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When she looked to Minerva, she was serene and seated again, while Diana had lowered her bow.

The sacred fire continued to grow, burning the fallen leaves like tinder. The eternal flame burned once again.

Claudia’s mind was wiped clean. She was cold and shaking, but she felt nothing in particular, or maybe everything, all at once – so many feelings that they became grey and blurred.

Her first day as empress and already she was fielding her first assassination attempt. When the people found out, they’d think she was cursed. It would be interpreted as a sign that she wasn’t fit to rule. The opposition to her appointment would strengthen. The Senate might move to remove her immediately, in whatever manner it took.

She should’ve expected it. She should’ve listened. It had been far too easy to catch her alone. If she survived this, she wouldn’t be so stupid again, she swore it.

When Gia returned, Claudia collapsed into her, letting Gia hold her upright and pull her into an embrace, supporting her weight.

‘You’re safe now. I’m here.’

‘I’m glad you came in time,’ she murmured into Gia’s neck, as Gia kissed the top of her head. ‘Not a moment too late.’

‘What did he do?’

‘He didn’t harm me, though he tried,’ said Claudia. ‘We have been lucky. Blessed Fortuna.’

They exchanged a deep, weighted look.

‘I knew an attempt on my life was a possibility, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon.’

‘I should never have left you alone in the first place,’ said Gia. ‘I sensed that something wasn’t right but I thought I was just being overprotective, and that I’d draw attention to us by being so obvious.’ She shook her head in frustration. ‘So, I waited, then I saw that one of the guards had left his post. I couldn’t get in the first door I tried. It was as if it was locked, and then, suddenly… it wasn’t.’

‘Do you think it was the deities intervening? I swear, their statues came alive to aid me, right before you entered.’

‘Who else is on our side but them?’

‘I called for you but you couldn’t hear me.’ Claudia wet her dry lips, lowering her voice even further. ‘I fear that Jupiter was involved. The eternal flame went out.’

Gia’s eyes flashed wide in alarm.

‘Just for a moment! I managed to reignite it with a little help from Vesta… but this, this was not the work of men. Every torch went out at once. Day turned to night. It was pitch black. I couldn’t…’

She was shaking uncontrollably. Gia pulled her closer as they warmed themselves before the reignited fire.

‘It was another warning,’ said Claudia. ‘A sign from above.’

Claudia stared at the statue of Jupiter, crowned and bare-chested with his staff. His gaze was stony, empty. Whatever presence she’d sensed had left with the assassin.

She felt her body relax, melting into Gia. Her life would be full of close calls, she knew that.

This was just a rite of passage.

Cassius appeared at the rear door, as they quickly broke apart. The rest of Claudia’s staff came pouring in, all talking at once. Hieronymus. Damocles. Marcellus. Two guards dragged their fellow away, leaving a trail of blood, as the palace physician fussed over her.

All of them were concerned… or pretending to be concerned. Claudia tried to read their faces, to look for signs of deceit.

‘I knew a parade wasn’t a good idea,’ said Hieronymus, though it had been his suggestion in the first place.

‘We should never have left you alone,’ said Damocles, though he had hired the guard who’d betrayed her.

‘I underestimated how unpopular you are,’ said Marcellus. ‘You would be safer with a man at your side.’

‘And yet, it was a woman who saved me,’ she said. ‘Where were you, cousin, when I was being attacked?’

‘There will be time to discuss it later,’ said Hieronymus quickly. ‘For now, we should get the empress safely back to the palace.’