Page 53 of Poisoned Empire

Selene plucked a flower and popped it in her mouth. Her eyes glazed over. She shook herself, then returned her gaze to the flowers at her feet.

“Oh! Found it! I’m curious though...”

“Wait! Selene?”

The poison mage grabbed another flower and ate it. Her eyes had another faraway look before she came back to herself. Iliana lunged to grab Selene’s hands in hers and peered, concerned, into her friend’s face.

“How did we get in here?” Selene asked. “Never mind. Look, it’s the flower! Time for a sample.”

“No! You’ve already eaten it twice. Don’t you remember?”

Marduk blood ran cold. What in the hellswasthat flower? He did his best not to step on any, lest he contaminate his boots with their poison.

“Don’t try to trick me, Iliana. Just because you want to amuse yourself with my situation, it’s no reason to be a spoilsport. We found this place in a single night, fair and square.”

Iliana picked Selene up in a bear hug, pulling her away from the flowers. Good girl. It was the right move. Hopefully, that would be the end of it. He would inform the prince of the danger and perhaps have the whole garden ploughed under and the earth salted.

“You’ve already eaten these things twice, and the second time you bent down for more because you couldn’t remember you’d already done it. Obviously, it does what you were told.”

“But poisons shouldn’t affect me like that... If I can’t remember it, how am I supposed to use it? You’re sure I’ve already eaten it?”

Selene stared wistfully at the flowers while Iliana looked ready to burn them to ash. Marduk shared the sentiment. What was a man without his memories, after all?

“I’ll let you have one more, but first, a precaution.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Take off your slipper off, grab a rock, and then put it on again. If you can’t remember having done so, then I’ll take you out of here even if I have to drag you. Agreed?”

“Fine.”

Selene did as she was asked, grimacing as she yanked her bejewelled slipper back on. But there was a craftiness to her visage. Marduk was surprised Iliana hadn’t hauled her out for that look alone.

“Did you hear that?” Selene asked.

“What?”

“Go look around the hedge. Has someone found us?”

“I certainly hope not.” Iliana picked up her skirts and headed straight for Marduk. The second Iliana’s back was turned, Selene plucked as many flowers as she could and crushed them in her palms, trying to fit even more before stuffing them all into her mouth. Marduk decided to make himself known at that moment.

“Strategos! I didn’t see you there.” Iliana smiled guiltily as she posed, trying unsuccessfully to obstruct his view.

“Please don’t try to fabricate some story. I’ve been following you since you left the ballroom. Save your outrage for your friend, who has just swallowed two handfuls of those flowers.”

“Gods below! Selene!” Iliana whipped around in a flurry of skirts and tore her friend away from the garden altogether. “Selene! Selene!” Iliana snapped her fingers in front of vacant amethyst eyes.

When Selene recovered from her stupor, the look on her face was utterly devoid of her cynical air. She stared up at Iliana with wonder and awe, eyes wide and a girlish smile lighting up her features. The words out of her mouth made Marduk’s heart freeze in horror.

“Wow, you’re pretty. Are you here to be my new mom?”

It had been an age since the emperor had joined in any official festivities. Darius saw little point in making pleasant chatter with nobles who would just as soon belittle him behind his back. However, since he’d met Selene, he could feel that old need for fun and mischief surface. He’d had one of his servants regale him with tales of all her antics in the palace. Darius had howled with laughter when he’d heard what she’d done to the praetor’s spy. The parlour in which he’d been found would be off limits until someone could deep clean the carpets.

“Father? What brings you to the ballroom, and in full royal kit?” Belisarius asked.

“Came to see my future daughter-in-law. Where is that minx?” He smiled, slapping Belisarius on the back.

“Probably threatening to murder another bride candidate. I’ve sent some of our other spies to keep a watch on her.”

---