“I am. I want to prove to you that she isn’t a threat.”
“And if she is?” The stubborn set of Varro’s jaw reminded Titus once again that he wasn’t a typical household servant. He’d served as the captain of the Legion for years, and only a few men in the empire earned that honor.
“She’s a woman—a concubine—not the Rabbit.” He brushed past him, already craving the taste of her skin. He’d show Varro that there was nothing to fear from Azurha.
“As you wish. One more thing, Emperor Sergius. You haven’t forgotten that you have another one of your coronation parties to attend tonight.”
Titus stopped and cursed under his breath. Another night of drunken debauchery among his nobles, where every Deizian present would try to force their daughters on him. If it wasn’t being held in his honor, he would have gladly stayed home and enjoyed Azurha’s solitary company. “When do I have to be ready?”
“Rutilius Arculeo’s home is in the hills, so I would say you have three hours before you need to leave.”
Three hours to himself before they put him on display like a prized bull. He was the emperor, damn it, not livestock. Maybe if he sent them a message that he detested their political games, they’d leave him alone. “Varro, when you take Azurha to my chambers, make sure she’s dressed and ready to attend the party with me.”
“But she’s a concubine. By tradition, she’s forbidden to leave the palace once she entered the harem unless you banish her.”
The corner of his mouth rose in a sardonic grin. “Then perhaps it’s time we turn tradition on its head. She won’t be needing her veil tonight.”
…
Azurha folded her last palla into her trunk and closed it. Now she was ready for Titus to banish her. How could he let her stay after this morning? Varro would tell him of the attack and counsel him to remove her. She had seen it in his eyes before he left.
She should be happy to leave. For the first time in her life, she couldn’t complete a job. She’d broken almost every rule Cassius had taught her. She’d hesitated. She’d gotten too close to her target. She’d even been stupid enough to think she could fall in love with him.
Maybe it wasn’t love. Maybe it was just lust, and as soon as she left, she’d forget all about him.
Who am I kidding?
When she heard the click of the locks, her heart jumped into her throat. Memories of her life as a slave resurrected inside of her as she stood and awaited her punishment. Banishment would be kind, what she would expect from Titus. His grandfather would have probably ordered her execution hours ago.
The only good thing about the day was that Claudia hadn’t left her room since this morning.
Varro entered the harem with two burly slaves. Wonderful. They expected her to resist.
“I already have my belongings packed, everything I came here with.” She reached around her neck and unfastened the necklace. A jolt of pain stabbed her heart as she held it out in front of her. She could leave behind the dresses and perfumes, but he’d given her the necklace as personal gift. It was the only thing tying her to him. “Here.”
Varro arched one brow. “I don’t know what you think is happening, but the emperor would be upset if you returned his gifts.”
“He’s banishing me, isn’t he? Isn’t that what you’re here for? To throw me out of the palace?”
The slaves lifted her trunk and carried it out the door along with any hope she had of staying.
“Quite the contrary, Lady Azurha. It seems the emperor wishes to remove the hassle of having to send for you every time he wants your company. He’s ordered me to move you into his private chambers.” The degree of bitterness in his voice almost matched her surprise.
“He what?”
“Come along. I have many things to attend to in the palace, not just you.”
The reserve he normally had with her had morphed into open hostility. If his servants were acting this way, she could only imagine what some of the nobles would do once they found out about Titus’s decision to move her.
“Once you are settled into the emperor’s chambers, I’ll send Izana to dress you for the evening. Emperor Sergius has to attend a coronation party, and he’s ordered you to go with him.”
Azurha skidded to a halt. “Did the emperor get hit in the head with a sword hilt?”
“I’ve been wondering the same thing myself.” Varro turned and seemed to scrutinize every detail about her. “I take it you know nothing about this.”
“I don’t, nor do I want anything to do with it. I know the longer I stay here, the more trouble it will cause Titus, but…” The desire to stay with him overwhelmed every shred of her common sense, but she remained in enough control not to utter her thoughts out loud.
His face softened. “I may have been too hasty in my judgment of you, Lady Azurha, but I still believe you’re hiding something. I pray the gods know more about this tangled knot than I do and that your presence here is part of their plan.”
You’ll never find a knot you can’t untangle.
The damn soothsayer wouldn’t shut up as they continued the rest of the way to the chambers. Over and over again, the woman’s voice kept repeating that line in Azurha’s head. It sounded insane to think the gods had a hand in this. She’d been sent to kill Titus, not save him. Did they really think the empire would be better off without him?
But maybe they saw her hesitation. Maybe they placed her here to prevent another assassin from killing him. Could the divine hand of fate be that precise?
“Varro, there will be members of the Legion accompanying the emperor tonight, right?” She may be inside the palace walls, but outside, Titus became a moving target for whatever assassin waited for him. She doubted Pontus was the only noble that feared Titus’s plans for the empire.
He gave her a slight smile. “He doesn’t leave the palace without them.”
“Good.” He’d have his bodyguards, but more importantly, he had her. If anyone dared to make an attempt on his life, she’d personally see they suffered a long, agonizing death. After all, she was the best assassin in the empire.
