His back was still one big aching flesh wound and they hadn't come any further with any plan.

After laying delirious with fever for one week on the brink of death, he clawed stubbornly to life, he just couldn't die like that, so far away from everything he knew, from his childhood and from Mila, wherever they might be.

In that week he saw things he didn't imagine he ever would. Kiril, pale, aching and sleep-deprived guarding his side, so that it would not occur to anybody to kill him, because the lanista certainly had discussed disposing of him if he would not get better in foreseeable time.

In his delirium he kept seeing Mila in the red dress she wore in their last encounter. She was frightened and was calling for him, she was so frightened she was even calling for Kiril and most of the time she was swallowed by earth or by blinding light. In the last dream though before the fever sank he dreamed of Samira that was hurting terribly and was calling for him too and this time he knew it was not his imagination because even if Samira could not control it, her mage power, besides traditional witchcraft was to dream walk.

He couldn't help fearing and wondering what was happening on the other side of the time breach, if Michael and the pack were well, if Michael was hating him for the responsibility he dumped on his shoulders.

"Halfling, we thought you were going to die, you surely used up one of your seven lives this time. And my goodness, Northman was guarding you like a dog, are you two lovers? I wish my wife was so devoted to me."

Marcus wouldn't stop talking, that was his damn talent to talk an endless stream of nonsense, but this time he got a bit of the very strange essence of what was going on. In all this time, however, Kiril didn't talk to him more than was necessary. It was not like they were building pillow forts and sharing secrets before but somehow this silence of his was worrying.

Erik couldn't help wondering about Kiril's might and strangeness these past days. He knew very well he was not doing anything out of the goodness of his heart and everything was cool, calculated strategy but every time he was putting a cold cloth on his forehead to help sink the fever it just felt so unreal like the very unexpected feeling of slightly unwanted brotherhood that was developing between them.

"We are certainly not lovers, now let me train," said Erik knowing he needed to make up for the lost strength because in two weeks they were going to fight in the arena before Octavius the Emperor of Rome.

That night laying on the hay beside Kiril, Erik involuntarily let his gaze linger on him, on the fine-featured face with ivory-colored skin, the now shaggy and unkempt white hair that used to be braided with silver beads in the twenty-first century, a trademark of his slightly flamboyant look and last on the alpha markings on his chest and the scars that tore the moon into pieces. He must have hated her so much if he sliced his own skin in that symbolic act. He... he might have been the only person in the world that seemingly understood and even shared his feelings for Selene. It would have been life-changing in a way if they ever would have had the chance to meet and talk on neutral grounds. For that kind of conversation, they needed to trust each other though and they never did... so far.

Erik had to admit that it might have prevented quite some casualties, they also might have never met Mila, none of them, but at the end of the day, it would have been better for her too.

Kiril was not that much older than him, he was most probably also a deeply hurting and confused youth when he had to deal with major tragedies like his father losing his mind and eventually dying a horribly violent death before his eyes. And after that, he had been completely alone.

Rasputin was a rogue, not part of any pack, and seemingly Kiril grew up alone too, hidden from the world. A little boy that could hear people's thoughts, as if the things people say are often not frightening enough.

"What is it, Erik? I would say you want us to have sex if I didn't know better. I enjoy sex with males only on very rare occasions so don't even bother," he said in his characteristic mocking tone.

Erik just turned his gaze away but the thoughts lingered.

"Why didn't you ever try to actually talk to me about your plans?" asked Erik in the end.

"I was the most hated Alpha that people can remember. Talking to you, golden boy?" he scoffed.

"I am serious. I always feared Selene and never actually trusted her but it felt like I was the only one in the world feeling that way, but now it turns out I wasn't and the only other person that felt that way was you."

"How could I have come to you? My father murdered your mother and sent back her mutilated body. I likely would have eviscerated myself in your place."

"I was indeed... angry. But in the end, you are not your father. I am not sure though if my younger self would have seen it this way, I admit. But good chances, I don't want to be seen as my father either."

"Definitely eviscerated. And about your father..."

About his father... He had killed him in battle, because he had been angry and hurting after his mother's death, because he blamed him for not protecting her and because he finally hit back after years of abuse. He didn't regret it, but Erik knew how monstrous it must look to the world had this information been more public. Only a handful of people knew, because there were no witnesses except for Wilhelm and Michael and because Wilhelm advised to not make that public, with good reason.

Still, because of that the golden boy and most honorable Alpha reputation stung a bit since at his core he was a kinslayer.

"I would have killed him too... If I were you," said Kiril after a long moment of silence.

Erik couldn't say anything, he just stared at Kiril.

"Erik, he was a monster. Stop feeling bad about it, sometimes we have monsters as kin but sharing the same blood doesn't excuse anything that they are doing."

Damn mind-reading idiot.

It felt like Kiril could still see into his head even if his abilities were frozen, and Erik hated that that small sentence made him involuntarily hate Kiril less and think that they were more similar than he ever imagined.

The next two weeks were marked by hard training to be able to participate in the fights.

"So you think that Lucius will be there?" asks Kiril.

"Yes, he is one of Octavius's favorite generals. He has to be."

