by Gordon, Eva
Macula beamed. “Splendid. Send out as many slaves as you wish to gather the ingredients.”
Even Floretta brightened. “He may even offer to buy her from you, my husband.”
“You would like that wouldn’t you, my dear?”
Floretta sighed deeply, “I will be in the baths.” She turned on her heels and left.
“Father, may I sit with Cassia in the gardens to discuss my bad knee?”
Macula nodded, “I suppose. When you are done send Acca to escort her to her quarters.”
Lucius gestured her to follow. Her heart gladdened and she smiled as she joined him.
He took her along a narrow pathway, the scent of cedar permeating the air. “Cassia, what exactly happened to Gaius?”
Your father betrayed him. “He went to meet a friend and then…” No longer having to keep a stiff lip, she wept.
He guided her to sit on a bench. “Cassia, do not weep. I promise to help.”
She wiped her tears with her palla. “What about Ulric?” She dreaded seeing him when he must have thought she was far away and safe.
“I vowed to Feronia that I would bring together two life mates in order to be reunited with Nidia. I will do everything in my power to make sure he stays alive until Petronia returns.”
“Thank you.” She did not tell him about Ulric’s mating claim but told him of everything else from Floretta and Macula’s visit to hearing the news a day later of Gaius. It was best not to mention Stephanus; she was not sure if Lucius knew his friend spied for the Lupercal. In Rome, a harmless fly was never trusted. She held his hand. “Are you aware your father plans on giving Emperor Domitian the blood vow?”
Lucius closed his eyes and blew out in frustration, “Not plans to but has.”
Her eyes widened. “No.”
“That’s why he went to the palace. Father not only betrayed the Lupercii physician but our lycan kind. Petronia will no doubt declare him rogue when she returns.”
“How much does Domitian know?”
“Enough to threaten and keep the Emperor from revealing our secret. With the growing dissent amongst his people, he is happy to have our protection. He is especially thrilled to use the omega gladiators for the games during the full moon.”
“The packs will not stand for that!”
“Perhaps. Father plans to use Domitian long enough to make himself Emperor.”
Cassia’s heart sank. He would use his power to crush the Lupercal Council and enslave humanity.
***
Ulric stood in the steaming bath as the slave scraped the grime and dirt from his oiled body. He had not seen Floretta for days. Had she finally given up her claim on him? Maybe she left him alone because he had been ordered to practice with his fellow omegas for the upcoming game. Were the rumors true that Macula wanted the other omegas to shift? To do so would be madness. The Lupercal had forbidden all lycans, Ulricus the only exception, to shift. Would this make their escape easier or much harder? He allowed the slave to dress him and then walked back to his quarters.
Ulric flopped onto his cot and growled in frustration. A gnawing feeling in his gut alerted him of danger. An approaching gloom. He dreamt a wolfsbane-laced arrow pierced his heart. Writhing in pain and with no hope of ever living out his life as a free lycan with his beautiful mate by his side. He sat and drank beer from his horn. The air grew cold and his stomach growled with hunger. Let tonight’s flesh not be full of maggots. He made his way to the enclosure to pick up his allotment of meat. He sniffed the air and caught more than the aroma of horsemeat. Like a dagger to the heart, he stopped to make sure the sudden stab was not his imagination. He flared his nostrils. No. Cassia was here. Why?
His fangs emerged and his claws extended. He needed to protect his mate. He dashed into the dinner hall. They all had gathered along the long table where slabs of meat lay with flies hovering above. At the far end of the table stood Macula with Cassia at his side. She wore a simple red tunic. He introduced her to the pack of omega gladiators. She wore Macula’s collar. His bones adjusted and fur sprang out. His monstrous wolf form snarled in his master’s direction.
Ulric’s hackles rose as he stalked, ready to pounce, ready to slay any in his wake. The scent of her fear maddened him. He approached his master, each step closer to tasting his blood.
Macula caught sight of him and roared. “Ulricus, halt!” Beta guards readied their javelins. Others aimed their spears. “Return to your human form!” Macula sneered and held her close, “Ulricus, I would hate the chaos of lycan brawls to cause our little physician to be hurt or killed during the fray.”
