Lucius arrived at Cassia’s estate just as the midday sun cast long shadows over the marble columns lining her garden. Unlike the extravagant villas of Rome’s elite, Cassia’s home was a fortress of subtlety—refined yet discreet, a place where power whispered rather than roared.

  The entrance was guarded, but not ostentatiously so. Lucius noted the well-trained men stationed at key points, their movements precise and disciplined. Cassia surrounded herself with competence, not decoration. That alone made her dangerous.

  A slave led him through the cool stone corridors, the air laced with the faint scent of myrrh and parchment. This was a house of knowledge, not indulgence. When they reached a private chamber, the servant bowed and withdrew, leaving Lucius to step inside.

  Cassia stood at a carved wooden table, her dark eyes scanning a collection of scrolls. She didn’t look up immediately, but he could sense the weight of her awareness, the way she absorbed every movement.

  “You came sooner than I expected,” she remarked at last, her fingers gliding over the delicate parchment.

  Lucius smirked, crossing the room with measured steps. “It seems urgency has a way of accelerating plans.”

  Only then did she lift her gaze, studying him with an expression that was neither warm nor hostile. “You spoke with Livia.”

  He inclined his head. “She suggested I see you.”

  Cassia’s lips curled slightly, but there was no amusement in her eyes. “And you trust her?”

  Lucius leaned against the edge of the table, resting his palms on the smooth wood. “I trust that she serves her own interests. For now, they align with mine.”

  Cassia tapped a finger against one of the scrolls, considering his words. “Then you must understand that Rome is shifting. The Senate fears what you represent. And there are men willing to move against you before you can become unstoppable.”

  Lucius arched an eyebrow. “Do you have names?”

  A slow breath escaped her lips as she unrolled a parchment. “Three, for now. Senators Decimus, Marcellus, and Vibius. They are not fools, but neither are they warriors. They work through intermediaries—whispers in dark corners, alliances made with men willing to spill blood in the name of preservation.”

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  Lucius folded his arms. “And you?”

  Cassia’s dark gaze met his, unwavering. “I am not your enemy, Lucius. But I am also not your pawn. My allegiance is to survival, to the careful balance of power that keeps Rome from collapsing into chaos.”

  A smirk tugged at his lips. “You speak as if Rome is not already on the brink.”

  She let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “Rome has always been on the brink. It is merely a matter of who is strong enough to shape the fall.”

  Lucius studied her, the sharp intelligence in her eyes, the way she measured every word. He had known many women in his life—some who wielded beauty like a blade, others who used their lineage as a shield. But Cassia was different. Her weapon was knowledge, and she wielded it ruthlessly.

  “You didn’t summon me here just to warn me,” he said.

  “No.” Cassia stepped around the table, coming to stand closer to him. “I want something in return.”

  Lucius tilted his head. “And what is that?”

  She hesitated, just for a breath, then spoke with quiet certainty. “I want protection. Not just for myself, but for those who serve me.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Someone has threatened you.”

  Cassia exhaled, glancing toward the doorway as if weighing her words. Then, she reached for another scroll, this one marked with a crimson seal. “This arrived yesterday. A message, veiled in pleasantries but clear in intent.”

  Lucius took the parchment and scanned the elegant script. Beneath the formal language, the meaning was obvious—an ultimatum. An invitation to compliance, or a promise of destruction.

  He set the scroll down. “They mean to break you.”

  Cassia’s jaw tightened, her mask of composure cracking just slightly. “I have held my position for years, navigating the games of politics and power. But now, the tides shift. And I am not blind to the fact that standing alone may soon mean falling alone.”

  Lucius studied her, the tension in her shoulders, the way she forced herself to remain impassive. Cassia was not a woman who easily admitted vulnerability.

  After a moment, he spoke. “Then you will not stand alone.”

  Surprise flickered in her eyes before she masked it. “Just like that?”

  Lucius smirked. “I do not waste my time making empty promises. If I say I will protect you, I will.”

  A breath of silence passed between them before Cassia finally nodded. “Then we have an understanding.”

  Lucius extended his hand. She hesitated for only a moment before clasping it, the warmth of her fingers a stark contrast to the cold calculations in both their minds.

  “The game moves quickly now,” Cassia murmured.

  Lucius nodded. “Then let us make sure we are the ones moving the pieces.”

  As he released her hand, he knew their alliance had just shifted into something far more dangerous—and far more powerful.

  Rome’s storm was brewing, and together, they would ensure they did not drown in it.