Page 67 of Thawed Gladiator Thrax

Varro approaches, Cassius and Laura by his side. The goodbyes are bittersweet, tinged with the promise of reunion.

“Take care of each other,” Varro says, clasping Thrax’s shoulder. “Your safety is secured. We’ve arranged for a cadre of security guards to protect the property. And trust me, this time we’ve vetted them well. The place is circled by high-tech cameras andthe men will be armed. We’ll join you soon, once things settle here and all the men have been successfully revived.”

Laura nods, her smile tired but genuine. “I’ve been on the phone all morning with our Italian attorney. He tells me the government’s really thrown the book at Roth and his men.Thatthreat, at least, is neutralized. We’ve changed all our passwords and plugged all the leaks Keller exploited. This time around, we have backup systems for our backup systems. Trust me, we’ve plugged the holes so tight they’ll need dynamite to hack our systems again.”

“One less thing to worry about,” I agree, feeling like I can take a full breath for the first time since Roth’s man pointed his gun at us.

“Yes, that’s good news.” Laura’s expression darkens as she sighs.

I feel sure she’s thinking about Victor. She didn’t mention it because we still haven’t told Cassius about the man’s disappearance. He hasn’t recovered any of his memory and doesn’t need one more piece of information to throw him off balance.

Cassius, missing the unspoken nuance, gives us a shy smile. “A flying machine… I’ll ride in one soon, when I join you.”

Thrax pulls him into a brotherly embrace. “Yes. When you get there, we’ll welcome you, Cassius. That’s what family does.”

I love hearing Thrax use the word “family” to describe what we are to each other. I have my parents and extended family, but these men have no one. No one but each other. Having met just a few of these gladiators, I’m convinced we’ll be the most unlikely, tight-knit crew the world has ever seen.

As we board the plane, the events of the past few weeks swirl in my mind. It’s been a whirlwind of chaos, challenges, and help from the most unlikely sources. The public scrutiny has been intense, but all the media attention has created excitement for our self-sufficient ventures in Missouri. Free publicity, Laura called it with a wink. Dara Hobson even offered a team of her marketing gurus to help us when the time comes.

Settling into our seats, Thrax automatically wraps his arm around me. “What are you thinking about?” he asks, always tuned in to my moods.

I sigh, snuggling closer. “Just… everything. Worry. You know me. Laura said the scientific community is clamoring for access, but we’ll let you make your own decisions about that. You’re not obligated to be their guinea pigs. You’re free men now.”

Thrax nods, his expression thoughtful. “We’ll worry about that later. For now, I’m just excited to start our new life together.”

As the plane takes off, I’m struck by how seamlessly we’ve fallen into this partnership. Every decision, every plan, feels like a joint effort. It’s as if we’ve known each other for lifetimes, not mere weeks.

“I love you,” I murmur, the words still new and thrilling on my tongue.

Thrax’s eyes soften, his hand cupping my cheek. “And I love you, Skye. More than I ever thought possible.”

We kiss, and, just as I predicted at the beginning of our fateful flight to Italy, he fastens his seatbelt like a pro and doesn’t even pay attention to the rumbling engines or shaking seats as we take off. He cups the back of my neck, a move I don’t think I’ll ever tire of. It’s as though he wants to hang on, to ensure I never leave. And why would I want to?

His touch still sets me aflame. Too bad there’s an attendant on this flight. The seats recline and could come in handy if there were no prying eyes. As our lips part, we’re both breathless and grinning.

“We’re explorers, Thrax,” I say as I think about everything that awaits us in our new home.

“You’d think after two thousand years nothing would be new.” He grins. It’s boyish and makes him look ten years younger. I can’t help but think that I’m at least partially responsible for the way he smiles so easily now. “But I think I’ve got a lot to learn.”

“We’ll do it together.”

Thrax squeezes my hand, and I turn to meet his gaze. In his eyes, I see everything—love, hope, and excitement for the future. I know, with absolute certainty, that whatever comes next, we’re ready to face it. Together.

Our adventure is only just starting. As we fly toward our new home, our new life, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this impossible, wonderful family we’ve created, spanning time itself.

Epilogue

Skye

Filmmakers call this the golden hour. The sunlight is warm and glowing, right before it turns to dusk as Thrax and I stroll hand in hand across our sprawling property. The warm breeze carries the humid scent of fertile soil and the promise of a beautiful summer evening. Our peaceful moment is suddenly interrupted by a small, bleating bundle of energy that comes bounding toward us.

“What in Jupiter’s name?” Thrax exclaims, his eyes widening as a tiny goat kid zigzags across our land.

I can’t help but laugh at the absurd sight. “Looks like we have an unexpected visitor… and a hole in our fence.” I bend down to greet the curious little black-and-white creature.

The kid, all gangly legs and twitching ears, headbutts my outstretched hand before prancing around us in excited circles as it bleats in a surprisingly demanding tone for such a small creature. Thrax’s face softens as he watches the animal’s antics, a smile quirking his lips.

“He’s quite the character,” Thrax chuckles, reaching out to scratch behind the kid’s ears.

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