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“I won, didn’t I?”

“This isn’t the Sons of Ares any longer, inia and her Optihshod over the Senate, but the people are learning just how strong their voice is” He steps close to me

“Still, they revere you”

“Not all of them”

“Please You’ve got cults that say prayers in your name Who else has that?”

“Ragnar” I hesitate “And Lysander au Lune”

“The line of Silenius died with Octavia You were a fool to let that boy go, but if he was alive we’d know it He got sed up by the war just like the rest of them That leaves only you The people love you, Darrow You can’t abuse that love Whatever you do, you set an example So if you don’t follow the lahy should our Imperators, our Governors? Why should anyone else? How are we supposed to govern if you go off and do whatever you damn well please, like you’re a—” He catches himself

“A Gold”

“You knohat I mean The Senate was elected You were not”

“I do what’s necessary You and I always have But the rest of theets them reelected Why should I listen to theet me the men I need?”

“It ies”

I raise an eyebroish I could say his coldness is alien to me, but that bond between us has never been the saave Romulus the Sons of Ares Those were Dancer’s uilt I felt for that defined our relationship for years, ht if I could destroy the Ash Lord, I could a has been a will be And it breaks ain the way I love him

“Are we threatening each other now, Dancer? Thought you and I were beyond that We started this together”

“Aye We did I care for you as if you were my own blood Have ever since you came to me covered in dirt, no taller than my nose But even you have to follow the laws of the Republic you helped build Because when the law is not obeyed, the ground is fertile for tyrants”

I sigh “You’ve been reading again”