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“Yes, Malina. I want you to ride my dragon.”
senses. He could smell my arousal.
“I’ve never heard of someone riding on a dragon’s back.” “That’s because it’s illegal now. One of the many laws enacted by my uncle’s senate since he took the throne. It was rare even before that.” “But you’re willing to break his law?”
“For you. Yes, I’ll break his laws.”
And since the last time most of them saw me, I’d ripped one of their own in half following a victory.”
“That is not normal behavior for a general.” “Then why did you do it?”
“I couldn’t stop my dragon from what he wanted,”
I knew she felt attraction for me as well as disdain. If I wanted her to understand, I’d have to be the braver one.
That meant risking my life. And I would. For her, it was a risk worth taking.
“If I tell you this, it could jeopardize something very important.”
“Then why do it?”
“Because I need to earn your trust. So I must give you something valuable.”
“What’s that?” “M...
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“Then tell me.”
“There are a number of Romans, including myself, who are not happy with the regime my uncle and his predecessors have created.”
“And,” I asked, near breathless, “what do you plan to do about it?”
“We plan to kill him.”
“Trajan is one of your allies.” He paused, then said, “I won’t give you the names of my allies. If I’m to risk any life, it will be only mine.”
“Julian,” I said quietly, kindly, “I will never turn you in to the emperor or anyone else. I couldn’t.” “Wouldn’t? Or couldn’t?”
“Your secret is safe with me,”
“It’s all a means to an end, you understand. I must play my part until we are ready to strike.”
“I will help you.”
“All I need is for you to be near me. And safe.”
“My mother rode my father as a dragon.”
“Your mother was human?” “Yes. She was a slave in a Roman province in Thrace when my father met her.”
“It’s also why I must prove my brutality as the Conqueror. If I show any signs of weakness, some upstart will claim it’s my mixed blood and try to challenge me.”
“I haven’t had as hard a road as yours, Malina, but lately … the path has become more difficult.”
Because I believe it meant he intended to be the new Caesar, and he wanted me there with him.
He couldn’t die. I wouldn’t allow it. I’d do whatever I had to do to keep Julian on his path to overthrow Caesar. I simply wasn’t sure I would be able to walk with him the entire way.
“Because the gods wouldn’t have given Julian a weak female.”
“Not here. In this tent.”
“For being in this world. In my life.”
“There are many dying soldiers and officers who need tending.”
“Besides, it is known the general has a body slave with him. Something he has never had before. He will prefer you doing the mending of his body.”
I wasn’t an object to Julian. A slave to be used. Since we’d arrived, he hadn’t even touched me, except for a few moments ago when he was delirious with the fever burning through him.
“You’re beautiful.” Julian’s voice startled me again.
“Hush. You need your strength.” “You are my strength.”
“You’re talking nonsense, Julian.” “I haven’t been saying the right words.”
“Been wasting time telling stories.” “I enjoy your stories.”
“I have to tell you what you are to me,”
“Don’t be frightened by it.” “I’m not frightened,”
“You are. But there is no need.” Those golden slits opened and held me captive. “You are my treasure, Malina.”
“Like a coin.” “No,” he answered quickly. “We are touched by the gods, you see. With the beast that lives inside us.”
“We have a sight into the gods’ will like no other creature on earth.”
“Every dragon waits for his god-given treasure his whole life.”
“And I have found mine.”
If he planned to kill Caesar, I was going to help him in any way I could.
“Because if we can contact them without them burning us alive”—he dropped his voice to a whisper—“they could be our allies.” Julian smiled. “We are of the same mind.” “We always are. I’ll leave you to rest.”
“Well,” I added soothingly, “I think a man with a battle scar is rather attractive.” He pushed himself up a little. “Do you?”
“Yes,” I added, not knowing why I was inflating his ego. He didn’t need it. “Scars show strength. That you can survive pain and injury. That your body is strong and can take on more.”
