His palm pressed against the golden plate, unlocking the doors, but her touch on his shoulder stopped him. “I know you’ll be able to fix it.”
Her whisper sent a wave of power through him, more intense than before. Its tendrils wound around his chest and coiled down his limbs like a vine. They steadied him, reinforced his weak spots, wrapped him in a protective armor. His confidence renewed, he dashed out of his chambers with an optimism that he’d never felt before. Yes, I can fix it. The bronze globe that normally filled him with dread didn’t seem so intimidating this morning.
He scanned the surface and spotted the flickering red lines along the Alpirion border of the empire. “When did they falter?”
“Just in the last hour, Your Imperial Majesty,” one of his advisors replied. “It fell faster than we thought it would.”
“Is that why you waited so long to inform me?” He traced his finger along the border and poured his magic into it. The flickering stopped, but the line still glowed red, indicating a weakness.
“I apologize, Your Imperial Majesty. I had no way—”
“Shut up and let me concentrate.” He squinted at the border, forcing every bit of his mental energy into it. His muscles locked, and a bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face. Manual labor in the hot fields had to be easier than this. Yet the safety of the empire depended on him, and only him, reinforcing the magical walls that kept outsiders from pillaging the realm.
He closed his eyes and thought of Azurha. He was struggling to defend her ancestors’ homeland. Would she think less of him if he failed?
A violent well of magic rose up inside him, different from the powers he normally channeled. This magic felt wild and uninhibited, lashing against the barriers of his body like a tempest he was unable to restrain. It spilled from him into the barrier, turning the entire border of the empire into a flash of blinding white light. Titus yanked his hand away from the globe and shielded his face.
When his eyes adjusted to the brightness, he noted the awestruck expressions of everyone in the room. The borders sparkled like a string of diamonds under the midday sun. He took a step back and turned to his advisors. “Is the border stable now?”
One of them managed to close his gaping mouth long enough to reply, “I don’t know, Your Imperial Majesty. I’ve never seen it glow like that.”
“I’ll send a message to one of the watch towers to find out,” another advisor offered and ran out the door toward the communications room.
“Perhaps someone can also find out why the border fell. Why Alpiria now? It’s on the opposite end of the empire from where it was failing before. I want answers.”
Two more men ran toward the communication room in response to his demand.
Titus continued to stare at the new, revitalized border on the globe. Where had the magic come from? And more importantly, would it keep the Barbarians out? He tried to draw on it again, but felt nothing. Whatever well he’d tapped had run dry.
Marcus moved to stand next to him. “Care to explain what just happened?”
“I would if I knew.” He ran his finger along the border again, and an odd feeling of peace washed over him. The only time he felt anything remotely like that was when he was with Azurha. Could she be responsible for this? “Marcus, have you ever heard anything about the Alpirions possessing magic?”
His friend’s brow furrowed, and he stroked his beard. “Do you think they attacked the border?”
“No, I just—” He caught himself midsentence and looked around at his advisors. The possibility that a former slave could possess such power would probably have them calling for her head. “Let’s continue this conversation in private.”
Once they were behind closed doors, some of the tension eased out of his shoulders. “I’m beginning to wonder if Azurha is more than she seems.”
“Oh?” Marcus stiffened, and his hand reached for the knife that normally hung from his belt when he was outside the palace. When his hand came up empty, he smoothed it on his tunic. His tight movements revealed his unease. “Do you think she’s behind the border failing?”
“Just the opposite.” He checked his palms, trying to see if there was any change in them over the last week. “Since she’s come into my life, my powers have grown, but the magic is not like your typical Deizian magic.”
“I’m glad to hear that bit of good news.” Marcus glanced over his shoulder at the closed door, the tension in his body betraying the levity in his words.
“Have you heard any more news of the price on my head?”
Marcus nodded, his carefree smile noticeably absent. “There are whispers that someone has hired the Rabbit.”
Titus closed his eyes and took a deep breath to steady himself. Very few assassins lived long enough to gain notoriety, but the Rabbit had been plaguing the empire for almost a decade. No one knew anything about him other than that he always succeeded. He’d killed men in over a dozen ways. The only clue he left behind was a rabbit’s foot tied around the victim’s wrist.
“Thanks for the warning, Marcus, but I’d like to see the Rabbit gain access to the palace.”
“He doesn’t need to get inside to kill you.”
“True, but he needs to get inside to leave his marker. If he wants to get paid, he’ll have to let everyone know he did it.”
Marcus nodded, and the lines vanished from his face. “True, but I mentioned to Varro that having a food taster wouldn’t be a bad idea.” He leveled his gaze with Titus. “Surround yourself with people you trust.”
“Are you trying to tell me something?”
“It’s just that you’ve gotten some interesting concubines recently.”
“I’m not naïve enough to fall into Pacilus’s trap. Claudia can stay in the harem until she decides to run back home to her father and con some new idiot into becoming husband number four.”
“And Azurha?”
“I trust her. She’s had ample opportunity to harm me, and as you can see, I’m standing here in better health than I’ve been in years.”
“I’m sure none of her specials skills have anything to do with it, huh?”
