Page 136 of Cleopatra

Before I could answer, he strode from the room. I followed him as he made his way through the palace, and with every servant and guard we passed, he cried, “I, Marcus Antonius, am married to the Pharaoh Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.” He repeated himself until we reached the gardens and he bellowed it out into the night.

“Marcus,” I said wearily. “This will not fix the distance between us.”

“What distance?” His eyes were wild, like those of an animal who knows it is soon to be sacrificed. The end was coming, he could sense it. “I want no distance from you.” He stepped towards me, encircling me in his arms.

I didn’t let myself soften in his embrace. “Marcus, it is too painful. It is too painful living without you.”

“I will not live without you. So either strike me down, or let me love you.”

His words tore at my heart. He was saying everything I wanted him to say.

“Selene.” He spoke her name to disarm me. “Tell me, what can I do to prove my love?”

“I should not have to tell you,” I said.

Something seemed to come over him; perhaps he heard the challenge in my voice, for he gathered himself and stood straighter.

“I will proclaim Caesarion’s legitimacy before the senate. He is Caesar’s heir, and Rome should be reminded of it.”

My breath caught in my throat. “You would do this?”

He laughed, a hopeful, yearning sound. “I would do anything for you.”

“You said once that you would never risk war with Octavian in Caesar’s name.”

“I do it not in Caesar’s name, but in yours.”

“Octavian will object,” I said.

“He will, but my victories this past year have put me in good standing with the public. He risks civil war if he goes against me.”

I looked into his earnest face and realised I could not stop loving him. Even if I severed all ties with him, there would be no end to this feeling. For all his flaws, and all of mine, we belonged together.

He read it in my face and began to weep. I kissed the tears from his cheeks.

“I thought I was losing you,” he said.

“I don’t think that is possible,” I whispered. From beneath my robe I removed the small carvings of Isis and Dionysus that I had kept against my chest since he left.

“You see, we were never really parted,” I said.

His faced filled with wonder as he retrieved Dionysus from my outstretched hand and held him to his heart.

“There is no greater gift under this world’s sky than your love.”

Then his lips found mine.

We were lovers once more among the budding rose bushes of the palace gardens. And despite the time apart, I knew his rhythm like my own heartbeat.

—

The next few weeks were some of my happiest. Antonius was the father I always thought he’d be, and the twins adored him. We journeyed back to Egypt together, Antonius bringing two legions of his army as escort.

When we returned to Alexandria, news of our marriage had already reached the city. The palace was teeming with gifts sent from courtiers near and far. I had Faunus go through them to log the names of who had sent the presents and to note who had not—it was a good indication of who my allies truly were.

“I want the sword,” Caesarion proclaimed, reaching for a gilded weapon that had arrived that day.

Antonius laughed and picked it up. “I think not—this one is mine.” He feinted towards Caesarion and the boy jumped back, laughing.