14
Titus rushed back to his chambers. He needed to leave for the party in less than half an hour, but his advisors had buried him with reports from the frontier. So far, nothing pointed to one particular person behind the failing borders. No signs of sabotage. No unusual individuals spotted at the scenes. And most importantly, no evidence that the Barbarians had figured out a way to bypass the borders. As long as the magic held, the citizens of the empire remained safe.
The door swung open with a bang, and he was pulling his tunic over his head when a female’s gasp halted him. He pulled it back down and peered over the neckline.
Azurha sat on the cushions alone, staring at him. Just when he thought she couldn’t be lovelier, she proved him wrong. The sheer fabric of her dress was the color of ripe raspberries, matching her full lips and hinting at the luscious curves it concealed. His necklace dangled between her breasts like a beacon, and heat flooded his body the second he laid eyes on the soft, round mounds of flesh.
“You startled me.” She ran her tongue across her lips and stood. Her eyes fell to his rapidly stiffening cock, and her grin widened. “At least you seem to be recovering.”
“I—I need to bathe before we leave.”
She nodded. “Too bad Izana took such care in dressing me tonight. Otherwise, I’d join you.”
He almost groaned. He’d rather have her naked in the tepidarium with him so he could ram into her over and over again until he soothed the ache forming in his balls. How rude would it be if he skipped the party tonight?
“Go bathe. I’ll be waiting for you.” She disappeared into the bedroom as if she knew the longer she stayed in his line of sight, the quicker his resolve would crumble.
His afternoon bath matched his morning one—a quick jump in the two pools instead of the leisurely soak he looked forward to at the end of the day. At least the cold water
squelched his desire enough to where he could hide it from the unsuspecting eye.
Varro stood waiting with a towel and clean clothes as he got out. He remained uncharacteristically quiet while he rubbed the sandalwood oil on Titus’s skin and helped him dress. His earlier warnings still burned like a wasp sting. Could this just be a taste of what he could expect tonight when he arrived with Azurha?
Time to start making peace with his subjects, one person at a time. “I appreciate your concern today, Varro. My father valued your service, and I’m learning to value your judgment.”
The steward paused for a split second before continuing to drape the purple toga around Titus’s shoulders. “It’s an honor to serve the emperor.”
“But you still think I’m making a mistake.”
“What I think doesn’t matter, Emperor Sergius.”
Titus caught his arm and leveled his gaze with Varro. “It does matter to me. You seem to know more about the empire than most of my advisors.”
He cracked a smile. “Please don’t classify me with them. I hope to have more than half a brain.”
The laughter between them broke the tension, and Titus released him. “You don’t want the promotion?”
“My wife would like it, but I’d consider it a form of torture. If it pleases you, I’m quite happy in my current role.” He picked a piece of lint off the toga. “And I will add that I may have been a bit off the mark about Lady Azurha.”
“Meaning?”
“She’s either a great actress or she genuinely cares about you. Far more than a concubine should, I might add. Of course, you haven’t treated her like one, so that might have something to do with it.” He gave him a stiff bow and left the chambers before Titus could ask him to elaborate.
“He worries about you like a father.” Azurha was leaning against the doorway of the bath with her head cocked to the side. A wistful smile played upon her lips before she straightened. “I apologize for threatening Claudia earlier today. I know I’ve put you in an awkward situation.”
“She’s the one that attacked you first. You were within your right to defend yourself.”
Her laughter sounded as bitter as vinegar. “You have no idea how things really are outside the palace, do you? She’s a Deizian, I’m an Alpirion. It’s a crime for me to even raise my voice to her. Her family will demand punishment.”
“Only if they know about it. Varro intercepted her message to her father this morning. Nothing to worry about.”
“And what about tonight? Are you serious about taking me to your Deizian party?”
He clenched his jaw so tightly, his teeth ached. “Is there a reason you’re asking so many questions? Last I checked, I was the emperor, and my Will is above all.”
She winced as if he’d slapped her. “If you wish for me to be silent, I will.” She added under her breath, “For now.”
Guilt tied his stomach into knots. “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.”
“Don’t apologize, Titus. You are the emperor, the sooner you establish that no one will intimidate you, the easier your reign will be.” Azurha placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “We should go.”
They walked in silence to the waiting carriage. It gave him time to soak in her appearance tonight. The slaves had arranged her hair in an intricate twist of braids and curls favored by Elymanian women. A solitary comb with three pieces of lapis adorned it. His fingers ached to rake through her hair, watching it dance about her naked body once again. He took a deep breath and looked straight ahead. Maybe there was a reason the concubines were forced to cover their faces and hair. The temptation was growing out of hand.
If the members of the Legion were surprised to see her with him, they didn’t show it. Nor was Azurha in awe of his carriage, much to his disappointment. Only those of Deizian blood could control the special vehicles that hovered over the ground instead of relying on wheels and animals to move. Using the bronze ore as a conduit, it took only a small stream of magic from the driver outside to power it. Instead, she calmly stepped into the confines of the carriage’s chamber and waited for him.
