Page 64 of Gladiator's Captive
Chapter Thirty
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Serena
Rager’s broad back moved in front of me, blocking my field of view. It wasn’t before I counted at least ten of Wylder’s soldiers with blasters in their hands, pointed straight at us. We were outnumbered and outmatched.
A growl vibrated down Rager’s chest and his fingers flexed at his sides. His entire body was a weapon, honed to its purpose by years of training. He needed no other weapon to be as deadly as any sword.
“Now, now, Rager.” Arenius’ voice floated in the air, calm and soft, sweet like poison. I tasted bile at the back of my throat listening to it. “Is this a way to greet an old friend?”
“You were never my friend, Arenius. Only the man who thought he owned me for a time.” Rager’s voice was heavy with the loathing that came from years of suffering. “Now that time is over. You are nothing to me.”
A chuckle sounded from beyond Rager and I recognized Wylder’s cruel, horribly cheerful tone.
“But you see, this is not exactly true.” Wylder spoke, stepping slightly to the side. His eyes found me for an instant, his cold blue eyes full of perverse glee. “Arenius is this young lady’s father, and he just informed me that she was taken without his consent. Even in Tartarus, taking a man’s daughter without permission is a serious offense.”
“No offense is serious in Tartarus.”
Rager hadn’t lost a beat in answering Wylder’s banter. I could see the tension rising underneath his skin, indicator of the violence to come. It was in the way his muscles bunched up under his skin, in the tight line of the tendons running down the side of his neck.
Bloodshed loomed close by and I wasn’t sure Rager was in a position to win.
“No offense is serious for those who can pay for forgiveness, you mean? Too bad you passed the occasion to win enough money to buy mine, then.”
Wylder’s eyes shone suddenly with a deep, vicious hatred. I knew Wylder would never forgive Rager for costing him the fight in the arena, but I had no idea he would go as far as selling me to get his revenge. Or maybe I was still too naive to think Wylder needed an excuse to sell us out.
In Tartarus, nothing existed that wasn’t for sale. Not friends, and certainly not enemies.
“I’m seeking no forgiveness from you, Wylder.” Rager almost vibrated with hatred and anger now, his skin puckered in goosebumps and his eyes so dark they were almost black. “It is you who should seek my forgiveness along with my mercy.”
Wylder’s lips pulled up in a devious smirk.
“And yet, you have much to be forgiven for, Rager. You and your traitorous friend, thinking you can take Tartarus away from me. But don’t worry, you will both get what you deserve.”
What is he talking about?But I had no more time to think about what Wylder implied.
A jerk of Wylder’s chin was all it took. On each side of him, the soldiers moved, their blasters raised high, ready to fire at the slightest provocation. I watched, frozen with terror as Rager hunched on his heels, his hands high at his sides, ready for a fight. Only it wasn’t a fair fight, not by any standard.
“Surrender, Rager. You know you can’t win,” Arenius intervened, his voice as soft as honey. “There is only one thing left for you to do. What you do best.”
No.
All feelings deserted my face as Arenius’ smile widened.
“You want me to fight,” Rager answered my father, his entire body radiating such hatred, I was surprised Arenius wasn’t burned by it.
“What could be better than one last fight for Rager, the champion of Valcan?” Arenius chuckled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. No, his small, dark brown eyes were as cold as they had ever been. Soulless. “One glorious fight to end them all. Only this time, you cannot win.”
