Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Their girls.
He slid a hand up her spine, and when it reached the area between her shoulder blades, he pressed in, bringing her closer.
“We have more important battles on our hands,” he reminded her.
“No, we don’t,” she disagreed.
“Elena, they’re but flowers.”
However, should she stop in these pursuits, he would be certain to have that drawing of Aelia’s remain where it was.
And fresh roses put by Elena’s bedside daily.
“I have had a home all my life,” she said, bringing his attention back to her. “You have never had one. Thus, I understand. You do not know how important it is, Cass. But when I show it to you, you’ll understand. You’ll understand there is nothing more important. But for the now, you will just have to trust me.”
He did not understand, she was correct.
However, he was not allowed to continue what had become a rather pleasant discussion with her in his arms, her gaze gentle on his face.
This because a scream rent the air.
They both grew solid before they both flew into action.
When another scream came as they reached the top of the steps, and it was coming from the west wing, his father’s wing, and not the east, his, Cass’s stomach dropped.
“You stay here,” he ordered, still sprinting at the same time trying to push her back.
“Not on your bloody—”
Her last word was drowned out by another scream, this coming from his father’s chamber, but Horatia was scurrying toward them, both her hands up their way.
“It is a matter between husband and wife,” she said hurriedly when Cassius was forced to stop rather than bowl her over.
His head jerked toward his father’s door when he heard a thud.
He moved, Elena moving with him, to round Horatia, but she shifted to block them, putting her hands to Cass’s chest and pushing.
“It is not your concern, my prince,” she stated firmly.
“You’ll get out of my way,” he ordered.
“You have control of a kingdom, but you must understand, you’ll never have control of a man’s bedchamber,” she returned.
She was bloody wrong about that.
Especially when it came to what was happening right then in his father’s.
He did not take time to discuss that with her.
“You’ll get out of my way,” he repeated as another thud that came with a sharp cry of pain could be heard from his father’s rooms.
Horatia shook her head, increased her pressure on his chest, opened her mouth, but the only sound that came from it was her own cry of pain, but also surprise, as Elena rounded him, caught her by the hair, and used it to yank her to the side, where, arms flailing, she went flying.
“He said, you’ll get out of his way,” she snapped to his father’s wife.
Cassius did not wait for what came next between the two women.
He went to his father’s door, but when he turned the handle to let himself in, his shoulder slammed into it instead of it opening, for it was locked.
“Open this!” he shouted at the panel.
“Be gone!” his father shouted back.
“Open!” he barked.
He heard a noise within the room he could not decipher, except it was coming from a female and it did not bode well, and then he put his shoulder to the door with intent.
Elena did the same at his back.
Both of them pounded on it with all their might, and it shook in its jamb, but did not yield.
“What on earth is happening?” he heard Antonius ask.
“This is profane!” Horatia screeched.
“Back,” Cassius growled.
Elena stepped back, as did Cassius.
Then he lifted his boot, and with all the strength he had in his leg, kicked at the door.
Wood shrieked, and the door flew open.
At what he saw, at Elena’s horrified gasp, his blood ran cold, but his lips moved.
“Get her gone,” he ordered.
“By the gods,” he heard breathed and knew Ian had joined him.
“Get her gone!” Cassius yelled.
“Cass,” Elena called.
“Fucking hell.”
And they had Nero.
He turned in time to see his men dragging Elena, stunned inert, away, Horatia glaring at him, and Cornelia cowering off to the side, her back to the opposite wall.
He took hold of the door and threw it to, keeping his hand up to hold it shut for there was no longer a latch.
Then he turned to the bed where his father was, on his knees, a bloodied Domitia on all fours in front of him, receiving his cock.
“I’ll be done in a minute,” his father sneered at him.
He was doing this…this…in retribution for all Cass had done.
This.
He had done this.
Horatia was correct.
This was profane.
Cassius walked into the room.
Toward the bed.
“What—?” his father started.
Domitia had her head turned away from him in shame.
“I might not wish my son as audience,” Gallienus noted.
Cassius snatched up a woolen throw from the end of the bed, then gently placed his hands under Domitia’s arms and pulled her away.
“What the bloody—?” his father shouted.