WEAPONS MASTER

GALACTIC GLADIATORS: HOUSE OF RONE #6

ANNA HACKETT

Weapons Master

Published by Anna Hackett

Copyright 2020 by Anna Hackett

Cover by Melody Simmons of BookCoversCre8tive

Cover image by Paul Henry Serres

Edits by Tanya Saari

ISBN (ebook): 978-1-922414-08-3

ISBN (paperback): 978-1-922414-09-0

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, events or places is coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.

CONTENTS

What readers are saying about Anna’s romances

Anna Hackett Box Set

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Preview: Edge of Eon

Preview - Hell Squad: Marcus

Also by Anna Hackett

About the Author

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ANNA’S ROMANCES

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CHAPTER ONE

He jammed the weapon under the Edull’s neck, just below the black leather mask covering the alien’s face.

“This is a new design of mine,” Maxon Shaye drawled. “A vibrablade. Right now, the edge doesn’t feel too sharp, does it?” He rammed it harder, and the Edull jerked against the bindings holding him to the chair.

The alien heaved in a breath, and it rasped through the valve in the mask. His dark eyes were wild, silver pupils glinting.

“You’ll tell us everything you know,” Maxon said. “Or I’ll turn on my new weapon, and the vibrations will make this blade slide through your skin like it’s sand.”

“Maxon.” The deep voice held a hint of warning.

Maxon’s imperator, Magnus Rone, stood nearby, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. One of those arms was cybernetic, designed by Maxon, himself.

Magnus Rone was a cyborg. The House of Rone was filled with lethal, deadly cyborgs. Maxon didn’t have any cybernetic limbs or obvious enhancements, but he was a cyborg too.

“You’ll tell us everything about your drakking arena, and where to find Bellamy Walsh, or I’ll put this through your head.” Maxon moved the blade from the alien’s throat, and pressed the tip of it to the Edull’s temple.

The alien’s raspy breathing was fast now.

“It’ll slice through your skull and brain so easily—”

“Maxon,” Magnus said, again.

The sharp stench of urine hit Maxon’s senses. The Edull had lost control of his bladder.

Satisfied, Maxon stepped back. Tension thrummed through his body, leaving him angry, unsettled, and edgy.

“Jax, Mace, find out what he knows,” Magnus ordered.

The two other cyborgs stepped out of the shadows.

Jaxer was the second in command at the House of Rone. He stood tall, with a lean, muscular body, cobalt-blue eyes, and an intricate tattoo that was more than it seemed on one arm. Mace was big, his body all hard muscle, and he looked like the brawler he’d been before he’d become a cyborg.

Maxon swiveled and strode to the door. He flexed his shoulders, trying to ease the tension.

The drakking woman had him messed up.

He slammed into the adjoining room. Two other elite cyborgs, Toren and Acton, stood near a large table. The men’s heads lifted. Toren’s long, blond hair drifted around his face, while Acton’s face was cool, his cybernetic hands pressed to the table’s surface.

Maxon knew every little thing on the table. It was all their data on the Edull’s desert city of Bari Batu, and on the battle arena the metal scavengers had built.

The sand-sucking Edull built giant battle bots, and used captive slaves to drive them. A battle to the death on the arena’s track.

He gritted his teeth and looked at the data. There was a map that had been obtained by another cyborg, Seren, and the House of Rone’s champion gladiator, Xias. The Edull ally hadn’t handed it over willingly, but Seren and Xias weren’t afraid of a good fight.

The rest of the data came from Bellamy Walsh.

Maxon closed his eyes. In his head, he could hear her voice. She’d fought alongside him, as they’d battled the Edull together in the desert.

The woman from Earth had short, blonde hair, tattoos in a multitude of colors on her toned arms, and a compact body. She’d been strong, irritating, and overconfident.

Well, you’re good at weapon design. Not bad at flying, either. Shame about the grumpiness.

Her words echoed in his head. The infuriating woman had kissed him. Maxon had felt like he’d been hit by an electric stun weapon.

Then she’d been snatched by the Edull again. Her fingers had slipped through Maxon’s, her green eyes filled with rage and fear.

He slammed a fist onto the table.

Magnus strode into the room. “Maxon, are you all right?”

