“She won’t be the real Empress. Not the one with the power.” Titus thought of the coltish senator’s daughter who had sprawled on the floor with a map, planning to see the world. My poor girl, you won’t be seeing much of it now.

“My father,” Faustina began automatically, and stopped.

Marcus Norbanus’s support might have given Titus some protection—he was a patron even an emperor might hesitate to cross. Titus had come here today to consult with him, see if there might be protection from Plotina’s vengeance. But Marcus Norbanus was dead.

“You see why I can’t marry you.” Titus released her hands, putting them gently away from him. “You deserve a husband who will last out the year, and—”

“Shut up!” Faustina jumped to her feet. “You think you’re getting rid of me that easily, Titus?”

He looked up at her, standing there before him. Lovely, lissome, steady, and sweet—and safe. Safe as long as he didn’t marry her, anyway. Because any wife he took would be a widow within the year… or would be dragged down with him.

The pain kicked him then, square in the chest. I can’t do it, he thought numbly. The hurt clawed at his innards like a live thing. Dear gods, I can’t give her up. I just found her!

Be quiet, he told himself harshly. She’s not for you. She never was.

“I’ll be leaving now.” He rose from the marble bench. “Give my sympathies to your mother, and explain why I won’t be attending your father’s funeral procession. It will be easier that way for both of us.”

Tears had flooded into her eyes again, but she refused to let them spill over. “You don’t mean it,” she whispered. “You can’t.”

He averted his eyes. “I’d better go. The madness about Trajan’s death will be hitting soon, I imagine.”

He hoped desperately that she wouldn’t cry, wouldn’t cling to his hand and beg him to stay… but she just lifted her head bravely, reaching out to straighten the folds of his toga over his shoulder. Somehow that was worse.

She stepped against him, taking his face between her hands, and pressed her lips to his. His arms rose to circle her, and her mouth opened under his like a bud. Stop, Titus thought, but he drank her desperately and it was a mistake.