Page 51 of Poisoned Empire

“I beg to differ. We are best friends, are we not? That is a relationship, and you’ve been a true if eccentric companion without any ill effects.”

“That’s not the issue. Wouldn’t you find it odd if the strategos suddenly started treating you like a noblewoman? It’s the same thing!”

Iliana really wanted to knock actual sense into her friend, but could see it was not a fight she would win this day. She held her tongue regarding the strategos, whose attentions and respect she liked very much. Perhaps participation was the best way to mitigate the impending silliness. Iliana sighed, certain she would regret this come morning.

“What did you have in mind?”

“Well, you see, I pumped one of those pathetic poison mages they keep locked up here in the palace for information. One eventually squealed about a private garden, which is rumoured to have a flower that causes one to forget. It’s my best shot at fixing this situation.”

“You want to scour the Imperial Gardens, which are enormous, for a rumoured private garden, with a rumoured flower thatsupposedlyremoves memories?” Iliana asked, incredulous.

“These are desperate times, Iliana.”

“I’ll only help you look for a bit tonight. If we find nothing, you agree to call off this scheme and figure out a better way to handle your interactions with the prince. Deal?”

Selene held out her hand.

“Deal.”

No sooner had Marduk taken his eyes off the blonde metals mage than he’d lost her—not an easy feat for a man who could see over every head in the ballroom. Normally, he would just follow the scent of her, but every woman in attendance wore heavy perfume as a matter of habit. It was hell on his keen senses. Was that her sneaking out to the terrace with the poison mage? Marduk rushed to follow. He was certain this would end in confrontation with the tiny terror herself, but he refused to allow Iliana to be caught up in dangerous mischief if he could help it.

The metals mages of the Imperial Forge were highly suspicious of an outsider joining their ranks, galled by the aspirant’s gender, and had taken to eyeing him mutinously over his insistence that Iliana be made a member. In the end they would relent or find other employment, but he could ill afford for his star candidate to find herself in hot water with the prince or praetor.

Once free of the hell of the ballroom, Marduk tailed the two friends on their stroll through the gardens. He didn’t expect to hear much from them he hadn’t heard before, but one new development caught him off guard.

“What would be so terrible about being romanced by the prince?”

“It would be weird. For everyone.” Selene crossed her arms.

“I don’t know. He had an awfully besotted look on his face when the two of you danced earlier.Hehasn’t acted awkwardly.” Iliana tweaked her nose.

“It was awkwardfor me,” Selene growled, batting her friend away.

“You can be such a child sometimes. Most people would be happy to find someone they both liked and had chemistry with.”

“But I don’t like him. We just had sex, that’s all!” Selene gesticulated, arms wide.

Marduk nearly faltered in his next step. As it was, he barely stopped himself from crunching rather loudly on the gravel. It couldn’t be true. Belisarius had never taken anyone but the most professional and circumspect of courtesans to bed. He’d never laid a finger on any noble-born woman the whole of his life, bastard or no. Until this scheme, he’d kept all interactions with noblewomen to the absolute minimum, the better to avoid a marriage not wholly of his choosing. But what if it weren’t some idle boast? The thought was unsettling.

So much for the punishment Belisarius had meant to dole out to the tea party terror! Though as he reflected, it all made a certain sense. Selene wound Belisarius up like no one else. She treated him without respect, laughing in his face when he made threats. Perhaps the novelty of the situation was what attracted him? Belisarius was a late bloomer in many respects, romance included. There had yet to be a woman he’d ever had inordinate interest in. If that had changed, if Selene had decided to remain in the empire… His eyes flashed to Iliana, the way the moonlight made her hair shine like spun silver, the graceful sway of her full hips, the beautiful lilt of her voice. Desire and hope made his heart ache and soar.No.He crushed the dream. He couldn’t afford the luxury of such thoughts.

Marduk placed his next step as silently as the last, determined to get to the bottom of it all.

“Mmm-hmm. Top five, I believe you said.” Iliana smiled, finger tapping her lips.

“You’re enjoying this, you cruel hussy!” Selene pointed an accusing finger at her.

“Even if you somehow pull this off, I intend to remind you of it daily till the end of time. I’ve never seen you squirm like this before. You eat toads, worms, snakes and slugs in front of me without batting an eye, but something about the prince sends you into a fit.”

“One makes me strong, the other-”

“Makes you feel vulnerable?” Iliana leaned down, face to face with Selene.

“I was going to say makes my skin crawl.” She pushed Iliana’s face away.

“You know what I think?” Iliana asked, catching up to her friend.

“Don’t want to know,” Selene grumbled, arms crossed again.

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