Blowing out a breath, Maxon shook his head. “Drak, no.”

“You appear very emotional,” Acton noted.

Maxon flicked a glance at the cyborg.

Acton had always been the most cyborg of them all. He’d only very recently started feeling emotions, after falling in love with a pretty woman from Earth called Sage. Before, Acton had been cool and emotionless, and now, he wasn’t.

Drak, all his fellow cyborgs had been cool and emotionless. Rescuing all these women had changed them. Most recently, Toren had struggled to deal with a deluge of emotions, and then he’d fallen in love with Simone.

Several females had been rescued by the House of Rone. It had all started with Ever Haynes, who was now happily mated to Magnus.

Since meeting Ever, Magnus had…come to life.

The pair had a daughter now.

Things Maxon would have had, long ago, if things had been different. He slammed a door in his mind shut on those thoughts.

Bellamy was the final woman from the crew of the Helios ship from Earth who needed to be recovered. The ship had been attacked by Thraxian slavers, and they’d been sold to the Edull here on the desert planet of Carthago.

Other humans had been taken from a space station, and been rescued by the gladiators of the House of Galen. But Magnus had taken the lead on the Helios survivors.

Quinn was now mated to Jax and had become an invaluable member of the House of Rone. Jayna, Sage, Simone, and her daughter, Grace, were now all part of the House as well.

Only Bellamy remained a prisoner.

“The Edull value Bellamy’s skills,” Magnus said. “They won’t kill her. We’ll get her back.”

The woman was a mechanic, and good with her hands. She’d gained the Edull’s trust, but then she’d tried to escape and help the House of Rone. So, while they might not kill her, there was every chance they’d hurt her.

“As soon as we get intel on exactly where in the arena she is, we’ll infiltrate,” Magnus said.

Maxon grunted.

He didn’t like people much. His fellow cyborgs were fine, but people—overrun with wild emotions—couldn’t be trusted. They were generally aggravating.

Once, before he’d had his internal cyborg parts added, he’d been more social, he’d wanted…

Well, it didn’t matter what he’d wanted.

Right now, he had a driving need that he didn’t understand. All he knew was that he wanted Bellamy Walsh rescued.

After that, he wanted to get back to his weapons workshop, back to being the meticulous Weapons Master of the House of Rone, and to be left alone.

“LET GO OF ME, you raspy-breathing asshole, or I’ll break your arm into tiny little pieces.”

Her captor dragged her across the ground, ignoring her threats.

Asshole.

As her captor pulled her out of the tunnel and into the stands of the battle arena, Bellamy Walsh heard revving engines. She winced at the bright lights. They’d kept her locked up alone in the dark for the last few days, thanks to her “uncooperative” behavior.

She hated the motherfucking Edull with every cell in her body.

She was dragged between some benches—thank God she kept cutting her hair short so they couldn’t drag her by that—and tossed to the ground in front of a group of Edull.

She saw black robes step in front of her and her stomach clenched. She looked up.

Fucking Vossol.

He was the Edull in charge of the battle arena. He was smart and cruel, and wore a red mask, unlike the other Edull, who had black ones. The pricks couldn’t breathe the air on the planet of Carthago. She wished she could rip all their stupid masks off.

“Vossol, the Earth slave does excellent work for us,” another Edull murmured. “She’s fixed several inoperable engines, added parts to bots.”

Ignoring them, Bellamy looked at the track. They were conducting a training run. Three huge battle bots were speeding around the track.

No one would die today, but on race night…

She looked back at Vossol and glared. She’d seen too many innocent people lose their lives in this place.

“She has become a little…disruptive of late,” the Edull finished.

“Well,” Bellamy drawled. “When you abduct and enslave people against their will, is it so surprising that they get pissed?”

The Edull kicked out at her, but she dodged.

Incandescent fury unfurled, churning inside her. In the beginning, she’d toed the line when she’d first come to the battle arena, gained their trust, and helped other captives when she could.

She’d seen so many die. Her hands clenched into fists. So many she hadn’t been able to help.

Then just a few days ago, a fellow Helios crewmember, Simone, had come to rescue her. Along with the House of Rone.

