Page 94

Tears streamed from her eyes.

“Dead?” she whispered. “They’re dead?”

“They are, sweet.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.”

“We will never have to fear them again?”

“Never.”

She broke down at the realization, weeping softly, as Titus held her. Her relief was too great for words. Years of captivity, of anguish and heartache, had just been ended.

For good.

She could hardly believe it.

Wiping at her eyes, Esme struggled to reclaim her composure as her gaze fell on a group of men several feet away. They were all looking at her. Cam even raised his hand and gave her a brief wave.

It took Esme a moment to realize that Titus hadn’t been alone in his fight against Ambrose and Conan.

He’d had help.

“They… they helped you,” she said. “All of them – they helped you?”

Titus turned to look at the group, smiling wearily. “They helped us,” he said. “They’re our family, Bee, and like any family, they’ll kill and die for ye. They werena going tae let Ambrose get tae ye.”

The impact of the situation sank deep, and Esme shook her head in wonder. “I can hardly believe it.”

He looked at her. “Why? Ye know they love us. Why should ye be surprised?”

Esme shook her head, trying to put it into words. “I’ve been alone most of my life until now,” she said. “I’ve heard of other women having great friends and big families, but I never understood that until now. I never understood what the bonds of friendship and family could mean, but I do now. At least, I am learning.”

“We’re both learning,” Titus said. “We have each other and we always will, but we also have a company of the greatest champions the world has ever seen. Our family, Bee. The Ludus Caledonia is many things, but the bond of warriors is its greatest strength. We saw that this morning.”

Those were among the greatest words Esme had ever heard. As Titus led her over to the group of men who had saved their very lives, all Esme could see within them were the hearts and souls of true champions.

True brothers.

With an Eagle to lead them all.

EPILOGUE

The Month of April

Year of Our Lord 1489

“Fight, Mama! Fight!”

Niko was straining against his mother, wanting very much to go onto the field where his father was training with a new group of recruits and some of the Ludus Caledonia’s elite fighters. Titus, Brody, Galan, Christos, and Aurelius were on the arena floor, demonstrating technique.

But Niko wanted to join them – badly.

Isadora was having a difficult time holding on to him as Esme and Lilia sat together, each with a twin. They were starting to walk now, so it was imperative to have a good grip, as Esme had learned. It was excellent practice for her, considering her own baby was due in about three months.

As Isadora struggled with Niko, in a basket beside her, an infant let up a cry. Her newborn, Knox, had the lungs of a bear, or so his father said. Named after Isadora’s great-grandfather, he had a crown of dark red hair. Isadora had two big, healthy boys on her hands and Cam could not have been prouder.