When the warning horn sounded out over the city the next morning, Livia’s heart lurched.
The date had been set for her father’s funeral in a week, and for both her and her uncle to petition the Electoral College in just two days, giving Livia what the council deemed enough time for her to deal with her grief and Prince Lothair enough time to travel to Rome. Anger flared at the thought. She couldn’t believe they were allowing Lothair that concession, given all he and his men had done. She was furious with him, and she was determined she would not let him get away with it.
Upon hearing the warning horn, her skin prickled. Had Lothair arrived already, come to try to take her father’s throne? She stepped out of the bath and her maids wrapped her in a huge silk sheet, but she wasn’t interested in getting dressed. She wanted to see what was happening outside. She peered through the small window, trying to see out over the grand courtyard down below, to work out what was happening.
She could see the Royal Guard manning the walls, but scanning their positions, she saw they were opening the gates, letting in a convoy of marching men. And she reeled. They weren’t wearing the Royal uniform of Rome, or the phoenix of her uncle’s banner, but the burgundy cloak and dragon emblem of the Varangian Guard. And then she saw who was leading them. It wasn’t her uncle who had arrived, but Emperor Alexios and a contingent of his army.
No! Had he really come all the way from Constantinople to claim her? And would he use force?
This could not be happening. Not now.
She believed Alexios’s presence here would make the nobles anxious, unsure of what the Byzantine emperor’s arrival meant for their own empire. They would not like the thought of a foreigner ruling over them, and she didn’t want his arrival to ruin her chances of succeeding the throne. Because she had decided now, after speaking with her father, and listening to Destin’s words last night, that she was going to petition to be queen. And her engagement to the emperor might be the very thing putting her crown at risk.
When she had gone to see her father, he had looked so small and frail, lying there in his grand bed. A shadow of his former self. He’d reached out for her and she’d run to him, taking his hand and kneeling beside him. He had spoken slowly, as if he was in a great deal of pain, and he had apologised for putting his wars and greed for glory and more lands before her. He’d said sorry for being a different man since Otto had died, thinking only of warfare and vengeance for his son’s death. He had told her he’d regretted some of the decisions he had made, including how he’d dealt with her mother’s death. And she had squeezed his hand and stroked his brow and told him she forgave him.
She had seen how weak and pale he was, and she had felt guilty bringing up her impending marriage to Alexios, but she’d needed to know her father’s thoughts on it.
‘It is a good match,’ he had said. ‘He will protect you. You could achieve what I never could...you could reign over two great empires.’
She had nodded, a lump growing in her throat. ‘So you wish for me to be queen?’ she asked.
‘I wish for you to be happy,’ he had said. ‘I cannot tell you what to do. A great ruler will decide their own destiny. But I know, whatever path you take, will be the right one.’
It made her realise, if she’d been in any doubt before, just how much she did want to secure the crown for her father’s legacy, not just for him, but her mother too, so she hadn’t died in vain. Also, for herself. Deep down, she thought she could do this, with the right people supporting her. She hadn’t realised just how much it meant to her until now. But now she knew she had to become her father’s daughter. The princess her people expected her to be. And the queen she wanted to be. To make them all proud.
And yet, staring down into the courtyard, watching her intended husband approach the palace, she knew there was no way she could turn Alexios away. Destin was right, she needed all the allies and supporters she could gather at the moment.
But why had he come today, of all days, when she had spent the night in the arms of another man?
As her maids dressed her in a beautiful dark mourning tunic and stola, she saw a familiar figure move towards the gates and welcome the visitors. Destin.
Her breath stalled. She hadn’t seen him since he had slipped from her arms and her bed while she had been sleeping. He had promised her he wouldn’t leave her and yet she had awoken alone.
Still, the memory of the things he had done to her, the way he had touched her so intimately, remained. She had never known it could feel so good. The excitement he had caused as his fingers had stroked up her naked thighs, touching her between her legs, and inside her body, had been like nothing she’d ever felt before. And the overwhelming pleasure he had given her... She flushed at the memory of her muffled screams as her climax had crashed through her, and he had kissed her, quieting her quivering body. It had all been so unexpected. Incredible.
