Mikolaus: Seduced by the Gladiators Read online

  “Yes,” Osana said. “We fell in love before he could join a triad.” She held out a handful of feed for the horse. “Neither one of us wanted a triad. We began seeing each other secretly, but because we were not a triad, we became social outcasts. While there are no actual laws against a single couple, the social pressure was unforgiving.”

  Hannah wondered what it would be like to not have the freedom to make your choice.

  “Every social and governing structure on Lurra,” Osana said, “is built around the triad/quad. Our government is Madam President and the First Quad. Even our religion is quad-based. The Goddess Jainkosa, the great creator and ruler of everything is served by her Heavenly Quad. Gerra, the god of protection and war. Maite, god of home and love. And Osasun, god of health and happiness.”

  She turned to Hannah and asked, “On E2, is there social freedom?”

  “You would call it freedom,” Hannah answered. “On E2 there is not that kind of marriage restriction, but we don’t stay with one mate for long. I think there is a great deal of unhappiness in our freedom.”

  Looking around, she noted again the harsh living conditions of the Outlanders. Children played in the dirt where an animal called a bird scratched for feed.

  Osana and Kazen had taken her on a tour of their living conditions.

  “We needed you to see it for yourself,” Kazen said. “It wasn’t enough to merely talk to you.” His eyes pleaded with her to understand.

  And almost against her will, Hannah did.

  “It isn’t right to make you live like this because you love only one man. That’s not freedom—that’s cruelty. And Kazen? What happened to him?”

  “When he was a young man, Kazen loved a woman. But two of his triad were killed in a hunting accident. Rather than wait for him to establish a new triad, the woman’s family forced her to marry elsewhere. Kazen has never forgiven Lurra society for destroying his one chance at love.” Osana looked up as Kazen exited the building, his expression stern. “So, you see,” she said, “there is a great deal of unhappiness here, also.”

  Kazen joined them. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes,” Hannah replied. “Mikolaus will be worried.”

  The ride back to Galicia for Hannah and Kazen was quiet. The wagon was left behind, and Hannah sat upon a horse. The animal was docile, yet she clung to the saddle with both hands. Thankfully, the horse followed Kazen without her input.

  Before they reached the outskirts of Galicia, Kazen brought his horse to a stop. “We’ll walk the rest of the way,” he said.

  Hannah slid from the animal and as her feet touched the ground, she realized her legs had gone numb. She clutched the rigging on the animal to keep from sinking to the ground.

  Kazen laughed, reaching out to help steady her.

  Hannah chuckled. She shook out her legs and took a few tentative steps. She rubbed her rear end, saying, “Guess I’m not much of a rider.”

  Kazen smacked the two horses on the rump and shouted, “Hiiyah!” As they ran off, he said, “They’ll find their way home.” He turned and started walking.

  “How do you expect to return, then? On foot?” Hannah inquired.

  “I don’t expect to return,” he said calmly.

  Hannah stopped. “What? Why didn’t you bring your people? Why are you attempting this alone?”

  He shrugged. “I only want to talk,” he replied. “But the Inlanders could arrest me for kidnapping you. In which case, I won’t be returning.” He smiled, a rueful expression that crinkled the corners of his eyes with sadness. “Life in the Outlands is difficult enough without losing a family member. I have no family dependent on me. In that respect, I will not be missed.”

  “What if I speak up for you? I’ll tell them you didn’t harm me,” Hannah protested.

  “That’s our fight,” Kazen said. “Best you stay out of it.”

  Hannah pursed her lips. Her night with Mikolaus was fresh in her mind. She looked forward to meeting his brothers. Lurra called to her—she wanted to make a home here. “Seems to me you’ve made me a part of your fight,” she offered.

  “That wasn’t my intention,” Kazen replied. “I want you to speak to your superiors. An Outlander affiliation with the Earthen Diaspora Alliance would help ensure our ability to influence our government.”

  “I don’t have any power with the EDA.”

  Kazen smiled. “An alliance with Earth-2 would work almost as well.”

  Silently, they walked into Galicia. Hannah’s thoughts churned and her heart ached—the plight of these people shocked her.

  No one lives in the dirt on E2.

  She was beginning to see life on Lurra was not so rosy after all.

