It took him weeks to recover, all spent within the confines of his mother's home. With her hovering servants constantly picking at him, Kylo Ren thought that he might lose his mind.

"Master Ben," they'd call.

"Master Ren," he'd correct.

He'd long since abandoned his family name and its unwanted connections. He would make a name for himself, Advisor Snoke had promised. But now...he wasn't so sure. What if Snoke had been using him all along, intending on claiming the throne for himself while pitting Kylo and Hux against each other?

And speaking of Hux—after weeks of silence, a strange invitation had arrived through the hands of Hux's personal messenger, Mitaka. Slight and visibly uncomfortable, the sickly pale man had rambled through the Emperor's invitation to his retreat on Capri, but both the messenger and Kylo knew what it was—an order.

He's going to eliminate you away from the eyes of Rome. You're a threat.

But he would go, and this time the Emperor would come to regret his ego—Kylo would see to it.

More than the Emperor and Rome, Kylo found his idle mind drifting back to a certain priestess. Rey was starting to become something of an obsession, probably because she was beyond his reach. Kylo didn't need to be modest—women and men wanted him for his body and his name, but she'd only wanted him because her goddess had commanded it. There was nothing there that spoke of interest on her part, and it drove him to distraction. Who was she? Nothing but a virgin priestess that would live out her most beautiful and youthful days committed to a virginal goddess.

And yet.

He thought of her. That determination. Her blush. The way she looked at him like he was a person and not the monster everyone thought he was. Why would her goddess direct Rey to someone like him? Someone without boundaries or goodness? To have him repent? Kylo snorted at the idea. No, he was too far-gone for that. And no matter. It was likely that he'd never have the opportunity to speak to her again. He comforted himself with this idea. But Kylo Ren never had been good at predicting the future, and the Gods only knew what was waiting for him next.

Weeks passed, and still, she thought of Kylo Ren. He hadn't been back to her temple since his mother's servants had collected him. Not once had he thanked her for saving him. If anything, he seemed angry that she'd kept him from being executed. What kind of man wanted to die like that? But Rey knew little of Kylo Ren beyond rumors and even less about what to do with him.

Sinister.

Corrupt.

Lascivious.

Sin.

Words she had nothing to do with but tempted her curiosity nonetheless. What kind of man was associated with such depravity and yet was able to inspire such fierce devotion from his mother and her goddess?

Lady Organa was tiny but fierce when she'd come to gather her son. Her fair skin crinkled around the edges as she'd given Rey a conspiratorial smile. Beautifully dressed in closer cropped robes than was the fashion, Lady Organa had an air of practicality about her that Rey immediately loved. This woman was a force to be reckoned with, and Rey had felt honored to be in her warm presence.

"I'd say that I am sorry for the trouble, but I am glad that you found it in your heart to save my son from himself," she said wryly as her servants had gone to gather him onto a litter and take him out of the temple.

Rey started to offer her own thanks, but Lady Organa continued, "Though, our family has always been great at getting out of sticky situations," she'd said with a wink.

Rey blinked. Had Lady Organa been planning on intervening with her son as well? She was known for being as fierce in her household as she was outside of it, and her wit and strength made her a force to be reckoned with even in the senate. Though women weren't, strictly speaking, allowed to intervene in matters of politics, Lady Organa hailed from a great political dynasty and had never let the limitations that others had tried to set stop her. Rey had never had occasion to meet her before, but now that she had, she liked what she saw.

"It was no trouble. I follow the will of my goddess, nothing more."

Lady Organa had stared at Rey, such fierceness in the gaze of such a petite woman. Rey felt as if she were looking through to her very soul—as if she was taking her measure and, for the first time in a long time, she worried about what the lady might divine.

"I think there's a bit more to it than that. We haven't met, but I've heard of you, Rey. Nor do I think it will be the last time we meet, either."

