The Gladiator Prince (33 page)

Closing her eyes, she tried to get her mind to function, but fatigue and grief became too much for her. The only thing she got back was an overwhelming desire to sleep.

A sudden crack echoed through the atrium, and she opened her eyes in time to see Thrasea jump to his feet. The two girls stared at the door with wide eyes, and Phaedra whirled around. Standing in the doorway stood Hasani with his sword in his hand and a smug look on his face.

“Hello, my love.” He bowed low and came up smiling. Phaedra was never more delighted to see him.

Sweeping into the room, Hasani sheathed his sword and pulled her into one arm to examine her face. “Are you all right? Your face…”

“It is nothing,” she said pulling away from him before he could see the heat rising in her cheeks.

His eyes swept the room and fell suddenly on Anwen. “The gladiator… they took him?”

Phaedra felt her throat close. “Yes,” she rasped. “And Bahar. They have taken them to the
Circus Maximus
. Do you know it?”

“Aye. It is a bloody place. Why would they take Bahar…”

“It was Abella. He is here…” Her chest tightened. “He knows about Bahar. What have you done with the guards?”

He jerked his head to the side and smiled. “They will sleep for a while. Tell me what has happened.”

Phaedra looked at the girls then at Thrasea. “They need to get to Hasani’s ship. Can you take them?”

The old blue eyes lifted to her, and he smiled for the first time since the day before. “Yes. I can do that.” Without wasting time, he grabbed his robe.

Turning to Hasani, she twisted her hands together. “Will they be safe there, with your men?”

“As safe as babes at their mother’s bosom. Find Gyasi when you arrive,” he told Thrasea, “and tell him the children are to be guarded with his life, as he would protect his own sons on Samos. If he has to sail to protect them,” he said quietly, “then he must. Tell him I will meet him in Ostia if I can.”

“No,” Anwen cried, grabbing her little sister’s hand. “We will not leave without our father.” Mabyn stuck out her lower lip defiantly and gave Phaedra a firm nod.

Phaedra crossed to them and leaned in close. “Listen. I know you want to come with me but…”

“We will,” Mabyn squealed.

Phaedra touched her forehead and smiled. “I need a favor. Can you do something for me?”

“What?” Anwen asked suspiciously.

Glancing at Thrasea, she pulled the girls in closer. “We need to make certain the senator is safe. He is a very important man, and he can help us if we get into trouble, but if the soldiers find him here, they will take him away. Do you understand?”

The girls looked at one another. “Well…” said Anwen.

“It is very important we get him to the ship. There he will be safe until the soldiers are all gone. Can you take him there for me?”

“We want to see our father,” pouted Mabyn.

Running a hand down her arm, Phaedra took her hand. It was very warm. “I know you do, sweetheart, and he wants to see you. If you do this favor for me, we will bring him to you on the ship. Then all of us will sail home.”

“You promise?” Anwen’s voice was hot with emotion, and Phaedra wanted to take her into her arms.

“I give you my word,” she said with conviction.

“All right,” the girl replied and took her sister’s hand.

Phaedra got to her feet and helped Thrasea put cloaks on the girls. “Take care of them,” she whispered to him.

“You have
my
word on that.” Bowing low, he gathered Mabyn up into his arm and took Anwen’s hand.

“Remember,” Anwen said over her shoulder as they headed to the door. “You promised.”

Phaedra nodded, and the three disappeared through the door.

Her knees buckled, and she almost fell before sitting on the divan.

“They are brave girls,” Hasani said from behind her.

The words startled her and added confusion to her already muddled head. “We need to get out of here,” she replied standing, but her knees buckled again, and Hasani caught her.

“Come on. I know a way.”

Putting his arm around her shoulders, he guided her to the back of the villa. He scanned the small alleyway before forcing her through the door. A bundle of red and silver lay a few feet from the door.

“Did you…” She swallowed, but let Hasani guide her. “Did you kill him?”

“No, little sparrow. I do not kill needlessly. A well placed tap to the head put our fine Roman to sleep.”

Somehow, the warmth radiating from Hasani into her back and hand comforted her. She needed some place to think. Almost running, Hasani moved her quickly out to the road. When they passed an altar then a shrine, she looked up. “Where are we going?”

“To talk to Hera. She may be convivial today.”

He skirted a couple taking their time and dodged into the front corridor of a temple. Priests had gathered at one end in a long line. The sound of rustling gowns echoed down the lengthy corridor formed by giant ornate pillars on one side and the massive carved wall on the other. Gold and silver had been inlaid into the mortar. It sparkled in the sparse light thrown from a few torches set widely apart.

Hasani pushed her into the shadows at the opposite end and waited until the priests had filed into the temple. When the rattle of Roman armor followed them up the stairs, Hasani pulled Phaedra into his arms and twisted them behind one of the wide columns. They waited until there was silence.

“Is this Hera’s Temple?” Phaedra had visited often, but had never explored the portico before.

“Yes,” he stated impatiently. “We do not have much time. Now, tell me what happened quickly.”

As Phaedra whispered the story into Hasani’s ear, the events began to clarify in her own mind. The numb that had protected her before, sloshed away from her, leaving her shaking with fear and dread. It was only then that the true meaning of what had happened sunk into her. They would force Bahar into the arena to fight Thane. Phaedra knew her sister well; Bahar would die on Thane’s blade if she had to jump on it herself. By the end, Phaedra found herself inside Hasani’s arms, sobbing against his shoulder.

