Besides me, of course.

I bent and kissed Sabina’s forehead, brushing the tears away with a finger. “Thank you ever so much, darling. Goodness, I’m sorry about the bruises, but you really did make me very angry. I’ll buy you something pretty tomorrow to make up for it.” Now, of course, I had to leave for the Domus Augustana—perhaps a quick pause by my Palatine villa to change into my new blue silk with sapphires? No, no time to waste; the red silk and pearls I’d worn today would do well enough. I already had my good litter pulled up at the house’s back entrance, and the two big slaves I’d brought for guards—

“Sabina, if anyone comes to the house, don’t tell them I was here—”

My daughter stumbled to her feet and shoved me away. Her lip was bleeding, and I noticed with surprise that she was almost as tall as I was. “Get away from me!” she shrieked, and she fled the room.

Well, really. What a whining little weasel.

THEA

THE steward’s scandalized glance told me that he was not accustomed to admitting wild-eyed women and scarred thugs to the Norbanus house.

“Is Senator Norbanus at home?” I asked.

“No one. May I ask what—”

“No.” I swept ahead with my chin in the air as if I were still Lady Athena, and he moved out of my way. Perhaps Arius’s scowl over my shoulder helped. “Where is the senator?”

“I really can’t let you—”

“Shut up,” Arius growled.

We crowded down the narrow entrance passage: the steward wringing his hands, Arius fingering his knife, me turning back to hush them all—and when I rounded the corner I bumped into a small soft figure backed by two huge slaves. A figure in red silk, smelling strongly of musk.

For one wild second, Lepida Pollia and I gazed at each other.

She was faster. “Grab them,” she said to her slaves, and then she stepped out of the way.

Arius lunged, blade whipping out. But in that narrow passage his shoulder slammed into mine, knocking me sprawling, and before I could take a breath one of Lepida’s slaves grabbed me by the hair and thrust me up against the wall with a knife against my throat.

I froze, the blade pricking the flesh under my jaw. The steward froze, his mouth a round O of surprise. Arius froze, knife paused halfway through its arc to the second guard’s belly.

Only Lepida moved.

“Drop that knife,” she said to Arius. “Or watch her die.”

The knife clattered on the floor.

“Still the same Barbarian,” she trilled. Her eyes were glowing. “My, I was certain you were dead—but I’d know you anywhere. Even with that dreadful beard. Walk,” she told the slave at my back. “Take her to—oh, Marcus’s library will do. Arius, follow slowly. One sudden move, and she dies.”

The big slave walked me into the library. My mind was numb. Marcus, Marcus, did you betray us?