Page 117 of Firebird
After a moment of silence, he said, “Drink with me.”
That was when I noticed the second goblet. He leaned over and filled it himself with the decanter that had been left by Rhea.
I lifted the cup and took a small sip, then asked, “Do you often have your slaves dine with you?”
“Never,” he admitted, red eyes gleaming.
“Why have I been singled out as special?” Yet again, I never could hold my tongue.
“Because youarespecial, Malina.” He lifted his cup as in a toast to me. “Aren’t you?”
My pulse pumped a little faster, sensing he knew something. I hid my reaction behind the goblet as I took another sip of wine and made no reply. He said nothing for a moment, the tension stretching. The bearded one and his two comrades stood at attention at the doorway, glaring at me, grim as always.
He swirled his wine cavalierly and said, “I know your secret.”
I froze, cupping my goblet in my lap. “I have no secrets, dominus.” All the while, visions of Julian thrusting inside me at the temple this morning ran through my mind.
“You have many, witch.”
He sat up on the chaise, which put me on alert. But he simply placed his goblet carefully on the table and observed me. There was no malice in his gaze, at the moment. No, he was simply looking, as if trying to figure out a puzzle.
“And apparently, so does Julian.”
When I couldn’t keep my expression blank, knowing my eyes widened at his accusation, he tossed his head back on a bark of laughter. I remained completely still, my hands focusing on clutching the cup so I didn’t panic.
“My former master?” I asked, wondering if he’d forced Doro or Rhea to tell him about my tryst today in the temple.
“Indeed, Malina. Yourformermaster.” He chuckled again, his canines sharp as he’d let the dragon slip a little more. “Seems he’s been doing some extracurricular activities.”
He knew. Gods,he knew.
“Sergius saw something very peculiar last night.” He gestured back to the bearded slave, who still fixed his malicious glare on me. “Very strange indeed.”
This wasn’t about today. What was he talking about?
“Oh?” I asked innocently.
“The honorable Julianus Dakkia returning in dragon form by the cloak of night. Even stranger, he shifted outside of the city and rode his horse back to his home. Now, I may not be the strategist that he is, but I do know the laws. And I know what looks like covert maneuvers.” He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and said in an intimate manner, “You know what’s even more curious? He wasn’t alone. Sergius, diligent spy that he is, watched the skies and saw two more senators return to the city in the same way.”
My heart pounded in my throat while I remained as still as possible, listening to Ciprian tell me that he suspected Julian as some sort of conspirator. Which, of course, he was.
“Cunning, aren’t you?” he whispered. “From your expression, I’d think you knew nothing at all. But by the tripling of your heart rate and the dilation of your eyes, I can feel the fear running through your body.” He grinned wider. “It’s delicious.”
“I’m just a slave.” My voice barely shook. “What would I know?”
“But you aren’t just a slave to Julian, are you?” His brow rose in a mocking question. “You’re his prized possession. I can fucking smell him on you,” he growled, “and I know you know more.”
“I don’t know any—”
With unnatural speed, he reached across the table and backhanded me to the floor. My goblet clanged across the stone and my head buzzed at the shocking pain. There was a sudden, sharp stinging in my scalp as Ciprian crouched over me and curled a fist into my hair. With a sharp pull, he hauled me back onto my knees.
“Ah!” I cried out.
“That’s right,” he hissed in my ear, wrapping his other hand around my throat. “Get used to the pain.”
I reached for my tether but it felt slippery and elusive, not tangible like it always did. Something was wrong.
Ciprian laughed in my ear, pulling me tighter against his chest where he knelt behind me. “You won’t use your witchcraft on me again. Like you did last night. And at my own Rite of Skulls celebration, you fucking bitch.”