Heat flared deep within him, starting at his cheeks and settling down into his groin. Based on how little actual sleep he’d gotten in the last few days, he should be exhausted, but as soon as he thought of her, any weariness vanished. He’d stay up all night pleasuring her if he could, just so he could see the sleepy, satisfied smile on her face after he made her come.
A knock sounded at the door, interrupting them. An advisor poked his head into the room. “Your Imperial Majesty, we have reports coming in from the borders.”
Marcus gestured toward the door. “After you.” As Titus passed him, he whispered, “We’re not done with this conversation.”
…
Azurha eyed the rooftops and considered climbing on top of them to escape. Titus had left a mere half-hour ago, and she already felt like she was trapped in a cage. Varro’s news that the barrier was failing unnerved her more than she cared to admit, making her heart pound against her ribs like an enraged prisoner.
She’d travelled to the edge of the empire and stared face to face with the Barbarians on the other side of the barrier. Their leathery grey skin and flat eyes were enough to make her skin crawl, but their reputation terrified her and every other citizen of the empire. They desired nothing more than utter destruction and chaos. Gold didn’t appease them. They migrated too frequently to value land. The only thing they seemed to enjoy was eating the flesh of their live captives. If they invaded, Titus would be forced to defend the empire. And as emperor, he would be standing on the front line.
At the sound of the locks clicking, she whirled around. Freedom at last. And hopefully, news.
Varro entered the chambers with an unreadable expression on his face. “Are you ready to return to the harem, Lady Azurha?”
She grabbed her palla and wrapped it around her face. “Was Titus able to restore the border?”
&
nbsp; Varro’s eyes widened at her casual use of the emperor’s praenomen, and he cleared his throat with a cough. “Yes, Emperor Sergius was able to restore the border.”
“What caused it to falter?” She followed him out into the hallway, determined to get as much information as she could from him before he transferred her to her next holding cell.
“The emperor is looking into the matter right now.”
“This reeks of sabotage. Someone is out to make him look like an incompetent ruler.”
Varro quickened his pace, making his limp seem even more pronounced than usual. “These are not appropriate matters for us to discuss.” He stopped in front of the harem doors and pressed his palm against the plate. “Remember your place.”
Azurha’s anger rose up inside like steam in a kettle, threatening to explode if she didn’t release it soon. She wasn’t some stupid concubine. Years of experience and travel had given her contacts throughout the empire. If she could only break free of this place, she could personally find out what was going on.
The hard lines in Varro’s face softened. “Lady Azurha, I don’t mean to insult you, but you need to realize that the emperor is already burdened with this problem. It is your job to help him relax at the end of the day so he can think clearly in the morning. We all have our part to play for the betterment of the empire, and this is yours.”
“And what is your place?” She glanced down at the scar on his leg. “You don’t get wounds like that from being a household servant.”
“I was a member of the Legion. I was wounded at the Battle of Hellista.”
Azurha fought to muffle her gasp. Because of the Legion’s skill and bravery, only two emperors had ever been killed in battle, and that was only after every member of the Legion had given his life to protect them. “A wound like that could end a soldier’s career.”
Varro’s chin quivered for a split second as he nodded. “I pledged my life to protecting the emperor. When I was no longer fit to be a member of the Legion, Emperor Decius gave me this position.” He rubbed the leather bracer that concealed the tattoo all members of the Legion bore on their wrists. “I may not carry a sword anymore, but I will do all in my power to protect Emperor Sergius. Are we clear?”
The steely tone in his voice made every hair on her body stand on end. Did he know what she was?
“There you are.” Claudia appeared from the courtyard, scowling. “I have been waiting all morning to have my slaves dress me for the day.”
“They are the emperor’s slaves, not yours.” Varro’s usual crisp, businesslike demeanor returned as he addressed the new concubine and began his daily inspection of the harem. “But if you would like, I’ll see that they will come to your chambers at dawn every morning.”
“That early?” She turned and was about to go back to her room when she spotted Azurha’s necklace. “Where did you get that?”
Azurha covered the heavy pendant with her hand. “It was a gift from the emperor.”
“A parting gift, naturally.”
“I doubt that.” The corners of her mouth curled up into a mocking grin. It was time Claudia learned her place, too. “He seemed quite disappointed to leave me this morning.”
“Why, you impertinent little slave!” The Deizian grabbed the nearest thing she could get her hands on and hurled it at Azurha.
The vase narrowly missed her head and shattered on the wall behind her. Her reflexes jumped into action, and without a moment’s hesitation, she grabbed a shard and had Claudia pinned against the wall. She pressed the sharp edge against her rival’s throat.
“Let’s make a few things clear here. First, if you ever refer to me as a slave again, I will carve your face in such a way that you’ll hide behind the thickest veil you can find for the rest of your life.” To prove her point, Azurha raked the shard against Claudia’s cheek, leaving a faint red line in its wake. “Second, Titus wants me, not you, and if I hear of you trying to sway his favor away from me, I’ll make you pray to the gods for death.”
“Ladies.” Varro’s sharp command jerked her attention away from her victim. He marched over to them as quickly as he could and clamped his hand around her wrist. “This kind of behavior is uncalled for and unbefitting for women in your position.”
