the night. He wants to buy you, but rest assured no such thing will happen even if it means your death in the arena. Our Lord Domitian grows more frustrated that you win against his champions.”
Ulric gulped and did his best to bow in submission. Macula might be Domitian’s dog but to sell a lycan to a human, sacrilege. The Lupercal would declare him a rogue pack leader, a risk that not even Macula would take. How would he explain to Domitian that Ulric was not for sale?
Chapter 15
Cassia leaned on the balcony. Her heart sank. Poor Ulric. Would Floretta flog him?
The revelation she was still in Rome infuriated Floretta and compromised her safety. No longer a choice, she had to leave. Cassia ran downstairs and into the clinic. What should I pack and what should I leave behind? Besides my heart. She sniffed as tears coursed down her cheeks. Oh, Ulric. How can I live without you? She uttered a prayer to Feronia and continued to pack. She had to be ready when Gaius returned the next morning.
She had to convince him to leave Rome. Despite the fact he was a lycan physician, if caught plotting against Domitian, not even Macula could save him. The power hungry alpha would no doubt murder Gauis if the Emperor asked.
Cassia kept her mind occupied by mixing and packing herbal potions but her concern for both Ulric and Gaius made her dizzy with fretting. Too anxious to work, she grabbed her cloak and headed out the door to find Gaius. She needed his council more than ever.
She stopped cold at the gate. What was she doing? Would she even find Gaius? He had left to see Senator Didius. They no doubt met clandestinely in a secure location. She glanced around wearily and returned to the empty house. With the dismissal of their slaves, she needed to fend for herself. She missed Ferox, not as a household slave but for his company. She entered the kitchen, poured herself leftover lentil soup and drank watered wine to soothe her frayed nerves.
Night came and the light of the waning full moon reminded her of their night of abandoned lovemaking. Ulric had been wonderful. Though he could have crushed her with his large frame, he had been careful and so gentle. Concerned with her satisfaction before his. For an alpha lycan under the influence of the full moon, he displayed unbelievable control. Gaius warned her of his bestial side. She expected bruising and claw marks. None. Only the blood from the loss of her maidenhood. Gaius failed to mention the intense bursts of pleasurable sensations during sex. Of course, she knew of a woman’s orgasm but never had imagined it to be so delightfully powerful. At least not for a virgin.
She yawned. Time to retire to bed. Sleeping alone in her bed without Ulric felt wrong. Empty. Lonely.
Cassia attempted sleep but her troubled thoughts kept her on edge. She hugged a cushion on her bed and breathed in Ulric’s residual masculine scent. Vivid memories of their mating flooded her mind and her wolf mark seared. The dampness of her loins made her long for him. How could she think of leaving him when Domitian meant to kill him in the arena? As she lay staring at the ceiling, she plotted. Could she use her powers to make the lycans fall asleep? At least the alphas? Not possible. There were at least thirty, mostly females. She plotted countless ways to rescue Ulric and the enslaved pack. Every scheme proved unfeasible and too risky. She fretted until exhaustion took her to oblivion.
She dreamed of making love to Ulric under the moonlit night in some unnamed forest, perhaps in Germania. She lay beneath him as he made her shudder with his nibbling kisses down her neck. Oh, yes.
Yips and howls. Danger. Ulric rose to meet the cruel interruption, Macula’s pack. They threw a net over him; its weight knocked him to his knees. He stood, naked and fierce and ripped through the net with steel sharpened claws but to no avail. He roared into his wolf form.
An arrow sang through the air and hit Ulric in his heart. His eyes widened and then he roared in agony.
Floretta appeared. “See what you have done! You forced me to kill him with wolfsbane.”
“NO!” She reached for him but he and the forest disappeared.
Darkness. She bumped her head on a low ceiling. The air smelled stale. She touched the walls and felt wet stones. An underground cave? A distant light emanated from an opening. Frantically, she crawled on her knees to reach it. Round stones barricaded her exit. She picked one up and gripped an eye socket. Skulls! She screamed.
Startled, Cassia sat up in a cold sweat. She looked around her bedchamber as the hazy sunlight filtered into her room. Had Feronia sent her a warning? She took a long breath to calm her frazzled nerves. She knew what she had to do. Once Gaius returned, they must ride to Gaul and meet with Petronia. Would the head of the Lupercal listen to her plea to save Ulric?
She donned a woolen tunic and marched to the kitchen for a quick meal before setting out to find Gaius. Egidius was loose in her herb garden munching on valuable plants. She dashed out. “Egid! No!” She pushed him out of the gated garden and closed it. “Bad goat!”
He blinked in innocence. “Baa.”
She returned to the garden and gathered the uprooted herbs. What did it matter? Soon she would leave this bloodthirsty city. The sound of hooves on the paved path made her turn. Gaius. She dashed to the gates. “Oh.”
“Lady Cassia, it is me, Stephanus.” He bowed. “We met at Macula’s villa.”
The Lupercii dismounted and waltzed in, leaving his horse outside the gate. Her heart hammered. What was he doing here? She smiled while brushing her soiled hands on her tunic. “Yes, of course.”
