Seeing my confusion, Sal added, “Your mother never sold you to the mines. She paid me the last of everything she had to take you. After the way your father died, she knew the empire would try to find you.”

“Why? It was a lightning storm — that had nothing to do with the empire.”

“During one of Rome’s battles with Gaul, your father saw his people were about to be destroyed. He tried to create something known as a Jupiter Stone, which he could’ve used to defeat Rome.”

Valerius had told me about the Jupiter Stone, the most powerful of all the magical amulets. He had also told me that many men had gone to their deaths in the attempt to create one.

“My father had magic?” I asked.

“Not enough, apparently. Done correctly, the Stone is activated in a lightning storm, but your father failed and Rome had its victory in Gaul. Your mother fled with you and your sister, but she knew Rome would come after you too, just as they tried to destroy all of your family. Magic runs strong in some families, and Rome would not rest until they knew you could not become a threat.” He grinned. “Which you are.”

I wondered if Livia knew all of this. Probably not, but it bothered me that my mother would’ve held that one secret back from us. If Rome was determined to destroy my family, how could she have believed they wouldn’t one day come looking for me?

“We hid for almost two years,” I said. “But I thought it was from slavers, not the empire itself. We would’ve stayed in hiding, but Livia was getting sick.”

Sal grimaced, as if having to look at me made him ill. “All I know is that your mother believed you and Livia were safer in the mines. Then she asked me to sell her far enough away that Rome would ignore you. And look what you’ve done — made yourself known to the entire empire! It’s the last thing she would’ve wanted.”

My breath came in shallow bursts, and the magic swelled again within me. “Where is my mother?” I asked. “Is she still alive?”

He shrugged dismissively. “Whatever happened, it was all her choice. For you, Nic.”

“Thank you, then.” I hated to force out those words, but they had to be said. Even to him. “Thank you for taking in Livia and me.”

“Not a day has passed when I don’t regret it.” Sal frowned at me. “Well, when I don’t regret taking you.”

I used enough magic to raise the fallen chunk of concrete, although it turned out to be much heavier than it looked. I stepped forward, trying to hide the strain within me to keep that rock held in midair.

“So this is your magic? Lifting rocks?” He laughed. “That would’ve been useful at the mines. I am still your master, you know.”

Grinning, I said, “Let’s test that. Command me not to drop this on you and see if I obey.”

I lifted it higher so that it came to rest directly over his head. One hiccup from me, and Sal would be finished. He knew it too. Sal backed against the wall and made a cry for mercy.

“Wherever you go, you will never threaten me again,” I told him. “And you will never again approach my sister. Never look at her, never think of her!”

“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.” He blinked. “I saw her only yesterday in the forum. She was with General Radulf.”

“Why?” Reflecting my anger, the ground shook beneath us. “Was she in chains, or hurt? What possible reason would he have to drag her through the forum?”

“There were no chains, Nic. She walked beside him, clean and well dressed, and she looked happier than I’ve ever seen her.”

I shook my head, more bothered than confused. My emotions were a turmoil inside me, and this new knowledge was yet another weight on my chest. To have any chance of breathing again, I had to let it explode.

But that would be a disaster. If I refused to have any master, then that must include the bulla. I would control it, and not the other way around. Nor would I give Sal the satisfaction of seeing me fail here. I was still angry and confused — after everything Sal had said, how could I feel otherwise? But I was also in control, and I let the magic dissipate within me. As it drained out, I was left feeling stronger than before. The magic wasn’t gone; it was learning to weave itself through my body where I could manage it better. With more time and practice, I would learn to control it entirely.

“Get out!” I hissed at Sal. “Now!”

The door slammed behind me and locked again. It didn’t bother me, though. He may not have understood it yet, but I was glad for his visit. Because Sal had given me hope of coming through this. I would return to the arena in control of my magic.

It was evening before Horatio came to visit me. I hadn’t eaten all day, so my hope was that he’d bring food along with him, but it wasn’t a great surprise either to see his empty hands. Even if he had left his table with a tray of food, I had no doubt he’d have satisfied his round belly before ever reaching me.

I stood when Horatio walked into the small room. He surveyed me from head to toe, then sat in the chair where I had previously been. My eyes darted to the open door. It was just him and me in here, and as far as I could tell, we were alone. He was unarmed, and I still had the bulla.

“You could run, of course,” he said. “But I don’t think you will.”

“Not until I get an apology for what your men did to me this morning.”

He brushed that aside with a wave of his hand. “For someone of your abilities, that wasn’t even a scratch. And I know that if you had wanted to stop the arrest, you could have done it.” Now he folded his arms across his bloated chest. “Why are you still here, Nic?”

Because going into the arena was now about more than taking Radulf’s magic. He had threatened Livia if I failed to appear. But there was more …

“We needed to talk alone.” I paused to draw in a breath. “When I go into the arena tomorrow, you must not be there.”

He smirked. “Yes, that would work out well for you.”

“It’s better for you too. I think Senator Valerius intends to have you killed in there.”

His eyes widened, briefly, before he got control of himself and the greasy smile returned. “Oh? Why do you think that?”

“He wants the key to the Malice of Mars. Before you give it to General Radulf.”

“I’ll give it to Radulf, after he defeats you.” Now the smile curled into a sneer. “Valerius cannot believe you have any chance of winning tomorrow.”

“That’s exactly my point! He’s only using me as a lure to bring Radulf into the arena, which means he must have another plan.” I took a breath. “More than that, with your death, he becomes presiding magistrate — he will lead the Praetors and control their loyalty. By tomorrow, Valerius intends to possess all three amulets.”

“Whatever his plan is, it will fail!” Horatio said. “When I give Radulf the key tomorrow, I will do it in front of the mob, so they will know the Senate and all its Praetors bow to Radulf now. They will see his power, and see me standing at his side. Once I give Radulf the key, Valerius can do nothing to stop us. Valerius will bow to us too, or the Praetor War will begin!”

“He won’t bow,” I said. “And if war begins, Rome will be destroyed!”

Horatio grinned. “Yes, destruction is my price for the key.”

“You want Rome to fall?” I asked. “You are head of the Senate, second in power only to the emperor. Why destroy your own world?”

“My world was already destroyed, many years ago.” His eyes fell, and when he looked at me again, they were full of sadness. In that moment, I saw the resemblance between him and Aurelia, more alike than I had realized before.