Cassia's POV

I hated the man who claimed to love, me. I was just a tool not only to him but to my parents too. The only who would hadn't used me was my sister. Grace was someone I could count on no matter what I asked of her, she was truly loyal. Sighing as I lay in my bed I can hear a ruckus coming from outside my room. Curiosity getting the better of me I make my way to my door where I can hear Corvus and one of his men talking in the hall.

"He's with her as we speak, they seem to be in the act but we have not opened the door to make sure." The unknown voice tells Corvus.

"Grace is not like Cassia, she will do what she is told. However, I know that the Celt and Cassia have been seen together and now I will give her a choice. Knowing that her own sister has slept with the gladiator she once loved I will have her chose between a life with me where I could give her father the power he truly wanted to make Pompeii more like Rome or..." Corvus started to tell the man but stopped for just a moment. "Or else I will make sure that Cassia never sees the Celt or Grace again, alive that is."

My hand went right to my mouth. He was going to make me chose between love and family. If I didn't chose him I knew he would find a way to now not only kill Milo but Grace as well. I really had no choice, I would have to choose him and marry. This meant I would have to forget about Milo completely. Push him away so that I can protect not only him but my sister as well. Walking back to my bed I was still trying to cope with what was going on but my heart felt as though it had just burst into so many pieces.

"I'll never let him hurt them." I vow as I look up and over at the mirror on my vanity. "If I must sacrifice my love for their lives then I will."

The next morning, I paid no attention to Milo even though he tried to get my attention more than once and since I was doing this poor Grace looked more confused than Milo. I had to do something drastic to prove to him I didn't want him anymore and that I would only be with Corvus though thinking that sent a cold shiver down my spine.

Making my way to the dining hall I saw Corvus greeting my father and knew this would be my chance. Going right to Corvus I smiled and took his hand in mine.

"Can we move up our wedding? I do not think I can wait another month to become your wife." I say earning a dropped jaw reaction from Milo and my sister.

Corvus smiled and took me into his arms. Guess now this meant that he wouldn't have to give her a choice since she now went out on a limb and made sure that Corvus would be distracted by her. She could hear Corvus talking about wedding plans being moved up to just a few days away to her father and mother but she didn't pay attention to him. She smiled and nodded but her heart beat was far too loud for her to truly hear what he has said at all.

Little did I know that Corvus already had a plan that had been put into motion perhaps if I did then I would have never asked to move up the date of the wedding.

Grace's POV

I had a bad feeling, a bad feeling about what was happening between Grace and Corvus. Just from what happened this morning with Cassia completely rejecting any thoughts of another man, Milo, as she went to Corvus and asked him to move up the wedding date. I had no idea why she would want to do that, she didn't love Corvus that much was evident. Yet there was nothing I could do because every time I went to try and talk to her one of Corvus men would pull her away from me.

Suspicious? I think so too.

Things were more confusing by the minute and I wasn't putting anything past anyone. Sighing to myself as I made my way to where everyone was with Ali right beside me since he really couldn't leave my side. We hadn't talked much though and I hadn't got the chance to tell him that nothing really happened between Milo and I. The room was crowded as we made our way up to father and Corvus.

"Ali, I have been summoned to Rome I intend to take you and Cassia with me. The gladiator will remain here to make sure he has no other interaction with the noble women of this city." Corvus said as I was shocked.

"As you wish." Ali bowed.

"It's not for a week but I know you will be ready to leave before then." Corvus tells him as his eyes narrow at me. "I will find another guard for you, do not worry Grace."

I really wanted to slap this guy as hard as I could. That's when we heard people start to gasp and turn around. Apparently, this was Cassia and Corvus engagement party. Whatever was about to happen was the entertainment portion of the evening. Looking to Ali I was so confused as to what was about to happen but all he did was shrug as though he had no idea either. The crowd began to form a circle and once I made my way into it I could see Milo and another man staring one another down. A fight...go figure.

"Nothing beats a good fight." Father smiled as he looked at Corvus.

