Lycan Gladiator (Wolf Maiden Saga)

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Lycan Gladiator (Wolf Maiden Saga) Page 16

by Gordon, Eva


  His fangs bit in, not hard enough to gnaw and maim but just enough to gently bite, to imprint. She gasped at the initial hurt, then shuddered in the pleasure of a wolf maiden’s claiming. His bite replaced the burning sensation with erotic ones and she bit her fist as she writhed. The sweet taste of her blood satisfied a hunger, now fulfilled. Her scent and taste forever ingrained in his memory. His mouth moved to her bottom, licking and kissing each cheek in worship. From behind, he fondled her breasts and pinched each erect nipple. She squirmed beneath him in helpless abandon. His erection throbbed. Unlike human males, if he entered her, he would not part until morning if not later.

  “Ulric, make love to me.”

  The beast inside gained control. He turned her over, and spread her legs. She tilted her head back waiting. Wanting.

  Outside the room, the patter of wolf paws coming up the stairs made him jerk away. The lycans had returned. She gasped. “They’re back.”

  He bore his fangs to their full extent, ready to kill any who dared enter. The scent of her fear brought him back to his senses. He took control of the beast within and retracted his canines. He gazed at her. Gods she is beautiful. He crushed her against him, slamming her soft breasts against his hard chest, perhaps too roughly. He growled, “Mine.” He kissed her with a hunger that would not be satiated.

  She gripped his face between her hands and kissed him like a famished she-wolf. She let go and took a breath. “You are mine, gladiator.”

  He smiled in victory.

  She nodded with a finger over her lips to signal silence. He grinned like a lovesick dog and gently covered her supple naked form with her bedsheet. He threw her a roguish smile and stepped out onto her terrace. He leapt down and dashed out to the forest in his wolfen form. He leapt on a high boulder overlooking the compound and with shameless abandon he howled.

  ***

  Cassia chose a simple yellow tunic. Before donning it, she gazed at her lycan mark. It remained blood red. Prior to the claim, it would turn red only when Ulric was near. Otherwise, it would return to its light brown color, no different from the color of a common birthmark. The red color confirmed that despite the circumstances, Ulric was her true alpha life mate. Not just physically but from the depths of her soul. Twin spirits at last united. Never had she imagined a slave gladiator would be her mate. A wolfen barbarian from the deep forests of Germania. Yet Feronia had brought them together. Fate. Gaius would know what to do. Oh, he would fret and give a thousand rational reasons why it was not possible but in the end, he would agree.

  She walked through the atrium of the palatial villa to the tablinum, the large reception room where Lucius requested her presence to bid her farewell. Inside were busts of the Caninus family members on pedestals and the walls painted bright red, and adorned with fine frescoes. In the center stood a large bust of Emperor Domitian, his normally balding head covered with a full head of curly hair.

  Lucius stood and leaning on a cane, walked to greet her, a slight limp all that remained of the horrific chariot accident that should have left him maimed or dead. He knew her magic had saved him, but how much had he told his mother about her gift? No. He loathed his mother.

  Lucius gave her a broad smile. “Cassia, look at me.” Cane in hand he did a circle dance, with only a hint of noticeable lameness

  She covered her mouth with her hands, conveying her amazement at his speedy recovery. “I cannot help but admire your lycan blood.”

  “And your skilled surgery and healing touch.”

  Her heart skipped a beat, but she smiled. “Well perhaps someday I may ask a boon in return.”

  He bowed. He straightened as if displaying his alpha status. “I’m thinking of buying you from your master, Gaius.”

  Her smile faded and her hands grew cold and clammy. “I…don’t know…”

  He gave her a mischievous grin and chuckled, “You are indeed a fine woman. I must admit I dreamt of warming my body against yours, but my intentions are far nobler.” He beckoned with his cane, “Come, we’ll join Ulricus in the garden.”

  After last night? How could they not betray their desires to others? Even now her mark warmed with thoughts of him. “The gladiator?”

  He lifted a brow in amusement. “Yes, the gladiator. Mother will be joining us as well.” He sneered. “She uses him as her personal guard. That is, until Father returns.” He chuckled, “Nox is by the stables gnawing on a shank bone in jealous ire.”