After she had got her breath back, she had felt the hard ridge of him still throbbing against her thigh, and her hand had roamed down, knowing it was her turn to touch him, wanting to pleasure him in return. But as her trembling fingers had curved over him, he had stilled her hand.
As controlled as ever, he had stopped them from going any further. He had pushed her away, denying himself his own release, and she wondered how he could be so restrained. Did he not feel this infuriating longing that she felt for him? She had wanted to show him, through her touch, how much he was beginning to mean to her.
And yet, if anyone found out... She dragged a hand over her face. She wasn’t sure how she would be able to face him, and now the emperor, today, when thoughts of Destin’s fingers touching her body were at the forefront of her mind. When all she wanted was for him to do it again. And yet she knew that she must go and greet them. There was nowhere to run, not this time. There was nowhere to hide.
She wondered how Destin would feel about his ruler’s sudden and unexpected arrival, after what had happened between them last night. But, to her surprise, she watched as the emperor descended his horse, removed his helmet and embraced his commander, smiling.
The scene took her breath away. They were friends? Destin had never said they were close. She knew Alexios must trust him, to give him the position of commander in his army and such a task. But friends? That would explain a lot. Destin didn’t just respect his ruler, he cared for him. No wonder he was conflicted. No wonder he kept pushing her away... She forced herself to step back from the window, troubled.
And yet, the sight of them embracing also gave her a little bit of hope. If Destin liked Alexios, if he thought he was a good man, perhaps she would too. Perhaps the emperor would listen to what she now knew, without a shadow of a doubt, she had to say to him.
As soon as she entered the great hall, her father’s councillors gathered round her, offering their condolences and asking about arrangements for the funeral, wanting answers to endless questions. She tried to deal with each one in turn, calmly. Finally, when all the tasks had been delegated, she tried to gather her courage and announced that she was ready to receive her visitor.
Gripping the sides of her father’s elaborate wooden throne tight, her knuckles turning white, she took a deep breath and steeled herself for what was to come.
The ornate doors suddenly swung open and two figures and a small convoy of men came in, walking up the hall towards her. Her eyes scanned her guests, assessing them. She recognised the emperor at once. He was, as Destin had said, a handsome, well-groomed man. Not much older than herself, he had blond hair that fell across his bright blue eyes, which were slightly too small for his face, and she could now see what Destin had meant. His nose and lips were indeed delicate. He was attractive, but he didn’t compare to the man who towered over him at his side.
In that moment, she knew she could never be attracted to the emperor. She knew she could never have a future with him. She had thought so before, but now she was absolutely certain. He didn’t have any impact on her, not like Destin had when she’d first met him. He was the only man who had ever and would ever stir her heart. He made her knees go weak, he made her feel feverish, her breathing quicken. He made her want to open up to him and share her thoughts and listen in return. To know everything about him. He made her appreciate the world and everything in it, from a tiny alpine flower to a grand palace she had previously been disillusioned with. He made her feel complete. No. No man could ever compare to the Norse warrior striding up the hall towards her.
Their gazes clashed and she felt the familiar thud in her chest, the jolt of recognition, and she could only think of last night and the things they had done. She fought against the attraction, tearing her eyes away, forcing herself to glance back at the emperor, afraid of what he and her councillors might see behind her eyes, what she might unwittingly disclose if she continued to look at his commander. She tried to keep her face impassive, trained on Alexios, and she kept telling herself they couldn’t see the trembling of her legs beneath her skirts as she rose to greet them. They had no way of knowing what she was feeling inside.
They stopped just before her and bowed. Emperor Alexios offered her a broad smile, Destin did not.
‘Princess Livia, it is good to see you again after all these years,’ Alexios said confidently.
‘You’re very welcome here, Your Highness. We were not expecting you, but it is a pleasant surprise nonetheless.’
‘I was getting rather restless waiting for news back at home. I was starting to worry about the many days the journey was taking and thought I should heed my commander’s advice and meet you halfway, see what the delay was,’ he said.
