Page 30 of Firebird (The Fire That Binds #1)

XXIX

MALINA

“No!” Julian roared. “I won’t allow it.”

I’d arrived back home only moments after him to find Julian still sweaty and bloody and furious. He wouldn’t let me look at the gash on his shoulder.

“I can control him,” I said for the third time. “Just like I did at the feast last night.”

Finally, he stopped pacing and strode directly for me, gripping my upper arms. “You listen to me, Malina.” His eyes were wild, his behavior completely uncontrolled, so unlike him. “I know what he’ll do to you. I can’t let that fucking happen.” He hauled me close and pressed his forehead to mine, his entire body trembling. “ Gods, I’ll go mad.”

“Hush, Julian.” I pressed my hands to his jaw. “Listen, listen, listen.” I stroked a hand over his hair. “I can manipulate his emotions to my own will. He won’t hurt me. I’ve done it before.”

Julian lifted his head and stared at me with both fear and adoration.

“How do you think I’ve survived all this time?” I pointed out.

“Let us just leave now,” he growled low. “We can go far away where they won’t find us.”

“And what about your mission with Trajan? What about the people of Rome?”

He didn’t answer, his jaw clenching tight.

“She’s right,” came a voice behind us.

I spun to find Trajan standing in the corridor leading from the back stable yard.

He stepped out of the shadows beside the atrium, the quiet trickle of the fountain seeming more ominous than tranquil at the moment.

“You have to send her,” said Trajan, “or all our plans are forfeit.”

Julian gripped my shoulders and pressed his chest to my back, holding on for dear life. “So easy for you to give the orders when it isn’t your female to give away.”

Trajan shook his head, his dark eyes sad. “No, my friend. It isn’t easy at all. But think about the chain of events if you refuse to let her go. The emperor knows you are attached to her. That’s the only reason he’s forcing you to give her up.”

Julian huffed with disgust. “Because I’m in love with a slave girl, he can’t allow it. He must take her from me.”

I turned quickly in his arms, placing my hands on his chest, searching his maddened expression. “You love me? ”

He tore his wretched gaze from Trajan and looked down, his expression softening as he murmured, “You know I do.”

I smoothed my fingertips over the frown etched in his brow. Trajan was silent for a moment, seeming to recognize that we needed it.

But then he added quietly, “Yes, Julian. He’s aware you’re more than attached to her.”

“Because of fucking Ciprian,” Julian bit out, his gaze still on me, his hands on my shoulders, his thumbs brushing the bare skin of my neck.

“Yes. Because of him. And the emperor won’t allow you to fall into what he believes is an ill-fated match, like your father did.”

Julian cupped my cheek. “Too late for that.”

I smiled, placing my palm on the back of his hand, pressing my cheek against him.

“Julian, we are so close, brother.”

“How close?” He finally lifted his head to look over my shoulder.

I turned to face Trajan as well.

“They want a meeting tomorrow night. All of them.”

“Where?”

“At my grandfather’s house in Vulsinii. We can’t take a chance in being caught altogether. We have to gather outside of Rome.”

“Then we wait till then at least,” I offered, turning to face him.

“Do you have any idea what you’re asking of me? To willingly put you in the hands of a monster?”

“I can handle Ciprian.” I put my hand on his chest above his heart, feeling the organ beneath drumming hard and fast. “And think of it, Julian. I might even be able to help.”

“That’s true,” added Trajan. “If she’s in his house, she can get us information on his comings and goings. How to best kill him.”

I glanced back, not knowing Ciprian was on their list of death. But of course he was. I looked back at Julian .

“I can even do the deed,” I offered.

He cupped my face, his lip quirking in a sad smile. “There goes my firebird again. Barreling toward danger without a fear.”

I was riddled with fear, but I wouldn’t admit that to him. It would only make this worse.

Ruskus shuffled into the atrium. “Dominus. Ciprian’s men are here with the stallion,” he said somberly, his gaze solemn on me. “For the trade.”

Julian stiffened and clamped his jaw. “For the trade,” he grated, fury lacing every word.

“It will be all right.” I stepped away but he hauled me against him, crushing me into his embrace.

“If anything happens, you escape and come to me,” he whispered, then he turned my face up toward him and kissed me.

Shocked, I froze, for we were in the full presence of Trajan and Ruskus. Then Julian coaxed my mouth open and I forgot everything but him. For a few brief seconds, it was only Julian and me, my deep, sweet love.

When he clutched me harder, closer, I realized I would have to be the one to sever this. There was no way he could. I pushed away, breaking the kiss.

“Don’t worry.”

He lifted a shaking hand and cupped my cheek and whispered in a heartbreaking rasp, “By the gods, he’d better not hurt you.”

“I will keep him from it.” I lifted his large hand and pressed a kiss into his palm. “I promise.”

Then I turned and followed Ruskus out toward the front entrance to the street. Julian didn’t follow and I was glad of it. I couldn’t bear to have him watch me being taken away.

As I crossed the foyer, Kara was standing in an alcove, watching, solemn-faced.

I noticed Ivo standing behind her and Stefanos beside him, tears pouring silently down his face. Forcing a smile on my face, I told them all, “Julian will find a way. Don’t worry.”

“You just watch yourself, girl,” said Kara, her usual scowl on her face but etched with concern.

“I will.”

I hurried away and out the final corridor onto the street that wound along the finest houses of Palatine Hill. The men waiting for me were the ones I’d cursed, the ones who’d recognized Stefanos for what he was. A pang of fear gripped me hard, but Ciprian’s men, including the big, bearded one who’d manhandled me, seemed almost scared as he handed the reins of the stallion to Ruskus.

“Ivo!” he yelled out.

Ivo hurried out and took the reins, giving me a parting sad smile before he took the horse around to the alley leading into the stable yard.

“This way, girl,” said the bearded one, not touching me this time, and then turned downhill.

The other followed behind as I was escorted to my new home. I walked away with my head high and the sound of something shattering in the house and the sickening roar of an enraged dragon echoing to the skies.