Gladiator Heart (19 page)

Tristan was surprised to see so many women interested in the gladiators. The low-born women were mostly curious about them; it was the noble women he felt threatened by. Their looks were not innocent or curious, but devouring and full of lust. Some dared to openly ogle the gladiators while being led around on their husband’s arm.

Did these people have no shame?

Tristan sat with his back against the wall, drawing one knee up to rest his arm upon it, his hand dangling. A cool breeze filtered through the bars of the cell and he inhaled the fresh air. How many times would he have to win in the arena to gain his freedom? He had no doubt the better he got, the more they’d throw at him in an effort to topple him. Would he live long enough?

“Tristan!” Valeria suddenly appeared right beside him, crouched down with her hands curled around the bars of his cell.

Her blue eyes were bright and excited and her soft lips parted in an affectionate smile. The long waves of her hair were gathered at her neck and fell over one shoulder. Her beauty struck him every time. The Romans would do worse than throw him in the arena if they knew he’d enjoyed the pleasures of one of their own.

“I watched you fight,” she said. “You were amazing.”

Tristan glared at her, frowning. There was nothing amazing about the arena. It was a disgusting pit of murder and death.

“Everyone is talking about you and Angus.”

He looked away from her and stared ahead. “We have no wish to be talked about.”

“You should,” she admonished. “If the people talk about you, it means they like you. They’ll want you to win.”

“They’ll place bets on my life, and when I’m gone, their talk will turn to another.”

Valeria studied his profile in silence, then she spoke. “You could fight your way out. Rufus did. He’s a free man.”

Why wouldn’t she just leave him alone? She got him thinking about things that were never going to be. He turned a harsh glare on her. “Just forget about me. Your constant interference only makes things worse.”

“I didn’t realize I was causing you so much trouble.” She looked down to where her fingers toyed with the edge of her cape, then back up to meet his stare. “I only want to help.”

“There’s nothing you can do. My life belongs to the arena.”

Gaius Cato mingled off in the distance, watching them closely, and Tristan felt his rage renewed. “Go back to your lover. You can both dance over my body when I am dead.”

She blinked a few times, looking surprised. “Of what lover do you speak?”

“Your golden Roman,” Tristan spat with disgust, inclining his head in Gaius’s direction.

She glanced over her shoulder for a brief moment, then back around to face him, her expression now grim. “Gaius Cato is not my lover.”

“Isn’t he?” Tristan wondered. “I watched the way he paraded you around on his horse, and how you loved the attention. Go to him and leave me.” Again he looked ahead and stared off at nothing, hoping she’d take the hint and go away.

He couldn’t look at her any longer. It was too hard picturing her on top of that horse, riding around with a Roman officer, his hands all over her body and her enjoying his touch. It’s what he’d known must be all along, but until then he’d held a small spark of hope that she might feel something for him. That her attentions to him on the road had been because she cared. Thank the Gods he could see her for what she was. A noble Roman lady who would never have feelings for a savage like him.

“You think I enjoyed being forced to ride on his horse?” she retorted tartly, her tone hardening. “Having him grope me and say disgusting things to me when all I could think of was you?” She took a deep breath to hold back a sob in her throat.

It wasn’t what he expected to hear from her, and he opened his mouth to say something, to apologize, but no words would come. What good would it do?

“You’re a cold man, Tristan. Go ahead and die in the arena. See if I care.” She was gone as fast as she’d appeared, shoving and elbowing her way through the thick crowd, being sure to avoid Gaius on her way. Tristan watched her leave until she was gone from his sight.

He closed his eyes and rested his head back against the wall, cursing himself. He didn’t know what to believe in anymore. If he let Valeria help him, would he end up free, or in his grave?

A dark shadow fell over him and he opened his eyes to see Gaius Cato standing above him, looking down through the iron bars of the cell. He was clean and perfectly groomed, draped in an immaculate white toga lined with purple.

“I can’t imagine what Valeria’s fascination is with you, but she’s soon to be wed to
me
.” He kicked up a cloud of dirt and sand that hit the side of Tristan’s leg, arm and face. “On the day you finally die in the arena, I’ll be sure to keep her in my bed all night long, consoling her until you are no longer a thought in her mind. It shouldn’t take long.”