He stood frozen in time and gazed at his beloved mate in his enemy’s clutches. He shifted and slowly stood on his legs. He towered over all. The son of a sow Macula was not worthy of being in her presence. He swore under his breath and approached. He growled, “What is she doing here?” Cassia kept her head down. Did she decide to come and place herself in great peril just to be near him? The wolf within urged him to challenge Macula. Fur rose on his back.
Macula bared his fangs and snarled, “Bow to me or she loses a finger.” He gripped her hand and licked her index finger.
Ulric fell on his knees, his head held low. “I submit to you, master.” The smell of his saliva on her was enough to make him lose his mind but he retained control.
“Good. Cassia is my slave physician. She will tend to your wounds. No lycan or man will touch her. Just because you took her maidenhood does not make her yours Ulricus. Understood?”
No lycan or man will touch her. Gritting his teeth, he mustered, “Yes, master.”
Three betas walked in front of him, their swords ready. He could kill them but more would come. What good would he be to Cassia, dead? Her only chance at freedom would be that he live and set her free.
Macula commanded Nox who drew her bow. “Shoot him if he gets any closer.” He then met Ulric’s eyes. “Her arrows are laced with wolfsbane.”
Cassia gasped. “Please, no. He will obey you!”
Macula smiled. “We’ll see.” He dragged Cassia away from the table. He took his sword and made a circle on the dust around Cassia. Her face was as pale as the arena’s white sand. He lifted his tunic and pissed on her. From her feet to her lower back. She closed her eyes and held her breath. Ulric’s claws dug into his fists. His chest heaved like that of a bull’s ready to charge. He had known shame but this was beyond what he could tolerate. He pledged to Tanfana. I will taste Macula’s blood. The threat of wolfsbane did not curtail his rage. His fur tickled his spine and the wolf’s heartbeat resonated within his chest. She was too close to Macula. If he struck she could be killed.
The alpha finally stopped fouling his mate. “Shift again without my permission and I will slay her.” His malevolent smile played with him as he displayed his extended claw, sharp and lethal and fingered her throat. “Now we all know who she truly belongs to.”
Ulric glowered at Macula. The alpha sensed his fondness for Cassia and enjoyed the torment. What would he do if he found out she was his claimed wolf maiden? Ulric longed to rip his throat out. Nox prepared an arrow. The coward’s use of wolfsbane made his master a runt in his eyes. Had his dream predicted his fate? He thought only of Cassia. One stab with Macula’s claw and Cassia would die instantly. Her life meant far more than his life, and was more important than his shame. He lowered his eyes in submission.
Macula ordered, “Everyone sit and eat.”
Ulric hissed, “I’ve lost my appetite.” He walked to the other side of the arena, away from the table. Away from his shame. How did she end up here? He had a strong urge to nip her nose in scolding for not leaving Rome as promised. Raw emotions ripped through his soul. Fury, jealousy, humiliation, and fear bit his heart. His number one duty was to protect his mate. He had failed. Perhaps he was unworthy.
Cassia called to him, “Gladiator.”
He stiffened and turned. Her urine stained tunic smelled of Macula’s stench. Only the slight quiver of her lip
s betrayed her distress. His voice hardened, “Leave me.”
Tears welled in her eyes and she whispered, “I’m so sorry. Gaius took his own life and when I prepared to leave, Macula arrived…” She bit her lip to suppress a sob.
His heart constricted at her loss. He wanted to hold her in his arms and comfort her, but the risk was too great. His tone softened, “Cassia, it is I who should apologize for not protecting you and Gaius.”
“No, please don’t blame yourself.”
“Cassia! Get back here,” barked Macula as he approached them.
Ulric growled, “I’ll kill him now.”
“No, beloved. Trust me.”
Macula joined them. “Ulricus, come eat ox. You need your strength.”
Ulric bent his head low as his wolf snarled from within, ready to kill the male near his mate.
Cassia nodded. “That is exactly what I just told him; after all, my duty is to keep lycans healthy and ready for the arena.”
She soothed Ulric’s frayed soul. Tamed him. He forced a smile. “Ox is almost as good as goat’s meat.”
