CHAPTER 1

Vita

"ON ALL FOURS IS exactly the way I like to see you."

A shiver shot down Vita's spine as she scrubbed the stone floor of the kitchen, the scent of vinegar burning her eyes and nose. Dropping the rag in the bucket, she tilted her head to look up at her employer, who stood at the other end of the room with his arms crossed over his chest.

Not this again.

Vita Quirinius moved cautiously, like an animal caught in a snare. Resisting a grunt, she pushed herself up to stand, not wanting to be on her knees when he approached. His eyes were hungry, roving over her body as she brushed off her ankle-length tunic.

"Can I assist you with something, Praetor Amulius?" Vita asked, head bowed slightly and voice quiet.

Avoiding eye contact seemed best, as she hated the cruel smirk that lingered on his face anytime he glanced her way.

"Oh, Vita, there are so many things you could assist me with." His sibilant voice sent a wave of panic through her.

Where was his wife, the Domina? A warm hand grasped her chin, pulling her gaze up to meet his. His eyes were dark, almost black, and he would have been handsome if it weren't for the cruelty etched into every line of his face.

"So very many things," he said as he looked down into her hazel eyes, lips pursed into a harsh smile.

Vita's heart raced as he rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. Though he'd made suggestive comments in the past, had let his gaze linger over her body in a way that was unseemly, he'd never laid his hands on her in such an intimate manner. Not in the five years she had worked for him.

Where was the Domina? She would put an end to this nonsense if she were here.

"What a lovely girl you are, but hiding so many little secrets from me," Amulius breathed, his face dangerously close to hers.

Every one of her muscles tensed as tight as a bowstring. Little secrets? Her stomach roiled as he moved his hand behind her head, gripping her long, black hair, his other grasping her waist and pulling her close.

Vita blanched as his arousal pressed against her, and she rested her palms on his chest, desperate to keep any distance between them. His dark eyes moved down to her breasts heaving against the fabric of her tunic, and he licked his lips with a low groan.

"You have been teasing me for far too long, lovely Vita."

"I am not sure what you mean, Praetor," she said, trying to keep her voice steady .

He tsked, running his thumb along the red scar on her cheek. The scar he had given to her years ago when she'd first learned of his cruelty.

"I see the looks you give me, the way you dress, the way you do your hair. If you wanted me to fuck you, you could have just asked."

His vile words cut her like a knife, shocking her to her very core. What the Hells was he talking about?

Vita had been barely twenty when she answered the advertisement, desperate for a job and a place to stay. The Praetor was one of the most powerful people in Shadowholde, the head of the military and administrator of justice ranking just below the High Consul. Working for him meant free room and board, so she could save all of her meager wages.

Everything had seemed fine at first.

Domina Amulius had shown her around the villa and instructed her on the particular way she liked things done. The other servants were kind, had taught her how to keep the couple happy. Vita had her own room, small but cozy. She wrote her stories there late into the night, of princeps and priestesses, harpies and minotaurs, mages and palaces.

The Praetor was aloof, but not cruel. Not at first. Not until a few months in, when he slashed her across the face for accidentally breaking one of his wife's favorite wine glasses. The violence had shocked Vita, though she quickly became accustomed to it.

But this? He had never touched her this way, or so directly stated what he wanted to do with her. And what did he mean by ‘little secrets'? Surely, he didn't know… not when she'd worked so hard to keep it hidden.

Vita shivered with fear as the Praetor clutched her, the ugly smile still plastered on his face. Energy seared through her body, threatening to bubble to the surface, and she desperately tried to contain it. It wouldn't do to have one of her surges right now.

"I don't want that," she said, willing some confidence into her quiet voice .

Amulius pursed his lips as if sucking on a lemon, narrowing his eyes to a glare. "Oh? Is that so?"

He slid his hand up her body like a snake, not even bothering to avoid brushing against her breast, bile settling in her throat.

"Marcus?"

Two sets of eyes shot to the door as one. Domina Amulius stood there with her hands on her hips, a stern look darkening her sharp face. Without a word, he released her from his grasp, taking a step back before turning and striding to his wife.

"Dear, I've been looking everywhere for you," he simpered, wrapping her in a tight hug and planting a sweet kiss on her cheek.

She accepted the kiss, but the glare did not leave her face. Though it was aimed at her husband, she quickly redirected it towards Vita.

"I need you to go to the market. We're out of eggs and Rhea needs some for tonight." Her voice was steady, but a twinge of anger seethed under the surface, her teeth gritted as she spoke.

"Yes, of course, Domina."

