06. SCIENTIA POTENTIA EST
SULPICIA CALI
Days pass.
Marcus and Didyme receive Aro's approval to leave.
Didyme and I spend less time together as she and Marcus prepare, but I catch her staring, as she catches me, and I am secure in our love and the small moment of time we had together. My only regret is that we cannot be together again.
I refuse Aro's touch, as I sense darkness about him. I know when my husband is scheming. Being his mate, it has never frightened me before, but now…now I hold a secret…now I cannot be so sure. I hesitate, ignore his advances, fearful of what his reaction might be when he discovers what he will see as my betrayal and disobedience.
It is more than Aro's scheming that keeps me away, however. It is Didyme herself, the memory of her in the fountain. I do not wish to share my memories of her with him, the way she had pleasured me, the thoughts I had had in the moment I peaked against her mouth. It is not just the issue of her being the sibling he is jealous of. It is a selfish thing. For once, I wish my thoughts and memories could be mine—and mine alone.
My husband looks at me from across the room. His eyes are hard and black.
I know that he knows.
Word travels very quickly in our little world, on tiny butterfly lips belonging to a girl named Jane.
The chapter title is a Latin maxim: "for also knowledge itself is power." This is more commonly known in its modern form as "knowledge is power."