Ash felt timid under his gaze, though she was covered in dried blood and sweat and sand. “I’m an enemy gladiator. Losing me shouldn’t matter to you.”
“If it didn’t matter to me”—Madoc’s voice was husky—“I wouldn’t have stood in that entrance hall, watching Elias hurt you, thinking,Not her, too.”
Ash’s body vibrated so fast it hummed. It seemed impossible that he was saying this to her, that hecared, after everything that had happened.
But he wanted her.
He had seen all her truths and scars and failures, and had still rushed back to save her life.
Ash’s lips parted, her eyes darting over his, searching for some sign that this was all a ruse. But his sincerity was as pure as it had always been.
After a lifetime of fighting to keep herself out of the yawning chasm that was loneliness, Ash let it rise up over her. She didn’t have to fear it.
A dam broke in her chest. Madoc’s hand was around hers, but suddenly that small touch of his fingers on her skin wasn’t enough. She wanted his arms around her. She wanted to feel his body’s warmth against her own heat. She wanted to comfort him and let him comfort her and feel somethinggoodin all thisbad.
“Madoc.” His name tumbled out of her mouth, a plea, a promise.
His eyes fell to her lips. Light spun through Ash’s mind.
But footsteps stampeded up the hall, breaking her out of the spell.
She flew to her feet. Madoc pushed himself up beside her and gave her a firm look.
Unable to speak, she took his hand. He squeezed her fingers.
A heartbeat later, centurions kicked in the door and backed away to reveal—Geoxus.
Unease roared in Ash’s chest. But he wasn’t alone. As he stepped across the threshold and his guards retreated, two figures followed him into the room. Petros, and—
Ash’s blood went cold. “Seneca.”
Twenty-One
Madoc
MADOC’S GAZE SHOT from the god, in his sweeping black silk, to Petros’s jewel-studded robes, to the hunched woman in the baggy gray tunic who clung to his father’s arm for support.
What was Seneca doing here? Ash had said she was Soul Divine. Maybe the old woman was here against her will—Geoxus had been interested in Madoc’s anathreia as well. But that didn’t explain why Petros was touching her so gently.
“Well done, Madoc!” Geoxus stepped over the shattered door and placed his heavy hands on Madoc’s shoulders. “I admit, I was surprised to see your attendant try to step in and take the glory, but you put a stop to it, didn’t you? I assumed you wanted to kill the Kulan yourself, but I see that’s not the case!” His low chuckle rumbled in the room. “The things mortals will do for love never cease to surprise me.”
Wariness churned in Madoc’s stomach. Geoxus wasn’t upset that Elias had taken his place. He waspraisingMadoc.
“Rumors are already circulating that the Metaxa boy was tired ofliving in his champion’s shadow,” said Petros, petting Seneca’s hand. “That his jealousy became uncontained. The drama has only built the people’s anticipation—they’re calling for the true main event now. We’ll delay, of course, for another day or two. Make them purchase a new ticket in order to see my son.”
My son.The words chafed Madoc’s skin.
Nothing about the scene before him made sense. He hadn’t fought, and still Geoxus was delighted. Petros had threatened to kill Madoc’s family if he didn’t win the final match, and yet he seemed relieved. Seneca’s smile appeared more pleased than confused, and no one seemed to notice Ash at all.
With a lurch, the wrongness of the situation caught up with Madoc, and everything within him screamed to tear the man who’d killed Cassia limb from limb. The rage was so intoxicating, he could barely breathe.
Ash’s grip on his hand held him steady.
“Madoc is the hero Deimos needs,” Geoxus said proudly. “The time of gladiators is ending. The old crone said you’d be worth the wait, and she was right!”
The old crone must have been Seneca, but why Geoxus was calling Madoc a hero didn’t make sense. The last time he had seen the Father God, he’d been sure Geoxus wanted him to use soul energy to win this war, but now he seemed just as pleased that Madoc had used his power to save the enemy.
Geoxus’s smile, lit by the pale green phosphorescent glow of the stones in the walls, filled Madoc with dread. “The Kulan was as goodas dead, but you used anathreia to bring her back. Do you know what this means? Do you have any idea what you’re truly capable of?”