Had Destin advised the emperor to come in the first place? How different everything might have been if that had happened. But she imagined the end result would still have been the same. She would still have had the same reaction to Destin when she’d finally met him.
‘I trust you had a safe journey from Saxony?’
‘The scenery was beautiful. There were some fraught moments along the way—I’m sure your commander will relay all the details to you.’ She tried not to look at Destin.
‘I sent one of my best men, knowing he would take good care of you. I trust he has?’
‘Yes, well enough.’ She felt the flush rise in her cheeks as she recalled Destin taking good care of her last night, causing her to throw her head back in pleasure.
‘Please allow me to extend my condolences for the passing of your father, Your Highness. I was sorry to hear the news. I always liked him when he visited Constantinople.’
She nodded solemnly. ‘Thank you. I believe the feeling was mutual.’ She still couldn’t believe her father had gone. It almost didn’t seem real, as if he might walk through the door at any moment. She felt the lump of emotion grow in her throat and tried to swallow it down.
Her father had thought he was making a good match for her with the emperor, but how could he know her heart at four and ten years of age? She hadn’t known it herself till recently. And the thought gave her the confidence she needed to say her next words.
‘Emperor Alexios,’ she said. ‘I appreciate you have come all this way and I am flattered. Really, I am. But I have something to say and you’re not going to like it.’
He stared down at her, his brow furrowing.
‘I fear you have made a wasted trip in coming here. I have been trying to tell your commander this for days. But I’m afraid I cannot return with you to Constantinople, at present.’
Two pairs of eyes widened in shock and bore into hers.
‘Your Highness—’ Alexios said, moving forward towards her. Her council seemed to draw closer to hear her next words.
‘Please understand. My circumstances these past few days have changed beyond belief. My empire is in a state of unrest. As am I. Right now, I’m needed here until the succession is decided. I mean to fight for my throne, for my people and my empire. I cannot think about marriage at the moment, not until I know my empire is safe.’
Alexios reeled, his face turning a funny shade of purple, as if she had humiliated him in front of all the people in the hall. That had not been her intent.
Destin quickly stepped in, seemingly perturbed. ‘Emperor Alexios, I’m sure Princess Livia is just in a state of shock about all that has happened these past few days. We had a far more dangerous journey than I led you to believe just now, and we arrived here to learn her father had just hours to live. Now, her crown is at risk. Perhaps the princess just needs a day or two...’
Alexios nodded. ‘Of course. I can accept that,’ he said slowly. ‘What is an extra day or two when you have already made me wait four winters?’ But his mouth formed a thin line and she knew he was displeased.
‘You seemed in no rush yourself to hurry it along, until now,’ she countered.
In fact, it had always surprised her that when she had fled from Constantinople, he’d sent no messengers, no words of encouragement or support across the ocean, to try to win her affections. She had barely heard from him these past four years. They were strangers.
‘Princess Livia,’ Destin interjected. ‘As I have stated from the start, I believe you will have more power and protection here if you align with the emperor. Whether you are or aren’t successful in ascending the throne, you will need allies...’
Her gaze moved from Alexios to Destin and her eyes narrowed on him. She felt wounded—and angry. He should be on her side. Surely, he didn’t want or expect her to still go ahead with the marriage after everything that had been said between them this past week, and after she’d slept in his arms last night? After the way she’d let him put his hand on and inside her body so intimately. Had it meant nothing to him? How could he still be pushing her towards a future with another man? Did he not know she cared for him? Did he not feel the same?
The emperor clapped his hand on Destin’s shoulder. ‘Even though you haven’t quite made it to Constantinople, I think you are worth every coin I will be paying you—and that reward I promised you, Commander,’ he said.
Livia froze. ‘Reward?’
‘For fetching you for me. I promised to make him a very rich man.’
She nodded. She knew that.
‘And my right-hand man, in fact.’