Rey wondered why, but it might have had something to do with her original dedication to the goddess. Unlike most priestesses, Rey hadn't come from an influential family. Actually, she'd been an orphan who'd dared to speak out about the inequality and suffering of the poor class—and earned herself a very public punishment for her trouble. But a Vestal Virgin had been near that day and had taken Rey in, bathing and clothing her. She'd been a Vestal Virgin ever since, but she was still known for her strength and inability to let injustice stand. Her fiery spirit was one of the reasons the Emperor knew her personally. Too many times she'd let her tongue get the better of her and she'd caught his eye as a consequence. Now, she'd gone and gotten herself the attention of another notorious man, but for that, she couldn't quite bring herself to regret it. Not when his mother was so wonderful and obviously happy with her son's safety.

"My Goddess blesses me, as she does all devoted followers," Rey recited by rote, and Lady Organa had chuckled.

"Ah, but sometimes the will of the Gods does set us on some interesting paths, doesn't it? I, for one, am glad that you've crossed paths with my son. The Gods know he could use a good influence in his life—or twelve."

Rey had laughed. Lady Organa really wasn't afraid to speak her mind, and it heartened her. In a world where many women were expected to behave according to certain standards, Lady Organa and her refusal to conform were a breath of fresh air.

As Lady Organa had left, she'd invited Rey to her personal home for a proper opportunity to thank her, but Rey had politely declined. It wouldn't be a good idea to go and get attached to people outside of the temple. Those sorts of attachments never ended well and always bred resentment for the oath.

So for a time, things had gone back to their predictable routine, and Rey convinced herself that she'd never have to see the frustrating Kylo Ren again. As spring turned into summer, the games were approaching, and Rey knew she'd not be able to hide from Emperor Hux in her temple much longer. Her presence was required at the games. Truth be told, Rey hated the fights, but as a Vestal Virgin, it was her duty to show up as a symbol of Rome and watch as men and animals lost their lives.

Finally, the day came. After much fussing over their robes and the style of their veils, Rey and the other priestesses were led to the stables and ushered into a grand carriage that was drawn by four white horses. In the carriage, Rey and the other five chosen made their way through the crowded Roman streets. Plebeians cried out as they slowly passed, and all the while the slaves of the priestesses trailed behind the carriage in a grand procession. Finn didn't accompany her on these occasions as it was expected that they royal guard would be sufficient bodyguards, but she missed him. Finn had been her lictor for as long as she could remember and had been there for her as a friend and respected advisor.

And then you jeopardize it all by saving Kylo Ren. Sometimes, I wonder... she chided herself as the city rolled by.

It was hot and dusty—the normally sticky, muddy streets had dried in the sun and the horses kicked up dirt as they walked through. Summer in Rome could be a brutal affair, and the Emperor used the games as a distraction to keep the people happy and from infighting. Rey fanned herself with the edge of her robes, gaining herself an unimpressed look from an older priestess, Julia.

"I know—'appearances'. But the carriage is enclosed and no one can see," Rey said before the priestess could censure her.

"The Gods can see you, Rey," Julia warned her, but even she looked like she was suffering in the heat as beads of sweat gathered along the edge of her head covering, glistening against her olive skin.

Beautiful but stern, Julia looked like she couldn't wait for her priestess duties to consist of primarily training the new priestesses instead of being a visual presence at the Coliseum. Attending public events could be stressful and Rey didn't much enjoy the games either, never mind having to condescend to Emperor Hux…

But the travel time passed more quickly than she expected and soon they were being ushered into the Coliseum, through the entrance reserved for very special guests, like the Emperor or the priestesses. It wasn't long before they were being presented before the Emperor himself and, as always, he spent more time with her than any of the others.

Rey resisted the urge to sigh. It had all started when she'd first come into her duties as a practicing priestess. She'd been so excited to no longer be a novice, but she'd never thought that the hardest part of her job would be having to attend the public and the Emperor. He cared very little for her Order, but a great deal about how the public perceived him. So he kept up appearances as a devoted follower of Vesta, but Rey knew what his heart was truly like.

Cruel and calculating, it was rumored that Hux had killed his own father to claim the Empire itself, but anyone heard speaking such ideas was quickly silenced. More than that, Hux was known for being cruel to women and the families of the men that disappointed him. He had, on more than one occasion, made it known to Rey that because of her low birth, the gods didn't have high expectations for her. He, on the other hand, knew that she could be useful to the Empire as more than just a priestess. He'd so angered her that she did her best to keep herself from being in his company for more than was necessary.