Vita bowed slightly, picking up the rag and bucket of water she had been using to clean, and stumbled over to the pair, carefully avoiding eye contact. Domina Amulius cleared her throat as she glanced at her husband.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few copper coins. The cruel grin returned as he held them in his palm, waiting for Vita to take them. It was impossible to pick up the money without grazing his skin as well, the touch echoing through her with the remnants of the lewd cruelty that had transpired a moment ago.

With another quick bow, she shuffled past them and towards the back door. Vita could sense their ardent gazes as she walked away, could hear the Domina's stern voice as she left the house.

Once outside, she let out the breath she had been holding, the surge of tension easing from her body. She stood for a few moments, taking in the fresh air as her head swam with tumultuous thoughts. What would he have done to her if his wife hadn't walked in? The dark images caused a shudder as they infiltrated her mind .

She dumped out the dirty water, leaving the bucket near the back door so she could deal with it later. There was no chance she would go back into the villa right now, not after what had just happened. She took another deep breath and tried to gather herself for the walk into the city center, slipping the coins into the pouch attached to her belt.

It was a lovely day.

Aonalia drew near, the air warm and humid with the approaching summer solstice. The sun shone brightly, marred only by a few passing clouds, a light breeze fluttering pleasantly against her brown skin. Vita drew a hand through her dark hair, trying to smooth the mess that Amulius had caused. Her waves stretched down her back, her one vanity even when the other maidservants told her to cut it.

Luckily, her clothes were acceptably clean, otherwise she'd have to go back into the villa and change. Her tunic stopped at her ankles, sleeveless and with no more than a couple of spots of water from washing the floor. Thin strips of cloth cinched her waist, showing her form in the style that was popular amongst the young women of Shadowholde. Perhaps she needed to reconsider what she wore around the villa.

Vita began the brief journey to the city gates, strolling along the dirt path with a woven basket slung over her arm. Birdsong tittered from the surrounding trees, fragrant lilac scenting the air. There were a few other travelers sharing the path, and she nodded at each one as they passed.

The Amulius' lived a short distance from Shadowholde, in a spacious villa that emphasized her employer's importance as Praetor of the city. He spent a good amount of time dealing with issues within the city walls, which normally made it easy to avoid being alone with him.

There was no rush to get to the market; Vita was eager to stay away as long as she could without casting suspicion. Her mind wandered as she thought of what had happened, the way his harsh gaze lingered on her body, his hands gripping her in such an inappropriate manner. She hoped the Domina would reprimand her husband, but knew that even she had so little power over him .

Vita wasn't a stranger to the caresses of men, though it had been some time since she fell into bed with someone. But Praetor Amulius was her employer, and he was married, and he was beastly.

Plenty of good reasons to keep one's distance.

Then, there was the welling of energy within her, one that she almost could not contain. If his groping had gone on much longer, she might have lost control completely.

That would have been an utter disaster.

Somehow, Vita had hidden her abilities from her employer the entire time she'd been at the villa. No one knew about them other than Mariana and Verian. A secret she'd do just about anything to keep.

Unease followed her like a dark cloud as she walked, the Praetor's words echoing in her mind. What ‘secrets' had he been referring to?

If he knew about her magic, she would be in the city jail by now. Perhaps it was just his delusion that she was interested in him in some way.

Gods knew she could only avoid him for so long. They lived in the same home; he knew where she slept, and his boldness today had frightened her. The problem was, she had nowhere else to go. Despite the cruelty, he paid her more than she'd make working at a tavern or inn, and until today his idle threats had been just that… idle.

Pondering her limited choices, she sighed. This was just how things went for her.

She'd bounced around homes as a child, her parents unable, or unwilling, to care for her. Mariana had never told her the truth about them, and perhaps it was better that way. Still, it didn't stop the stinging in her chest, the knot that formed in her throat if she let herself think about her family for too long.

Why had they abandoned her? Was it her magic?

She was forever grateful for Mariana, an old woman who had taken her in and taught her to read and write and how to run a household. How to hide her surges. The thought of where she would be without her guardian made her chest clench; in jail, certainly, or worse .

But Mariana was gone, and Vita was alone. She would stop by her grave while she was in Shadowholde. It had been too long since she had visited one of the few people she'd ever considered family.

Despite the late hour, there was still plenty of daylight remaining, the sun only just starting to dip noticeably towards the distant mountains. The market would remain open for a few more hours, at least.

The fresh air calmed her, and she tried to push the dark thoughts from her mind. She saw the city gate up ahead, and yes, there he was! Her best friend, and only friend, Verian Corvinus. A city guard, though she knew he hoped to move up the ranks.

Vita took a deep breath and put on a smile, waving her hand as Verian noticed her. She would not let Praetor Amulius ruin a visit with her friend.