Master of Hounds 2 by R. A. Steffan EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
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- Author: R. A. Steffan
- Language: English
- Genre: Fantasy Fiction
- Format: PDF / EPUB
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THE EMPRESS’ GARDENS were as fragrant and lovely as they had been
the previous afternoon, when Caius Oppita—respected former legatus in the
Alyrion army—had been summoned there to discuss Her Imperial
Majesty’s suspicions that one of her sons was plotting her downfall.
Less than twenty-four hours later, Caius was the one doing the
summoning. The fact that he had been granted an audience so quickly spoke
to the depths of Empress Stasia’s misgivings about the situation. Though, to
be fair, she’d been the one to ask him to report back to her if he acquired
any new information, and had offered to compensate him handsomely in
exchange for spying for her.
Taking her up on the offer had been the last thing on Caius’ mind, once
he’d managed to politely extricate himself from their previous meeting.
Now, everything had changed during the course of a single evening. The
foundations of his life had shifted, and he’d barely survived the resulting
collapse.
An attack that he’d assumed to be directed at his lover had in fact
uncovered betrayal on two fronts. Decian, the condemned imperial bastard
Caius had saved from execution in a moment of insanity, was actually a
murderous pagan shape-shifter—some kind of slavering hell-beast that
could tear men’s souls out by the roots, killing them instantly. As if that
wasn’t enough, the assassins Caius had assumed were sent after Decian had,
in fact, been sent to kill him.
Despite a lifetime spent in service to the royal family, someone in the
palace wanted Caius dead. He had some very particular ideas about who
that person might be, and after their conversation the previous day, Caius
intended to discover if the Empress Stasia’s suspicions mirrored his own.
As before, the empress awaited his arrival in the center of her private
gardens, seated on a bench and surrounded by exotic blooms.
Jules, her trusted pageboy, cleared his throat as they approached.
“Legatus Caius Oppita, Your Majesty.” He bowed low, gesturing for Caius
to approach.
Stasia didn’t rise, but her eyes widened as she took in his battered
appearance—his bruises and scrapes courtesy of a vicious fight against six
armed men in a dark alley.
“Legatus,” she said, unable to keep surprise from coloring her tone.
“Empress,” he replied, managing a stiff bow that sent his various
injuries clamoring. “We need to speak. Privately.”
It was not the way a palace advisor spoke to the wife of the emperor.
Indeed, the correct response to such presumption would have been for her
to rebuke him and have him removed from her presence. Perhaps she saw
something in his expression, though, because her delicate brow furrowed.
She turned to the young servant with a wave of dismissal. “Leave us,
Jules.”
Jules bowed again, even lower than before. “Yes, Your Majesty,” he
replied, and slipped silently away
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