Beneath the Arena

Prologue

Rome had always loved blood.

The roar of thousands of voices filled the amphitheater as men gathered beneath the scorching Roman sun, their excitement echoing against the stone walls.

Aurelia Valeria sat beneath the shade of her family's private viewing area, surrounded by members of Rome's elite.

She should have been watching the games.

Instead, she found herself wishing they would end.

Her father had insisted she attend.

"Your future husband will be here," he had reminded her that morning.

As though that were reason enough to endure an afternoon of men killing one another.

Aurelia glanced toward the man seated beside her.

Lucius Cassian.

Her future husband.

He smiled at her.

She returned it politely.

They had grown up together. Their families had arranged their betrothal years ago, when they were children. Lucius was handsome, educated, wealthy, and well regarded.

There was nothing wrong with him.

That was almost the problem.

Aurelia simply didn't love him.

She wasn't certain she even knew what love was supposed to feel like.

Her mother had told her that love came after marriage.

That affection would grow.

That a woman of their station did not marry for love.

She married for family.

For alliances.

For power.

Aurelia had accepted that.

Until she saw him.

The gates opened.

The crowd erupted.

Several gladiators stepped into the arena.

Aurelia watched without much interest until the final man emerged.

The noise seemed to change.

"Felix!" someone shouted.

Then another.

And another.

Soon the entire amphitheater seemed to be chanting his name.

"Felix! Felix! Felix!"

Aurelia leaned forward.

The man walking into the arena was enormous.

She had never seen a man so large.

He stood nearly a head taller than every other gladiator, his broad shoulders and heavily muscled body making the others appear almost insignificant beside him.

His dark hair was damp with sweat.

A scar crossed one side of his chest.

Another marked his jaw.

He carried his weapon loosely in one hand.

Not nervously.

Not uncertainly.

Almost casually.

As though he already knew how this would end.

Aurelia's green eyes remained fixed upon him.