She went cold all over. But of course there would be a reward. Destin was a mercenary. She had known he was being paid for his mission, not doing it out of the goodness of his heart, for he had told her so when they’d first met. No doubt it was why he had been so insistent at first that she came with him. But she had begun to hope his feelings on the matter had changed, and that he had begun to protect her because he cared about her, not just because he was obliged and wanted the coin.
Now she was uncertain. He was set to gain so much more from her union with the emperor than she had first believed. Did he still want a grander title? Over her?
Suddenly, she was livid and she’d had enough of him pushing her towards the emperor. She clenched her fists tight and lifted her chin.
‘Perhaps you’re right, Commander,’ she said, her voice like acid. ‘Perhaps I just need more time to think things through. To forget about my ordeal—no, everything that’s happened this past week!’
His body barely flinched, but she saw the flash in his eyes and knew her words had hit home. Good.
She turned back to the emperor, a steely resolve settling in her stomach. ‘Emperor Alexios, I cannot return with you to Constantinople right now, but you are welcome to extend your trip. Perhaps it would be wise for us to take some of your commander’s insistent advice and become better acquainted while you are here. I have much work to do for the petition on the morrow, but if you’re not too tired from your trip, perhaps you might allow me to show you around the palace gardens before this evening’s feast?’
She got a small slither of satisfaction from seeing the muscle working in Destin’s cheek.
‘I would like that, Your Highness,’ Alexios said. ‘And I look forward to us getting to know each other better.’
Walking around the grounds of the palace, a few paces behind Livia and Alexios, Destin couldn’t relax. He was on high alert, as he now had not one but two people to protect. He felt as if he had crossed over into niflheim, the dark, suffering world of the Norse dead.
This was the second time in so many weeks he’d been to the Roman king’s home, but on this occasion, he’d made sure he was aware of all the entrances and exits, and the defensive strengths and weaknesses. The stone building itself, in the heart of the city, was impressive, with a grand hall and opulent rooms, which wrapped around a large, central courtyard. The gardens were vast and home to many sculptures and fountains. But right now, the magnificent setting wasn’t doing anything to ease the tightness in his chest. The torment he was feeling.
He followed behind Livia and Alexios at a distance, as they walked through the manicured gardens, stopping every so often as Livia pointed out a statue, a perfectly cultivated plant, or an unusual bird in the trees, and he realised he wasn’t worried about a threat from an enemy right now, he was concerned about their proximity. He was aware of Alexios’s every move. His hand touching Livia’s arm, his ruler’s disarming smile. He felt a burning sensation in his chest and stomach, and with every step they took he regretted his suggestion that she align with the emperor even more.
He hadn’t wanted to come on this outing, and yet he hadn’t been able to stay away either, needing to see it unfold. It was like some kind of self-inflicted torture.
He had sensed the anger behind Livia’s words when she had asked Alexios to go for this walk, and he wondered if she was trying to punish him. There was no doubt he deserved it, after pleasuring her last night and then asking the emperor to give her time to come round to the idea of their marriage this morning. But he was only acting out of concern for her safety. He really did want what was best for her. And he wasn’t it. Plus, revealing to the emperor what had happened between them wasn’t going to help either of them.
As his quarry stopped to crouch down and look at another perfect flower in bloom, Destin tried to look away, to not seem interested at all.
‘A lily, if I’m not mistaken,’ Alexios said.
‘Correct! It is the Italian flower of Rome,’ Livia smiled.
‘Which represents purity and exquisite beauty, Your Highness,’ Alexios said. ‘As do you.’
Destin cringed. He had compared her to a wild plant, an edelweiss, when they had travelled together through the Alps, whereas the emperor was likening her to this stunning, elegant flower.
‘Thank you, that is so kind,’ she said, and Destin’s patience waned. How could he compete? And the thought caught him by surprise. Did he want to? Was he trying to get himself killed?
He frustratedly pushed his hand through his hair, thinking how immaculate, how different this place was to the rugged castle Livia had been living in in Harzburg. She had grown in confidence this past week, and dressed in an elegant black silk tunic and stola, her long dark hair woven up in a sophisticated style, she looked stunning. Rome suited her well, he thought. Perhaps she had finally grown into it and was ready for life at court.