Though, I could make him hurt.

Rey was reasonably confident about her ability to defend herself, but to strike out at the Emperor would mean her death. She sighed as they climbed the steps through the interior of the Coliseum, making their way towards the podium to meet with Hux. She hated the Emperor, and though his father had not been much better, at least Emperor Lucius Brendol had kept his hands to himself. He had respected the sanctity the Vestal Virgins, but Emperor Hux felt that his divine right gave him dominion over all the humans and animals in creation, even the Vestal Virgins.

So far he hadn't gone much further than lascivious glances and lingering touches along exposed skin, but Rey didn't know how much longer he was going to be satisfied by such meager offerings. Hux was known for his love of both women and men, so Rey hoped that his many lovers would be enough to keep him satiated. She worried, though, that the temptation and his desire to despoil one who was meant to be sacred and divine would overrun his common sense. To touch a Vestal Virgin was a death sentence, for both the Virgin and her lover, but if that lover happened to be the Emperor…

Rey plastered on a fake smile as she and the other priestesses were presented before Hux. He sat on an elaborate throne atop a marble pedestal from where he could survey the games, but Rey thought the throne only served to make him look smaller. Publicly revered and privately hated, Hux tried to win the favor of his people through extravagant and expensive games, but increased taxes to compensate for his lavish desires.

As a consequence, there was much instability in Rome. Increasing poverty made food harder to come by, never mind that the Emperor was also a huge fan of public shaming and executions. Rey hid her feelings while she lowered her head before the Emperor, hoping he'd wave her along like the others, but she had no such luck.

"A glorious day for the games, is it not, priestess?" Hux asked, gesturing for her to stop as she tried not to be noticed. Rey stood as far away from the terrifying man as she dared and kept her eyes low as she answered, "It is, Caesar."

All she wanted was to go sit in her designated spot at the podium so that she could pretend to be interested in the violent sports in front of the masses who expected her to be an ambassador for Rome's glory. She smiled at them the same way she smiled for the Emperor. What Rey did, all that she did, was for the glory of her goddess. And if she needed to be obsequious to a tyrant in order to keep her city safe, she would.

"And you are a lovely addition to the audience if I don't say so," he mused.

Rey didn't look towards Hux, but she could feel his slimy gaze on her all the same. She'd been fortunate that her position within the temple afforded her some safety from the Emperor and his desires, but she wondered how long he'd hold himself in check.

"The goddess blesses us all," Rey replied, deflecting.

"But some she blesses above all others," he said as he snapped his fingers, drawing her gaze finally.

Dressed in his deep violet robes, Rey supposed that most women—and many men—would find the Emperor handsome. His vibrant hair bespoke of his Gaulish ancestors, as did his milky colored skin and pale eyes. He looked otherworldly, and he used this to his advantage, often proclaiming that he was descended from the Gods themselves. Rey thought this was foolishness, but didn't dare voice her opinion. Rey stared into his pale eyes and couldn't help but feel as if his gaze was a challenge, but for what, she didn't know. She was just about to look away when a voice interrupted them both.

"Ah, the Goddess blesses us this day. Such lovely priestesses will surely mean successful games, Caesar. And the Priestess Rey! We are blessed indeed."

Rey turned towards the low, snarky voice as he teased both the Emperor and herself and was likely putting his head back on the chopping block. She hadn't seen him since he'd been taken by his mother, still recovering from being beaten half to death. And she'd been right when she'd first thought that, without the grime and gore, he'd be handsome. He was. Unconventional, surely, but his presence and the way he moved just naturally drew her eyes towards him.

Tall. He was so tall, and his fine, dark robes did nothing to disguise his strength. His skin, though pale, looked sun-kissed now that he'd clearly been in the Roman sun.

His dark eyes narrowed on Rey as he caught her staring. Kylo smirked, and she was immediately angry as his own eyes trailed over her body, but not in the way Hux's had. Kylo was appreciative but didn't linger on the points that made her feel uncomfortable. No, he seemed to take her in as a whole—even the parts that no one else could see. The parts that she tried to hide from the world.

