Azurha, the former assassin nicknamed Rabbit, with a more
frightening reputation than the name infers, will soon
become Empress of the Deizian people and wife to her true
love Titus. The former Alpirion slave wants to give Titus a
wedding present and can only think of one thing that will
please him as well as his mother, while also possibly
protecting him. She seeks to find out why his father,
Emperor Decius, a man of excellent health died so suddenly.
She is soon caught up in a POISONED WEB that threatens the
life of the only man to ever win her love.
Modius is returned to the palace at Azurha's request. He is
the steward's son with knowledge of medicine's and is asked
to secretly seek out and find the possible cause of the
former emperors death. He has no way of knowing that this
request will throw him into life threatening intrigue and
love beyond his imagination.
Izana, an Alpirion slave and Azurha's personal maid is set
to help Modius, a little touch of matchmaking by the future
queen. This educated woman, something forbidden by the
laws, has a number of secrets ... and the ones from her past
are the ones she wants so badly to keep from Modius. For as
they work together, her heart is also being lost to him.
Would it be possible for a future with this man if he knew
her past or would he turn from her?
Author Crista McHugh takes her readers back to the rich,
intriguing and sexy Deizian world with this exciting
sequel
to Tangled Web. POISONED WEB begins where the first book
ended with the continuing romance of Azurha and Titus where
we get to watch the growing strength of Azurha as Consort
and future Empress. It also adds the romance of a new
couple Modius and Izana that fills out the storyline with
their mission to answer the mystery given to them by the
Lady Azurha. The couple falls immediately attracted to one
another and learns quickly that if they are to do this deed
they must trust each other and find with trust ... comes
love. Ms. McHugh brings to life this world and its people
with such descriptive, colorful writing that you will be
able to close your eyes and see it all perfectly. I love
this world, its people and wonder about the future so I
hope the author has a few more books from it for us to
enjoy.
As the Deizian Empire prepares for the upcoming wedding of Emperor Titus Sergius Flavus and Azruha, one mystery remains unsolved--the sudden and unexplained death of the former emperor. And as her wedding gift to Titus, Azurha wants to give him answers. She suspects an unknown poison was involved, and her search for the truth enlists two unlikely allies. Modius Varro's thirst for knowledge caused an uproar in Emona three years ago and exiled him to the border town of Madrena. But when Titus falls victim to the same poison, his expertise in medicine becomes essential in solving both the riddle of the former emperor's death and finding a cure to save the current one. His search leads him to far reaches of the Alpirion realm, to an ancient culture shrouded in secrets, and into the arms of one slave who must break her silence to save the empire.
Excerpt
“We cannot control our pasts, only our futures.” Wise words from a woman whose black palla proclaimed she was still mourning the loss of her husband. Azurha glanced at Titus, remembering the conversation she’d had with him the night before over the sudden loss of his father, Emperor Gaius Decius Flavus. Perhaps she might not be able to change the past, but she might be able to offer some answers. “May I have a word in private with you, Empress Horatia?” A line appeared between the older woman’s brows, but she nodded and followed Azurha into the empty courtyard reserved exclusively for the imperial family. The gurgling fountains cooled the air around them and added a layer of discretion to their conversation. Azurha dipped her fingers into the water, picking her words carefully. “I wanted to talk to you about my wedding gift to Titus.” “Are you asking for suggestions?” Horatia’s eyes brightened. “I know he’s received so many gifts for his coronation last week, but I’m sure we can think of something unique and meaningful.” “I’ve already thought of something.” She drew in a deep breath and prayed her choice would not open wounds that were still healing. “I want to solve the mystery of Emperor Decius’s death.” Just as she’d expected, color drained from the empress’s face. She sank onto the edge of the fountain, staring past Azurha. Her bottom lip trembled. “That’s very kind of you, my dear, but—” “It has nothing to do with kindness, Your Majesty. It has to do with justice, with the peace that will come with answers.” Azurha dared to reach out and cover the empress’s hand with her own, a gesture most Deizian women would never think of doing without permission, but she felt a kinship with Horatia over their shared love for Titus. “Everything I’ve heard so far indicates he died before his time, and I was hoping, with my background…” She didn’t need to continue. Once again, her past as the Rabbit had entered the picture. She knew dozens of ways to kill a man, including first-hand knowledge of poisons and the assassins that preferred to use particular ones. If she could identify a poison, she might be able to find out who killed the former emperor and why. Horatia’s eyes focused on Azurha’s face. “Are you suggesting someone murdered him?” She hesitated for a second before nodding. A sob choked the empress’s throat. She covered her mouth and stood, her back to Azurha. Her shoulders silently shook with grief. But in less than a moment, she regained her composure and turned back to Azurha. Unshed tears glittered in the corners of her eyes. “I had suspected as much, but hearing it from someone else, I…” Her voice cracked. “I apologize if this news has caused you distress.” “No need to apologize, Azurha,” Horatia replied with a wave of her hand. “Forgive me for losing control like this.” “Why do you think I asked you to step into the courtyard first?” She offered a sympathetic smile to the empress. “When you feel ready, I’d like to ask you what you observed in the days leading up to his death.” “I’m ready now.” She swiped the back of her hand over her cheeks and adjusted her palla over her shoulders. “Gaius was in excellent health up until the last two weeks of his life. The illness struck him suddenly, robbing him of his strength. At first, he brushed it off as fatigue from the stress of his imperial duties. But as it worsened, he had trouble walking, standing, even drawing a breath.” She paused, rubbing the band of gold on her finger. “We sought the help of every healer in the empire, but none of them were able to cure him.” Azurha nodded, pulling important bits of information from the description the empress had given her. The first was that it was a poison she was not familiar with. In her career as an assassin, she only got paid when her targets were found dead. The poisons she’d always relied on tended to kill within seconds to hours. The second important bit was that this poison could withstand Deizian magic. She was alive today because Titus had used his magic to remove the poison that pumped through her veins after her fight with Cassius. How was it he and every other skilled healer couldn’t do the same for the emperor? She chewed her bottom lip as she searched for answers, but none of them came readily. “I appreciate your information, Your Majesty. It has helped me get started on the path to answers.” “And do you have some available already?” Horatia asked, her breath catching. Azurha shook her head. “But I have an idea on where to look.” Starting with a former Captain of the Legion.