Cyborgs. They’d been amazing and fierce. Bellamy had fought alongside them, with a gorgeous, surly beast of a man.

Then the Edull had snatched her back.

The House of Rone would come for her again. She was sure. But months of captivity had worn the edges of her hope pretty ragged.

“She’s become too problematic,” Vossol rasped.

She hated that deep, hoarse voice. She glared at him again. He hadn’t seen problematic yet, but she could show it to him.

“The word is that the House of Rone want her, and to destroy what’s ours.” The silver pupils in Vossol’s dark eyes burned. “Our agents in Kor Magna have gone missing.”

Bellamy fought back a smile. If there was one thing she’d learned about the Edull, it was that they liked power. They never took on a stronger opponent directly. And they hated losing.

“Those cyborgs have you shitting your pants, don’t they?” Bellamy said.

Vossol moved fast. He grabbed her by the neck and dragged her up, then slammed her against the wall.

Ow. The back of her head hit the metal wall, and she bit her tongue. She tasted blood. The Edull weren’t as physically strong as most people, but Vossol was an exception.

The alien pushed her upward until she was scrambling on her toes. His gloved fingers tightened on her neck.

“The House of Rone is asking questions, searching for a way to find her. They are also scaring off our allies and customers in the capital city.”

Bellamy tried to draw a breath but couldn’t. Black spots blotched her vision.

“Our ticket sales for the next race are down,” another Edull said.

“And some competitors have pulled bots out of the race,” another added.

“All because of you.” Vossol’s eyes felt like they were boring into her. “One useless Earth female.”

Bellamy spat at him.

His fingers clenched harder, and she choked and struggled.

Can’t. Breathe. But still, she lifted her chin and glared. She wouldn’t show him any weakness.

All her life, Bellamy had gritted her teeth and persevered. Apart from her grandmother, she’d basically been alone her entire life. Anything she’d wanted had been denied, or she’d fought for it, tooth and nail.

Her vision blurred, the lack of oxygen making her brain foggy. It wandered. To shaggy, brown-blond hair, moody gold eyes, a sexy mouth set in what she guessed was a perpetual scowl.

A big, grumpy lion.

She’d never get to see him again, and she didn’t even know his name.

Vossol tossed her roughly to the floor. On her hands and knees, Bellamy dragged in air.

“If we kill her, we’ll bring the wrath of the House of Rone down on us,” the Edull leader said.

Good. “I’ll enjoy watching those cyborgs tear you apart.”

His breath rasped. “We can’t kill her directly, but we can still get rid of her.”

Bellamy stilled, a shiver going down her spine.

“Take her to Zulnath.”

An Edull stepped forward. “The desert crime lord?”

“Yes. He’s foolish enough not to care who he angers. Even if it is Magnus Rone.” Vossol’s eyes glowed again.

Bellamy knew he was smiling behind his red mask.

“Zulnath likes to feed people to his pack of rabid caquls,” Vossol added.

Bellamy had no idea what a caqul was, but she guessed they weren’t small, fluffy, and cuddly.

“Take her.” Vossol waved a gloved hand.

Someone grabbed the back of Bellamy’s shirt and dragged her up. As she was hauled out of the battle arena, her gut churned. Cyborgs, if you’re coming, please come soon.

CHAPTER TWO

Maxon prowled across his workshop.

He couldn’t focus. The design for his latest gun was not working. He slammed his fist on the workbench, then swiveled, snatched up a tool, and threw it across the room.

It hit the wall with a clatter and fell to the floor.

A house worker unwisely chose that moment to enter. The young man was carrying a tray of food and drinks. When the man saw Maxon and the broken tool, he froze.

“Out!” Maxon roared.

The man backed out and bumped a bench. Several parts fell to the floor.

“Fool,” Maxon said. “What are you doing? Get out of my space.”

The man turned and fled.

A second later, there was movement in the doorway. Magnus appeared.

“Are you done terrorizing my staff?” the imperator asked.

“Probably not.”

“I know your emotions have never been dampened by your cyborg enhancements, but you’re on edge, even for you, Maxon.”

Maxon scraped a hand through his hair.

“I know you forget it sometimes,” Magnus continued. “But you aren’t alone.”

