Stolen Fates: The Gifts of the Gods prequel novella by S. E. Bouvier

Author:S. E. Bouvier [Bouvier, S. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-04-11T00:00:00+00:00

When Nik woke up, his back ached from lying on a hard wooden surface. He found himself in a dark space. The walls looming close were slick with humidity and the pungent smell of blood and sweat assailed his senses.

He raised himself with a groan, his head pulsing with pain. The gold manacle still wrapped around his wrist glinted back at him and, ahead, the room was closed off with iron bars.

Not a room. A cell.

A cage.

“Finally awake,” a feminine voice spoke in the dark. Through a square opening in the wall, a cell neighbouring was exposed, showing signs of movement. Two glimmering silver eyes peered at him in the dim lighting.

He blinked twice. “Twelve be damned…” He’d never seen one of the legendary female warriors before, but he’d certainly heard a great deal about them back in Achaea. “You’re a… you’re an Amazon.”

The woman nodded, then took a step closer.

She looked different from the women he’d envisioned inhabiting the eastern shores of the Great Sea, with her fair complexion and radiant golden hair. Then again, there were whispers of women from all over the known world coming together in Ephesos, the Amazon city, to train and worship their patron goddess, the Huntress.

The one feature they all had in common, however, was their shimmering silver eyes—a Gift from their goddess. The Sight, they called it. Eyes that shimmered with magic, granting them superior vision over their adversaries and heightened anticipation in battle.

A Gift that Rasennan nobles coveted for themselves and stole right from their corpses.

“You’re Achaean?” she asked.

“Yes.” He was wary of answering any personal questions, but she didn’t pry further. “What is this place?”

“Bruna’s arena. Castur and his guards brought you in the night. It’ll be morning soon.”

“The Giver’s tits…” He pushed himself to his feet, but the room spun around him, forcing him to lean against the wall for support.

When his vision focused once more, he headed straight for his cell door. The iron bars were firmly locked.

“Fuck!” he repeated, banging on the bars, not quite believing where he’d ended up.

He’d been a fool! A damn fool for letting his guard down around a woman. Although if what the slaver had said was true, his client had betrayed him long before then.

He never should have stayed in Bruna. He’d heard rumours of the arena master seeking out Gifted warriors, yet he hadn’t anticipated the extent of Aurelius’ influence, which allowed the Rasennan to snatch a free man without repercussions.

Nik held the bars of his cell in a firm grip and let his sore head dangle as he tried to come to terms with his new situation.

“Castur will return tomorrow for The First Trial,” the Amazon spoke again.

“The First Trial?”

“The arena master, Aurelius, will gather all the new warriors in the arena for a fight. Only the strong survive.” She waited for Nik to ask a question or protest but when he remained silent, she added, “Whichever of the Achaean Twelve Gifted you, I would start praying to them for protection and help.

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