Memnon crosses over to me, his gaze searching mine. “I know you’re afraid of Rome, but I am not. I will not bow to that boy king.” I stop myself from saying that Nero is hardly still a boy. “Nor will I tolerate their incursions any longer.” Deliberately, Memnon lowers himself to his knees, then presses a kiss to my lower belly. “The only one I bow to is you.”
