Heart of the Gladiator (Affairs of the Arena Book 1) (26 page)

Vitus nodded. “Aye. Let us hope.”

Outside, Caius saw other parents rushing their children inside as the sun continued to set. The smell of cooking beef was in the air, and maybe some rain. There weren’t many clouds overhead, but thunder could be heard in the distance.

Down the street, he saw the approaching figure of his wife. She was as lovely as ever. Their ceremony had been short and sweet, and so had been the days since he knew her as his spouse. Soon she would be home with him and Fabia, all their families together, and all would be as right as it ever was.

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• I'm so happy you've decided to read
  Heart of the Gladiator
  . Thank you for spending your time with my story.
  
• Your opinion matters. I welcome and encourage all reviews. Readers like you are the reason other readers find books they want to read! Please review this book on
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• You've enjoyed book #1 in the
  Affairs of the Arena
  series. If you would like to read more tales about House Varinius and its inhabitants, check out
  Love of the Gladiator
  (#2) and
  Desire of the Gladiator
  (#3) today!
  
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- L
ydia Pax

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A
uthor's Note:

Like any fictionalization of history, there's a good deal here that's probably not entirely accurate (though I did my best) because sometimes sacrifices have to be made to tell the right story. The stuff that IS accurate is due to the following works, all of which are excellent and well worth your time if you have any interest in history.

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D
uncan, Mike.
The History Of Rome
. Podcast audio. Accessed 2014-2015.

Hamilton, Edith.
The Roman Way
. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. 1932.

Matthews, Rupert.
The Age of the Gladiators: Savagery & Spectacle in Ancient Rome.
China: Chartwell Books, Inc. 2003.

Meijer, Fik.
The Gladiators: History's Most Deadly Sport.
New York: St. Martin's Griffen. 2003.

Potter, David.
The Emperors of Rome
. Great Britain: Quercus. 2013.

Did you love
Heart of the Gladiator
? Then you should read
Love of the Gladiator
by Lydia Pax!

She has to trust him to love him…but not to want him.

Gwenn’s life has been marked by fury and rebellion, and she has the scars to prove it. As a slave, each new owner she’s had has only made her fight more. But when she is bought by a gladiator training school, she finally finds something to fight for—glory in the arena, where everyday people are made immortal.
The gladiators at the school think her presence there is a joke. That includes her trainer, Lucius. This cocky arena veteran has a body molded from marble, and his arrogant persona lights her mind on fire. Every glance from him sends wet heat through her body.  Their chemistry is instant, and soon both ache to join each other in a battle that would tear down any bedroom.
But Lucius’s past places a series of obstacles in their way. None are more terrible than the bloody secret he holds that would destroy any hope he has for Gwenn’s affection.
As desperate as she is to be close to him, he only pushes her further away. And when the truth is spilled in a thrilling, violent climax, Gwenn must decide between her unstoppable attraction or her desire for victory.

Gwenn was born a warrior. But it’s only in the arena that she will know if she wants the love of a gladiator.

Read more at
Lydia Pax’s site
.