The Gladiator Prince (24 page)

With a gentle grace, he glided the tray down to the table where he whisked the chart out of the way with one hand and placed the tray on the table with the other. When he unfurled the small twine holding the amphora, his tunic lifted exposing rippled muscles and dark bronze skin. Phaedra knew she should be frightened, or at least angry, but the handsome Egyptian had a gift for making her instinctively trust him. Lifting his right brow and the left side of his lips at her, he placed the amphora in an elaborate cast iron grill to hold it upright. Rolling up the chart, he smiled down at her.

“Comfortable, I hope?”

Phaedra turned away from him, finding it impossible to move much in the chains. They caught just before she could get her arms entwined, so she settled for just placing them on her bent knees.

Hasani apparently sat at the table (she could hear the bench scrape), but said nothing more for many long minutes. She pulled her knees up and rested her chin on them, closing her eyes. The smell of salted meat and herbed wine drifted on the air and the growl escaping her stomach echoed through the small room. A chuckled sounded at her back.

“Hungry?”

She said nothing.

“Thirsty?”

Again, she kept her silence.

“You might as well eat something. I am not a monster, you know.”

“You cut that poor girl’s throat,” she murmured.

“What?” After a moment, he broke out laughing. “I take it you were spying on us?”

“No,” she said to her knees. “I was just passing by…”

“An enclosed garden with walls on all sides. I see. You have excellent hearing, my lady. I am sorry if it frightened you, but it was a jest only. I value the neck of a beautiful woman too highly to mar it with the knife. As I said, I am not a monster.”

“Then let me go,” she whispered. There was a long quiet. She could feel his eyes on her back and wondered why he did not just take her.

“In time.” The soft words shocked her, and she turned her head to glare at him. He cut an apple in half then quartered it, cutting out the seeds. Then he got to his knees in front of her and offered a piece. “You have to eat.”

“What have you done with my brother?”

Hasani sat back on his haunches and took a bite of the piece he had offered. “He is safe, asleep at the oars. We go by sail at night. Is it really your brother you are concerned about?”

Phaedra hated the heat rising in her cheeks. “Of course Thane as well. Is he all right?” She tried to sound indifferent, but the urgency was clear in her voice. Hasani’s eyes flashed anger for a fraction of a moment, but he covered it up by taking another bite.

“The gladiator is also safe,” he said around a mouthful, “a guest at the oars. What is your interest in him?”

She looked away, frightened by her own need. “He guided us to the ships. I am grateful to him.”

“To a slave?” Hasani barked a laugh and tossed the rest of the apple onto the table. “Be careful, lady, our gladiator prince has turned far more innocent hearts than yours. Or did you not know that?” She turned away from him afraid her face would betray her. “Perhaps you do at that,” he added. “Perhaps you have tasted his favors.”

She whirled around. “At least he does not bind an innocent woman’s hands in chains or treat her like a slave.” She stopped and scowled at him. “Well, yes he does… but only when he has to. He is gentle, kind, everything you are not!”

Hasani so suddenly grabbed her that she had no time to respond. Her upper arms ached where he squeezed them as he pulled her hard against his chest. The chains protested around her wrists.

“Mind your tongue, little one, or I will give it something else to do!” He laced his fingers behind her head and forced her lips open with his. Unable to move, Phaedra tried not to return the kiss, but it so suddenly warmed her that she could not resist it, at least for the first few seconds. When her senses returned, she bit down hard on his lip, tasting coppery blood in her mouth.

Hasani threw her back against the end of the bed and ran the back of his hand across his lips. When he saw blood, his eyes fired down at her, and his nostrils flared. The fire soon burned away, and he sat back.

“I should not have done that,” he said putting his hands on his knees and staring at the floor. “Forgive me. You are very beautiful, and I…”

Standing up, he went to the table and poured wine into two cups. Handing one to Phaedra, who took it only because she had to, he sat down cross-legged on the floor and drank deeply until the liquid was gone. The smell overpowered Phaedra’s senses, and she could not resist. Once the first drop touched her lips, she downed it greedily. When she came up for air, Hasani was watching her.

“Do you love him?”

She lowered her eyes to cipher the jumble left by the herbs at the bottom of the cup, something Althea had taught her at an early age. They told her that the future was unclear. She did not need the herbs to tell her that.

“Do you want the truth?” She felt suddenly very tired.

“I want to understand you.”

Lifting her chin, she searched the quiet dark eyes in front of her and frowned. “Why?”

“One day I will explain that to you. For now, answer my question.”

“I…” The words would not come, even in her head. Did she? Would she make the same mistake her mother had? She had let Thane touch her, had begged him to do it. No one had ever sparked her so deeply, so quickly. Was it love? To love a slave was wrong, perverted; a twisted desire sparked by confusion, that Thane had taken advantage of. She should loath him, despise him for what he had taken from her.

Hot tears formed in the corners of her eyes, and she opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The reality was much more complicated.

Phaedra’s every waking moment from the night he had taken her were filled with cravings for his touch, his eyes on her body, his warmth, his voice, the feel of his rough barbaric hands against her willing flesh. Wanton near-dreams of him spilling his seed inside her again and again consumed her nights. It was more than that; she wanted his approval, his laughter, his smile, the strength that always seemed to embolden her. When the truth rose to the surface, Phaedra was amazed at how simple it was.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Hasani pulled in a deep breath and looked into his cup. “I thought so.” He got to his feet and crossed to the far wall. There, he took a bundle of keys off a nail and crossed back to her. When she cringed, he laughed.