He was pleased she was going to petition the college tomorrow. He was proud of her. At least this way, whatever happened, she would have no regrets.
In contrast, he felt like a shadow of a man. He had lost a little of his desire for power and glory somewhere in the mountains, and he was bone-achingly weary. He had lain awake half the night, wondering what he was doing. Livia had been nestled into his naked chest, sleeping, and his arm had been wrapped tightly around her, holding her close, and he had never wanted to leave. He should never have gone to her room and comforted her. He had ended up doing a lot more.
He had known he should get up, put his tunic back on and stand guard all night from the other side of that door, and yet he hadn’t been able to bring himself to move. He hadn’t wanted to be parted from her. With her leg curled over his, her breath fluttering across his shoulder, he hadn’t wanted to be anywhere else. And he had been pleased that for the rest of the night, she hadn’t had a nightmare.
He should never have kissed her, or touched her, but when she’d told him she wanted him, curving her hand over his rigid shaft, nothing could have prevented him from doing so. He’d been like a man possessed, and he hadn’t been able to stop until he’d worked her into a frenzy, until he’d pressed his fingers deep inside her and she’d cried out her intense climax. Had it been her first one?
Only when she had gone to reciprocate and touch him in return had he stopped her and said no. To take his own pleasure would have felt like a complete loss of his honour. He already felt overwhelmed with guilt.
When he’d seen the emperor’s convoy approach the palace gates this morning, his heart had stalled. He couldn’t believe Alexios had come here, and he’d known whatever this thing was between him and Livia had to be over. It had to be the end of it. But as he watched their interaction now, he wondered how he would be able to put his feelings aside.
‘What if I never feel like this again?’ she had asked him.
What if he never felt this way again?
And yet, now she was walking next to the emperor, sharing her thoughts with him, as if Destin wasn’t following them, as if he didn’t exist, as if she couldn’t still taste him on her lips, like he could her. She was smiling up at Alexios, and when his ruler leaned in and said something, she threw her head back and laughed. Destin clenched his fist.
How would he be able to continue in his role if she returned with them to Constantinople? He would have to pretend to be happy for them both. But seeing them together every day, and every night, might just break him. And how could he continue to guard and protect the emperor, when his gaze was drawn to her, when she stole his focus? The emperor would no longer be his priority. His judgement would be off.
When Alexios placed his hand on her back to lead them towards the hall for the evening feast, Destin wasn’t sure how much more of this he could stomach.
It put him off his food, not wanting to eat the meat in his bowl, the pork feeling dry in his mouth. He struggled to swallow it down. He was envious of Alexios sitting next to Livia as he had at the hospice the other evening, and his leader was keeping her deep in conversation. He was aware of a few of the nobles trying to engage him in talk, but he didn’t want to speak to them, he was too busy trying to listen to what Livia was saying, so he sullenly gave them one-word answers until they gave up.
Alexios was being polite, asking her questions about her childhood and her interests, no doubt having had the same rigorous training on how to conduct yourself as a royal as she had, and she held her own, answering fully and eloquently. They were perfect for each other, he realised. The emperor could give her everything she needed. And who was he to stand in their way?
All of a sudden he felt a huge sense of dissatisfaction with his life. Perhaps he did want more.
He put down his spoon and pushed his bowl away, suddenly not hungry. Surely no one would notice if he disappeared for a while? He got up out of his seat, a crease carved into his forehead, and stormed out of the hall.
This was his comeuppance for allowing himself to get close to her, he thought. Usually, he was the master of restraint, but he’d let down his guard with her. He’d overstepped the mark, and now he was being punished for it. He had been sent to fetch her in return for being the emperor’s chief commander. He’d wanted the recognition and the title. He’d thought it would make him happy. But it was the emperor who was going to get the real prize. Alexios was going to get Livia.
‘Where have you been?’ the emperor said, finding Destin in the palace courtyard after the feast.
‘I needed some air. I thought I’d stand guard out here instead.’
