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He expected a long line and much bidding tonight.

Waving to the crowd one last time, he made his walk to the exit of the arena floor, where other fight guild warriors were applauding him. He did not acknowledge them because, frankly, they were not of his class. The only ones he really respected were those men he considered his equal, and those were few. But he could see those men standing just inside the staging area, and they were not cheering.

They were laughing at him.

Cam Netherton, a doctores, or trainer, was the first one Titus made eye contact with. Big, blond, and a brilliant tactical fighter, Cam simply stood there and shook his head.

“Do ye ever do anything different?” he asked drolly. “Is it always yer finishing move tae kick a man where he thinks?”

“Of course it is,” Titus said, untying the leather gloves on his hands. “By the time I kick him there, he is thinking about kicking me, so I must deliver the death blow.”

Cam was a quiet one for the most part, but he loved to poke holes in Titus’ pride. It was in good-natured fun, however. Titus knew he had Cam’s admiration and friendship. The man standing next to Cam, however, was another matter because, at one time, Titus and the man used to be both colleagues and opponents.

He made eye contact with Brody MacKay. Muscular, handsome Brody used to be competition for the ladies’ attention until he married last year. Women still looked at him and cheered for him, but there was no woman for Brody except his wife, which made Titus appreciate him all the more.

Less competition for women’s attention.

“And what does the great Highland Protector have tae say about my bout?” Titus demanded. “Did ye not see how perfect it was?”

Brody, whose fight guild nickname was the Highland Protector, knew the man was looking to have his ego stroked.

He would not oblige.

“It was decent,” he said.

Titus was insulted. “Better than anything ye’ve fought in yer life,” he said. “’Tis understandable for ye tae be envious of me. ’Tis all right, lad. Someday, ye may fight as well as I do.”

Brody started laughing, looking to Cam and rolling his eyes. Brody and Titus had been on many tandem teams because, surprisingly, they worked well together and they were undefeated before Brody retired to become a doctores. Still, Titus liked to poke at Brody, as brothers would roust one another.

And it was most definitely a brotherhood.

The last of the trio of men was another doctores that had Titus’ respect, although he’d rather die than admit it. Galan de Lara and Titus had suffered their share of bouts with each other, and Titus had the edge with victories. Unlike Cam and Brody, Galan was English. That meant he was the butt of insults, more than most, and he greatly frustrated Titus from time to time.

Even so, their bond was strong.

“And ye, Sassenach,” he said to Galan. “Tell me how great I am. I would hear yer praise.”

Galan sighed heavily. Like Cam and Brody, he found great annoyance with Titus, but the man was pure greatness. They all knew it. Titus knew it. It was a game between them after nearly every bout, with Titus demanding recognition and the doctores refusing to give it to him.

But tonight was different.

They had a little surprise for him.

“You were magnificent,” Galan said. “In fact, you were so magnificent that Cam and Brody and I have chosen the most beautiful woman in the arena for you tonight. It is our gift to you for such a flawless performance.”

Titus looked at them in surprise. “Is this true?” he said, surprised. “Where is she?”

Galan pointed into the holding area. There was a three-storied structure that comprised the north wall of the area – the bottom levels were for the competitors while the very top level, complete with a large stone balcony, was the private viewing apartment of the owner of the Ludus Caledonia, Clegg de Lave.

Clegg, however, was away from the Ludus Caledonia this night. He and one of his senior doctores, Luther Eddleston, were off visiting his other fight guilds. That left his private rooms empty, but not for long.

That’s where the doctores had the surprise waiting.

“There,” Galan said. “In Clegg’s apartment. Take the private stairs so the women waiting at the gates overlooking the holding area do not see you.”

Titus’ emerald gaze looked up at the third floor of the building, envisioning the beauty that would surely be waiting for him. A seductive smile crossed his lips, but he refused to heed their advice about taking the private stairs.

He paraded across the holding area floor for all to see.