CHAPTER 9

Vita

"GET YOUR HANDS OFF of her." The High Consul spat every word with the venom of a viper.

What was he doing here?

Drusus seemed unaware that something serious was happening, his hands still in place on Vita's back and thigh.

"Let go of me," she hissed, trying to squirm out of his arms.

He finally noticed the High Consul striding their way and released her. Vita jumped up, stumbling a bit as she realized perhaps she'd had a bit too much to drink. The tavern was spinning, but she tried to compose herself as Drusus stood up behind her. Verian jolted into action as well, moving around the table to get between her and the approaching High Consul .

There was a pit in her stomach, a combination of too much drink and the panicked anticipation about what was to come.

"I should kill you where you stand for your indiscretion."

The High Consul glowered at the group, his eyes blazing fiery red, every bit of vitriol aimed at Drusus. The fury on his face contrasted with the finery that adorned him, a black tunic embroidered in silver spirals worn over black trousers and tall boots. He held his arms at his sides, tensed as if ready to fight.

A fight that would surely cause Verian and Drusus all sorts of trouble, as members of the city guard.

The tavern was silent, the High Consul's voice commanding the attention of everyone in the room. He stalked up to Verian, and though they were of similar heights, his presence towered over all of them.

"High Consul," Vita breathed, curtsying low and elbowing Verian in the side.

He followed suit with a bow, as did Drusus.

"Why were your hands all over her?" the High Consul asked, head cocked and eyes not leaving Drusus.

"Sir, I… Vita is my friend. It was all in good fun," he muttered and she knew that the drink had gotten to him as well.

With a speed she couldn't comprehend, the High Consul whipped around her and grabbed Drusus by the throat, holding him up in the air with impossible strength. The guard grasped at the hand around his neck, eyes wide with shock and fear. There were murmurs around the pub, but no one stepped in to stop the madness.

"Tell me what you wanted to do with her," the High Consul commanded, unblinking eyes pouring into Drusus.

"I-I wanted to take her to a room upstairs and fuck her. I wanted her sweet little mouth around my cock while Verian fucked her from behind…" The words streamed out like a gurgling brook, as if Drusus couldn't stop himself.

The High Consul cut him off, tightening his grip so the man could no longer speak .

Shocked whispers bubbled throughout the tavern and Vita pressed her fingers to her lips, her mind a jumble of intoxicated thoughts. Gods, she was drunk. She wouldn't have said no to an encounter like that, tipsy or not. The thought of being between two handsome men titillated her, but this was all wrong. If she were going to sleep with Verian, their first time shouldn't be like this.

That was all beside the point right now, as Drusus started turning red. She needed to focus.

"Please stop," Vita said quietly.

She rested her hand on the High Consul's arm, trembling at her own audacity, her brazenness to touch the most powerful man in Shadowholde without his permission.

He glanced over at her, his vicious glare softening ever so slightly.

"Why shouldn't I punish him and the other?"

Punish? What did that mean?

"Please! Put him down!" Vita's voice shrilled through the pub, shaky with desperation.

She slid under the arm that held Drusus and looked up at the High Consul, standing her ground between them. Both of her hands pressed against his chest, her eyes pleading.

"Don't do this, don't hurt them."

The High Consul growled, then roughly dropped Drusus to the floor. The guard slumped to his hands and knees as Verian rushed over to check on him.

Vita froze, the High Consul glaring down at her.

"It's time for you to go home, darling ."

He grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the table. She was more than happy to follow, anything to get him away from her friends, but Verian rushed to her side, placing a hand on the High Consul's shoulder.

"Please, sir, I can take Vita home."

The High Consul spun around, a vicious snarl on his lips. He glared at Verian as if he were a dog roaming the streets .

"Keep your hands off me, soldier. I am your ruler, and you would do well to remember that. Touch me again, and you will be punished in a way that I promise will not be enjoyable for you."

Vita just shook her head, willing him to stay behind. She would be fine. The High Consul wouldn't hurt her. Would he?

He dragged her towards the door, but not before glancing at someone in the tavern. She recognized him, the man from Aonalia, the one with auburn hair and red eyes who'd given her an odd smile from across the feast table. He must be one of the High Consul's servants.

Had he been spying on her?

Verian stood at the door to the tavern as the High Consul whisked her away into the night, as forlorn as a flower wilting on a stifling summer day.

They walked through the empty streets in silence, and the High Consul had no trouble getting them through the gate, the two young guards hurriedly opening it for them. He still clutched Vita's arm as they walked down the road to the Praetor's villa, though dropped it as it became obvious she wasn't going anywhere.

"How are you feeling, darling?"

His words cut through the dark night like the tinkling of a song. Back to the melodious brightness she remembered from Aonalia, not the hissing hatred from tonight.

If he wanted the truth, she'd give it to him. "I'm confused. Why did you do that back there? Those are… my friends. They wouldn't hurt me, or force me to do anything I didn't want."

The High Consul glanced sidelong at her, but kept his head forward. "Oh, so you wanted to put yourself between them? Let them use you like a common meretrix?"

Vita scoffed. The words were vulgar, but the idea? The idea was something that set every nerve in her body on fire. Still, he had no business speaking to her that way, High Consul or not.