‘Princess Livia has retired to bed, but the night is young, Commander...’ Alexios said, slapping him on the back. ‘Let us make the most of it.’ He began to lead them across the square towards the gates.
‘What did you make of her?’ Destin asked, unable to help himself.
Alexios shrugged. ‘What’s not to like? If I’m going to marry anyone, it may as well be her.’ He stopped and rounded on him. ‘I noticed you couldn’t keep your eyes off her...’
He faltered. For a moment, Destin felt as if his emotions were being exposed—had he been found out?
‘I’ve been protecting her for the past few days. You sent me here to do just that. I have to watch her,’ he answered coolly. ‘As I do you.’
The emperor’s piercing gaze held him in place. ‘Did something happen between the two of you?’
Destin raked a hand through his dishevelled hair, his brow furrowing.
And then the emperor threw his head back and laughed. ‘I’m just jesting, Commander. Of course it didn’t. This is you we’re talking about.’
Destin bit the inside of his mouth. Hard. He was unsure what that meant, but he told himself he shouldn’t care—that he should just be relieved the emperor hadn’t seen his true feelings. That he wanted her for himself. But if such a truth was revealed it would mean losing everything else. His honour. His position. All he’d achieved.
‘Come on, let’s get out of here. I’ve been on my best behaviour all day. I need to relax.’
‘Where are we going?’ Destin asked, following his ruler out through the opening gates.
‘Back to where I’m staying. It’s just outside the city walls. I’m meeting someone there at dusk.’
‘Who?’
They turned down the street, past an alehouse where lively revellers were spilling out onto the road.
‘I can’t protect you if I don’t know where we’re going or who we’re meeting,’ Destin said. ‘Do you not wish to take the horses?’
‘No. I could do with the walk.’
Destin was unsettled. He didn’t want to stray too far from the palace. Too far from Livia. Not tonight. She had an important day ahead of her tomorrow, and this was the furthest he’d been away from her all week. He knew she wasn’t his responsibility any more, not now she had the King’s Guard to protect her, but he still didn’t trust her safety to anyone else, and he felt the distance between them in every step they took.
When they came to a grand private villa, surrounded by a huge estate of land, he felt his skin prickle in apprehension. ‘Where are we? What is this place?’
‘My father used to stay here when he came to Rome,’ Alexios said. ‘He was good friends with the late Roman king when I was a boy.’
‘So did you know Princess Livia when she was a child?’ He wondered what she’d been like as a young girl. She seemed to have had a happy childhood, at least until her mother passed away.
Alexios shook his head. ‘Not that I remember.’
As they approached, a big burly man opened the door and ushered them both inside. They stepped into the vestibulum and Destin went rigid in shock when he saw Prince Lothair standing at the far end of the room, surrounded by his men. Destin’s hand immediately reached for his sword.
‘Don’t,’ Alexios said. ‘I arranged this meeting.’
‘What? Why?’ Destin said, incredulous.
‘You’re late,’ Lothair bit out.
And Alexios nodded and went to step forward to greet the man. ‘I know, we got held up. Thank you for coming. For waiting.’
Destin didn’t like this. He put his body in front of his ruler, blocking Alexios’s path. He wanted to get back to the palace, to warn Livia her uncle was here in Rome and make sure she was safe. ‘Why?’ he asked again, his need for answers, to understand, greater than his care for obedience.
‘Because I need to make sure this all works out for me, one way or another,’ Alexios said through gritted teeth.
‘Is there a problem?’ Lothair asked, his men all poised to protect him if there was.
‘No, not at all,’ Alexios said, trying to sidestep Destin and move forward, to shake Lothair’s hand.
But Destin wouldn’t allow it. If Livia could see this... He got in his ruler’s way again. ‘Explain it to me,’ he hissed.
Alexios sighed. ‘Would you give us just a moment?’ he said to Lothair, and beckoned Destin to the side of the room. ‘Look, if Princess Livia becomes queen, then fine, when we marry, I will get to rule over two empires,’ he said, under his breath. ‘But if she doesn’t become queen, it would be foolish of me not to align myself with the new king, for us to be allies. And I will need to make sure the terms of the marriage that I agreed to with the princess’s father still stand. That Lothair will still give me all that I’m due.’
