Page 39 of Firebird
But when Julian stepped into view, when I heard his voice, my tether locked on him. I refused to open the empathic link but it didn’t keep my magic from grasping tight. I didn’t understand.
Bunica had always said my sisters and I were given our gifts to defeat our enemies. While my sisters were dead, I still had my gift. So why would it drive me toward this Roman dragon? Not to control or defeat him, but to keep him close. The witch inside me longed for the dragon, Julianus. I didn’t understand.
A steady clip-clop of hooves drew our attention to the entrance into the stable yard. Julian entered astride his black stallion, and my entire being warmed at the sight of him. Not because he appeared strong and powerful and majestic—though he did—but because he was simply there before me.
He pulled on his reins, his impassive expression locked onto me. We remained like that, holding each other captive until Ivo stepped out and took the reins.
Julian dismounted and strode toward us, Stefanos still grinding, then he stopped in front of me.
“I’ll take dinner in an hour. Don’t be late.”
Then he strode away.
I cringed at the amount of pleasure that suffused my entire body. I was ashamed of my attraction, that I was completely captivated by a Roman—a sworn enemy, one of the kind who killed my entire clan and family.
Stefanos stopped turning the handle of the quernstone, his browraised so high it disappeared behind his draping bangs. “You dine with him?”
I managed a shrug like he’d done earlier. “I’m his body slave. I serve his meals.”
Stefanos grinned. “He doesn’t want you to serve him. He wants you to join him.”
And then I saw it, right before he lowered his gaze to the quern—a flicker of golden fire flaring bright in his eyes. The otherworldly spark of a dragon.
I gasped and stood quickly. Stefanos continued on, not noticing my reaction. So that was why Julian was “still saving him.” All dragon bastards must be killed, but here he was. Living and breathing.
In complete and utter shock, I hurried away to prepare for dinner, trying to understand why the Coldhearted Conqueror of Rome would be hiding a dragon bastard in his home.
X
MALINA
Kara had provided roasted pheasant, fresh bread served with a soft cheese, stewed leeks with garlic cloves, and a bowl of olives. And while the meal smelled heavenly, my stomach rolled with nervousness as I set the tray down on the table inside his bedchamber. I could hear water dripping where he must be taking his bath.
“Malina,” he called softly, “come here.”
Blowing out a shaky breath, I steeled myself and marched behind the screen to find him waist-deep in his luxurious bath, steam rising off the surface. Avoiding his naked body, I kept my gaze on the floor,realizing I could feel heat seeping from the tiles and through the thin hide slippers I was wearing.
“There’s a chamber beneath the floor. Ivo feeds the fire to heat the water when I need the bath.”
I frowned, not liking that he seemed to know what I was thinking so often. Then my thoughts scattered as he walked up the steps, water sluicing down his muscular frame in rivulets.
Mouth agape, I couldn’t stop my gaze from roving up his thick frame and sculpted body to where he held out a hand. When I finally met his gaze, no doubt wide-eyed with shock, he arched a brow.
“The towel, Malina.”
I jumped at once and turned to find the drying cloth hanging across the stool I’d sat upon to shave him. I snatched it up and held it open with both hands. He walked forward, pressing his wet body against the open towel and taking the ends from me. A drop of water dripped onto my forearm, making me flinch. I chanced a glance at his stoic face; the only part of him showing any emotion at all was his eyes—burning embers of gold.
I turned while he finished drying his body, thankful he didn’t ask me to do that for him as well. I didn’t dare reach through my magical line to discover what he was feeling in that moment, with that look in his eyes. It was better I didn’t know.
“Fetch me a clean tunic.” His voice was cool and steady as always.
Glad to gain some space, I moved away from the bathing area and to the shelves where his clothes were stored. I pulled out one of the plain, loose tunics I’d folded and put away yesterday then carried it to him.
He finished toweling off his hair and wiped his chest once more before tossing it aside, leaving him completely naked before me. I’d seen him nude before, the night he’d carried me here in dragon form. But then it had been dark and I’d been half-mad with the trauma I’d endured.
This was different. While he seemed perfectly at ease, waiting for me to help him dress, my pulse beat wildly in my veins. I’d helped him dress before, but not for bed. This was disturbingly intimate.
“Are you going to assist me, Malina, or stand and stare all night?”
