Cull Each Other

"How long have you been here?" Dael asked.

Avery's expression was grim. "Since the beginning."

Dael had been in Angelus's household for almost a year. "You must be a formidable warrior, to have survived this long." Would Dael have to fight him? He had learned some from Flavia, but surely not enough.

"If we win enough fights, we can buy our freedom," Avery said.  "Darius'll throw you into the ring once the title fights are finished. Fresh ones get to cull each other. Survivors are trained up." He raised an eyebrow.  "But then you've got better chances of surviving than most, don't you?"