“Have you ridden in a Deizian vessel before?” he asked once the door closed behind him, enclosing them in their own private room.
She nodded. “Pontus brought me here in one.”
“Oh.” He stared down at his hands and then out the window.
“Of course, his was smaller and nowhere near as grand as yours.” She looped her arm through his and cuddled closer. “I am curious why you asked me to join you tonight.”
The light notes of her jasmine perfume calmed him, and he settled back against the padded seat. “Do you want the whole truth?”
“I expect nothing less from you.”
Titus grinned in spite of himself. Most women would probably pitch a fit if he was as frank with them as he was with Azurha, but she seemed angrier when he held something back from her. “You’re my shield tonight.”
“From what?”
The playfulness in her voice eased the remaining tension form his body. “Ambitious parents.”
“You think by bringing your Alpirion concubine with you to this party, you’ll be making a statement that you don’t want any of the fine Deizian women there?”
He studied her hand, analyzing her slender fingers before moving up to the golden cuffs around her wrist. “I’ve already told you that I don’t want any other woman but you.”
An exasperated sigh filled the carriage, and she wiggled her arm free. Titus rolled his eyes. What did he say wrong this time?
“Do you always travel with this many bodyguards?”
Her question jerked him from his pouting. How much should he share with her about the price on his head? “No, but I decided to have a couple more guards for the next few weeks.”
“I doubt ambitious parents will attack you. Your political rivals, on the other hand, are not as kind.”
“What do you know about them?”
“Enough. Remember, I had to endure Pontus’s company for the two days it took to travel from Anicium to here.”
Jealousy made his fingers curl up into fists. He loathed the idea that she’d been in another man’s company. By the gods, she was turning him into a green-eyed monster. He took another deep breath. “And what did you learn from him?”
“That he’s in line for your throne should something happen to you before you produce an heir. He made sure I knew that.”
Even his own family was plotting against him. Was there anyone he could trust? His paranoia slowly waned as he started naming names. His mother. Marcus. Varro. All people he would trust with his life. He gaze flickered to Azurha’s profile, and Varro’s warnings echoed in his mind. Could he trust her, too? “Have you ever heard of the Rabbit?”
She jumped as if he’d branded her with a white hot iron. “Yes.”
Her voice shook when she answered, and all the color drained out of her face. He took her hand in his own to comfort her, noting how cold it felt. “It seems someone’s hired him to assassinate me.”
“Hired him?” She turned to him, her large teal eyes wide with fear. “How do you know?”
“Marcus informed me of it. Of course, it’s all rumors. What makes it frustrating is that no one knows who the Rabbit is. The only people who’ve seen his face are either dead or the ones who’ve hired him, and neither one is going to give a description of him. He won’t be able to sneak into the palace easily, but outside the walls…” He stared out the windows, looking for a shadow slinking away in the darkness. “That’s the reason I have extra guards tonight.”
She slowly nodded and laced her fingers with his. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”
“I didn’t tell you about the Rabbit to scare you.”
“I know.” Her lips brushed against the spot right behind his ear, sending a tingle down his spine directly to his cock. “You’re very brave to ignore the danger. I hear the Rabbit’s never failed before.”
“There’s a first
time for everything.”
Her tongue flicked his ear lobe, and he braced himself. Did she have any idea what she was doing to him? Her hand massaged its way up his thigh. She purred and nibbled on his ear. Yes, she knew exactly what she was doing. “You shouldn’t worry about the Rabbit, Titus. I’ll protect you.”
“I’m more worried about messing up your hair and feeling your wrath.”
“Why would you worry about that?” She worked his tunic up around his waist and cupped his balls.
A groan formed in the back of his throat. How did he go from talking about an assassin to wanting to fuck her so bad, he was already starting to come in her hand? “Because if you don’t stop teasing me, I’m going to take you right here in the carriage.”
“Maybe that’s the whole idea.” Azurha guided his mouth to hers and traced the seam with her tongue.
The last timbers of his self-control snapped, and he was on top her before she could react. A gasp burst from her lips as he buried himself in her tight sex. By the gods, she felt wonderful. Every care seemed to fade away while he relished each stroke.
“More, Titus, I need more of you.”
Her encouragement increased the ache in his groin. His balls tightened. He bit his lip to keep from coming until she did, but it seemed like a futile effort. He closed his eyes and held his breath until her walls clenched around his cock, and her pitched cry of satisfaction released the orgasm he so desperately tried to restrain.
By the time the last wave of come shot out of him, a blanket of fatigue had settled on him. He lay in her arms while she ran her fingers through his hair. Any thought of the Rabbit faded into the back of his mind.
“See? You didn’t mess up my hair.”
Titus lifted his head and saw she was right. Somehow, despite the nature of their impromptu coupling, he’d managed to keep his hands off of it. “Is that an invitation to try again?”
She laughed and cupped his face between her hands. “Are you eager to be caught inside me when we arrive?”
Tangled Web Page 13