Destin reeled. ‘And what was that, other than a dowry?’
‘Land. Gold.’ Alexios shrugged.
He felt a flash of anger. ‘You don’t need any more land or gold.’
‘I may not need it, but I do want southern Italy,’ he smirked. ‘I’m going to propose to Lothair I take Livia off his hands in return for the lands the late king conquered there. Her father’s no longer around to bargain with and I need to make this worth my while.’
Destin looked at the emperor, shocked. For the first time, he couldn’t understand where he was coming from. They had always been aligned in the past on their thoughts and reasons for doing things. But not on this occasion. He couldn’t understand why Alexios would need anything other than Livia. Surely, she was enough? Did he not realise how lucky he was? Disappointment in his leader washed over him.
‘I don’t feel right about this,’ Destin said, his hand curling into a fist.
‘You don’t need to. It’s between me and the prince. You forget yourself, Commander. You’re just here for your sword,’ Alexios said, slapping him on the upper arm as if to say the conversation was over, and leaving him at the side of the room as he went to welcome his guests. He led them into the atrium.
Reluctantly, Destin followed.
The emperor gestured for Prince Lothair to sit down, while Alexios stood, with Destin behind him, watching on.
Lothair was a heavy-set man with greying hair and dark eyes. Destin had known it was him in an instant—he had met him just a few weeks before, at the King’s bedside—but he also recognised the emblem of the phoenix on his tunic. The same as the men had who had attacked the castle in Harzburg. He looked a lot like his brother, the late king, only there was something about his face, the slant of his eyes, that wasn’t as trustworthy.
He pursed his lips. It took all of Destin’s restraint not to grab the man by the neck and demand answers as to what had happened to his soldiers and the people in Saxony. He knew it couldn’t be good, especially as they had heard no word from them since. He wanted the brute to drop his claim to the throne and leave Livia be. Instead, he had to stand there, watching on, as the men set to discussing her, making plans for her future, negotiating land and gold, as if those things were the real prize, not her. He felt sick to the core that they should talk about her as if her feelings didn’t matter. That the emperor would align with her enemy. It was traitorous.
If he wanted to destroy any feelings Livia might have for her future husband, Destin thought he could go back to the palace and tell her what was going on. Vent to her and reveal Alexios’s unworthiness. But he had to remind himself who he served and why he was here...
After they were done, agreeing to their terms for Alexios to still marry Lothair’s niece when he became king, in return for her relinquishing her father’s lands and properties here, but giving Alexios southern Italy, he watched them shake on it, pleased with themselves. And Destin felt dirty. How would Livia feel if she knew they were discussing her losing her father’s home and Lothair claiming it for himself?
He hadn’t wanted to be privy to the discussion because he didn’t want to have to lie to her.
When they rose to their feet, Alexios came over to Destin. ‘There’s a room made up for you, Commander. You’ve earned it. Stick around, the night is just about to get interesting...’ Alexios grinned at him. ‘As a sweetener for our deal, the prince has kindly organised for us all to have some entertainment for the rest of the evening.’
And as if planned to arrive at exactly that moment, Destin heard a group of women drift through the vestibulum, laughing, and got a waft of their cheap scent as they approached the men.
Destin felt the bile rise in his throat. ‘What about your bride? The woman you’ve spent the afternoon with. Are you even interested in this marriage?’
‘I’m interested in what it can bring me.’ Alexios shrugged. ‘But just because I’m getting married, it doesn’t mean the finer things in life have to stop, does it? I doubt the princess will be able to keep me content for a night, let alone a lifetime. And I’m the emperor, I can have as many women as I want.’ Alexios shook his head. ‘You really need to live a little, Commander. When we get back to Constantinople, I’m going to make sure of it. You take everything much too seriously. But tonight, I’m not in the mood to argue. And I don’t need a guard dog, so if you don’t want to partake in the entertainment, don’t wait up for me.’