Uncanny, that gaze.

"Lady Rey," he finally said with a tip of his head. The dark locks of his hair fell into his eyes and he brushed it away with his long fingers.

Though he didn't turn from where he sat, Hux replied before she got the chance.

"Oh. Ren. Didn't think you'd have the strength to make it today."

There was an implicit threat in his voice as if he couldn't fathom that Kylo had the audacity to show his presence in front of the Emperor so soon after such a public shaming.

Kylo either didn't notice or didn't care. Rey was betting on the latter.

"Hail, Caesar," he said shortly before turning his attention back towards Rey.

No one else on the planet had the guts to so completely dismiss the Emperor, and Rey found that she was both mortified and impressed. The last thing she wanted was more of the Emperor's attention because of Kylo, but she still had to hand it to him. Kylo stared at her and, from where she was standing, she could also see the Emperor narrow his gaze, furious.

Oh, they hate each other!

"I never got the chance to thank you for your help," Kylo started, but was again interrupted by Hux.

"And when did you make Lady Rey's acquaintance?"

This question he could not ignore, so Kylo turned towards the Emperor with a smile.

"On the night of my execution."

Hux obviously knew what had happened on that night, but it seemed he hadn't known which priestess had absolved Kylo—had the guards forgotten her name?

"You really are luckier than you deserve," Hux mused as his eyes again roamed over Rey.

"Rey really is more than any man deserves. Not only my savior but my healer as well. I seem to be favored by her goddess to get such personal attention."

Hux seemed to fume at that revelation but said nothing.

Ass. What a cocky, irritating ass. He will be no end of trouble.

Rey did not want to get in the middle of a pissing contest between two powerful men who seemed to be at odds with each other, but that looked to be exactly what she was doing! She needed to intervene before Kylo made things seem more important between them than they actually were.

"My lord," she said while taking a step back. "I am quite sure that we do not know each other well enough for you to call me by only my given name."

Though it was a bit of a lie. She'd saved his life and, though she didn't understand it, her goddess had wanted him to be alive. But still, he persisted.

"Oh, what star were you born under to have such luck?" the Emperor mused from his throne.

He looked bored. He was dangerous when he was bored. People died when he was bored, but Kylo seemed oblivious to the impact he was having on Hux's mood.

"I make my own luck, Caesar," he assured the Emperor who had, very recently, held Kylo's life in the palm of his hand, and could still. "But I am blessed by the Gods to have a beauty such as this priestess come to my aid. Many thanks to you, Lady Rey," he said with a quick nod.

His eyes lingered even as his body pulled away, but unlike the Emperor's gaze, which had made her feel exposed and sick, Kylo Ren's look was all passion and pure intent—and lit a fire within her that she'd long thought extinguished.

Terrible, frustrating man.

Rey turned towards the Emperor and excused herself so that she could go and pray for blessings upon the games with her sisters. He glared between where Kylo and Rey stood but motioned his dismissal. Rey all but ran from the Emperor's place on the podium, intent on getting as far from the games, the fearsome leader, and the infuriating Kylo Ren, as she could. Rey skimmed down the steps of the oliseum, descending deeper and deeper within the giant structure, trying to make her way to the pathway that was reserved only for special use, but as she rounded a corner, she ran smack into the chest of one of the very men she'd been trying to avoid.

"You!" she accused as her eyes traveled up and up his tall, infuriating body.

Was he always this tall...? And muscular?

Rey tried to pull her face into a neutral expression, but Kylo noticed the way her eyes had hitched across the expanse of his chest before settling on his pouty mouth.

"Priestess, if you're looking to leave the Coliseum, might I suggest not heading towards the animal dens?"

Rey took a moment to orient herself and realized, to her horror, that she was heading further into the bowels of the Coliseum, and not out. Instead of admitting her mistake, she growled, "What makes you think I'm trying to get out of the Coliseum? Maybe I just needed some air after your shameful display in front of the Emperor!"

Kylo smirked down at her. "Shameful, priestess? How else was I going to distract him enough to allow you to make your escape?"

