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They met eyes, silently appraising each other.

‘Maybe we could return another day and dance the night away, instead of drinking too much and arguing,’ said Claudia.

‘I’d like that,’ said Gia. ‘I was envious, watching you dancing with him. If only we could dance openly, in the palace, like that.’

‘Are you okay to stand up now?’

‘I think so. Ugh, I am so embarrassed.’

‘Don’t be. I am the one who watched you in a magic shield… again. I should be more embarrassed than you.’

‘Okay. We’ll both take this one.’

‘Deal.’

Claudia stood up, letting Gia lean on her; somehow, this load-bearing stance turned into a drunken embrace.

‘I love you,’ said Gia, with utmost earnestness, ‘more than anything in the world, but I cannot go on like this – always living in doubt, apart from you, behind closed doors.’

‘I know. I love you too. I have been a coward, and I have been confused, but no more,’ said Claudia. ‘I won’t let you down again.’

‘I won’t ask you to choose. I know you can’t.’

‘We’ll make it work. We will find a way. We have to. None of this means anything, unless I have you by my side.’

Claudia realized that music was playing, and that they were in each other’s arms anyway – she may as well commit.

Why one day, when it could be today instead?

She began swaying them both, side to side, until Gia realized what she was doing. Laughing, she spun her, as Darius had shown them.

Claudia forgot where she was, as longing took over her. She reached up and cupped Gia’s face gently, kissing her softly as she bent down to meet her. Her lips were sweet from wine, and so warm Claudia melted into them.

It was incomparable to her kiss with Darius – the way they blended together, the way their fingers linked without effort, and the flame that burned between them, flickering, tickling her insides.

‘Just so you know, I was never going anywhere,’ said Gia. ‘I lost my head a bit, but I cannot leave you. I wouldn’t want to. I would die for you a thousand times, whether you gave me permission or not.’

‘I hope it does not come to that.’

Claudia kissed her once more.

When she pulled back, smiling, she heard a gasp and a giggle, looking up to see a crowd of people gawking from the colonnade.

Worse, the hood of her palla had fallen down, revealing her hair and her identity along with it.

She had been recognized. She heard the whispers resounding: Empress, it’s the empress!

The secret was out now.

‘The Empress of Lesbos!’ someone shouted, yet this time, it was not an insult but a cheer.

Claudia saw Senator Pappas waving at her across the pool.

‘I think we should go,’ she said. ‘Right now.’

‘Solid plan.’

Gia and Claudia made a hasty exit from the villa, issuing a bashful goodbye to Dido and Livia before climbing (with some difficulty on Gia’s part) into the waiting chariot. A crowd gathered to watch them depart, talking excitedly about what they’d witnessed. Pappas appeared on the steps just as they drove away, squinting as he tried to make out her face.