Tristan spared a sidelong glance for the man, but said nothing. Valeria would belong to this Roman. The both of them were going to dance over his dead body when he was gone, and none would remember he’d ever lived.

The dreams were back. Valeria had a hard time sleeping through the nights with the faces of the Gods mocking her. She got no escape from Gaius or Septima or Crispus either. Worse than all of that was awakening one night to the reality that she was now wed to Gaius, and Tristan had been killed in the arena.

It had been impossible for her to calm her nerves after that dream, and she spent the rest of the night sitting at her window until the sunrise brightened the sky with the colors of a new day. Her dreams were a sign, telling her that fate could not be held off for much longer. If only she could change her future, she might not dread its coming.

Despite the fact that time was running short for her, Valeria lingered over her morning bath. She intended to take extra care with her appearance today since she’d be going to the arena to see Tristan. Lucia had already won the argument about why it wasn’t a good idea for her to go and support him, so she was going alone.

Once out of the bath, she rubbed lotions and oils into her skin until she was soft and smooth, then Paula helped her dress in a light blue stola bound with a matching ribbon and combed out her long hair.

“How do you want to wear your hair?” She looked at Valeria’s reflection in the mirror and piled some of her hair on top of her head. “Up like this?”

Valeria didn’t feel like being proper and in fashion. She would be one of the common citizens today, and since the day belonged to Tristan, she’d try to look as unRoman as possible.

“Leave it down,” she said. “I’ll wear it loose.”

“Are you sure, Domina? It is not like you to do so.”

“Today I am not me.” For a brief time she would get to escape the bonds of her life. It only seemed fitting to be free of them in all aspects.

There was a light knock at her door and a servant girl entered her rooms. “Your cousin Crispus requests your company at the morning meal, Domina.” She curtsied before leaving.

Valeria gave a heavy sigh and looked at her reflection in the mirror. “No getting out of this one, Domina. At least you’ll have a proper meal before heading to the arena.”

“You go the arena with your cousin today?” Paula looked surprised.

“Uh, no…” Valeria fumbled around for something to say. “I have business to attend to. Perhaps I will meet with him later.”

“You cannot go alone, Domnia!” Paula shrieked. “What if something happens?”

“Promise me you’ll say nothing.” Valeria spun around to face her directly. “If anyone asks, you are to tell them I went to Lucia’s for the day.”

Paula lowered her head in resignation. “Yes, Domina.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back in time for the evening meal.” Valeria grabbed a small purse and the blue cape hanging on the door of her wardrobe, then swept downstairs to the atrium.

It was her favorite part of the palace with white pillars and flowing curtains of gold silk. Water flowed into shallow pools and colorful tiles decorated the floor. The open ceiling helped to alleviate her feeling of being trapped.

Seeing Gaius Cato seated at the table with Crispus and Septima effectively destroyed that light, floaty feeling. She tried not to let her surprise show and walked over to their group.

“Good morning, cousin.” Crispus smiled widely, appearing to be in a good mood for a change. “We’ve been waiting for you to join us. Gaius is very anxious to see you.”

Valeria kept a smile pasted on her face while her emotions spun out of control. Having Gaius here could not bode well for her. How much longer did she expect to hold him off?

Across the table, Septima was well put together with her red hair piled on top of her head and expensive jewels hanging from her ears and around her neck. She wore a gloating look as she nibbled at some fruit, leaving no doubt in Valeria’s mind that she was responsible for whatever this was.

“I’m sorry to be down so late.” Valeria tossed her cape and purse on an empty couch and took a seat at the table between Gaius and her cousin. “I must have lost track of the time.”

“It seems to be a common problem of yours,” Septima commented in an acrid tone. “I do hope you’ll do something about it, or poor Gaius here will find he has quite an unfit wife.”

Valeria laughed to cover her annoyance. “I’m sure to be unfit for any man.”

“Don’t say such a thing,” Crispus intervened, leaning back in his chair and giving her an appreciative smile. “You’ll make our Gaius the proudest man in Rome.”