  Trying not to think of Ulric, Cassia asked. “She is?”

  Amusement brightened his face and he shrugged. “It’s a wolfish thing. Nox has been mother’s companion and like a loyal dog she wishes to be her only protector, after Father of course.” He gave a bitter laugh, “Though Father is not mother’s true life mate.”

  His blunt honesty unsettled Cassia. Had Floretta painted her wolf mark red as wolf maidens often did when wedded to alphas not their true mates? Hers remained red. Every ounce of her being knew Ulric belonged to her. Yet the fact that they were mates did not matter in a world where such a revelation was wrought with danger.

  They walked into the gardens. She inhaled the sweet lavender aroma, hoping it calmed her nerves. She took in a long breath to brace herself. How would she react on seeing Ulric her life mate, escorting another woman? The day after the claiming? She had the urge to fight Floretta not like a woman, but like a wolf, with claws and fangs. Dear Feronia, help me control my raw emotions.

  Floretta sat on a divan. A slave stood beside her and fanned her with an ostrich feather. The day was warm, but clouds covered the sky, preventing the sun from bearing down on them. Ulric stood behind the harpy. He wore a white tunic. She stole a furtive look at him and watched his eyes grow large with want of his mate. His wolf aura stood behind him in shadow. Large. Proud. Beautiful. She longed to kiss him. Her mark warmed her, not in heat as before the claiming bite but in response to his presence.

  The haughty wolf maiden sighed, “Lucius, I’m so happy with your progress.”

  Lucius acknowledged her with a cold tone. “Mother.” He sat opposite her and smoothed his toga. “I owe my healing to Cassia.” He gestured for her to sit next to him.

  Both Floretta and Ulric initially frowned but in moments suppressed their expressions with masks of politeness.

  Floretta shot Cassia a viper’s smile. “We are grateful to you, my dear. Lucius no longer needs your services. It is time you return to your home.”

  “Yes, my master should be returning any day.”

  “Gaius returning?” Floretta laughed and then her tone hardened. “A message from my husband says Emperor Domitian ordered the execution of Senator Servius Cato for immorality with men and worse his heinous attempt to assassinate our emperor with poison.”

  The viper had not heard he lived. Cassia suppressed the rancor from her voice, “Cato would never resort to poisoning the emperor!” The senator had prided himself on winning by superior debate and not through dagger or venom. You, who desire gladiators, should not profess virtues about immorality.

  Floretta’s eyes twinkled as if in delight. “Your master Gaius, his lover, was with him, was he not?” She sighed in false sadness and then slowly smiled. “Shame to lose such a fine Lupercii physician. Good fortune, he trained you well.”

  She wanted slap the smirk off Floretta’s face. “Forgive me, domina, but I do not wish to discuss this matter.”

  Floretta ignored her request and savored the gossip. “The slave cook caught with poison admitted Senator Cato planned Domitian’s murder. This is why Cato fled to Ravenna.”

  Cassia stood with her hands at her sides in tight fists. From the corner of her eye, Ulric shook his head in warning. Her temper flared. “This cook must have been tortured into saying such a despicable lie! Everyone knows Senator Cato complained the loudest about the emperor’s decision to bury the Vestal Virgin alive.” Instantly she regretted her outburst.

  Floretta waved away the slave fanning her. She stood. Her eyes narrowed like a hawk. “A
re you calling our Dominus Domitian a liar?”

  Cassia shook her head. “No. I am just saying he was poorly advised.”

  Floretta cast a scrutinizing eye. “Tell me, physician, is live burial your greatest fear?”

  “The truth is there are many brutal forms of death but such a punishment of being buried alive is by far the slowest.”

  “To spill the blood of a Vestal Virgin is not allowed. Nonetheless, I agree I would prefer death by fast acting poison.” Floretta laughed and waved a hand dismissively. “Anyway, in the end justice was served.” She scowled at Cassia. “I for one am pleased the cook confessed about Cato’s sinister plan.”

  Lucius gave his mother a pointed look and scoffed, “It was Father, was it not, who forced his confession?”

  Floretta frowned at her son. “Your father can out a lie when he smells one, which makes him the emperor’s greatest ally.”