Fat tears rolled down Claudia’s face, melting away her haughty demeanor and exposing the scared woman beneath it. “Have her arrested for threatening me. She’s a monster.” She ran into her room and slammed the door. Her sobs permeated the harem.
Azurha took a step back, so ashamed of her behavior that she couldn’t meet his eyes. The last time she’d lost control of herself that way, she ended up covered in her master’s blood. But there was something else in Claudia’s face that startled her. It had almost been like looking into a mirror and seeing herself as a slave.
“She started it,” she whispered in her defense.
“So I noticed.”
She felt Varro’s eyes on her as she retreated back to her room. If he wasn’t suspicious of her before, she’d given him more than enough reason to think her capable of harming the emperor. She crawled underneath the covers of her bed and waited for Titus to banish her from the palace.
13
Titus stood on the balcony overlooking the city. The afternoon sunlight baked the brown tile roofs, toasting them like loaves of bread in an oven. Sweat tickled down his chest. After the long winter, the heat of summer seemed to be rushing toward them sooner than usual. The icy water of the frigidarium would feel wonderful after the long day.
An uneven pair of steps sounded behind him. Varro stood waiting a few feet away when he turned around. “Pardon my intrusion, Emperor Sergius, but might I have a word with you in private?”
“Of course, Varro. What about?”
“Lady Azurha.”
The way he said her name instantly set Titus on guard. Were the cries of disapproval already beginning? “Has something happened to her?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.” The steward wiped his brow and rocked from his good leg to his bad and back again. “She and Lady Claudia had an interesting spat this morning that raises a few questions about her.”
“Such as?”
“When Lady Claudia threw a vase at Lady Azurha, she responded more like a member of the Legion than a concubine.”
Titus gritted his teeth. “Varro, I’ve told you before that you may speak frankly with me when we’re alone. Out with it.”
After clearing his throat, he said, “She grabbed a broken piece of the vase and pounced on Lady Claudia like she wanted to slit her throat. She probably would have if I hadn’t been present.”
“Are you sure of that?” Azurha had survived on her own for many years, had endured things most Deizian women would never dream of, but he’d never thought her capable of violence.
“As it was, she drew blood by nicking Lady Claudia’s face while threatening to do more serious damage.” He took a step forward. “I fear she is not all that she seems and that she may pose a danger to you.”
“None of us are what we seem. Besides, it sounds like Claudia deserved it.”
“Perhaps, but there was something in the way she moved that bothered me. It was like watching a cobra strike, fast and fluid, graceful but deadly. And then there was the hardness in her voice when she threatened Lady Claudia. I don’t doubt she’d follow through on it if provoked again.”
An uneasy feeling of dread crept up his spine. First, the rumors of the price on his head. Now, the news that the woman who was sharing his bed had a violent temper. Was he even safe behind the palace walls? “And then what happened?”
“I got her attention, and she released Lady Claudia.”
“So no harm done other than what you’ve described?”
“No, Emperor Sergius. In truth, I think she was just as startled by her outburst as I was. She ran back into her room and closed the door. Hasn’t come out since.”
Titus leaned on the balcony and stared at the palace slaves retriev
ing the day’s laundry from the lines. Days like this, he envied them. Their life was so simple, despite their lack of freedom. They didn’t have the burden of fixing all the problems of the empire.
“Do you think there may be another spat between the ladies?”
“Hard to say. Lady Claudia was frightened to tears, but I sense a certain viciousness in her. She won’t let Lady Azurha’s behavior go unpunished.”
“You never told me what started the argument.”
“I assumed you would have guessed, Emperor Sergius. Lady Claudia was already quite perturbed that you ignored her last night, and when Lady Azurha returned to the harem wearing the necklace you gave her, she practically turned red with anger. She sees Lady Azurha as a rival.”
“And we’ve all heard the rumors of what happens to Pacilus’s rivals,” Titus finished. Throwing a vase seemed mild compared to the “accidental” decapitation the previous governor of Lucrilia suffered. “I tried to tell her that I had no need of her presence in my harem, but she insisted on staying.”
“I remember. I took the liberty of making sure her letter to her father accidentally met with a torch this morning.”
“Much appreciated.” He straightened and paced a few steps while he considered possible courses of action to take. He could just ignore the outburst and see what happened. Of course, next time, someone could end up hurt, or even dead. The thought of Azurha’s head rolling from her neck made his heart stop and every muscle in his body want to bolt straight to the harem to ensure she was still alive. “We need to separate them. Since Claudia has refused to leave the harem, I’ll have to remove Azurha.”
“As you wish. Shall I send her back to Governor Pontus?”
Send her back? Could he even sleep at night without her by his side? In less than a week, she’d woven herself into the threads of his life so tightly, to remove her would destroy the entire fabric. “I meant, move her to another part of the palace. My chambers.”
“Emperor Sergius, you can’t be serious?” Varro looked like he wanted to cover his mouth as soon as he uttered those words and hung his head so Titus couldn’t fully examine the rest of the thoughts that appeared on the steward’s face.
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