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‘You are easily replaceable, all of you.’

They served him. Not her, not Marcellus, but him. General Aquinas. He was the real threat, and had been all along.

‘You are making a fool of yourself,’ Marcellus said. ‘Grappling for power is a man’s business. It’s not attractive for a woman to clamour for it so desperately. You could make a fine wife and mother, if you were being realistic. Enjoy the life to which you are accustomed. This is your last chance to save yourself.’

‘Let me make sure I am understood clearly when I say this,’ she said, ‘but I would rather turn into a tree than marry you, Marcellus. I would rather peel off my own skin, or drink the piss of a lynx.’

Maybe Gia had been rubbing off on her.

‘You can ask me a thousand times, and the answer will always be no,’ she said.

Marcellus ruefully shook his head.

‘I’m not asking, Claudia,’ he said.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘There is no question about it. You must agree. You have to agree. I don’t think you understand what’s at stake here.’

‘I said no. Didn’t you hear me?’

‘I’ve called everyone here so we can agree to a change of hands, and a peaceful exchange of power. All that remains is for you to step aside gracefully and accept my proposal.’

Consternation rumbled through the audience.

‘It is too late for peace,’ she said.

‘I have the military on my side, along with the majority of the praetorian guard,’ he said. ‘No one can rule Rome without them.’

‘I could live for a thousand years and still I would decline.’

‘Last chance.’

‘Once again, no.’

‘Very well,’ he said. ‘In that case…’

As he signalled for her to be seized, Gia stood up to defend her, yet she was swiftly detained. Guards seized her sword and cuffed her hands at her back as she kicked out.

Cassius looked at her with alarm but didn’t move from his spot at the table, his gaze shifting uneasily back and forth.

‘Don’t forget your place, gladiator,’ sneered Aquinas. ‘You may have been famous in Pompeii but here you’re the lowest class in society, no different to a brothel worker, barely better than a slave.’

‘Let her go,’ demanded Claudia.

‘Your decisions have consequences,’ said Aquinas. ‘You should know that by now.’

‘Claudia, please,’ her cousin said. ‘They’ll kill you, if you refuse.’

‘Who is they? I thought you were to be the new emperor.’

He looked to the general, then back to her. His expression grew hard and lined, cold fear in his eyes.

‘They will kill her, too,’ he said, nodding at Gia. ‘They will kill both of you, if you stand in their way.’

‘Enough,’ said Prince Darius. ‘I have heard enough. It is time for you to leave the palace, before I make you leave in a casket.’

‘This doesn’t concern you, Darius,’ said Marcellus.