  A chill ran up Cassia’s spine. Was it true? Often Cato and others dined privately with Gaius. There were whisperings. Gaius told her that for her own safety, she not be present when Cato and other senators discussed how to stop Domitian from executing his harsh laws. The emperor had grown more brutal over the years. His swollen body and loss of hair might indicate he suffered a malaise that corrupted his mind. Domitian might very well be on the brink of insanity. Cato only wanted to reason for what was best for the people. This wise senator of Rome was now but ashes. Cassia blinked back tears.

  Lucius sighed loudly. “Oh, Mother, no lycan should have a human as a master, even if he is the all mighty emperor. Besides, I doubt even Father will allow the death of a lycan physician.”

  “Must I remind you that the Roman Empire is the greatest civilization? You should be proud the Caninus family is the most important lycan pack in the entire world.” Floretta turned a hot glare at Ulric who stared at Cassia like a forlorn puppy. “Wipe that idiot concern from your face for this common slave at once!”

  Cassia flushed. The viper of a wolf maiden read faces almost as well as a lycan. She must know how he felt about her, but please Feronia not the extent of their bond. “My domina, your champion’s concern is for you not I.”

  Floretta raised a brow. “Is that true Ulricus?”

  Ulric stood still, his cold glare at the horizon, avoiding her and the others.

  Lucius laughed, “Mother you grow paranoid of the gladiator’s attention whenever an enticing nymph is nearby. Even if she is a clever physician.”

  His silence irked Floretta, “Where is your tongue, gladiator?”

  Ulric’s tone, hard as stone, addressed his mistress, “Perhaps I should return to practice in the arena before my master arrives.”

  Floretta softened. “Ulricus, no. Stay. The shield I commissioned for you will be arriving shortly.”

  His brow furrowed in concern and he rasped. “Why today?”

  She shrugged. “I told him to hurry before the next games.”

  Cassia saw his lip twitch in agitation. It seemed he didn’t care for his new gift. Hmm. Odd. She addressed Floretta. “You are correct, domina. Now that Lucius is well, it is best I take my leave.”

  Lucius turned to her. “If your master was with Cato, perhaps you should not leave so hastily.” He turned to his mother, “I wish to buy her from Gaius.”

  Floretta did not contain the anger from her shrill voice, “Whatever for?”

  “Cassia is a needed physician, especially with our lycan gladiators suffering such great wounds. She will live in our estate as a reward for saving my life. Even Father will approve.”

  Cassia’s skin grew cold. Her voice barely audible. “No. My master will never sell me.”

  Ulric muttered a curse and growled. “Let her return to her domicile. Can you not see she wishes to leave!”

  Floretta glowered at Ulric. “Gladiator, this is of no concern to you.” She turned to Lucius. “I forbid it.”

  He glared at her. “Mother, I do not need your permission. I wear the toga of a citizen and am no longer a boy. If I had been a normal human and not a lycan, Nidia would still be by my side.” He stood and leaned on his cane. “I should have bought Nidia!”

  “Your father would not have allowed such a union. Is this why you wish to buy Cassia? Do you love this common human?”

  “I love her for saving my life, nothing more.” Lucius pointed a finger at her. “But know this. If owning her will spite you then I am pleased.” He shook his head. “A common woman? Look at you, a wolf maiden with an alpha who is not truly hers, and what’s worse is your vulgar attraction to gladiators.” He turned red as he spoke, his voice laced with fury. “To know because of you my one true love, Nidia, died.”

  Floretta reached to touch his face, but he flinched. “Oh, Lucius, I am your mother. Will you always blame me for the girl’s death?”

  “Like any lycan, do you think you can hide the truth from me?” He sat and folded his arms. “I grow weary of bickering.”

  Floretta barked at one of her slaves. “Bring us refreshments.” She sat back down with a loud thud. She flashed furious eyes at her. “Cassia, you may leave us tomorrow at daybreak.”

  Without looking she sensed Ulric’s silent rage, again the volcano before the eruption; she bowed. “Thank you, domina.”

  Ulric protested. “No, I want the physician gone now.”

  Floretta raised her brow. “Why, what difference does it make to you?”

