Chapter 3: The Hunt

That night, Senator Varrus's villa was Rome in miniature. In the spacious atrium, marble pillars soared to ceilings painted with images of gods, looking down upon the mortals who played their own games of power. The air was heavy with the scent of expensive lilies, sweet Falernum wine, and whispers that could build or destroy a dynasty.

Ulixes stood slightly behind Licinia, his role as a protective husband a comfortable mask. His sharp eyes swept the crowd, not searching for friends, but for mapping the battlefield. He saw factions gathering like wolves: conservative old senators, wealthy equestrians whose eyes were always calculating, and young nobles whose arrogance far outstripped their achievements.

Then, he saw her. Across the garden, near a statue of Bacchus, stood Seppia. She laughed at a young noble's joke, but the laughter didn't reach her eyes. Ulixes saw the hidden boredom behind her polite smile. Beside her stood her brother, Seppius. His face was haughty, his posture rigid, his watchful eyes constantly observing his sister like a hawk. He was the gatekeeper.

Ulixes waited for his opportunity. As Seppius was drawn into a serious conversation with an older senator, Ulixes began to move. He walked through the crowd with quiet purpose, a silver goblet in his hand.

He arrived near Seppia just as her last conversational partner departed. "It seems even amidst the liveliest feast," Ulixes said, his voice low and deep, "one can still feel alone."

Seppia turned, slightly surprised. Her large eyes met his, a faint recognition visible there. He was the war hero everyone was talking about. "Tiberius Acilius," she said, her voice more a statement than a question.

"A man is not defined by his name, but by the look in his eyes," Ulixes countered. "And your eyes seem to search for something more than just wine and boring jokes."

A faint blush rose on Seppia's cheeks. She glanced towards her brother, who was still engaged. "My brother says a virtuous woman should be content with her world."

"A world built by other men," Ulixes said. He leaned in a little closer. In his mind, he gave a command. Burn ten Essence. Activate Subtle Influence.

A jolt of piercing cold energy flowed from him. "But I see a hawk within you, Domina. A hawk destined to fly, not to be confined to a gilded cage."

The words struck Seppia. Her wall of polite defenses crumbled. Her pupils widened slightly. The interest in her eyes now morphed into an inexplicable fascination. "Fly where?" she whispered.

Ulixes offered a faint smile. "To a place where no one can hear you scream." He extended his hand. Without hesitation, Seppia took it.

He led her away from the lights and noise, to a secluded terrace overlooking the dark garden below. Once they were alone, Seppia turned, her body pressing against Ulixes'.

"You're dangerous," she hissed, her voice trembling with her breath hitched, her body trembling against his.

"Ssshhh..." Ulixes countered, one finger touching Seppia's lips before his own mouth devoured hers. The kiss wasn't gentle. It was a claim. Hungry and demanding.

"Mmmph!" Seppia gasped into Ulixes' mouth, her hands gripping his arms. Ulixes pushed her against the cold marble wall, making Seppia gasp again as the chill touched her warm back.

Ulixes' hand moved down roughly, squeezing Seppia's firm buttocks through the thin fabric of her gown.

"Ah..." Seppia sighed as their kiss broke, her breath ragged.

There was a loud tearing sound as Ulixes ripped the bottom of her gown. His rough hand now touched the smooth skin of her thigh, moving upwards.

"Wait... what..." Seppia murmured, but her words died as Ulixes' fingers found her already drenched femininity.

"Ah!" she cried out as one finger impudently slipped into her wet vagina. "Tiberius..."

Ulixes didn't answer. He simply inserted a second finger, stretching her. The soft squelch of her vaginal fluids was clear in the night's silence.

"Ngh... oh... oh... yes..." Seppia's moans transformed from surprise to pure pleasure. Her head leaned against the wall, her eyes closed. "Mmm... more..." she pleaded, her hips unconsciously moving to the rhythm of Ulixes' fingers.

Ulixes withdrew his hand, leaving Seppia trembling and leaning against the wall, gasping for breath. He opened his tunic. In the dim moonlight, his hard, veined penis appeared both menacing and mesmerizing. Seppia's eyes widened.

Without a word, Ulixes lifted Seppia, leaning her back against the wall, lifting both her legs to wrap around his waist. Seppia gasped as she felt the hot, hard tip of his penis press against her wet, throbbing vaginal opening.

