Julia scrapes by as an overlooked palace servant in ancient Rome, guarding a perilous secret: her young child carries imperial blood. With only nine days remaining before the senate crowns the ruthless, scarred general Gaius as the new ruler, she is assigned to attend him in total darkness. A blindfolded physical encounter instantly reawakens sensations from a forbidden night years ago.
Recognizing the commander who once vanished from her life, Julia must navigate lethal court intrigues where any rumor of an illegitimate heir means execution. As Gaius hunts relentlessly for the elusive woman whose touch haunts his waking thoughts, factions conspire to assassinate him before coronation. Julia must decide whether revealing her child will bring protective devotion or total slaughter.
