she knew why he was after her. It wasn’t for sex—although it was clear that door was wide open if she wanted to walk through it. He wanted to know why she was so important that she be hidden away in the temple so no one else could make use of her.
“You’re going to agree to come, right?” Nero asked warily. He honestly sounded worried she’d say no.
“I wasn’t aware I had a choice.”
He groaned loudly. “Gods below, you slaves are infuriating sometimes. Yes, you have a choice. I mean, the party is in your name, so, if you said no, it’d be kind of strange, but nobody refuses free food and booze, especially from me.”
Hope smiled, against her better judgement. He had an odd sense of humor. But he didn’t seem about to light her on fire or rip off her clothing, so she let herself enjoy it a little. “Very well. I’ll attend.”
It was best to start this new chapter of her life on the right foot. At least she could try to, anyway.
“Great! Oh. What’s your favorite wine?”
“I…” She blinked. “I don’t have one.”
“A girl after my own heart. Any wine is good wine, eh?”
“I can’t say as I’ve had enough different types to know.” She faintly smiled in his direction. “I think you and I have lived very different lives, Nero.”
“Well.” His hand took hers, and she wasn’t sure what to expect as he picked it up and gently brought it to his lips. He kissed her knuckles. A little too sensually. “I’m so very happy to introduce you to my world.”
When he dragged his teeth over her skin as if to bite it, she yanked her hand out of his grasp. It had sent a dangerous chill up her spine, and she felt her face grow warm. He let out a quiet hum as if considering her reaction and reclined back into the leather of the bench again. A little bit closer than before. She swallowed and tried to not let it bother her. Or do to her whatever else his nearness seemed to do.
The warmth of his body was strange. He felt like sitting near a bonfire. She wondered what else his power had done to him.
“Princess, I think tonight we shall also do a wine tasting.”
“I’ll set it up as soon as we’re back. Do be careful, Hope,” Kema teased. “I think our scoundrel Cardinal is intending to get you drunk and taking advantage of you.”
“Kema,” Nero whined, “that was the secret part of the plan. The part you say on the inside, not the outside! Didn’t they teach you anything in the palace?”
Hope let herself smile. It was clear they were joking around. Or at least mostly joking. She tilted her head thoughtfully at the mention of a palace. “Where are you from, Kema, may I ask? Your accent is fascinating.”
“I am from lower Egypt. From Memphis. I am the twenty-sixth princess in line for the throne.”
“I—oh.” But she was a slave and servant to Nero.
Kema laughed at her obvious confusion. “Do you know what it makes me, to be the twenty-sixth princess in line to the throne? The third daughter of Pharaoh’s fourteenth wife? No better than anyone else. But he enjoys calling me princess, regardless.”
“I figured it was a term of endearment.”
“Me? Endeared to her? Please.” Nero shifted closer to her side. “She’s a pain in my ass.” He paused. “Can you imagine having twenty-two wives like Pharaoh? Fates. That must be miserable.”
“I thought you kept many lovers.”
“I do! Lovers are one thing. Wives are another.”
“Do you speak from experience?”
“Hm? No. Never been married, me. I’d like to. But to one woman. One. Not twenty-fucking-two.” His arm wrapped around her shoulder again. She tried not to think about that too hard. His thumb ran along her skin in a path back and forth. “What about you? Do you have fifteen husbands somewhere? Or any jealous lovers I need to worry about pounding on my door?”
She laughed. “No. No one will come hunting you down in a rage for absconding with me, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Absconded! I paid good money. That’s hardly stealing.” Nero huffed in fake offense. There was the smell of a campfire again. Like summer nights. She could see why so many people fell into his trap. She could not see what she was told were his best traits, but if they were half of what Octavia made them out to be, it was no surprise