Chapter 43. I Must Have You to Myself

VESTA

That door will be burst open in three… two… one… Anytime now. For Jupiter’s sake, come on!

It was maddening, staring intently at the door, waiting for it to swing open and release me from this cursed cell. How long had I been there? Hours? Days? I’d lost track. After meeting with the Senate, I had assumed they’d see sense and let me go. I mean, what good was it keeping a helpless woman hostage?

But there I was—still locked up, perhaps forgotten.

Thinking about it, maybe to be forgotten wasn’t such a bad idea. At least I didn’t get killed. Oh, and Caesar soon became a wreck the last time I saw him, for while deliberations on my case were still going on, a young soldier—who I learned was Claudius’s nephew—had waltzed in with urgent news of the great General Claudius’ death, and Caesar had nearly broken down right there in the court. He ordered everyone out, and didn’t even bother to finish the hearing. That was when they threw me back into the god-forsake