Bride of the Emperor (The Prophecy of Sisters Book 4) by Hayley Faiman (the gingerbread man read aloud txt) 📗

came back it was by the hand of the maga, the most powerful venefica. Her only payment was to have Decima to do with as she pleased.”

She blinks, then blinks again, and a third time before she speaks. “What is she going to do to her?”

“Decima killed her husband. The maga said she was planning on torturing her.”

“And you’re okay with this?”

Shrugging a shoulder, I lean down and touch my lips to hers, but do not deepen the kiss. “It matters not what happens to Decima. She almost took my fated away from me. She schemed and manipulated. She is nothing.”

“Tiberius,” she breathes.

Sliding my tongue along hers, for the first time in weeks, I taste my mulier. She is superb—as always. Her lips part and I slide my tongue inside at the silent invitation, tasting all of her. Releasing her wrist, I wrap my arms around her and pull her closer to me.

Pulling away, breaking the kiss and nibbling her bottom lip, I rest my forehead against hers as I breathe.

“We will bathe, together.”

It is the first time we will do such a thing and I cannot wait to wash her. We should have done this together earlier, but we have not had the time to be intimate with one another. That ends now. She is here, bound to me and this land, she will never be ripped from me, not by the gods, not by anyone.

“Tiberius?” Drucilla questions.

She is probably unsure of what this could mean. A bath together seems like nothing, but for me, for us, it will be a chance to learn more of one another.

Humming, I look into her eyes, not willing to release her yet. “Will you tell me about your life during this bath?”

“My life?”

“I want to know everything. I want to know about your past, your family, everything.”

She is serious, my melculum. This is more than just a fated match for procreation. This is the beginning of something, at least to her, and if I must admit, I wish to know her as well.

I do not want just a physical marriage. I always wanted a partnership had I needed to wed, but secretly hoped that I would not need to do such a thing.

I can’t deny that having her as my fated has not been a hardship and just by being able to converse with her now, I have a feeling we are indeed, created for one another by the gods. Releasing her, I stand from the bed and hold out my hand.

“Bathe with your husband. In a few days, we celebrate our nuptials.”

“Celebrate, but we’re already married.”

Nodding my head, I smile. “Cassia has been busy preparing. I had no doubt you would come back to me. The feast, the celebration, the games. You will enjoy yourself immensely. I wish to show you my people.”

Drucilla doesn’t make a move to climb out of bed, instead her head is tilted all the way back, she licks her parted lips and stares up at me in awe.

“A real wedding reception? Will there be cake?”

Chapter Twenty-Three

DRUCILLA

Tiberius guides me toward the bathhouse. I can’t really call it a bathroom because it’s one big room with just pools everywhere.

The whole place looks as though it could accommodate a hundred people, but every time that I have been ushered into the room, thankfully I have been alone save for Cassia and whoever is helping. I hate to think of them as slaves, but Laurentia says that is indeed what they are.

Laurentia.

I make a mental note to check on her as soon as possible. Though I have a feeling judging by the way my husband watches me, the way his gaze has not strayed from any part of me, my face or my body, that I will not have a free moment anytime soon.

I’m also unsure how I feel about that as well. He was with another woman. My heart still aches at the thought of his body next to hers. It doesn’t matter that we hardly know one another, it doesn’t matter that it wasn’t something he initiated or wanted, that it wasn’t under his control.

I simply cannot help the way that I feel.

He was with someone else.

That is all that I can think about.

When we arrive in the bathhouse, he guides me toward a pool in the back. It’s by far the most luxurious looking one of all the others.

“This is reserved for the Quirinus family,” Tiberius announces as we look into the pool of clean and clear water.

“And the others?” I ask.

He hums, reaching for my clothes as he begins to attempt to undress me. It’s not easy to do since I’m wearing a tank and loose, knit pajama pants. He isn’t sure how they work and ends up just tugging on them, losing all concentration to actually speak.

Turning around, I tilt my head back and wrap my fingers in the hem of my tank before peeling it from my body and tossing it to the side. Tiberius reaches out, his fingers skimming the flesh of my breast just above my bra. Then they travel down to my hurt side. I try to hold back the wince, but I can’t.

“He marked your body as well as your face. Should I ever find him, he will die a slow death.”

“Isn’t Diaboli one of your gods?” I ask.

His head lifts and his eyes find mine instantly. He watches me for a moment in silence, then finally speaks. “He is, but it matters not. I will end him, slowly.”

“How do you end a god?” I ask, my curiosity taking over and I’ve totally forgotten that I’m standing here in just my bra and comfy pants.

His lips curve up and he chuckles. “It can be done, I am sure of this.”

Then, I know that he is done talking, when he dips his chin and slides his tongue across his bottom lip as his index finger traces the line of my bra. I try not to react to his touch