Page 57 of Cleopatra

I felt a thrill at my full name on his lips.

Clearly Arsinoe did not; her knuckles went white around the rim of her cup.

Caesar waited patiently, the hand that raised his chalice steady. The guards behind him shifted. But Arsinoe refused to comply.

Qar squawked somewhere behind her. “Where is Pothinus?” she said, her voice heated.

Caesar shook his head sadly and drank from his cup before replying. “Unfortunately, Pothinus has left the palace.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“He escaped before I was able to have an audience with him.”

“Escaped? Why would he need to escape? He is regent of the land,” Theos said.

Arsinoe laughed scornfully. “Don’t you see, Theos? Caesar and Cleopatra have made an alliance. I suspect Pothinus’s head was part of that deal, but our lord heard of their plan and fled.”

Theos looked at me. “Is it true?”

I inclined my head, trying to look sorrowful. “Pothinus has proved himself unworthy as regent. He sowed the seeds of dissent to usurp me from the throne. And I will not abide it. As I said earlier, Theos, you must make your own mind up now.”

“Theos,” Arsinoe said sharply. “Remember who you are true to first. The gods.”

I wanted to laugh. Arsinoe worshipped no one more readily than herself. “You have become quite devout in our days apart, sister.”

Qar flew to her shoulder, his beady eyes condemning me, and Arsinoe laid a hand on his talons. “Here sits a god, flesh to flesh with me. Can you say the same?”

She knew I could not. Isis had sent me no animal vessel, nor blessing of any kind. But now was not the time to admit that. I pressed my lips closed.

Her triumphant smile quickened my rage. “Theos,” I said, “be not swayed by Arsinoe’s passion. She has clearly grown bored, and like the many interests of her past, you too will be discarded.”

“I…” Theos’s eyes were brimming with tears.

“Pharaoh,” said Caesar, commanding Theos’s attention. “It was your father’s wish that your sister should reign by your side—will you deny him?”

“No,” Theos said quietly.

Arsinoe stood, causing the plates around her to clatter. “You will listen to a Roman over your own sister?”

“Peace, Arsinoe,” I said.

She turned her ire on me. “You have dispatched the regent of Egypt—that in itself is a crime. You are not worthy of the throne, Cleopatra.”

There was silence as Arsinoe’s betrayal sliced like a knife through my skin. “Careful,” I told her. “Your words sound like treason.”

One of the Romans behind me pulled out his sword.

Arsinoe heard the sound of metal and stilled. I saw her look to the door—she was preparing to flee. At the time I had thought it was only to her rooms, to sulk. Oh, how I underestimated her.

“Let us calm these waters and enjoy this bountiful food together,” Caesar said, trying to dispel Arsinoe’s frustrations.

“I cannot sit here and pretend that all is well,” she said. She shook her head at Theos before turning on her heel and striding out. Theos sank deeper into his seat, looking wretched.

“She will forget about the whole thing by the morn,” I said gently.

“Yes, I think it best that we all forget this unfortunate quarrel, fuelled by a regent who had much to gain from it.” Caesar acted as though the matter was resolved, his part of the deal complete.

I was not so sure.