He looked around apprehensively toward her home. “Are you alone?”
She nodded. “My master Gaius will return at any moment.”
His voice took on a commanding tenor, “You must come with me immediately.”
She raked her loose hair back. On whose authority? Indignant she frowned. “What do you mean?”
His face grew somber, “I’m afraid I am the bearer of bad news.”
Despair engulfed Cassia. Her heart sped out of control. She covered her mouth with her fist. No. “Ulric, what has happened to him?”
He shook his head. “It is about your master, Lupercii Gaius.”
She gasped, “What about Gaius?” By the look on his crestfallen face, she knew.
“He and Senator Didius were betrayed by another conspirator, a spy for Domitian.”
“I must see Macula; he is the only one who can save him.”
His lip twitched in anger, “He knows and allowed the Praetorian Guard to arrest him. It was he who sniffed out the incriminating evidence against Gaius.”
“What evidence?”
“The journal that stated Domitian poisoned his brother. Macula then set it ablaze.”
She spat out in rage, “Macula is mad!” Gaius was tortured into confessing whatever the crim
e. Lycans never allowed their Lupercii to be arrested and expose their secret society.
“Petronia assigned me to monitor the Caninus pack’s relationship with Emperor Domitian. Macula plans to have Domitian swear a blood oath about our kind.”
Her voice shaky and disbelieving, “No, he must not.” The Lupercal law stated that no human ruler be allowed to learn of the lycan society. It would be too problematic. Ultimately, the humans would rebel and in greater numbers eventually destroy their kind. Once they learned of wolfsbane, no lycan would survive.
“Agreed. The Emperor is evil incarnate. If or when he learns the truth, he will use lycans to control the growing dissent in the populace. Time and time again, Domitian used Ulric to carry out horrific deaths. Imagine if he had control of the entire pack? The people already fear the Verspilles, the wolf men. If they knew lycans truly exist and are under the control of a malevolent emperor, they will live in terror and bow to his every command.”
The thought of Domitian sending lycans to do his bidding overwhelmed and frightened her. But for now she needed to save Gaius. “When is the trial?”
“There will be none. Your master and the senator swallowed poison before they were taken.”
She gasped and fell on her knees, overcome with grief. She wailed and then bowed her head within her lap to sob tears of stabbing loss.
He took his cloak and draped it over her. “I’m sorry. Please, Cassia, we must leave.”
Numb with sorrow, she let him hoist her up. Leave? She wiped her face with the cloak. Why should she trust this Lupercii? Was he really concerned with Macula’s bond to Domitian? Gaius had warned her about trusting even sweet innocent smiles. Had Floretta devised a trick to trap her? She jerked away from his hold. “Who sent you and why should I trust you?”
“I serve only Petronia. She sent me long ago to work with Lucius, who we think is destined to be a moral alpha pack leader. As I told you earlier, I spy on Domitian and Macula.”
Still suspicious, she didn’t know what to do. “Does Lucius know?”
“He does not know that I am Petronia’s and not his Lupercii.” He bowed as if in reverence and whispered. “Valeria Luperca.”
Cold spread through her body. Had Lucius told him? She rubbed her temples and flashed him a glare. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Before she left, Petronia entrusted me to watch over you in the event something happened to Gaius or you were in immediate danger.” He lifted her chin and locked his dark eyes with hers. “You are the orphan Shifra, a Judean wolf maiden found in Caesarea by Alpha Albius and Gaius. Macula may learn the truth since Floretta sent Nox to learn all she could about you.” He scolded, “It was foolish to talk to Igal and pretend you were leaving with him.”
Speechless, she stiffened. She swallowed hard and found her voice “The rumors about the miracle child have been buried. Albius convinced everyone the archer with the wolfsbane tipped arrow missed his target.” She rubbed the chill from her arms. “At the time, I thought pretending I left with Igal was the only way to get Floretta to leave me alone, and most importantly leave Ulric alone.”
He shot her a fleeting smile as if to comfort her. “Perhaps Macula forgot the deed his father once carried out to kill Albius. Let us hope you’ll be gone before he pieces together that you are the wolf maiden rumored to be the Valeria Luperca.”
“And where am I to go?”
He gazed around nervously and sighed, “I don’t know. Only that I must get you out of Rome as soon as possible.”
“So I will ride with you?”
“Only to Etruria. Then I must return. I’m under orders to dispose of Domitian.”
She raised a worried brow. “His Praetorian Guards will not let you near him.”
“There are some who were loyal to Titus. If I can somehow convince…”
“You can!” She took her knife and ripped the hidden scroll from her cloak lining. Her hands trembling. “This is proof Domitian had his brother poisoned.”
His eyes widened. “A second copy. Truly?” He unrolled it and smiled. “Once I show this to the guards who were loyal to Titus they will turn on him.” He tucked it inside his toga. “You are indeed a heroine.”
Heroine? Would she be the instrument that brought down an Emperor?
He looked about furtively. “Let us make haste. Gather what you can.”
