Chapter Five

He left his guard open on his left several

times. Cassia's fists tightened in her lap every

time Julianus didn't take the opening.

Instead, it seemed like Julianus was playing

with the prince. The small smirk that had

tugged repeatedly at his mouth told her as

much as he continued to block attacks with

obscene ease. Cassia watched with delight

as Malitech's temper grew with each missed

strike.

Julianus smacked the flat of his blade against

Malitech's arm, making the prince yelp.

Then Malitech snatched up a goblet of wine,

throwing the contents in the lord's face. The

red liquid splashed into his eyes, making him

snarl with pain as he dragged the sleeve of

his uniform across his face, trying to clear his

vision, sword still held in front of him. Cassia

stopped breathing as her brother raised his

sword.

"Enough!" Durus suddenly roared, and

everything stopped.

Malitech paled further and lowered his sword

slowly. Julianus cleared his eyes, fury plain on

his face, even as he bowed his head. The king

stormed past the general to Malitech.

Everyone but Cassia and Julianus flinched

as the king backhanded his son, sending him

spinning to the floor.

"Get up," Durus ordered. "Now."

Malitech wobbled to his feet, one hand

covering his mouth. The king stared at him for

a long moment, then shook his head before

turning to Julianus. Spreading his arms out to

the crowd, he said, "It would appear a legion

could have no finer general. Your father's

teaching, I assume?"

A muscle fluttered in Julianus' throat, near the

scar. Through clenched teeth, he answered,

"No, Your Majesty. My father's general,

Arcturus Malcinius."

"Hm," the king hummed. "Well, I trust you will

deliver my finest compliments."

Julianus only nodded, though his jaw

tightened. The king clapped him on the

shoulder, and Julianus took the offered

scabbard from the pageboy who had

presented the sword.

"Now that the entertainment has worn itself

out," Durus announced, "eat. Later, dance."

The crowd erupted into conversation, only

interrupted by the clattering of filling plates

and silverware on fine porcelain. Julianus

waited for the king to sit before taking his

place beside Cassia. The sword was taken by

a servant to his quarters.

His jaw still hadn't relaxed, even as serving

girls filled his plate. He only moved once

the goblet before him was filled. That

he snatched up and drank deeply from,

grimacing at the watered-down wine that was served at dinner.

It surprised her-like so many other times

today-when he leaned closer to her, medals

jingling merrily. "Do you ever feel like some

sort of prized horse being pranced about?"

Cassia turned her head, her breath mingling

with his as she looked into his eyes.

Something dark brewed there, some strange

mix of temper and that sheer will she had

witnessed moments before.

She poked at the tender roast pheasant on

her plate before answering him. "Yes."

Julianus took another deep drink from his

goblet. Softly, knowing the king wouldn't

bother to listen to her, she asked, "Did your

father force you here?"

The lord stabbed his knife ferociously into

the pheasant on his own plate, carving

away a slice that he popped into his mouth.

To Cassia, the movement was somehow

barbaric and extremely satisfying.

"Yes," he finally answered.

Relief flared through her veins, sharp and

sweet. Everything in her sang this was exactly

the man she had been waiting for.

They didn't speak after that, eating in silence.

Though, Cassia noted the lord picked at his

food more than he consumed it. This struck

her as strange.

Then Durus clapped twice, the

pop-pop making the noise die. "My friends, if

you have now eaten your fill, might we move

to the ballroom."

Full or not, everyone rose when he did. The

king and queen left, and Cassia watched

her mother smile and nod at everyone she

passed. A beautiful woman, her dress was the

deep blue color of the twilight sky. Her hair,

the same chocolate color as Cassia's, was

intricately woven down her back, studded with

diamonds bright as stars.

The hall filed out after them, until the only

ones left were Julianus, Cassia and the slaves

as they began to bustle around, clearing the

tables.

