Domina Victrix

Descendants of Triumvir Mark Antony through his little-known first wife, young cousins, Victoria and Marcus, have always known they were heirs to a mixed-blessing heritage. Roman men were expected to brutally dominate their families and the world around them. Roman women were required to obey husbands and fathers, bear children and keep house, never drawing attention to themselves. Antonys found it impossible to fit the mold, instead using the opposite sex to further their own power.

Victoria and Marcus were no different. They could command respect on their own merits with no need of deceit and intrigue. Intelligent and driven, with a flair for languages and a love of horses, the cousins set out for a life on their terms. With the support of their fathers, uncles and comrades, Victoria becomes a respected healer and later is named a medica to her father's legion, the Thunderbolt Twelfth, based in Antioch. Through insurrections, battle and garrison duty, she binds their wounds, births the camp's children, and becomes their Domina Victrix, Lady Conqueror. Marcus pursues his dream of becoming a skilled cavalry commander, scout, and tracker, the living embodiment of the Legion's eagle standard.

But enemies are never far away. Men such as Herod of Judea and Pontius Pilate, who exploit the cousins' talents as it suits them, placing Victoria and Marcus as witnesses and key players in an execution that will leave its mark on them and the men of their family's Legion. Then, they face an even bigger threat from a crazed Emperor with scores to settle against them, their family, and their great-grandfather's legacy.