  * * *

  A group of men gathered in front of the delegation headquarters. Mikolaus spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. “We are looking for a delegate from E2. Her name is Hannah. She’s tall, with long red-gold hair, last seen wearing a silver tunic.”

  Ambassador Urkiza added, “She might have gotten lost and someone could have taken her in.”

  Ambassador Gray said, “We have grids marked out and each team will take―” He stopped and frowned. “Hannah?”

  Mikolaus turned to where the ambassador looked. Hannah and a man were walking up the street toward them. “Hannah.”

  He sprinted to where she stopped with the man. “Where did you go? Are you all right?” He took her hand, needing to feel the warmth of her touch as he eyed the man, who looked vaguely familiar.

  “I’m fine,” Hannah said.

  She smiled, but Mikolaus saw the unease in her eyes. He stepped close enough to catch her scent. “Did this man hurt you?” he whispered into her ear.

  Kazen strode over to the ambassadors. “I am Kazen. I represent the Outlands. I have returned the lady Hannah unharmed.”

  “Why was she in your company?” Ambassador Gray asked.

  “Hannah,” said Ambassador Urkiza, frowning. “The Outlands is some distance from Galicia—too far for us to believe you wandered lost all the way there. Did this man abduct you?”

  “I did take her,” Kazen admitted. “But as you can see, she is not hurt in any way.”

  At this revelation, an angry buzz whipped through the group. Mikolaus stared from Hannah to Kazen. “How do I know you?”

  Kazen nodded to Mikolaus. “We fought back-to-back in the gladiator sports a few years ago. We were quite good together.”

  Mikolaus vaguely remembered. “Why are you here, then, Kazen?” He kept his grip on Hannah’s hand and drew her closer.

  “I wish to speak to the honorable ambassador from E2 about grievous conditions here on Lurra. Conditions of which he is unaware.”

  A whisper ran through the growing crowd.

  “No harm was done to me by the Outlanders,” Hannah said directly to Ambassador Urkiza. “But harm has been done. I think you know what I mean.”

  The ambassador glanced down.

  Gray asked Ambassador Urkiza, “What’s going on? Who are these Outlanders?”

  “They’re misfits, those that do not conform to the long-established rules of Lurran society.” Urkiza’s voice turned almost angry.

  “Outlanders are not misfits,” Kazen said. “We’re good people, men, women, children—families—abandoned by the State, left to live outside of society. It was not our choice.”

  Mikolaus watched the interchange and shifted restlessly. His Hannah was returned, but he didn’t like her involvement with the Outlanders. He pulled her aside. “What happened?”

  Hannah peered at his face. He could see by her furrowed brow she felt real concern, whether for him or the Outlanders, he couldn’t say. But he didn’t expect her next words.

  “What happened, Mikolaus, is I have met the forgotten people of Lurra. How can you live in comfort while so many are relegated to such mean conditions in the Outlands?”

  Before he could answer, Ambassador Gray spoke out. “If there are legitimate grievances by a segment of the Lurran popul
ation, they must be addressed before the EDA and Lurra can negotiate any future arrangements.”

  “This is a Lurran problem,” Ambassador Urkiza said. “And has no bearing on negotiations with the EDA.”

  Ambassador Gray drew himself up to look across the crowd. “The EDA has no interest in telling Lurra how to govern its people. But it seems there is something here to investigate.” He looked to Kazen and added, “Would you be willing to speak to the delegation?”

  Kazen answered loudly. “To do so would be my pleasure, Ambassador.”

  Gray motioned to Kazen. “Then come with me, sir, and we’ll talk.”

  Elizabete Urkiza watched them walk away together, the lines of her face drawn and tight.

  Mikolaus couldn’t believe Hannah had gotten herself mixed up with Outlanders. As the two ambassadors turned to retreat to the headquarters, the crowd began to dissipate. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Luken and Domiku watching. He tightened his lips and scowled, knowing his brothers were amused by these events.

  “Mikolaus,” Hannah began. “I’m sorry for leaving like I did.”

  His heart pounded with anxiety, not only from her disappearance, but also because the Outlanders might as well have been the enemies of Lurran society. “Did I make you unhappy last night?” he asked.

  “No, you didn’t make me unhappy. In fact, our night together was one of the happiest of my life. But these are people, Mikolaus―”

  “These people, Hannah. They resist everything Lurra is built on.”