"Please..." she whispered, pleading either for him to stop or to continue.

With one deep, powerful thrust, Ulixes plunged inside.

"AAAAH!" Seppia's scream was a mixture of pain and overwhelming pleasure. "It hurts... ngh... but... oh, God... full... I'm full..."

Ulixes paused for a moment, letting her feel the sensation. Then, he began to move. Slowly at first.

"Ngh... ah..." each deep thrust drew a low moan from her throat. The sound of their wet skin rubbing together began to be heard.

"Too... too deep..." Seppia whimpered, though her body said otherwise, clinging to Ulixes more tightly.

Ulixes' rhythm became faster, more merciless. His thrusts made Seppia's body tremble, her back rubbing against the cold marble.

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Yes! Keep going!" Seppia screamed, her words now meaningless, just the sound of pure desire. Her breasts, pressed against Ulixes' chest, swayed with each thrust.

"Hah... hah... hah..." Ulixes' heavy breathing became the accompanying music. The sound of their bodies colliding was loud and wet.

"Mine..." Ulixes growled, gripping Seppia's hips possessively.

"Yes! Yours! Take me! AAAHHH!"

With a few final, hammering thrusts, Ulixes felt his climax explode. He groaned deeply, "Nghhh... Seppia!"

His hot semen burst deep within Seppia's body. The noblewoman's body convulsed violently around him, her orgasm coming simultaneously, a long, piercing cry escaping her lips before she collapsed limply in Ulixes' embrace.

{Intimacy completed. Target: Upper-Class Noblewoman (Category 4).}

{Life Essence gained: +50}

For a few moments, the only sound was their ragged breathing. Ulixes slowly lowered Seppia. Her legs trembled violently, barely able to support her body. Ulixes tidied her torn clothing as best he could, then delivered one last cold kiss to her forehead.

"Go back to your party, little hawk," he whispered. "And remember who taught you how to fly."

He turned and walked away, leaving Seppia trembling on the terrace.

Ulixes walked back into the party's hubbub, his expression was unreadable, showing no sign of his recent encounter. There wasn't a drop of sweat on his brow, not a single hair out of place. He took a fresh glass of wine from a passing slave and found his wife, Licinia, conversing with two senators.

He stood silently behind her, his presence a quiet anchor. Licinia, sensing her husband nearby, gracefully concluded her conversation. She turned, her eyes searched Ulixes's face, looking for a sign.

Ulixes simply raised his glass slightly, a small gesture barely noticeable to others. It was enough. A faint, knowing smile touched Licinia's lips.

The carriage ride home was silent. The wheels rattled over Rome's deserted cobblestone streets. Licinia leaned against Ulixes' shoulder, her body's warmth comforting.

"Was your hunt successful?" Licinia finally asked, her voice a whisper in the darkness.

"The hawk now knows its master," Ulixes replied, his hand gripping Licinia's tightly.

They didn't go directly into the bedroom upon arriving at the villa. Instead, Ulixes led Licinia through the atrium, towards the private garden at the back. The night air was cool, filled with the scent of blooming jasmine and the gurgling of water from the small fountain.

They walked slowly under the moonlight, their hands still intertwined.

"Sometimes, I forget what kind of man I married," Licinia said softly, stopping near a marble bench. "At the party earlier, you were Tiberius Acilius, a charming nobleman. But a moment ago, on that terrace... you were Ulysses, the gladiator."

Ulixes turned, looking at his wife. "Both are me," he said. "And both do what must be done to protect you. And for him."

His free hand reached out, gently caressing Licinia's swollen belly. He could feel the warmth and life beneath his palm.

"I do all this," he continued, his voice now softened, losing all its sharp edges. "So he will never know chains or whips. So he will only know the power of our name."

Tears welled in Licinia's eyes. She rested her head on Ulixes' chest, feeling her husband's strong, steady heartbeat. "You will be a great father, Tiberius," she whispered. "And a terrifying monster to our enemies."

Ulixes didn't reply. He simply tightened his embrace, breathing in the scent of his wife's hair. He looked out at the twinkling city lights in the distance. In the stillness of this garden, surrounded by the wealth he had seized and holding the woman who carried his heir, the wolf felt something rare.

He felt peace.