Of all the times he was really going to have Milo fight right here before Cassia who when I looked over showed no emotion in her eyes. It was as if she were a robot and had turned any and all feelings off in her body. With the snap of Corvus fingers the two were in battle. One that I wasn't sure Milo would be able to win, his opponent was a giant and friendly was not a term I would use to describe him. Trying his best Milo tried to fight the giant off but there is only so much being fast will do to help one person. The giant grabbed Milo and slammed him down onto the floor. His arm coming up to punch him. There was nothing I could do but watch as Milo narrowly escaped the man's fist. They continued with their fight for at least half and hour until with one right hook Milo was on the ground knocked out cold.

"Now for the feast." Corvus smiled as he lead the guests out of the room.

"Go, I'll help Milo. Corvus already thinks we're together so it won't seem odd." I tell Ali who nods and walks out right behind Corvus and Cassia.

Milo was still on the ground, like I said before he was knocked out cold. The giant was taken away but he was left alone there on the floor. Running to his side I carefully push his body so that he is face up. I could see he was breathing which was a good thing but his body was battered and bruised. His lip was even bleeding a little, that giant did not go easy on him at all.

"Milo? Is there any possible way you can hear me?" I question him as I lean in close to him.

He didn't respond to me but I did see his hand move just a little. Placing my hand on his shoulder I gently shook him trying to wake him up and it didn't take much because after I did that his eyes opened and he looked at me with the saddest look I had ever seen in my life.

"He...didn't...kill...me?" he questions sadly.

"No, this was just a warning. Milo you can't go near Cassia anymore unless you truly do want to die." I tell him knowing he isn't going to like what I am telling him.

"I'll...die...then." He says as he tries to sit up but I stop him.

"Then you are more of a fool than I thought, Cassia rejected you for a reason and I think that reason was to spare your life. If you die then what becomes of her sacrifice?" I tell him as I start to get angry. "I will not argue with you but you need to be cleaned of your blood. Come on."

Offering my hand to him Milo looks skeptical of me but eventually give me his hand and I help him up. Putting his arm around my neck I manage to get him out of the house and to a hot spring I had discovered on my last walk around my families estate. Taking Milo to the edge I sit him down.

"Just get in and let the water help you. Wash off the blood as well." I tell him as I look around making sure that no one followed us.

"Why are you helping me?" Milo asks me as he begins to take what little he had on his body off.

"I'm beginning to question that myself." I mumbled as I don't look at Milo. "One human life is just as valuable as the others."

He didn't ask anymore as I heard him get into the water with a hiss coming from him. The water probably had salt in it and any open wound would really hurt because of the salt. Still it would help his body and maybe even disinfect some of his wounds. Turning around to make sure he is alright I feel the tip of something metal at my neck. Great, how did I not see whoever this was.

"Come to help your lover? Then why not stay with him?" the man asks as he pushes me right into the water.

Holding my breath I am submerged in the water but swim up to the surface as the man takes off running with the bag of coins I had attached to my dress...wait that meant he had cut my dress. Looking down I could see my dress was coming undone and tried my best to keep it closed. I didn't see Milo grab something from his things then come up to me. He went underwater and put something around my waist and tying it to prevent my dress from opening wide underwater. As he came back up he just stared at me.

"You're lucky he didn't kill you." Milo tells me.

"I can't believe I didn't see him." I sigh as I move to get out of the water but milo stops me.

"We are being watched." He whispers into my ear. "One of Corvus most trusted men is not too far away from here and is still watching. If we want to keep Cassia safe you need to play along."

How do all these people manage to sneak up on us?! Nodding very slowly I feel Milo kiss my neck and I am trying my best not to let any of this go to my head. As if that were easy...with him doing things like this I didn't know what my heart would do. I mean I thought I really like Ali and I still think I do but oh my gosh what am I thinking?! This is just an act so stop thinking and just play along! Grabbing Milo's head, I kiss him as deeply and passionately as I can. I can feel his hands come up and hold my own head. Whoever was watching this had to believe it was real...right? Apparently Milo was fighting through the pain he had from after fighting with the giant to make this look real.

Gently kissing his chin and down to his neck I made sure that I wouldn't touch any part of him that looked like it was hurt or bruised. Pushing me up against the side of the hot spring Milo rested his head on my shoulders but it still looked like we were doing something.

"I'm sorry...I'm very tired..." Milo says as he takes deep breaths.

"Shh, just keep silent I don't think he's here anymore." I say as I caress his head with my hand. "He did get a show though so I think Cassia is safe."

"But are we?" Milo questions as he looks up at me right in the eyes dead serious.