  “They have a right to live―”

  “No,” he interrupted. “The rights for all people are within the triad/quad structure. When they refuse to abide by the triad rules, they relinquish their rights.”

  “They live with animals, Mikolaus. I saw children―not laughing as they do in Galicia, but playing in the dirt. How can Lurra condone this?” She grabbed his hands and pleaded. “There must be a way for all to exist together in Lurran society.”

  Mikolaus saw her beautiful face and he wanted to make love to her, not argue. “They do not belong,” he persisted. “To give Outlanders a place in Lurran society is to destroy the very fabric that holds us together. Don’t you see that?”

  She raised a hand to cup his face. “What I see isn’t right,” she whispered softly. “If you will simply look at them, you’ll see it’s wrong.”

  Mikolaus closed his eyes, reveling in her touch, the soft sound of her voice. He knew she had a big heart. It was one of the traits he deeply admired. To his utter chagrin, he recognized …

  Perhaps my heart is not so big.

  Mikolaus looked down, unable to withstand her scrutiny. Behind him, he heard someone approach.

  “Mikolaus, Ambassador Urkiza wishes your presence.”

  “I must go,” Mikolaus said. He glanced at his brothers, who stood waiting and watching. He motioned them forward. “Hannah, these are my brothers. This is Domiku,” he said, stepping aside as Domiku came up. “And Luken.”

  Hannah nodded to the two men.

  “I cannot leave you alone,” Mikolaus said. “Not after―”

  “Go,” Domiku said.

  “We will take care of her, brother,” Luken added.

  Mikolaus studied Hannah. She smiled, even though the corners of her eyes crinkled with worry as she searched his face. “Give the Outlanders a chance, for me?”

  Mikolaus stepped back. He would do anything for her.

  But I don’t know if I can do this.

  Still, he would try. Inhaling deeply, he turned on his heel and left.

  * * *

  “Have I hurt him?” Hannah asked. She watched Mikolaus leave. His only answer to her entreaty had been the tightening lines around his mouth.

  “Hannah,” Domiku said, her name on his lips sounding like a caress. “Don’t worry.”

  “He’s stubborn,” Luken proclaimed. “But he is not unreasonable,”

  She tore her gaze from the stiff retreat of Mikolaus, and studied the two men before her. Luken was obviously younger, almost smooth-cheeked and with gentle blue eyes. But he carried a wicked looking knife in a scabbard strapped to his ripped torso, where the taut muscles of his abdomen expanded into a sculpted chest and shoulders. “Hi, Luken. You and Domiku must think me awful for getting drawn into this conflict.”

  Domiku stepped forward and took one of her hands. “We think no such thing.”

  Hannah admired Domiku’s sultry look. His eyes were dark and piercing, seeming to gaze right through her. Hannah felt the heat rising in her face as she gazed across his muscular form. While not as sculpted as Luken, he was nevertheless entirely sensual.

  Hannah exhaled. “Now what?”

  “You should come with us to the house,” Luken said. He smiled sweetly, and Hannah quickly imagined holding the boy in her arms. Seeing Domiku gazing intently at her, she shook her head.

  Domiku’s dark look inserted a different vision in her mind.

  Naked, locked in sensual combat, bodies glistening—

  “Yes,” she blurted.

  Luken laughed in delight. He offered her an arm. “Come,” he said. “You must learn about us, yes?”

  Domiku joined in, offering the same on her other side.

  The three of them stood alone in the street in front of the headquarters.

  She could go in and settle in her room.

  Where’s the fun in that?

  She linked her arms with the two men, giving each a sunny smile. “And people wondered why I wanted to go off-planet.”

  * * *

  Love Hannah and Mikolaus?

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  And keep an eye out for the rest of their story in the Lurran Chronicles.

  * * *

  The Lurran Chronicles

  Coming Summer 2017

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  The Lurran Chronicles include:

  Seduced by the Gladiators

  Mikolaus

  Luken

  Domiku

  Seduced by the Triad

  Matthew

  Adoni

  Zorian

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  About the Author

  USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Margo Bond Collins is a former college English professor who, tired of explaining the difference between "hanged" and "hung," turned to writing romance novels instead.

  You can learn more about her books at margobondcollins.net