back.”
She nods enthusiastically. “Right. He’s told me what he knows of House Curtius. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
“Good,” I agree, grabbing back up the shovel and turning to resume my work.
“I noticed you slept in Anzil’s room last night,” she says as I drive the shovel into the mound.
“What of it?” I ask. She mumbles something that I can’t catch, so I turn back to face her. “You have a problem with it?”
My arms itch as my pulse quickens, eyes narrowing. Who is she to judge me?
“No!” she exclaims, eyes and mouth opening wide as she shakes her head. “No, of course not. I was just…”
“Just what?”
“Making conversation,” she says, her face red as a beet as she turns away. “I should get back to work before Sshkin misses me.”
Great, Kiara. Way to make an ass of yourself.
“Hey,” I say, but she doesn’t pause her leaving. “Cora, I’m sorry.” She timidly looks over her shoulder. “I mean it; I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
“It’s okay,” she says. “I shouldn’t pry.”
I watch her walk away. I should say something more to smooth this over, but I got nothing. Social interactions have never been my strong suit. Instead, I attack the mound of shit. The piece of paper safely hidden inside my bra chafes reassuringly against my skin. I welcome that chafing. It’s hope. All the hope I have to hold.
Now I’m wondering, though, can we trust Xyron? If I trust him, what about Anzil? I can’t deny having them on our side would be a huge help. Trying to do this on my own, not knowing the lay of the land, the politics, or understanding the forces we’re facing, is my biggest problem.
Those two know this place, but have they drunk the Kool-Aid? Are they too indoctrinated to be trusted?
And if I trust them, what about Ductores? No, he’s definitely all in on this barbaric gladiator system. I can’t imagine anything changing his mind.
If Anzil’s going to keep insisting I sleep in his quarters, maybe I can sound him out. Try to figure out if he’d be a help or a hindrance. I don’t think he turned me in for last night, which is a mark in his favor. When the guards questioned our return to the gate, he told them we had been on a training mission, and they bought it.
It doesn’t mean I can trust him, though. He could be playing me along, giving me enough rope to hang myself with. I don’t care how gilded they make the cage—one thing’s for sure, I’m not going to be anyone’s damn slave.
Chapter 7
Anzil
I should tell Ductores about last night.
I should, but I’m not going to. Absently, I block Antrias’ swing, then his next. He is improving but has a long road to be good enough to present any real challenge. No, I’m not going to tell Ductores.
I touched her ass. My fingers tingle with the memory, and my cock stirs. It is full, round, and soft in all the right ways. She has an amazing ass. Her skin is exotic, dark and rich in color. I want to taste it. She’s not dark like Ductores, but she’s darker than the other humans who came here with her.
I like her. Too much.
I’ve known a lot of women, but never in my life has there been one like her. Women on Krix are almost always demure. Demure… no, that’s a lie. Women on Krix, the ones that come to a gladiator, are almost always broken.
No spirit. No life left in them. By the time they become fodder for gladiators, they’ve been abused for so long they have given up hope. They, like I, find what momentary pleasure they can in tumbling but know that once it’s done they’ll return to their masters.
Kiara is different. Unique. Strong, defiant, and unbroken.
She inspires as much as she ignites desire. She awakens dreams I once held. Antrias ducks low and swings for my middle. Distracted, I miss my block, and his wooden sword slams into my ribs.
“Ha!” he exclaims, raising his sword in the air.
It hurts, but the pain is buried in anger. He jumps up and down in a circle, showing off. The other sparring gladiators stop to look.
I swing, full force, for his midsection. My sword hits his stomach so hard the wood shatters. Shards fly through the air as he doubles over in pain. I bring my knee up under his chin. He’s thrown up into the air and then drops