Destined for a Deity (Mark of Mars)
Page 28
“What?” Jenna touched his cheek lovingly.
Nothing could prepare her for when the God of War dropped down on one knee and took hold of her left hand. “I understand it is usual in your world to ask for a lady’s hand in marriage with a gold ring fitted with a large gemstone. I will obtain one for you the next time we are at your home but for now I hope the Roman version will suffice.” He produced a stunning black wrist band, embedded with pearls and slipped it around her wrist. He had figured out that to fulfil his prophecy he didn’t have to choose the colour of the band, by embracing both worlds, he could have both; black and gold. “Agree to marry me, my love, and you can have a long betrothal.”
“Is it the God or the man asking?”
Marcus started to shimmer. “Both.”
Looking into those wondrous black eyes flecked with a little more gold than usual, Jenna knew she could not refuse. She didn’t want to. “Yes,” was all she could manage. She would never forget their post-proposal kiss, it was beautiful. It was a pity she was at the Palace, she suddenly had a great desire to be alone with him.
“I think we should head back inside before I misbehave terribly,” Marcus murmured. “Trajan will want to congratulate us.”
“He knew about this?”
“Of course. It comes with his approval.”
Jenna strolled back inside with Marcus’s arm around her. Trajan was beaming. “At long last,” he kissed her cheek. “I thought he was never going to make it official.”
“McVale are going to have palpitations at this,” Amelia giggled. “I’m not sure a student has ever married out of their time zone.”
“Hey, I’m not actually out of my time zone. I was born in Rome,” Jenna reminded her. “I guess my life is just a bit more complicated than most.”
Trajan raised his hand to silence everyone. “I have an announcement to make before we sit down for dinner. It is my great pleasure to formally bless the betrothal of Jenna to Marshall Vilnus. I wish them a long and happy life together. Something tells me their union will be anything but dull.”
Jenna threw Trajan a look, but she was finding it hard not to smile. Every time she touched the band, it reminded her how Marcus was trying to embrace both their worlds.
Standing next to Marcus, Jenna could not have been happier. She was surrounded by good friends, a new father, and the man she loved. Not that he was actually a man, but a God. The God that sired Rome. Her life was never going to be ordinary.
EPILOGUE
Professor Daniels was in his office reading through some assignments when the knock at his door broke his concentration. It was Gaius.
“Gaius,” he grinned. “Don’t tell me another catastrophe has befallen Jenna?”
“No,” Gaius shifted a little uncomfortably. “You have a visitor.” He stood aside as a very distinguished senator walked into the room.
“Professor Daniels,” he smiled. “Please forgive the intrusion but I thought it time we meet.”
“And you are?” Daniels rose to his feet, he had a pretty good idea who his visitor was.
“I go by Senator Aurelius in Rome but you would probably know me better as Jupiter.” In case the Professor needed proof of his credentials, Jupiter revealed his immortal form for a moment.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Daniels scarcely believed he was talking to the God of Gods. “Please, take a seat.”
“Thank you.” Jupiter sat down on a soft chair.
“It is Jenna you wished to discuss?”
“In part, yes. Whilst she is now officially betrothed to my son, she refuses to take her marriage vows until she has figured out how they can live in both worlds.”
“What is wrong with using the gateway?”
“That is only a short term solution. Whilst we can guarantee we will always have ownership of Mars’ temple or the land it sits on, the Institute may not exist in, say, a hundred years.”
“I see her point. But I don’t see how we can guarantee her a gateway on this side.”
“I’m sure you’ve considered this already, but are there any other gateways in Britannia?”
“Not that I am aware of. But that is not to say none exist.”
“How do you go about finding a gateway?”
“It would have to be linked to an ancient site, the stone walls would be marked with hieroglyphics and it could well be located underground.” Daniels could feel the hair on his arms stand on end, he had described the weapons vault in Jenna’s home. He was not prepared to disclose that fact just yet, he needed a tight control on who came through the gateway to their time.
“Jenna’s house is located close to one of the most ancient sites in Britannia. Do you think her mother might have found a gateway there?” Jupiter seemed to be well informed.
“You think her mother might have been safeguarding her two lives?”
“Yes. She was after all a student in Rome and would know Jenna had to return at some time.”
“I take it your interest is not just in Jenna’s future?”
“No. I am interested in your world. I understand the Olympus Gods no longer exist in this time?”
“Correct.”
“We could learn a great deal from you, perhaps how to live side by side with your Gods.”
“You want to live here?” Daniels asked incredulously.
“Yes. We would like to split our time like Jenna and Mars will do. I cannot have any grandchild of mine raised in a land I have no knowledge of.” Jupiter stood up. “I would like to talk to you further about your politics and government, but I am required at the Senate so that conversation will need to wait for another day.”
Daniels walked Jupiter back to the gateway. He was not sure the world was ready for the Roman deities; and they were not the type of family who could keep a low profile. Life was going to get a lot livelier if they ever found that gateway.
Other books by Juliet Anderson:
Mark of Mars Series:
Mark of Mars
Blood Never Lies
Destined for a Deity
Realms Gate Series:
Realms Gate
A Realm Divided
The Realms Unite
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
EPILOGUE