Page 101 of Poisoned Empire

Belisarius launched himself from his seat. His father was right. He would mend this rift, would grovel for months, years, however long it took to win her back to his side. What was the use in being royalty if he couldn’t carve out a place in this world for her—for them?

“I need to go to her now.”

The emperor nodded and smiled.

“I need to tell her that she’ll be the only woman, children or no.”

“Yes, you do.”

Belisarius nearly tripped over himself to get to the door in his haste. Before he left, he turned to see his father’s smiling face.

“Thank you.”

“Go. Bring that minx back as my daughter-in-law as thanks.” He saluted with a small glass of freshly poured liquor.

Belisarius nodded, rushing off to do just that.

Darius sighed, profoundly relieved when Belisarius had left, hell-bent on making things right with Selene. Belisarius was going to need someone strong, ruthless and loyal beside him in the coming days so that he could step down with confidence. Darius sipped his favourite brandy and relaxed in his seat. The chirping of the night insects filled the silence, until the groaning of the servants stairwell interrupted it. Who would dare to enter his room at this hour, without his permission?

When he stood to see the person off, Darius fell to the ground, his body stiff. He engulfed his body inflames, but whatever it was that had poisoned him, it was inside him now. He’d dismissed the guards from his bedroom door, sending them to guard the doors to his outer chambers where the wards for his protection ended. They wouldn’t hear him scream. From his position on the floor, he could see the boots of a single person approaching him. They were polished, made of quality dyed leather. Whoever it was belonged to the nobility. He breathed deep and unleashed a stream of fire at the intruder.

Instead of agonized screams, or the scent of singed flesh and leather he’d expected, the intruder chuckled, his shiny boots entirely unharmed by the flames. Only a fire mage had his clothes enchanted to withstand that kind of blaze. The intruder was likely the traitor at the head of this conspiracy.

“Let’s see your face then, coward,” Darius growled. It galled him to know he would die defenceless rather than in battle. He’d be damned if he died ignorant of the bastard who had threatened his son and his empire.

When the man turned Darius on his side, his eyes widened with horror.

“No.”

The man glared down at him with piercing ruby eyes and a smile twisted with menacing glee.

“Yes.”

Chapter 35

AfterSelenehadlefthim in the gardens, she’d retreated to Marduk’s apartments, protected by the metals mage. Belisarius demanded entrance to no avail. When Marduk did see fit to let him into the receiving room, he asked him to sit.

“Are you demanding her presence as the prince, or as a man?”

“A man,” Belisarius replied.

“May I speak freely, Your Royal Highness?”

“Please,” Belisarius sighed.

“She’s not going to see you tonight. Even if you order her to, Iliana would probably try to gut you. Given what I’ve heard, I might be tempted to let her have a go at you. You were raised better than that. Nicephorus is blindly loyal to you and the empire, but he lives in his head so much, I often wonder if he has a heart. I didn’t think I needed to worry about that from you, since you damn well knew what it looked like for a man to treasure his wife!”

Belisarius winced. Sometimes he forgot that Marduk had known him since the moment he was born, had watched over him as a brother might. Their relationship had been dictated by their respective roles, but at times like these, he knew that the distance had been a fiction for outsiders. When Marduk spoke, it was to someone he cared about, someone who had deeply disappointed him. It shamed Belisarius to his core for Marduk to see him fail so spectacularly, for the woman he loved to have to seek comfort from others, all because he hadn’t been the man she’d needed in her moment of despair.

“I’m going to make this right. She has to know I’ll never-”

Marduk held up his hand, stopping him.

“I expect you will, but you can save the explanations for Selene when she’s ready to hear them.” He smiled ruefully. “Normally, a man first learns to beg for a woman’s forgiveness once he’s left his boyhood behind. You’re a late bloomer, but I expect you’ll muddle through just fine. Now, if I allow you to remain any longer, I fear I’ll be the one needing to beg for my fiancée’s forgiveness.”

“I’ll see myself out,” Belisarius sighed, his ambitions thwarted. Perhaps it would be best if Selene had the night to cool off. He just hoped she didn’t want to see him dead the next time he spoke to her.

With weary resignation, he left to sleep alone in his chambers, the scent of her still permeating his sheets. Had it really been just a few hours ago that they’d resolved to be together? And only a few more when he’d been praying for her life? Gods, he’d ruined it in spectacular fashion. Belisarius was adrift, praying he had the chance to prove he could be the kind of man she needed. A tumultuous heart made for disturbed dreams. He woke confused and exhausted to the unusual sound of bells tolling. Within moments he recognised the dissonant clanging. The world tilted on its axis as sick realization churned in his gut. Guards streamed into his room, their shields and weapons at the ready.

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