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‘You should walk away now, while you still have your dignity and your freedom… and your life. Your fucking life, Gia. Do you know how precious that is? Mother is gone. Father is gone. Our brother is gone. We are all that’s left of the family.’

‘Okay, okay. That’s enough,’ Gia said, standing up abruptly. ‘I get it. I can’t change your mind, and you can’t change mine.’

‘I will. Watch me. I’m very persuasive.’

‘Give over, brother,’ said Gia.

‘I’m serious. I convinced the barbarian Brits not to kill me, didn’t I? Just give me time. You will see for yourself and, when you do, I’ll be here waiting to pick up the pieces. I’m back from the dead and I’m not going anywhere. I swore to the spirit of Mother that I’d get you away – far, far away from this mess. I won’t leave until you leave with me.’

Gia paled at this mention of their mother.

‘I won’t lose you again.’

Frightened of what was happening, Claudia pulled backwards and the image instantly dispelled, the shield returning to its normal shimmering silver relief of the goddess.

She slumped to the floor, rocking back and forth as the lynx stirred on the bed, watching her with interest.

Her memory of confessing to her father’s murder rolled over her, making her nauseated. That look on Gia’s face – the one she hadn’t been able to forget – she had seen it again, just now, in their conversation. Cassius had joined the naysayers’ chorus, telling Gia that she was no good, and maybe some small part of her believed him.

Even Claudia believed him. And Gia was in danger now, because of her.

The sound of a knock made her heart leap out of her chest.

‘Come in,’ she said, startled.

Claudia quickly stood up, smoothing down her hair and her robes, trying not to let her face give her away, but it was her handmaid Nadira who popped her head around the door, not Gia.

Claudia deflated.

‘Do you want me to take Princess?’ Nadira asked.

‘Oh… um…’

Claudia looked to the bed, where the lynx was pretending to be asleep, cracking open one eye just a slither.

‘It’s all right, she’s already too comfortable. She can stay. Thank you, though. Have a good night.’

Nadira nodded, and disappeared into the hall.

Left alone, Claudia waited, letting her mind make a slave of her again. The goddesses no longer saw the future, but Claudia could imagine it clearly enough. She would rule for as long as she lived, which might not be too long, as things were going. Gia would likely die before her – probably at the hands of the assassin, be it the prince or another. Every moment Gia spent with Claudia put her in danger.

Another knock sounded. Claudia sprang up, standing alert as Gia entered the room. She glimpsed Aurelia and one of the guards peering in curiously before Gia closed the door, shutting them out.

Gia was attempting to appear casual, as if she had not just had a devastating conversation with her beloved brother, but Claudia could tell from the redness around her eyes she had been crying at some point between when she’d spied on her and now.

Before she could speak, the lynx jumped down from the bed, approaching Gia as if inspecting her.

‘The cat sleeps with us, huh?’ The lynx circled her, sniffing. ‘Is this a test? Do I pass?’

‘Not sure yet,’ teased Claudia, folding her arms. ‘Let’s see.’

The lynx looked up at Gia, licked her lips, then sauntered back up onto the bed.

‘I think that means she likes you,’ said Claudia.

‘Like she wants to eat me, you mean.’

Claudia stared at her expressionlessly, trying to work out what she was going to say.