Cassia turned to Julianus and he met her

appraising look with a raised eyebrow. She

stood and he quickly followed suit, his cloak

flowing down to the floor, brushing the marble

beneath his feet. She meet his dark eyes, her

heart pounding in her throat.

"I hate dancing," she said. "I don't want to

dance."

Julianus looked at her, his gaze narrow and

thoughtful. His eyes traced down her throat,

over her bare shoulders to the strips of

skin peeking through the slits of her skirt. A

familiar hunger lit in the abyss of his irises,

but all he said was, "Your father will be

displeased."

"Let him be. He already is-with everything

about me." Cassia bit her tongue, not having

meant to say that. "Come with me," she said,

grabbing his hand and pulling him in her

wake.

Julianus easily fell into step with her, his

hand warm and rough around hers. She

led him out a side door of the hall, ducking

into the nearest entrance to the servant's

passageways she could find.

Neither said a word as they walked.

Cassia had long since familiarized herself

with these hidden passages, preferring

them over the subtle agony of bumping into

someone she disliked in a noble hallway. She

wove her way through the cramped hallways

effortlessly until they deposited her into the

passageway just outside her chambers.

They darted across the hall after ascertaining

that a random guard patrol was not lingering

around her rooms. Cassia put a hand on his

chest, stopping him. "Stay here," she ordered,

almost surprised when he simply nodded.

That feeling of certainty warmed in her gut

again.

Once she was sure her chambers were indeed

empty, she reached back through the open

doorway, pulling Julianus into her rooms by

the edge of his newly acquired cloak.

He shut the door behind him.

"Lock it," she said, feeling outrageously

brazen. The lock clicked into place, but he

didn't go from the door.

Instead, he watched her, a wolf establishing to

gleam in his eyes.

Cassia, unperturbed by way of his gaze, moved to

the shelves lining the a long way wall. Amidst all the

books and trinkets sat an undecorated box,

easily overlooked. Cassia opened it, revealing

two traces of small vials. She removed one and

swallowed the contents.

A refined clinking of his medals warned her.

"You presume much, Your Highness," Julianus

said from proper in the back of her. His breath

skimmed her shoulder, soon followed through his

lips, feather-light over her skin. She shivered

at the touch.

"As do you," she breathed, turning and placing

a hand on his chest. His heart beat strong

beneath her palm.

Julianus leaned forward, eyes half-lidded as

he looked down at her.

"Tell me something," she said. "Something

real."

"Why?"

"Because then I'll tell you something real,"

she answered as he positioned his fingers on her

hips.

Julianus stayed silent for a moment. Then, he

said, "I know my father's money bought this

cloak. As did the blood of two thousand men.

I was just a centurion serving in my father's

army, part of the Second Legion. Now I am

commander of the Seventh."

Rage flared in his eyes, but it was quickly

tamped down.

"What about your actions at Grana?" she

asked, playing with the new medal he'd been

awarded.

Everyone in the empire knew of the battle

at Grana, a river stronghold of the Brunian

people. People her father had been

attempting to conquer for three years now.

His lip curled back in a snarl, but he shook

his head. "Something real for something real,

Your Highness, that was the bargain."

Cassia bit her lip, lowering her lashes slightly.

Julianus pressed a bit closer.

"My father does not want me to wear the

crown."

Julianus scoffed, surprising her. "You'll have

to do better than that," he said. "I could tell

that for myself."

Cassia couldn't stop the heat in her cheeks.

"Fine," she snapped. "I wish you had taken the

openings Malitech gave you tonight."

"You would have wanted me to kill your

brother?" His voice was not condemning,

merely curious.

"No, not killed him. Just wounded him enough

to leave him bedridden for the final five

months of this year."

"Why am I here, Your Highness?" Julianus'

hands slid up to her waist.

Her breath caught at the back of her throat. "I

think you know."

Julianus' arms wrapped around her, pulling

her flush to his chest, the medals jangling

again. Cassia rested her hands on his arms,

shivering at the corded strength she found

there.