Rey backed away, trying to glare up into his eyes, and found her back against the cool stone wall—when had they gotten so close to the wall?

"If you're trying to suggest that what you did was to help me..."

"I'm not trying to suggest anything, priestess. You're playing a dangerous game with Hux. One that you will not win."

Anger flashed in his dark eyes, but not at her—was he jealous? Silly male. Rey abhorred the Emperor and yet…

"You think that you're the man to protect me? I have the blessings of my goddess—what could a man possibly provide me?" she challenged.

It was the wrong thing to say, of course, but she realized it too late and Kylo jumped at the invitation her words presented.

"Oh, the things I could offer you, priestess. Did your goddess show you all the wicked and depraved things that I've done, that I'll do? She must have quite the sense of humor for her to send someone like you to save someone like me," he said with a humorless laugh.

He hated himself, but why? Why would someone who'd been given all the opportunities in life that she'd been denied hate themselves?

"My goddess believes in second chances, as do I," Rey assured him and a small smirk curled the corner of his lips.

"Careless priestess," he said, voice low.

"I'm not careless," she assured him, shoulders squared and chin raised in defiance, which only brought her closer to his big body.

Kylo leaned in, close enough that she could feel the ghost of his breath against her cheek.

"But maybe you'd like to be? Only once. With someone who's got experience with being careless...?" he almost growled, his deep voice taking on a delicious dark tenor.

"Reckless, more like," she replied, her own voice breathier than she'd anticipated. She was true to her word and her vows, but never before had a man so frustrated her before! Who did he think he was? And yet…

Traitorous heart, you find him alluring, don't you, Rey? she chided herself. What a fool.

She was well into her pledge to remain celibate and she wasn't about to be buried alive because of the temptation one man, and not even a very good man, presented, was she?

Kylo leaned forward, his large body caging her in. Heat radiated off of him and the smell of his scented oils invaded her senses—sandalwood? Of course, he smelled good too. Couldn't be like all the other fat, slovenly nobles and smell like wine, cheese and piss, could he?

Rey took a deep breath as her eyes slid shut and she did her very best not to fall under this man's wicked spell.

"I never thought to be tempted by a priestess," he murmured, close enough to her ear that she could feel the little puffs of his breath on her skin. She knew he wasn't a good man, though he'd fought for the Empire. He was a scoundrel. Murderer— but one that her goddess had absolved. What was it about his dark presence that so appealed to her? Smothering a shiver, Rey tried to rally her strength while pressing her hand into his chest in an effort to move him away—a mistake, of course.

He's so hard. So much muscle! What are you doing, Rey?

And why had this striking man cornered her in an alcove, deep within the belly of the Coliseum? What if the wrong person saw her here? Some of her concern must have flashed across her face for he backed away slightly, not quite enough that she had to remove her hand, but he no longer had her caged against the wall.

"I forget myself," he said while that hard mask slid back into place.

She'd been a fool for saving this man. He would only bring her trouble, she could feel it in every fiber of her being.

"Come back to the games. Hux will be furious if you miss them and the last thing we need, priestess, is for the Emperor to take out his frustrations on someone else because we've upset him."

"'We'?" Rey cried. "This is all your fault, Kylo!"

He smirked down at her, his eyes catching on her lips.

"Say it again," he urged her.

"What? ...Kylo?" she murmured.

His eyes slid closed, and he seemed to consider something for a moment before giving a shake of his head. Dark waves of hair tumbled in front of his brow as he stood much, much too close to her. Before she could say another word, Kylo let out a low growl and dipped his head, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Too much trouble, Priestess. Perhaps in the afterlife."

Kylo lingered, his gaze caressing her face as he seemed to memorize her stunned expression.

"Come," he said as he stepped away, leaving Rey to stumble behind completely confused.

He was a trickster. Sarcastic and spiteful, but maybe he hadn't always been that way? What had twisted Kylo Ren into the man he was now? And why did he not seem to be able to keep the shadows of his former self from resurfacing around her?

As he stepped up to the podium, Rey wondered if there might not be more to Kylo Ren than she expected—and whether her goddess was going to give her the opportunity to explore this new revelation.