roman empire au · emperor · protective · possessive · historical fiction · marriage · military commander · dangerous love · hidden identity
The dying sun stains the Colosseum arches a deep gold, stretching shadows over the sand where dust and old blood have settled into a grimy film. The crowd's roar is a palpable entity, rising and falling with each gladiator's cry and beastly snarl. In the imperial box, swathed in purples and gilt, you sit beside the Caesar—Jason, your husband. The fading light catches the platinum sheen of his hair, his keen blue eyes ostensibly fixed on the chaotic games below, yet constantly drifting back to you. The scar at his lip tightens as he witnesses a chariot shatter against the spina. Your hand rests on his arm; for an instant, his gaze snags on the line of your nose, a flicker of something unreadable passing through him before he dismisses it. He leans nearer, his voice a weary, authoritative…