"And your genius plan is to win that thing and complain to him about his goddess lover when he comes to put the laurel crown on our heads?"

"Yes. Any better idea?"

"Sadly no."

"Me neither. But in any situation, we have to fight and better not die."

The day of the arena fights was crushingly hot and dry. They rode in a carriage with ten other gladiators and even if my now Erik got used to the stench of the ancient era, it struck him with new intensity.

They were lined up in the colosseum with all the participants for all ludi and given real weapons, pointy and sharp, not the dull ones uses for training.

The emperor started speaking solemnly about a hero that died in battle.

"Which of these guys do you think is Lucius? Could be any of the six," asks Erik eyeing the generals aligned at Octavius's side.

"I would say none. And this is worrying. Lucius looks a lot like you, by the way. Not like twins but you can notice where the genes came from."

Erik frowned.

"How?..."

"Well you know I can... Could see people's memories."

Erik could not dwell on that thought though as interesting as it might have been, because Octavius started speaking.

"In today's celebration, we want to honor the sacrifice of our glorious general  Lucius Maximus Quintus in fighting off the barbarians that attacked the limes. "

The rest of the speech became a blur.

"He... he is dead..." muttered Erik with eyes fixed on the stake carried on by slaves.

Octavius lowered a torch and set it on fire. Their hope dissolved gradually at the paste at which Lucius's body transformed into ashes.

Sulking would have been something both of them liked doing but the impending fights didn't let them.

That day they participated in five arena fights against the gladiators of other ludi. Erik was afraid they would have to fight to death against each other but for once that day the fear didn't find fundaments.

It was afternoon and the five winners of the fights were gathered in the arena for one final showdown.

Erik thought about the people he had to kill that day. Most were barbarians but regardless it was strange to watch how it was the most popular distraction in these times watching foreigners kill each other.

"Try to not get injured or die today, ok? We will head back to the ludus after and make a new plan," he whispered to Kiril while clutching the shield and spear.

What plans that would be was a total nebula though and the desperation was nagging at his soul. Mila needed him, Samira needed him and he was stuck in this god-forsaken place.

"Dimittere bestias! / Release the beasts!"

What a sense of deja-vu.

Five wild lions were released in the arena and Erik felt Kiril shudder.

"Fuck. Erik, we need the help of the other guys."

That however could be problematic. They didn't know two of them and the third was Drutal.

"Would come in handy but these guys don't speak Latin."

"How about the big guy, you said something to him and he got it."

"I took a wild guess because his name is Celtic but it's not like I am fluent in ancient Celtic, maybe he didn't understand shit just didn't want to frighten the prey."

"Just take another wild guess," screamed Kiril while trying to push the lion back with his spear.

Five. Five were too many. In their beast forms, it would be a fun challenge but like this, it meant clear death.

The two other guys seemed to know each other too and focused on one lion.

"Ok let's go with one like those two. Damn hell..."

"Kiril, listen if I die and you get back to the future promise me you will not hurt my people, nor Mila, though the mate bond will not let you hurt her and that you are going to take care of Samira too."

"I am not the one to make promises because I never keep them."

Liar.

"I will trust in your honor."

"You shouldn't."

"I don't have another option."

The fight became bitter. The two gladiators managed to kill one lion but one of them died in the process. Kiril and Erik terminated another beast but Erik's shoulder got bitten and Kiril either sprained or broke his left hand.

They were both staring at Drutal that planted his spear in one beast's heart but the animal tore off his right foot.

Two were left and they were beyond exhausted but adrenaline kicked in again when the lion bit the head of the other gladiator off.

Drutal screamed something towards Kiril and Erik looked stunned how the lion was leaping toward him.

"Kiril!" he screamed and at the same time, he heard a roar right behind him.

They were going to fucking die. Both of them.

He stepped forward to attack the lion on his right but the beast leaped forward savagely. At that point, Erik knew it was going to tare off at least his forearm. He squeezed his eyes together expecting the pain just to open them when he felt like being crushed under a heavy body. The pain was though not the one expected.

The lion was lying limp on top of him. It was dead.  He looked over to Kiril, the other lion also layed at his feet motionless.

But how?

The crowed started roaring and screaming.

"Maleficos! Daemones!/ Wizards! Deamons!"

Fuck!

A few soldiers were running towards them while the crowd got wilder and wilder screaming.

"Daemones! Mors illis!/ Deamons! Death to them!"

"God damn it! Kiril, what did you do?"

"Nothing!"

But it didn't matter they were dragged away by the guards and dumped into a cell.

"Stop sulking. At least we are not dead," said Kiril.

"Yet. What do you think they plan if not a public execution, you idiot. We are going to burn on a stake."

Everything became suddenly dead silent in all the surroundings, the roaring of the crowd died down instantly and the door of the cell opened with a squeak.

"Domina..." said a steady voice.

______________________________

Oky! So:

1. What do you think happened? Or will happen?

2. Let's have some fun. Name a wild, interesting pairing of characters even if unlikely. I am curious.

I am honestly wondering who to pair Kiril with, if he survives that it. 😂

And thanks for reading! 🤗