  Cassia cocked her head and wondered the same. Perhaps, he found it too unbearable to see her on his enemy’s territory.

  Ulric bowed. “My domina, I’m wolfen and your foolish jealous scent disturbs me. You are too beautiful to be concerned with other women.”

  Lucius snorted, “Yes, I agree. It does reek of jealousy.”

  “Too beautiful?” Floretta smiled. Her eyes narrowed. Not a fool, she must know his request was to protect Cassia. “She leaves on the morrow.”

  Slaves walked in with trays of food and legs of lamb for Lucius and Ulric. Before she sipped her wine, Ulric made a quick gesture with his hand for her to leave. Back to her quarters? She sensed his wolf tamed, not out of control. Why was he anxious she go? Was Floretta planning something? Poison? She set her cup of wine down, untouched. Don’t worry, Ulric, I’ll leave soon.

  As she nibbled olives from the communal tray, Nox walked in, escorting none other than Igal. The boy, once her friend, now a large man known as a great maker of weapons. He carried a heavy, finely adorned shield. She nearly choked. He stood still. They locked eyes.

  Igal grinned from ear to ear and then shouted. “Shifra!”

  Chapter 11

  Ulric’s eyes widened and his inner wolf’s hackles rose. Her former identity being discovered was what he feared most after realizing Cassia was Shifra, the green-eyed beauty Igal had described. As soon as he caught Igal’s scent, he tried to warn her to leave. Instead she had assumed he was warning her about poison.

  Ulric sensed Cassia’s rapid heartbeat and his wolf snarled for release. He wanted to break Igal’s neck for revealing a secret she wanted kept buried.

  Nox turned to Cassia with a smug smile, “I see our physician goes by many names.”

  Cassia stood and faced Igal. “No, you are mistaken. You have me confused with someone else. My name is Cassia Fauna, physician and slave of Faunus Gaius.”

  Igal was not dense. He attempted to mask his deceit. He laughed. “My apologies, I mistook you for another.”

  Floretta approached, her fists on her hips. “Tell me, Judean, are you sure?”

  He bowed. “Domina, you only get lovelier with each passing sun.” He turned to Cassia. “The woman I mistook you for was taller and now on closer inspection much older.” He tapped his chin as in thought. He shook his head. “If memory serves, she was a woman I knew from Alexandria.” He chuckled, “Except for my lovely wife, I rarely see such charming women.”

  Floretta glowered at her before she returned her gaze to the blacksmith. “Show us what you crafted for my gladiator.”

&n
bsp; Ulric masked his fury and smiled at Igal. Fool. He may have lied to Floretta but not to Nox and Lucius. They smelled his tongue’s untruth. “So it seems you brought me a shield.”

  Igal threw Cassia a fleeting look, again unknowingly sending messages to the lycans that they knew each other. He handed Ulric the massive shield with the wolf head design that matched his gladius. “Tell me, old friend. What do you think?”

  Holding it, Ulric admired its artisanship and smiled. Not a simple round gladiator shield but rather an iron metal Legionnaire’s battle shield, designed to protect against sword, spears, arrows, and rock assaults. A weapon to smash heads and bodies. “Any bigger and it would be a wall and not a shield.” Would his master allow him its protection? He turned to Floretta and bowed. “I am most pleased with your gift.”

  Lucius scoffed. “A brazen gift, and one I doubt Father will ever let him use in the arena.”

  Floretta gave him a pointed stare. “Humph.” She addressed Cassia, “What do you think? Is it too brazen a gift?”

  Cassia swallowed and sputtered, “No, domina, as a lycan physician I hope it will protect him from injury.” Floretta grinned as if relishing seeing Cassia squirm.

  Ulric clenched his jaw. Would she figure out the truth about Cassia’s origins? Emperor Domitian hated Jews and Floretta knowing this, placed his mate in grave danger.

  The domina gazed at Ulric with loving eyes. “I will insist Macula allow you to carry the shield and gladius to all the spectacles.”

  Ulric sneered, “The Emperor decides in what form I fight and lately he would rather I fight as a cursed wolf man. But I am thankful for your gift.”

  Igal stole glances at Cassia. Lucius smiled at the blacksmith, “Like most of us you appear smitten with my beautiful physician.”

 

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