Macula turned to Cassia. “Go back to your quarters.”
Chapter 17
Cassia soaked in her steaming hot lavender scented bath. She vigorously scrubbed Macula’s foul urine stench from her skin. Earlier a household slave had taken her soiled tunic to launder. Better to burn it. No matter how clean it returned, she would never wear it. She covered her face with a rag and muffled her cries. The look of shame and humiliation on Ulric’s face plagued her memory. Would she be forever stained in his eyes? A knock on her door staved her sobs. Her skin red raw, she stepped out, wiped her face, and swallowed her sorrow. “Who is it?”
“Acca. I’m here with two slaves to set up the infirmary. Shall I come in?”
Her hand covered her wolf mark. “No! I will be out shortly.” She hastily donned a beige woolen tunic, raked her wet hair back, and opened the door.
Acca grimaced and pinched her nose, “Dear Feronia, it reeks of lavender.” She turned to a female omega, “Comb her hair and then bring her to the new infirmary in the villa.”
“The villa?” She had been told the clinic would be near the gladiator’s facility. Dear Feronia, no. The danger of being close to Floretta and Macula quickened her pulse.
Acca gave her a hard look. “Macula designated a large chamber for the clinic. Omegas are cleaning it as we speak. This will be where you treat all lycans, including the gladiators.” She lifted her chin. “It will be the best infirmary in all of Rome.” She sneezed, covered her nose in revulsion, and left.
Cassia let the slave comb her tangled hair. Her fear was so great she almost welcomed the pain as the comb yanked her hair. “Oww!” she winced.
“Apologies, domina. The smell is making me…careless.”
Cassia grabbed the comb. “I’ll finish.” She pulled it back to dry naturally. The lycan slave held up the mirror. The poor thing wrinkled her nose. Cassia stood. “Take me to the infirmary.”
Cassia followed the slave to her new clinic. An extensive corridor led to a long impressive chamber, larger than Gaius’ surgery. Slaves brought long tables to serve as workstations and others on their knees scrubbed the intricate mosaic floors. Cassia frowned. She would rather work in a pauper’s clinic than in such an elaborate center under her enemy’s scrutiny.
Acca leaned against the doorway. “Once you are finished here, Macula wants you to gather needed materials to prepare Emperor Domitian’s hair tonic.”
Cassia suppressed her laughter. How tempting to create an especially foul paste for the Emperor to lather on his bald head. Donkey dung quickly came to mind. It would not be any worse than the common treatment. However, finding a real cure intrigued her. If she and Ulric escaped, she could sell her tonic to human men. She turned to Acca, “I suppose the gladiators will not need me anytime soon?” Macula telling Ulric he needed his strength worried her.
“Tomorrow, perhaps. Emperor Domitian has found a worthy opponent for Ulric to fight in the Bestiari games.” Acca’s eyes glinted. “Even Master Macula knows naught who or what he will fight.”
A chill ran through her core. Or what? Domitian wanted to see Ulric defeated. Would he have to fight an army of one hundred men? Perhaps twenty lions? Yet the Emperor longed for the spectators’ approval. Domitian’s love for unfair combat brought him heckling and taunts from the audience. They hated him and felt empowered to show their contempt as unseen dissidents in a throng. The tyrant seated his spies amongst the plebeians and especially near the more elite patricians to fish out his enemies. A pattern of arrests and executions often followed the games. Domitian proved just as brutal as the despot Emperor Nero. An emperor aware of lycan society. Did Macula really think Domitian would not betray him as he had so many others in his confidence?
***
In his quarters, Ulric paced, trapped in the cage called Rome. His wolf, rabid for revenge. Witnessing Macula stain his mate lingered in his mind. His rage prepared him to battle anything in tomorrow’s Bestiari games. He had fought and killed lions, tigers, bulls, and bears. What would he face on the morrow? He had never fought an elephant, although one well-placed slash on such a slow behemoth would spill its guts. It did not matter. He would take out his rage against Macula with some unnamed creature. He punched a fist into the wall and growled. He stared at his bloodied knuckle. Oh, Cassia. He longed to hold her just once. Alone she grieved for her mentor without him to comfort her. He should have seen to her safety first. Poor Cassia. She had loved Gaius as a father. When she first told him of her loss, she had appeared defeated. He ached to hold her in his arms and comfort her. Tell her he would keep her safe. But he could not.