Spinning, Maxon threw himself into a chair. He leaned forward and dangled his hands between his knees. “I keep thinking of her.”

“Bellamy.”

He growled. “Yes, Bellamy. It’s insane that I think about her this much. I only saw her for a few minutes.” She’d been brave, fearless, reckless. “She’s nothing to me, yet I keep imagining what the crudspawn Edull are doing to her.” Maxon dragged in a ragged breath. “She’s small.” He met Magnus’ gaze. “How do you handle knowing Ever and Asha are so fragile?”

“Because they’re not.” The imperator’s eyes glowed neon blue. “Asha’s a child, so yes, she needs protection. But Ever can protect herself.” He smiled. “My mate is very smart. All the women of Earth have been through so much, but they are smart, resourceful, and resilient. So is Bellamy.”

“I just…” Drak, he couldn’t put it into words. “I just have this impending sense of doom, Magnus. That she’s in terrible danger.”

Magnus went stiff.

Maxon knew why. Maxon’s species possessed a highly developed intuition. Their biological senses were able to pick up things that couldn’t be detected by others. His cyborg implants had dampened it somewhat, but Maxon still had a high sense of intuition. He used it and trusted it daily in his work. He’d feel how to get a design right, rather than just depend on facts.

“Her skills are of value to the Edull,” Magnus said.

“But she helped their enemies. They’ll make her pay for that.”

“Do you have anything specific from this feeling?” Magnus asked.

Maxon shook his head.

The imperator nodded. “I’ll step up our plans to get back to Bari Batu.”

There was a knock at the door.

A female house worker entered and bowed her head. “Imperator Galen to see you.”

A muscled, rugged man strode in, his black cloak flaring behind him.

He wore fighting leathers that slicked up powerful legs, and a black shirt tight enough to show that, despite no longer fighting in Kor Magna’s famed gladiatorial arena, Galen kept in fighting form. Tattoos peeked out under the sleeves of his shirt, and a black eyepatch covered one eye.

“Magnus.” Galen inclined his head. “Maxon.”

“Always a pleasure, Galen,” Magnus said.

Galen ran the House of Galen with a firm hand. They had the best gladiators in the arena, and behind the scenes, they rescued enslaved fighters not suited to doing battle in the arena.

He and his gladiators had rescued the first woman from Earth, and brought down the Thraxian slavers. All the women they’d rescued were now happily mated.

That included the woman Galen had claimed as his own—fierce Sam Santos.

“I have news,” Galen said.

Maxon straightened. “About Bellamy?”

The imperator nodded. “An informant got word to us via Corsair.”

Corsair was the leader of the Corsair Desert Caravan. The caravan master was mated to Ever’s sister, Neve.

“And?” Maxon demanded, impatient to hear.

“It’s likely a day old now,” Galen said, carefully.

“Tell us,” Maxon growled.

“A woman matching Bellamy’s description was spotted at the Meridian Outpost.”

Maxon didn’t know the outpost, but he noted that Magnus straightened.

Gut churning, Maxon kept his gaze on Galen. “Go on.”

“She was taken there by the Edull. She was—” Galen’s lips quirked “—fighting them.”

Of course, she was, the little fool.

Galen’s face turned serious. “She was sold to Zulnath.”

“Drakking hell,” Magnus muttered.

“Who is Zulnath?” Maxon asked slowly.

“A desert crime lord,” Galen answered. “He runs raids, prostitution, drugs.”

Maxon grunted, not liking this turn of events at all.

“He is also known to buy slaves…to feed live to his pack of caquls.”

Maxon stood so fast his chair toppled over. Caquls were mean, vicious little carnivores. This information was a day old. Bellamy could already be dead.

He swiveled. “Magnus.”

His imperator nodded. “I’ll have Jax gather the team.”

“I’m coming.” Maxon strode across his workshop and opened some cabinets on the far wall. He started pulling out his weapons. He wasn’t part of Magnus’ elite cyborgs, but he could fight.

“I’ll contact Rillian,” Galen said. “Have him prepare a ship for you.”

Maxon tried to focus through the gathering storm in his head. Rillian, an ally and owner of the Dark Nebula Casino, was insanely wealthy. The man had been experimenting with ships to navigate Carthago’s deserts. A certain mineral in the sand wreaked havoc on engines, so until now, most tech didn’t function in the desert.

