Deliverance: Book Three Finale (Gods and Slaves Series 3) by Nicholas Bella

Author:Nicholas Bella [Bella, Nicholas]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2019-06-11T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Mateo’s heart was beating a mile a minute as he watched Titus work the crowd as he always did. He had never felt so nervous, almost to the point of vomiting the delicious meal he’d foolishly consumed earlier. His stomach rolled and he swallowed hard to force back the nausea. He could feel beads of sweat running down his temple, dripping onto his shoulder. This was the moment he feared, for he knew he was no match for Titus. And after hearing that Titus may be freed soon, he knew the gladiator would not spare him. Not with such a reward hanging in the balance.

He looked up at the gods who were watching from their position of privilege. Kijani’s expression had never been so full of joy, whereas Eloy’s had never been so full of anguish. Even Odessa seemed to be pleased with the match’s pairing, whereas Simeon’s expression mirrored that of Eloy’s. Mateo turned away, he couldn’t look at Eloy, not now when his life hung in the balance. It was his greatest fear that he would die in this arena before he got to taste the life Eloy was promising. As much danger as he had been in the first time he had stepped onto the sands, never had he felt such despair and hope at the same time.

He fixed his gaze upon Titus now, the man whose bed he shared. The man who had trained him better than even their doctore. The man who had told him he loved him several times, though, he knew in his heart, the feeling wasn’t mutual. Mateo didn’t love Titus, not like Titus wanted him to. Always, for Mateo, Titus was a way of survival, only because he knew Titus’ affections came with heavy conditions. Mateo had played the role Titus wanted of him, and they had become friends, but never lovers as far as Mateo was concerned. Just friends with benefits.

Still, his heart ached at what was to come. Either Titus would kill him or he would kill Titus. Could he kill Titus? The gladiator was highly skilled and never made the same mistake twice. They had trained daily and knew much of each other’s fighting strategies. This wouldn’t be like any other fight Mateo or Titus had ever had.

Mateo gripped the hilts of his swords tighter as Titus approached to the roar of the crowd. Titus stood before him now, all pretenses of love gone from his eyes and replaced with sheer determination.

“What I do to you now is not personal, Mateo. It is survival. May the gods be merciful to us both,” Titus said. “And may the crowd be merciful as well.”

Mateo licked his lips and swallowed hard, then nodded. “May the gods’ blessings be upon us.”

With that, Titus nodded, then attacked with the same ferociousness Mateo had witnessed him display against all his other opponents. Mateo barely had enough time to block the swing of Titus’ mighty sword. The crowd erupted into applause and cheers as the fight commenced.

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