Page 34 of Benet

Badari placed their cubs above all else in the world when Kyden was in the labs. It was one way the damn scientists controlled the packs, threatening the cubs. He was eternally grateful to Dmitri for conveying the Great Mother’s message revealing a blood transfusion would enable Elara to have his child, which was the thing the couple both desired with all their entwined hearts.

Dinner dragged on way too long but eventually the group was led in a procession to the viewing stands and the evening’s competition began. Of course the gold medal round would be the final event of the night so Kyden settled in for a severe test of his patience, watching the other eighteen competitors pummel each other with varying degrees of skill and finesse.

* * *

By the time Benet was escorted out to the site of the final phase of his competition he was fighting impatience and trying to remain loose. The crowd cheered constantly as he and his opponent, the famed Klorizenko were introduced. The referee went over the rules, which were few. Basically it was a foul to touch any area of the body covered by the loincloth and there was to be no eye gouging. Anything else was fair and the loser would be the first man to put any part of his body outside the white circle. Of course if one of them died inside the white circle, they also lost.

Klorizenko paraded around the circle, playing to the crowd, hands above his head in a premature victory sign. Benet stood in his spot at the center, poised to strike, knees slightly bent, gathering his energy. His opponent was a huge man, as big as Dmitri and solid muscle. He was well coordinated too, with good balance or he wouldn’t have made it through the metal maze and the obstacle course in near record time. He’d been the unquestioned favorite to win the gold medal until Benet was plucked from his home and dropped into the mix.

The referees finally shepherded him into the required spot at the center of the circle. He and Benet bumped fists and drew apart. The warning tones sounded, followed by the starter’s signal. The match would last until one man won or died.

Klorizenko’s great weakness was his ego. He was used to winning these kinds of matches easily. Benet allowed him to make a bull rush, dodging out of the way nimbly and immediately turning to keep an eye on his opponent. As he’d hoped, and observed in any number of holos of Klorizenko’s fights, the man walked the edge of the circle, taunting Benet and inciting the crowd to cheer for himself.

Benet went from zero to full speed, ramming his shoulder into Klorizenko’s side, which was like hitting a wall, but he persisted, shoving with all his newfound Badari strength. Frantically the Outlier tried to twist away or to grab at Benet or trip him, but the gladiator was having none of it, just kept inexorably moving the mountain of a man toward the edge of the circle. Klorizenko was raining curses and heavy blows on his back but Benet wasn’t to be denied. Mere human strength, even in a behemoth like Klorizenko couldn’t prevail against his now-amplified power. He feinted as if he was weakening, which caused Klorizenko to shift his balance to attempt to get Benet in a headlock. Benet gave his final shove and Klorizenko stumbled and toppled out of the ring into the grass.

The venue was utterly silent.

Benet raised his fists and sought out the Nichevsky box, where Kyden, Talinn and Dmitri were grinning broadly and everyone else was in shock.

The crowd roared finally. Klorizenko shot to his feet, protesting and trying to get back into the circle but a phalanx of referees kept him at bay. There was a pause while the officials debated if the win was within the rules and decided unanimously Benet had complied with Games regulations. He was declared the winner and the gold medalist carried off the field on the shoulders of the jubilant Nichevsky team, coaches and trainers.

He was allowed to dress in his sweats, the Nichevsky emblem huge in red and gold on his jacket and then it was time to receive the actual medal. Benet’s name was announced last and Klorizenko spat at his feet, but the crowd noise was overwhelmingly positive. An official in rich ceremonial robes hung the gold medal around Benet’s neck and shook his hand, after which the March of the Empress was played and her personal flag was hoisted while the entire stadium stood at attention. Benet supposed Ekatereen was there somewhere but didn’t bother looking for her. This ceremony meant as little to him as the many such presentations he’d received in the arena at home. Staying alive was the prize, not any fancy gold trinket or wreath of allegedly sacred leaves.

When the song ended Benet stepped off the dais and was immediately surrounded by his friends, Marushka, the Grand Duke and the others who’d been in the Nichevsky box. He embraced the three Badari and took a lot of good-natured ribbing about his new piece of jewelry. He kissed Marushka, which he figured he could get away with in public tonight.

“This is for you,” he whispered, lifting the medal away from his chest.

The Grand Duke cleared his throat. “You cheapened my victory by not actually fighting the man,” he said. “The occasion demanded a full and proper battle, to show the gold medal was fairly won.”

“We have a saying at home in the arenas,” Benet told him. “Whatever works and gets a man out alive is fine. Doesn’t have to be pretty. I won you the damn medal, I beat Prince Vasili’s man and now I’m going home with my friends.”

“You mean your owner and his friends,” the duke said, eyes narrowed.

Benet restrained himself from rolling his eyes and was rescued by Kyden, who stepped to his side. “I can forgive the man’s exuberance tonight, your grace,” he said to the duke. “It isn’t often a slave can claim such a prize, now is it? He’ll be in his proper place tomorrow.”

Apparently mollified, the duke nodded and stepped away, taking Marushka with him.

Benet watched her go, his heart aching.

Kyden clapped him on the shoulder. “I know, old friend, and I sympathize. She’s quite a girl. I’d say we’d find a way, like Elara and I did but Marushka spent much of today explaining to me how impossible it is for her to escape Outlier. Tonight’s not the night to figure it out.” He lowered his voice. “If anything can be done, we’ll do it, I give you my word.”

Chapter Twelve

Benet wasn’t able to leave Outlier behind as rapidly as he’d hoped. There were a few events on the Games’ schedule to complete and then there was a lavish closing ceremony, over which the Empress herself presided. He was told in no uncertain terms he had to participate and wear his gold medal, so he marched in the parade and sat in the athletes’ section of the audience for the performances and speeches afterward. There were more media interviews, including one from a Five Systems network. He had to parse that one carefully but referred most of the questions to Kyden, who sat in with him and gave vague answers.

We’ll have to do a sitdown with Kelly Geffenmer, Kyden said in his head. Get our story out there the way we want it to be, once we’re home.

She was a friendly reporter who’d been given a number of major scoops and exclusives by Kyden in the past, so the questions from her would be easier to handle and they could shape the resulting story. Benet had no objections to the idea. His fame as a gladiator was highly valuable to himself and to the House of Badari and a certain amount of media interaction was required to maintain his place atop the popularity standings. In some ways life had been much simpler before Kyden took over the House and freed everyone, establishing new ways of conducting the gladiator business—and it was a huge business—but Benet would never willingly go back to the old model. He loved his life now.

Except where Marushka was concerned.

She’d managed to escape her minders and attendants for a brief time and was waiting for him in Dmitri’s apartment at the palace. Kyden lent him the groundcar he’d been assigned and Benet was able to get to her from the athletes’ village in a rush. His heart was pounding and cold dread was in the pit of his stomach. This would be their final meeting and he hated the thought of parting from her.

He opened the door to the apartment as he had countless times before and barely got two steps inside before she was in his arms. He captured her lips in a fierce kiss, trying to tell her all the things that were in his heart without words. Marushka kissed him back with equal passion but broke off the connection all too soon. Taking him by the hand, she led him toward the spare bedroom Dmitri had set aside for them.

“We have so little time today,” she said, voice shaky. “I want to remember you in my arms, our souls and bodies united as one.”

He picked her up and got them to the bed where they tore each other’s clothing off and sank onto the mattress in a desperate tangle. His cock was hard and aching and she was already creaming for him. Today he skipped right over the foreplay he and Marushka usually shared, getting her under him and lining himself up, ready to plunge into her heat.

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