She wanted to say goodbye to Gaius one last time. How could she? By now, they might have burned or mutilated his body. No chance for a proper ritual to dedicate him to Feronia. Then there was Ulric. She glanced at Egidius. “Very well, but I’m bringing my goat.”
He nodded and sighed in relief. “Hurry.”
She dashed back into her home. Frantic. So much to bring, so little time. She ran to the infirmary and filled a sac with containers of medicinal potions and a few small surgical tools. She stopped by Gaius’ station, and her eyes misted. All of his medical journals were organized chronologically. She lovingly traced a finger over each. As if they were treasured documents, she gently took them and placed them in a sack. She headed to grab clothing for cooler weather but stopped at the sound of voices.
Macula’s growl silenced them. A chill traveled down her spine. Too late. Did he come to arrest her as well or sell her as a slave?
She walked out of her domicile pretending that nothing had happened. Not an easy act after the loss of her beloved mentor and father figure.
The alpha, accompanied by five beta guards, sauntered through her gate. Floretta was not with him. A small blessing since the haughty wolf maiden would gloat or worse request her speedy execution. She eyed Stephanus who remained stoic, not a hint of why he had come evident in his face. A Lupercii’s strict training taught them to hide their emotions and lies from their lycan masters. They talked as she approached. Had Stephanus deceived her?
Macula smiled, “Cassia, Stephanus tells me you invited him to come pick up some healing salve for Lucius.”
Good. Stephanus proved trustworthy. Her red eyes betrayed her grief and she kept them cast down. “Yes, some skin salve for the scar on his knee.”
He lifted her chin. “Most kind. Stephanus heard and has apparently informed you of your master’s suicide.”
She wanted to scream, better a quick death than the slow torturous death of crucifixion. She bit her lip and nodded.
He turned to Stephanus. “You may leave.”
The Lupercii shot Cassia a worried look. “I’ll wait for the salve.”
Macula scowled at him. “Not necessary, the lycan physician is moving to my villa.”
Cassia gasped. Trapped. Her legs buckled and Macula steadied her with a quick hand.
Stephanus attempted to argue, “Perhaps the physician will serve the lycan kind better here.”
Macula stared him down. His fangs emerged. His voice laced with menace, “Bad enough you enamored my son with your philosophical dribble; are you now questioning my dominance?” The betas growled fiercely at the Lupercii in support of their master.
Stephanus bowed his head low. “No, master. I only stated the needs of the other packs.”
“I am law here in Rome. If her services are needed, she can attend them in my palace.” He snarled with curved fangs, “Go, Lupercii, before I have you branded and flogged!”
Stephanus bowed and walked toward his horse.
Cassia called. “Wait!”
The Lupercii, his gaze lowered in submission, half turned. “Yes?”
She gulped, “When I was ill at the villa Rohesia gave me a drink to help my recovery. I wish to send her a gift. That is if you plan on going to Etruria soon?”
“I leave to the Lupercal on the morrow.”
Macula laughed, “I heard. That Chattian witch is not without her curative herbs. Pity I missed her visit.” He raised a brow. “What do you wish to give her?”
“My white goat.”
“A goat?” Macula barked a laugh and his men joined in.
“He is my pet. I think she will find him amusin
g.”
Macula turned to Stephanus. “Deliver the goat to Rohesia.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Macula smiled more to himself. “Tell her I will call on her soon.”
Cassia wanted to argue that Rohesia was a freed slave but kept her mouth shut. She turned and headed for the gate. She tied the rope around Egid’s collar and led him to Stephanus. “Tell her he likes leftovers.” She would miss her pet, but Rohesia would keep him safe.
Stephanus lifted the small goat and gave her a dimming gaze. He draped the goat on the saddle and climbed his jittery mount. He took off with his horse at a gallop. Was he leaving for fear of his life or to relay the latest message to the Lupercal? Could he really kill Domitian?
Macula glowered at the departing Lupercii. “Flea bitten dog! The man thinks he can teach my son how to be a proper alpha.”
She begged, “Please, dominus, let me stay. Everything I need is here.”
He gripped her by her shoulders, his claws dug into her flesh. “You are lucky you are not sold as a slave in the market.” He sniffed her neck. “A beauty such as you has other uses besides practicing medicine.”
She winced from his sharp claws but controlled her fright. “Gaius’ estate must be settled by…”
“He has no heirs.” He smoothed a clawed finger through her hair. “Domitian granted me all of Gaius’ possessions, including his slaves.”
“But your wife hates me.”
He laughed with a sinister tinge, “Yes, she’s jealous Ulricus slept with you. This will make for great entertainment.” His tone turned serious, “Don’t worry. She will not dare poison you. Not without my permission.”
At the sound of his name, she ached for him. “It will be best then if I stay away from the gladiator.”
He let her go. “Of course, you are my slave and no longer available to others. Your only job is to heal our lycan injuries.” He grinned, “Though I may wish to mount you on occasion.”
Her skin grew cold with dread. If he did, not only would he learn she was a wolf maiden but claimed by Ulric.
The fool did not know how sneaky his wife could be. “I beg you let me heal lycan injuries here.”