Valeria fought the urge to scream and go running from the room.

“Which is what brings me here this morning.” Gaius cleared his throat as he took Valeria’s hand in his. He gave her a tight squeeze to get her attention and gazed into her blue eyes. “Your cousin has made our engagement official.” He was overjoyed to finally say the words. “We’re to be wed at the end of the month.”

Gaius had never known a greater victory than the one he’d gained in this moment. Valeria could no longer escape him. It was now her duty to remain by his side and do as he bid her. He would hold her to the task by plying her with punishment and reward. He’d wait until she acknowledged his position over her, and then he’d claim his husbandly rights, showing her exactly who held the power when it came to her happiness, her body, and her very life.

Valeria reeled at the sudden, terrible news, swaying in her chair while she fell into an odd haze, like she was no longer in her body but standing outside and looking in. This couldn’t be her life. It had to belong to someone else and she was only watching what transpired from the safety of some bizarre dream.

Wake up!

“This is such wonderful news,” Septima remarked, her smile full of triumph. “Congratulations.”

Valeria was too numb with shock and horror to speak. She would be wed to Gaius. There was no way out. She was trapped.

“Why, you look as though someone has killed one of your beloved pets,” Crispus said, his tone coolly disapproving. “This should be a happy day for you.”

Valeria forced her mouth to curve up into the smile they all expected to see. “I couldn’t be more excited. The news is just so unexpected.”

“I fear I couldn’t be pressed to wait,” Gaius said. “I’ve been a soldier for long enough. I’m now anxious to devote my time to being a loving husband.”

“And it didn’t take long to convince Crispus of your feelings for Valeria,” Septima said, winking at him. “Anyone can see you’re positively out of your mind for her.”

They were all out of their minds! Valeria’s future was being planned for her, much to her distaste, and all she could do was sit there and try to keep smiling like she was pleased about it all. She didn’t know what else to do.

“I don’t know why I hesitated to act before.” Crispus put a piece of bread on his plate, lifted a jar from the table, and proceeded to drown the piece of bread in honey. “I promised my father I’d see my dear cousin married to a respectful man, and we couldn’t have gotten a better one than you, Gaius.”

“I’m honored to have Valeria as my wife.” Gaius flashed her a slick, shrewd smile before raking his lecherous gaze over her.

Valeria needed to get out of there. She wouldn’t be able to hold herself together for much longer.

“I should be off.” She jumped out of her chair and grabbed up her cloak and purse.

“You didn’t even eat anything,” Crispus complained, furrowing his brow. “Don’t you want to spend time with Gaius?”

She’d spent more than enough time with the likes of Gaius.

“I’m simply too excited to eat,” she declared, putting on a good act for them. “I must tell Lucia the good news at once. I’ll need her help to start getting everything ready.”

“You should have Gaius accompany you,” Septima suggested, trying to trap her.

“Surely he won’t be interested in the simple talk of women or the details of planning a wedding,” Valeria replied hurriedly. “There’s so much to do, and I must get started right away.”

She flew from the room before they could say another word. She’d have to find someone to plan this wretched wedding for her because she certainly wasn’t going to do it. She wouldn’t even have a new dress made. She’d wear the oldest, ugliest thing she had buried in her wardrobe. Something the color of vomit, or—

A strong hand closed around her arm, stopping her right at the front doors. Gaius swirled her around to face him and pinned her back against one of the doors, pressing his body against hers and caging her in with his arms. “I’m hurt by your behavior. Will you leave me without saying goodbye?”

“Goodbye, Gaius.” Valeria tried to push him away from her so she could leave.

He only pressed his body closer. “Now that we’re engaged, I plan to visit you, and I expect you to receive me.” There was the suggestive shrug of his hips.

She stared at his handsome, evil face. How would she be able to tolerate his affections? The idea of lying with him disgusted her. She had to find a way out of this marriage.

“You’ll have to send word before you plan to visit, so I can clear my busy schedule.”

He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, holding her tight and forcing her to look up at him. “Your attitude needs improving, my dear.”