Tiberius had been picturing such an interaction since she'd introduced the concept half a moment ago. The stages of confusion, realization, shock, horror — and then the knowledge that they had been chosen to survive, and that their sibling's death allowed them to continue on. Yes, it would be quite educational to watch their child go through that process, he had to admit.

But entertaining? The idea had never occurred to him. Tiberius didn't really pursue things for the sake of entertainment, but sometimes there was a certain allure — the curiosity associated with being able to try something new, the pull of a unique experience.

And it seemed to him that the concept of a dark social experiment being entertaining wasn't entirely foreign to him. It seemed the sort of reaction he might have heard from Valeria, or Seneca. But when had Antigone's personality taken this turn? She had never been particularly maternal, but there was quite a gulf between not wanting to cuddle a baby and finding it amusing to put that child through a form of psychological torture.

Tiberius kept looking at his wife, his expression taking on a look of subtle appreciation. "Come here," he commanded softly.