Wrath of the Storm (Mark of the Thief 3)

Once I'd backed away from the vestalis, Brutus pushed Aurelia toward me. "Five minutes."

Five minutes. That wasn't enough time.

Gently, I took Aurelia's arm and led her to the alcove where the statue of Saturn stood. He was the god of agriculture, which I figured meant he was largely uninterested in the Praetor War. And if he did care, then it was because he was also the god of liberation, so if anything, he was on my side. We went behind his statue where we had at least a small measure of privacy.

I first removed the rag from her mouth, fully expecting a lecture to follow. Instead, all she said was "Why did you say you'd cooperate with them?"

I took Aurelia's bound hands in mine and immediately began to untie them. "In just a few minutes, there will be a distraction. Use that chance to get out of here."

"You didn't answer my question, Nic!"

"There's a reason I didn't."

Aurelia's eyes blazed. "We are not cooperating with them!"

"And you are not cooperating with me! You have to leave, Aurelia."

"You have to leave. Why are you doing this? You promised you wouldn't make a Jupiter Stone." The tone in her voice became one of desperation. "You promised me, you promised Radulf and Livia. You promised everyone!"

"I've got to break that promise." I touched her arm, only to feel her pull away from me. "I have to bring in the lightning. Please just trust me."

"How can I, when you speak like that? If you bring lightning into this room, what do you think will happen?"

"I know what will happen, and I don't want you here to see it! Honestly, for once can you just do as I ask? I'm trying to save your life!"

It should've been enough reason for Aurelia to listen to me, but instead, she waved that away, as if being bound and in Brutus's control was only a slight inconvenience. "Are you saving my life? Or sacrificing yours?"

"I'll have a shield up. I'll be fine. But I can't manage the storm and a shield, and also protect you."

She shook her head. "Something is going to go wrong with your plan. I don't know what it is, but I can feel it. You ask me to trust you, but I need your trust too. I've always been right on these feelings before, haven't I? If you create the Jupiter Stone, something will go wrong."

I put my arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace. Into her ear, I whispered, "I will not create the Jupiter Stone, but I must bring in the storm. If the dragon is hit with lightning, it will break the curse. It's simple, really."

She pressed against my chest, and when she leaned away, tears were in her eyes. "Nothing is ever as simple as you make it sound. Don't do this."

"There's no other way."

She put a hand on my cheek, the most familiar her touch had ever been with me, except when I had kissed her.

"How can I stop you?" she asked. "Tell me what to say or do, and I will."

"There's only one thing I want from you," I whispered. "Marry me."

Her eyes widened. I knew how long she had waited

for me to ask, but now that I had, her reaction was hardly one of enthusiasm.

"If my answer is yes, will you leave with me now?"

"Tell me yes, and when I'm finished here, I will find you again."

She shook her head again, harder this time. "You said you wouldn't offer when your future was uncertain. It's never been more uncertain, and if it is known, then that's only because of how it will end."

I smiled. "Marry me, Aurelia."

"Why are you asking now?"

"Because I want a reason to kiss you one more time. Give me that reason."