heard. How was she?”
Titus feigned innocence. “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about.”
Marcus laughed. “You haven’t so much as looked at another woman since Lucia died, and then your cousin gives you your very own concubine to start your harem. Please tell me you didn’t at least sample her?”
The corners of his mouth twitched. Sample would be putting it mildly. He only wondered what indulging in a three course meal would be like with her.
“Aha, I knew it.” Marcus ripped off a hunk of bread and dipped it in some olive oil. “You can’t ignore the thoughts of your little head all the time.”
“Who said anything about it being little?”
His friend snickered. “So, tell me more about her. What lies behind her veil? Is she trained in all the arts?”
“What would Sexta say if she knew you were inquiring about my concubine?”
His friend’s mirth faded for a second. “What does it matter? You’re the only one who can touch her, who can see her face. I’m just living vicariously through you.”
“I thought you were madly in love with Sexta.”
“Madly in lust would be a better way of putting it. But alas, she knows it and keeps me dangling like a fish on a hook. One day, though, she’ll cave to my charm.” His grin returned, and he patted Titus on the back. “I’m just making sure you’re enjoying yourself a bit before you have to suffer another arranged marriage. And even then, you can still enjoy your harem.”
Marcus’ comment acted like a dart in his chest. Just as he’d embraced the other Elymanian customs, Marcus could marry the woman he loved, not a woman that would keep his Deizian blood pure or further his political ties. As emperor, Titus didn’t have that luxury. “Please let me get used to ruling before you push me in that direction.”
“Hate to have to be the bearer of bad news, but you know the nobility will be after you to marry and produce an heir soon. The stability of the empire depends on it.”
“You don’t have to remind me. Too many of the provincial governors have ties to my family and would try to claim my throne, should I fail.”
“Which is why you should tread carefully around them, especially Pontus.”
“And his gifts.” Part of him still wondered if Azurha was more of a threat than a gift.
Marcus wrinkled his brow. “Do you think she’s working for him?”
Her warning that Pontus was an ambitious man echoed in his mind. “No, not exactly. But I wonder why he’d give her to me instead of keeping her for himself.”
“That good, huh?”
He remembered how her tongue licked the honey off his skin, and all the blood rushed to his groin. He shifted in his chair. “Yes, that good.”
7
Azurha stretched across the silk sheets and soaked in the warm rays of the sun. It was nice to be able to relax inside her gilded cage. Between her life as a slave and years of constantly looking over her shoulder, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept this late into the morning.
She pulled the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around her body. Memories of the night before flooded her mind when she saw the rumpled cushions in the main chamber, and a flush stole over her skin. If she hadn’t been sent to kill Titus, she’d look forward to more of his touch. Already, she ached to enjoy his kisses again.
She frowned. Lusting after her victim would only make it harder to kill him. And she needed to complete her job. Her life and her reputation depended on it. The promise of a life of leisure far outweighed a few fleeting nights of passion. After all, what man would want her when he learned the truth? As the Rabbit, she’d killed dozens of people. And even if she didn’t have their blood on her hands, she was still a former slave. It was far better to kill him, collect her money, and retire some place where she’d never have to lift a finger or slit a throat again.
With her practical mind back in place, she examined the
Titus feigned innocence. “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about.”
Marcus laughed. “You haven’t so much as looked at another woman since Lucia died, and then your cousin gives you your very own concubine to start your harem. Please tell me you didn’t at least sample her?”
The corners of his mouth twitched. Sample would be putting it mildly. He only wondered what indulging in a three course meal would be like with her.
“Aha, I knew it.” Marcus ripped off a hunk of bread and dipped it in some olive oil. “You can’t ignore the thoughts of your little head all the time.”
“Who said anything about it being little?”
His friend snickered. “So, tell me more about her. What lies behind her veil? Is she trained in all the arts?”
“What would Sexta say if she knew you were inquiring about my concubine?”
His friend’s mirth faded for a second. “What does it matter? You’re the only one who can touch her, who can see her face. I’m just living vicariously through you.”
“I thought you were madly in love with Sexta.”
“Madly in lust would be a better way of putting it. But alas, she knows it and keeps me dangling like a fish on a hook. One day, though, she’ll cave to my charm.” His grin returned, and he patted Titus on the back. “I’m just making sure you’re enjoying yourself a bit before you have to suffer another arranged marriage. And even then, you can still enjoy your harem.”
Marcus’ comment acted like a dart in his chest. Just as he’d embraced the other Elymanian customs, Marcus could marry the woman he loved, not a woman that would keep his Deizian blood pure or further his political ties. As emperor, Titus didn’t have that luxury. “Please let me get used to ruling before you push me in that direction.”
“Hate to have to be the bearer of bad news, but you know the nobility will be after you to marry and produce an heir soon. The stability of the empire depends on it.”
“You don’t have to remind me. Too many of the provincial governors have ties to my family and would try to claim my throne, should I fail.”
“Which is why you should tread carefully around them, especially Pontus.”
“And his gifts.” Part of him still wondered if Azurha was more of a threat than a gift.
Marcus wrinkled his brow. “Do you think she’s working for him?”
Her warning that Pontus was an ambitious man echoed in his mind. “No, not exactly. But I wonder why he’d give her to me instead of keeping her for himself.”
“That good, huh?”
He remembered how her tongue licked the honey off his skin, and all the blood rushed to his groin. He shifted in his chair. “Yes, that good.”
7
Azurha stretched across the silk sheets and soaked in the warm rays of the sun. It was nice to be able to relax inside her gilded cage. Between her life as a slave and years of constantly looking over her shoulder, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept this late into the morning.
She pulled the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around her body. Memories of the night before flooded her mind when she saw the rumpled cushions in the main chamber, and a flush stole over her skin. If she hadn’t been sent to kill Titus, she’d look forward to more of his touch. Already, she ached to enjoy his kisses again.
She frowned. Lusting after her victim would only make it harder to kill him. And she needed to complete her job. Her life and her reputation depended on it. The promise of a life of leisure far outweighed a few fleeting nights of passion. After all, what man would want her when he learned the truth? As the Rabbit, she’d killed dozens of people. And even if she didn’t have their blood on her hands, she was still a former slave. It was far better to kill him, collect her money, and retire some place where she’d never have to lift a finger or slit a throat again.
With her practical mind back in place, she examined the
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