"What I want is not any of your concern," she said, crossing her arms over her chest as they walked. The ales were to be blamed for what she said next. "And neither is who I let use me. "

The High Consul growled, actually growled , and Vita had to stifle a giggle. Perhaps she did have his attention in some way, though she still wasn't certain if that was what she wanted. He'd come all the way to the tavern for her, after all, had sent a spy to watch her. But what exactly did he expect?

The villa was dark as they approached, a good sign that no one was awake. Her head was starting to clear, though the daze of drink was still very much present.

"I can make it my concern, you know."

Vita turned to face him as they arrived at her window, not sure what to make of that. She didn't understand his game, toying with her like a cat playing with a mouse. What right did he have to be possessive of her?

Even as she studied him, trying to understand, an image of Verian's face refused to fade from her mind, the dejected look he'd given her as she'd walked off with the High Consul.

"Thank you for escorting me," she said without looking at him, sliding the window open as quietly as possible.

Her head was woozy, and she needed sleep, needed to get away from this man who exuded danger. She attempted to raise her leg over the sill, but lost her balance and stumbled backward.

The High Consul caught her with that same speed from earlier, righting her back on her feet.

"I'm fine," Vita said, trying to believe it as she attempted to conquer the window once more.

Before she could stumble again, he grabbed her by the waist and sat her on the edge of the windowsill in one swift motion, stepping in close, his body fitting neatly between her splayed legs. Vita grasped for his shoulders as he brought a hand to her face, sweeping his thumb across her lips and her scar in that now familiar motion.

"High Consul…" she breathed, dizziness overcoming her.

The penetrating gaze was enough to send a shiver down her spine, arousal attempting to overcome inebriation even as her head spun.

"Renatus," he said. "I thought I told you to call me that. "

"Are you going to kiss me?" Vita blurted out, immediately reddening at her own statement.

Gods, she would never drink again.

"Is that what you want, Vita?"

Her heart raced, and she felt faint. Was she swooning? Or was that the ale? What did she want?

"I've already been kissed today."

Her eyes widened again, horrified at how loose her lips became around this man. He cocked his head and raised an eyebrow, his white hair glimmering in the moonlight.

"Oh? Your friends at the city guard?"

He smirked, though she sensed the tension as he gripped her waist.

"No. Praetor Amulius," she whispered. She wanted to look away, but found herself unable. "He came to me this morning. He was upset about what happened at the feast. I-I didn't want him to, but he did."

The words tumbled out as they always seemed to around the High Consul. He considered her statement, nodding to himself, his jaw clenched.

"That just won't do, now will it?" The threat was apparent in his hushed voice.

No, he wouldn't hurt the Praetor, would he? That would be wrong. Yes, it was wrong to wish pain on people, even if there were some who deserved it. Though, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if something unfortunate happened to Amulius, something that freed her from her servitude.

Vita was woozy, her mind racing with confused thoughts, incoherent babbling, but racing all the same. She slumped forward as the faintness overcame her, and the High Consul was there to catch her.

Vita awoke in her bed, still wearing her clothes from the tavern.

Ad Noctua.

Oh, she had made a fool of herself, and in front of Verian. How had she gotten home?

She shot up, eyes wildly glancing around the room, and there he was.

Renatus.

Darkness enveloped the room, though the High Consul must have lit one of her candles. The warm glow brightened his pale skin as he stood near her desk, thumbing through a book. Not a book, but one of her journals.

No. No, no, no. Gods, no.

"Are you feeling better, darling?" he asked, without looking up.

Vita felt around under her pillow and immediately knew which one he had in his hand. When she didn't answer, he looked over at her.

"This is quite the story you have here. What an imagination you have! The handsome princeps on his knees for the beautiful girl in the rose garden. Tell me, Vita, do you want me between your thighs? My tongue against your cunt and my fingers inside you? Or is there something else you'd prefer?"

"High Consul! Please. It's just a story. It means nothing."

Vita was desperate for him to stop, her face burning with shame. The High Consul of Shadowholde had read her story, the scene she specifically wrote after her night with him. If she could crawl into a hole and never see the light of day again, she would have in this moment.

He stalked over to her, setting the journal on the side table. She trembled in her bed, but all he did was sit down, taking her face in both of his hands.

"Do you want me on my knees for you?"

The words sent an electric jolt of arousal straight to Vita's core, and she couldn't stifle the whimper in her throat.

The High Consul leaned in, pressing his soft lips against hers .

She whimpered again, arms frozen at her sides as he kissed her, smelling of wine and roses. After a moment, she relaxed into him, allowing him to support her with his firm embrace. His tongue flicked across her lips, and she let him in, eager to replace the memory of Amulius. Gently, he brushed across her teeth and tongue, her stomach clenching with need.

Before she could reach for him, the High Consul pulled away, a smirk on his face. He kissed her on her scar, then again on her soft jaw. Another one on her neck and he inhaled deeply, as if taking in her scent.

The High Consul tensed, then slowly released her from his grasp.

"I will see you soon, darling," he said as he stood, striding over to the window. "And know this. The Praetor will not harm you ever again."

With that, he was gone, and Vita sat on her bed, confused and alone.