Over the night’s meal, he heard details on how Gaius had swallowed poison after his arrest by Domitian’s Praetorian Guards. Had he really planned to assassinate the sow of an Emperor? Or was it a lie planted by Macula?
“Ulric. We must talk.”
He whirled at the sound of Lucius’ voice from behind his door. He slammed the door open. Filled with shame and rage, he growled in warning, “Lucius, what do you want?” Fortunately, his wolf sense trusted his new blood brother.
Lucius walked in and sat on a stool near a modest wooden table. “I am duty bound to help you and Cassia in any way I can.”
Ulric raised a brow. The boy truly believed he had a mystical duty to wrong a right. He quipped, “Even Feronia must be at a loss on how to unite Cassia and me.”
Lucius frowned. “I heard how Father marked her before your eyes.”
Ulric’s face heated in shame at the memory he would never bury. His jaw tightened, “Can you free her?”
“I don’t know, but I will try. Mother is too devious to trust. She will try to dispose of her. I plan to meet with Stephanus and see what we can do. Father boasted how you are enamored of her. Mother and her dog Nox overheard. Mother took out her rage on some poor slave who did not bring her wine fast enough.” He lowered his head in shame. “She had the woman drowned in our fountain.”
Ulric snapped, “I have never killed a woman, but if she or Nox harm her in any way, the wolf in me will.”
“I despise my mother, but you must remember she is a wolf maiden.”
Ulric sneered, “There is no crime against biting her nose off.”
“Humans are too vulnerable. She would bleed to death or worse pick up some miasma that even Cassia would be unable to cure.” Lucius stood and faced him. “My mother is a viper, but a viper that bore me. For good or for bad I will not allow you to harm her.”
Ulric understood. “Do not worry. However Nox is another matter.”
“You can do with her as you please. For now, let us not dwell on vengeance. I will keep an eye on Cassia until Petronia returns.”
Ulric threw his arms up in frustration. “Everything must wait until the head of the Lupercal returns.” He snarled, “I do not wish to wait!”
Lucius sighed heavily, “You are right. By the time she returns, Father will
be declared rogue and a battle between our pack and the forces of the Lupercal will ensue.”
“So they will no longer tolerate lycan gladiators.”
“Not exactly. Father gave Domitian the blood vow.”
Ulric’s eyes widened. Were lycan secrets Macula shared with the emperor, already mounting the odds against him in the arena? “The matter of my death may be as simple as a dwarf gladiator pricking me with a spear tipped with wolfsbane.”
“Father would never reveal to him that secret. It would be the death of us all. Especially in light of the fact that Father plans to be the next Emperor. His lycan army will defeat the Praetorian Guard and the Roman legionnaire commanders are more than willing to follow a new Emperor.”
Such political games were none of his concern, but with the revelation about Macula’s plans he had to escape and help the Lupercal stop the mad lycan. What about Lucius’ loyalty? “As his son do you not wish to someday be Emperor?”
He waved his hand in dismissal. “Father is going against our kind. I will not be condemned as a betrayer of the Lupercal.” Tears welled as he spoke, “He wishes to find a wolf maiden that will give him an heir, one that is not lame.”
Cassia! “If he touches her, I will kill him.” He gritted his teeth, “My own mother nearly died twice as she miscarried his spawn.”
“Pray mother does not find out.” His voice somber. “Surely, you know mother made sure both pregnancies failed.”
He bore his eyes into the young alpha. “My mother never told me but I suspected since the captured wolf maidens bore him no children.”
“I apologize. If it were not for my misfortune in the chariot accident, I too would have become an oppressor. Cassia healed my troubled heart and I now know Feronia will unite me with Nidia. Let us pray no one finds out she is a wolf maiden.”
***
Floretta’s rapacious eyes burned into Cassia as she took her seat in the stadium. Macula turned to her. “Cassia, go below and make sure Ulric is fit for today’s event.” He shot Floretta a wicked grin as her face soured.