Pulling in a shaking breath, she finally pushed herself away from him and gathered her arms around her chest. Moving deeper into the shadows, she leaned against the wall, fighting to get her emotions in check.

“Let me take you to the ship.”

“No,” she replied quietly. “I have to save them.”

The hand on her shoulder tightened, and he turned her around to face him. “How?” he asked harshly. “Do you expect to march into the arena and carry them away?” His face softened, and he tucked two fingers under her chin. “I am sorry, Phaedra, but you need to face facts. There is nothing you can do on your own.”

She pulled her shoulder out of his hand and turned away. “Maybe not.” Turning back, she laced her fingers together and stared up at him. “You could help me.”

Hasani’s eyes narrowed, but he gave her a half smile. “Perhaps.” He stroked his chin and searched her face. “What is there for me? Granted, even if we could come up with a plan to get them out of there, then what? You go back to your gladiator.”

“If you were a decent man…”

“I believe my decency has been well established,” he said giving her a half smile. “Something else.”

Phaedra pushed down her disgust and swallowed. “I could pay you.”

“I do not need money,” he said coldly.

Phaedra licked her lips. “We can help you escape the Romans. You are wanted…”

He laughed out loud and it startled her. The sound echoed down the portico and came back to them in an eerie chorus.

“The Romans have always wanted me, little sparrow, and yet I still come and go as I please in this city.” His eyes twinkled in the torchlight. “No, something more.”

Stepping away from him, Phaedra hit the wall, afraid of what she saw in those eyes. “If it is my body you desire then take it!” she spat at him. “Just help me.”

Hasani circled to her right and leaned against the wall very close to her. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. “Trust me, if it were only your sweet body I wanted, I would have taken it before now.” She lifted her hand to strike him, but he caught it and kissed each finger. “No, little bird, I want only what is my due. You were promised to me in marriage. That is what I will take in exchange for their lives.”

She glared at him. “You came to Britannia to rescue us from Abella. There was never any real promise of marriage. You know that.”

“Guarantees were made and an agreement signed by myself and your father.” He pulled her face toward him to look into her eyes. “Your dowry sits safe and sound in a chest on my ship and a handsome one at that.”

Pulling away from him, Phaedra stepped back in wonder. “You are not serious.”

“Quite serious.”

“You would let Bahar die, if I do not promise…”

“In a fleeting heartbeat, my love. You underestimate the power you have over my soul. I have loved you since I saw you flitter through the garden at your father’s home toward the
ludus
. Believe me, when I set my mind on something, I will not be denied. If I could not take you in slavery, then I will take you in marriage.”

Phaedra’s heart quickened, and she turned away from him, trying to get her wits wrapped around what he was saying. “I do not love you. I love Thane,” she whispered more to the wall than to him.

A hot hand slid down her bare arm sending shivers through her. “I do not need your love. Only your obedience. Love will come when it may.”

“What if I refuse you?”

He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her quickly to his chest. She could feel his bulging manhood against her back and his hot breath against her ear. “Then I leave your sister and the gladiator to their fate and sail you home. I hope you do not harbor delusions that you could possibly escape me,” he added. “The voyage back would prove… interesting.” His lips touched the back of her neck, and she struggled to get out of his arms. His grip was as tangible as iron.

It was hard to push the words out of her throat. Her stomach twisted into knots making her nauseous. “If I agree,” she breathed, “you will promise to help me. On your word?”

“My word is fickle at best, little bird, but I will give you what assurances I can. I swear to you, if you promise to become my wife, I will use everything at my disposal to rescue Bahar and even Thane. Do I have that promise?”

She could not get the words out of her mouth. A rush of gall trapped in her throat that she had to swallow. In a quick rush, Hasani twirled her around until he pinioned her against the cold marble pillar. His dark eyes were stern, yet amused.

“Quickly, beauty, or I may change my mind. Do I have your promise?”

The late evening darkness fell like a veil around her eyes, and they shut over hot tears. Behind them Thane’s handsome honest face stared down at her, and those bright blue eyes pieced her heart.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I give you my promise.”

Pulling her close, Hasani crush her lips with his, and Phaedra’s world slipped away.

Chapter XXXIX

“Are you insane? The senator’s house is probably crawling with soldiers right now. We cannot go back!” Hasani pulled on her arm to stop her. Phaedra gritted her teeth against the curse she had for him.

Snatching her arm out of his hand, she spread her feet against the cobbled road and put her fists on her hips. “What happened to
I can come and go as I please in this city
? I thought you were this great pirate. Hasani the Ghost. Is that not correct?”

He folded his arms and puckered one side of his mouth into his cheek. “I do those things by being cautious, not by blindly running in to die. What you are proposing is preposterous!”

Phaedra furrowed her brow at him. “Maybe,” she said cautiously. “I am open to other suggestions.”

“I already gave you my suggestion, little bird. Let me go to my ship and get my men. We can come back and…”

“They will be dead before you return,” she shrieked. Time was squeezing the courage out of her. She felt as if she had gone insane. “There is no time, Hasani.”

Hasani scowled back at her tipping one booted foot up. “The arena is solid granite. How are you possibly going to do what you propose?”

She turned away from him and started walking toward Thrasea’s villa. “The substrate is wood. Thrasea was head of an inspection last year and complained loudly about the condition of the underlying structure. Are you going to help me or not? I would love to void our contract if you would rather…”