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father’s reign and fix what was flawed.”
    “Such as?”
    Varro chuckled. “You ask me questions I have no right as a servant to answer.”
    “But you’re an Elymanian, a free citizen of the empire. You still elect senators to voice your concerns.”
    “You know as well I do that the Senate is nothing more than a façade.” His dark eyes flickered to her face. “But maybe you have different thoughts on the matter as an Alpirion.”
    “Is it that obvious?”
    “Not many citizens of the empire have skin that color without laboring in the fields, and your hands are too soft to be a farmer’s daughter.”
    She stared at them and in her mind saw them covered with blood. “They haven’t always been this way.”
    “As is the case for most women in your situation.” He held a door open for her. “Enjoy your dinner with the emperor, Lady Azurha.”
    …
    The subtle sound of the door shutting pulled Titus from his papers. Azurha waited in the shadows, the veil obscuring every surface of her skin except for her eyes. “So you decided to join me?”
    “I didn’t think I had much choice in the matter, Your Imperial Majesty.”
    He frowned at her use of the title. Not what he wanted to hear from her. He set his papers aside. “I’d be honored if you would join me for dinner.”
    Even through the veil, he saw her dark brows rise in surprise. Her eyes traveled from his face to the cushions beside him. “As you wish.”
    As she came closer to him, the candles illuminated the sheer silk that swathed her body and highlighted the luscious curves under it. More than two years of celibacy had taken their toll on him, and his cock twitched to life at the eroticism of her movements.
    He cleared his throat and tore his gaze away from her. He needed to stop thinking like an over-eager youth making his first visit to a brothel. She was a gift from Pontus, one probably meant to distract him so the nobles could continue to play their games and undermine his authority. But her obvious dislike of his cousin could yield a few leads to what Pontus had planned. First, he needed to gain her trust. “You should remove your veil so you can eat.”
    She lowered to her knees beside him. “As you wish, Your Imperial Majesty.”
    “And another thing, you may call me…” His voice faltered when she lowered the silk from her face. Her skin glowed with sun bronzed health, a striking contrast to her teal-colored eyes. But her full lips the color of fresh raspberries monopolized his attention. How would they feel under his? Firm and defiant? Or soft and yielding? Maybe a combination of both?
    The corners of her mouth twitched in an amused smile, as if she knew exactly what he was thinking. Then her pink tongue darted out to lick her lips, making them shine in the candlelight. “Call you what?”
    “Titus,” he whispered. It didn’t matter that only his closest friends and family had the honor of calling him by his praenomen, she was bewitching him. He leaned closer to her. The faint scent of jasmine rose from her skin.
    “Titus,” she repeated in a sultry, slightly accented voice. Her fingers traced the line of his jaw, sending shivers down his spine. “Have you eaten?”
    The abruptness of her question pulled him away from his thoughts, and he moved back to his cushions. She was probably starving. “I’ve nibbled on a few things.”
    She picked up a piece of bread and drizzled some olive oil on it before adding a slice of beef. A low purr of contentment rumbled from her throat when she bit into it. She was obviously a well-trained concubine, to know how to turn such a mundane action into something seductive.
    His erection started to throb. He gripped his goblet and took a long drink. “You should try the wine, Azurha.”
    “I think I shall.” Instead of pouring some into a goblet, she crawled towards him, her eyes full of uncertainty, and hesitated a few seconds before she pressed her lips to his. Her tongue swept along the seam