“I am not going to hurt you, little sparrow. It occurs to me that if I am to win your heart, then I best not make a martyr of your love.” He yanked her wrists to his knees and unlocked the chains. They fell around her clanking. Then with a very gentle touch, he lifted her chin with one hand and placed his lips lightly on hers. “Promise me,” he said rubbing his lips back and forth over her mouth, “promise me, I will at least get my chance. I can be very charming when I want to be.” The sensation was sending prickles through every inch of Phaedra’s skin.

He kissed her once with passion, then broke away and hung the keys on the wall. With an elaborate bow, he backed towards the door and turned the knob without taking her from his sight. “Sleep well, my sweet little sparrow. We arrive in Rome tomorrow.”

Without another word, he whisked out the door and pulled it tight behind him. Phaedra heard the click of a lock closing. She stared at the door, wondering what had just happened.

Dazed, she rose and crossed to the table. A kind of euphoria overwhelmed her, and she dove into the food with vigor.

Chapter XXVIII

It was just before dawn when the sound of the chains rattling woke Thane. One of the sailors pulled the chain through the rings hand over hand. Bahar groaned and opened her eyes, as did Grunion.

“Captain wants you on the deck,” the man said gruffly as he unwound the rest of the chain. “You and the boy. Make it quick!”

When Bahar tried to stand, she fell back against the bench. Obviously, her legs had cramped from the strain. Before Thane could touch her, Grunion grabbed her left leg and twisted it, making Bahar cry out in pain. Her face changed abruptly, and a shocked breath came through her lips. She bent the leg at the knee twice and smiled.

“Thank you.”

“You are welcome, my boy. Now let’s see the other.”

When Grunion was done, Thane took Bahar’s shoulder to help her out of the troth. Standing at full height proved nearly impossible; every muscle in Thane’s body screamed for relief. The sailor signaled to two other slaves standing down the aisle and Grunion moved over to the outside position.

“I know you will understand when I say I hope I do not see you two again,” Grunion said with a laugh.

The sailor pushed Thane toward the stairs leading to the deck.

When he was up, Thane helped Bahar who was very weak. Pushing her toward a bright lantern, he made her pull up her shirt so he could inspect the neglected wound. The bandages were still tight and clean. He scanned the clear night sky and knew it was just before dawn. Hasani stood some distance off conferring with another sailor before he slowly crossed to them.

This was the first time Thane had seen the Egyptian this side of a sword fight. The man had been good in the battle, but if he had not had three others to support him, Thane would have bested him with nothing more than sheer strength. There was nothing wrong with Hasani’s skill with the blade. Thane knew he was a man of integrity by the way he fought. How could a man fight with honor as he did, yet act the villain at the same time? Thane knew to be weary of him. It was obvious he was dangerous in any situation.

“What have you done with Phaedra?” he demanded, but a sailor got between them with a sword, and Thane swept Bahar behind his back.

“She is safe. You can rest assured she has not been touched by me or any of my men… beyond reason.”

“I want to see her,” said Bahar.

“Yes, I imagine you do.” Hasani nodded to a man to his right who approached the boy. Thane got between them. “This man will take Bahar to his sister. Remove their manacles and bring the boy and his sister another platter of food,” he said to the man.

Bahar glanced at Thane who nodded. She would not let the man touch her when he tried and instead marched toward the cabin with deliberation. A flush of pride sparked Thane’s heart.

When Bahar was gone, Thane turned back to Hasani and folded his arms. “What do you intend to do with us?”

Hasani steepled his fingers in front of his chin. “Walk with me, gladiator.” With a hand signal, the other sailors left them, with the exception of two who stayed several paces behind.

When they reached the front the of the ship, Hasani put one foot up on the lower railing and leaned against the top, watching the horizon. “You have proven a worthy opponent, gladiator, and presented me with a bit of a dilemma.” He pursed his lips and whistled. “A veritable maelstrom of indecision. You see, I was hired by Abella to bring Phaedra and Bahar back to Britannia, but I find myself in a quandary. I was earlier hired by another to bring them back to Rome. That they left before I could whisk them away to safety, has presented some obvious inconvenience for both of us.” He tilted his head to the side and smiled at Thane. “Then, to make matters decidedly problematic, I find myself somewhat… infatuated with the girl. You see my difficulty?”

Thane made fists and growled, “You stay away from Phaedra.”

Hasani nodded quietly and turned his eyes back to the sea. “She feels the same way about you. However, you must know how impossible that situation is. You may be a luminary in the eyes of Rome, a famous gladiator who anyone would kill to own…” He stopped and folded his hands. “But you are still a slave. In the cold of night when passion is spent and reason takes over your senses, what, in the end, can you offer her?”

A moment of clarity sparked in Thane’s heart, and he knew, beyond his vow of love, Hasani spoke the truth. “Nothing,” he said to the sea.

“Man to man… soul to soul, if you will, I feel your agony and share it. For though I can give her much, there will never be enough space in her heart for both of us, and I am wise enough to know whom she would choose if allowed. Therein lays my dilemma. Should I take you to Rome and set you free, knowing that act will endear your beloved Phaedra to me, and lose her, or should I send you back to Nero in chains and Bahar to his father, forcing Phaedra to stay with me, knowing that she would hate me the rest of her days?”

Thane stood back from the rail and grabbed Hasani’s tunic to whirl him around. “I should kill you where you stand for that!” The two men at their backs pulled their swords and rushed forward, but Hasani put up his hands, and Thane let him go. The men retreated.

“As would I, if our places were reversed. Do not fret, my warrior friend. I will not return any of you to Britannia. That was decided when I brought you on board. Will I set you free in Rome? Tell me, why do you travel there?”

Thane pushed his fingers through his hair and rubbed his neck. “You are confusing me. Are you keeping us in slavery then?”

When Hasani tipped his head back to laugh, Thane’s first instinct was to smash in his face, but he restrained himself.