Chapter 60. Next Move

VESTA

When I reached the courtyard, I saw Claudius’s broad back facing me as he led a meeting. His words drifted over to me as I approached, my steps cautious.

“And so,” he was saying, “I want men deployed to the northern legions. Bring me the traitor general Xerxes—dead or alive.”

A small smirk crept onto my lips. So, vengeance was to be Claudius’s first act in his new position? Although it stung that he’d taken the duty of killing Xerxes from me, I held onto a sliver of hope that the bastard would be captured alive. I wanted that final encounter, face to face.

But now, I had a far more pressing matter to address: finding Julian.

As Claudius finished his orders, the generals and commanders saluted and dispersed. I stepped closer, feeling his attention shift as I approached.

“Vengeance as your first order, huh?” I said, watching him turn to look at me. “Perhaps we have more in common than I thought.”

Claudius turned at the sound of my voice,