Weapons Master Galactic Gladia - Anna Hackett Page 0,15
and Xias rescued him from the desert.”
The House of Rone just couldn’t abandon anyone in need. She looked at Magnus’ impassive face and wondered what had driven the imperator to do all of this.
A part of the crowd started cheering and singing some sort of chant. Bellamy took a moment to study the arena. The atmosphere here felt different—it was full of anticipation, excitement. It didn’t have the dark edge of the battle arena, where people were waiting to see death and destruction.
Bellamy knew that no one died in the Kor Magna Arena. She’d been warned that there would be blood, but that all the houses invested in excellent healers and medical tech to keep their gladiators fit and healthy.
A flash of golden-brown caught her eye. Maxon arrived like a lion prowling across the savannah. He nodded at the women before moving to talk with Magnus.
Bellamy went rigid.
“Well,” Jayna drawled. “Maxon rarely comes to the fights.”
Great. Bellamy grunted.
Then he turned his head and their gazes locked. She mentally sent him an image of her hitting him over the head with his hammer.
Suddenly, he moved her way and sat down beside her.
“Go away,” she whispered fiercely.
“No.”
“I don’t want you here. Sage is going to sit there.”
“Acton will claim her and make her sit with him.”
Bellamy made a harrumphing sound. “You are annoying, and I don’t like you.”
“You’ll get over it,” he said, sounding unconcerned.
She swiveled her head. “No, I won’t. You were a douchebag of epic proportions in Magnus’s office.”
“I wanted to keep you safe.” Maxon stared steadily into her eyes.
She was shocked to see his eyes were turbulent, unsettled. “Would you like it if I told you what you could and couldn’t do? Or if I shared private details about you? Spilled your vulnerabilities to everybody?” She flung her hand out to make her point.
His brows drew together, realization crossing his face.
God, Jayna was right. The man had no clue what he’d done to hurt her and piss her off.
“I had…someone try to dictate my life before, and I had the Edull taking away all my choices for months. I won’t let that happen again.”
A muscle in his jaw worked.
“Say you’re sorry, and that you won’t do it again,” she said.
He turned to stare down at the arena. “I’m sorry.”
He sounded like he was chewing on lumps of jagged metal. Bellamy figured the man didn’t apologize much.
“And you won’t do it again.”
He looked at her again, golden eyes aflame. “I can’t promise that.”
“Why?” she hissed.
“Because I have this irrational urge to keep you safe. And I’ll do whatever I have to do to ensure that, even if you hate me for it.”
Bellamy just stared at him. It suddenly seemed like the world and everyone around them disappeared. No one had ever said anything like that to her. Ever.
Her parents had never cared about her. Gram had done her best. The older man she’d stupidly gotten tangled up with after Gram’s death had just wanted to control her.
Suddenly, a long, deep horn echoed across the arena.
“The fight’s starting,” Maxon said. “Still want me to move?”
Bellamy sighed. “No.”
Maxon watched the House of Galen gladiators, led by Raiden and his mate Harper, cross the arena sand.
The gladiators of the House of Loden came out from a tunnel on the opposite side of the arena. They wore tan-leather harnesses and gauntlets, and deep-green cloaks. They were all tall, lean, and muscled, holding fighting knives and staffs.
The crowd’s screams rose to loud and unruly levels.
Maxon glanced at Bellamy, watching her take it in. She had a curious, interested look on her face. He realized she’d had no chance to relax and enjoy herself in her months of captivity. His hand curled against his thigh. Drakking Edull.
The fight began. He watched Saff from the House of Galen throw a net, her mass of black braids spinning around her shoulders. Her mate raced up beside her, his powerful body leaping into the air. Blaine was the sole male survivor from Earth. His swords whirled.
Maxon had first come to Carthago to see the fights. The wealthy Shaye family had traveled a lot, and he’d been the older of two sons. He’d been engaged to the beautiful, glamorous daughter of another wealthy family. Silva had been high maintenance, but gorgeous, and always ready for a good time.
He’d thought he’d had a charmed life. Until he’d been attacked by a gang of thieves in a Kor Magna back alley. He’d been so severely beaten that he’d been dying.
The House of