kalpanikata

In the heart of Rome, where ambition is sharpened like a blade and betrayal is as common as breath, Lucius Varro walks the line between life and death. A ruthless warrior, an assassin draped in shadows, and a man tangled in the throes of power, he becomes both predator and prey in a city that devours its own.

But Rome’s deadliest games are not only played in the Senate or on the battlefield. They are whispered in candlelit chambers, exchanged in lovers’ beds, and sealed with blood-stained kisses.

Each woman has her own web of lies, affairs, and betrayals—some with Lucius, others with men of power and influence. But as Rome teeters on the brink of war, passion and politics collide in a storm of lust, vengeance, and fate.

When the dust settles, will Lucius stand victorious—or will he be just another name lost to the empire’s cruel history?

Blood And Laurel

The sun had barely crested the horizon when Lucius rode through the gates of his villa on the outskirts of Rome. The night's encounters with Cassia and Nyx still lingered in his thoughts, each woman a thread in the tangled web of politics and desire that surrounded him. He had always prided himself on his ability to control the game, but now the game was moving faster than even he had anticipated.

A slave rushed to take the reins of his horse as he dismounted, but Lucius barely acknowledged him. His focus was on the figure waiting for him by the stone fountain in the courtyard—Livia.

Draped in a flowing white tunic, her golden hair cascading over one shoulder, she looked every bit the senator's daughter she had been raised to be. But beneath that polished exterior lurked a woman as dangerous as any assassin.

"You return at dawn," Livia remarked, arms folded as she observed him. "I assume that means your night was not dull."

Lucius smirked, rolling the stiffness from his shoulders. "Rome does not sleep, nor does its intrigue."

Livia stepped closer, her keen gaze studying him. "And yet, you smell of blood."

He glanced at the faint stains on his tunic. The reminder of the assassin in the alley. "A failed attempt."

She arched a delicate brow. "On your life?"

"Or my patience. Either way, the result was the same."

Livia smiled, slow and knowing. "And yet, you are here instead of hunting down the one who sent him."

Lucius exhaled, rubbing a hand along his jaw. "That is because the one who sent him is likely sitting in the Curia, feigning ignorance."

Livia reached out, fingertips brushing over the exposed skin of his forearm. The touch was deceptively gentle. "Then perhaps you need to start playing the game as they do."

Lucius met her gaze, something dangerous flickering between them. "You think I don't?"

She tilted her head, stepping closer still until her breath was warm against his cheek. "You hesitate, Lucius. When the time comes to strike, hesitation will get you killed."

For a long moment, they stood there, the tension between them as sharp as any blade. Then, just as quickly, Livia withdrew, turning toward the villa's entrance.

"Come inside," she murmured over her shoulder. "Let me remind you what it feels like to act without hesitation."

Lucius hesitated only a moment before following her into the shadows of the villa, where the night's games were far from over.

Chapter Six: The Edge of Betrayal