Maxon slammed his weapons into holsters on his hip, then he clipped explosives onto his belt.

He wasn’t trained like the elite cyborgs, but he kept up his fitness and skills. He met Magnus’ blue gaze.

The imperator nodded. “Let’s go.”

GOD, men could be so clichéd. Even alien men half a galaxy away from Earth.

Bellamy was shoved across the dusty courtyard with two other captives—a woman and a man. The woman was ahead of Bellamy, sobbing hard. The slim man beside her trembled.

Bellamy and the woman were both clad in a tiny twist of red fabric that clasped around their necks with gold wire. She felt like Princess Leia in her slave bikini. She keenly hoped she would get the chance to strangle an asshole with a chain.

The man was shirtless, with simple trousers on. He was trying hard not to show his fear.

Bellamy’s outfit had a slit at the front, showing off the vine-like tribal tattoos winding up her stomach.

“Move.” One of the guards shoved her again.

Biting her lip, she forced herself to swallow a creative curse. Ahead, the woman tripped, and as the guard moved toward her, Bellamy stepped between them and glared. She reached down and helped the woman up.

The Edull had dumped her at this hot, desert outpost—kicking and screaming—a day ago. She’d been kept in a cell with the other slaves, and now they were being presented to the head honcho, Zulnath.

Her belly turned over. He sounded bad. He had to have several screws loose to not fear the House of Rone.

She squeezed her eyes closed. She had to stay strong and help herself. She was used to that.

They were led into a stone building. It was cooler inside, and it had a large, domed roof in the entry.

The guards led them down a long hall, and she saw other slaves cleaning or carrying goods. They all briefly glanced their way—pity on their faces—before they looked away.

Her little group was led into a huge room covered in rich, red-and-gold wall hangings.

There were several people sitting around, drinking and talking at long tables. Harsh laughter echoed off the walls. Zulnath’s gang looked like standard-issue brutish thugs. She noted the Edull who’d brought her here were also sitting at a table in the back, enjoying themselves.

The rest of the people were hard, scarred men and women all clad in light-colored desert clothes. Among them were some women dressed similar to Bellamy, meaning, in not very much. They draped themselves around the room like a kind of living décor.

Zulnath was at the head of the room, seated on a low bench.

A woman clad in a dress of glittering chains massaged his shoulders, her outfit making a clinking sound as she moved.

Zulnath had a muscular body and bright-blue skin, with patches of iridescent green on it. His broad chest was bare, and he wore leather trousers. His long, black hair was pulled back in a ponytail secured by gold rings, he had bright green eyes, and a flat nose that gave him a squished appearance.

He reached out and took a drink off the table in front of him. He took a long swallow, his gaze taking in her trio.

“Scrawny bunch. Barely a decent snack for my pets.”

The male captive beside Bellamy whimpered.

Bellamy rolled her eyes.

Zulnath’s neon-green gaze zeroed in on her. “You’re the one who’s been causing the Edull problems.”

She snorted. “They cause their own problems.”

The desert crime boss rose. “You’re a feisty little thing.”

He circled her. The woman beside her cowered, but despite Bellamy’s pounding heart, she made herself stand still and not show her fear.

“I could find other uses for you,” he drawled.

“Yeah, and I could scratch your eyes out.”

Zulnath laughed. When he stepped back in front of her, his gaze was a little bright, and not quite right.

“Vossol warned me that the House of Rone is searching for you, and not to keep you around.”

“So, you’re afraid of the Edull and the House of Rone?”

The man stiffened. “I’m not afraid of anyone. This is my domain.” His voice lowered. “I’m especially not afraid of men who are more metal than flesh.”

She thought of her tawny-haired beast. She hadn’t seen any obvious implants, but she was certain he was a cyborg.

And very much all man.

Stay focused, Bellamy.

“None of this matters,” Zulnath declared, lifting a hand. “Because soon you’ll be dead.”

There was a grinding of gears, and suddenly the floor started opening. Bellamy stumbled back.

The floor retracted to reveal a pit below, with a sand-covered floor. The thugs at the tables shouted and stomped their feet.

Her mouth went dry.

At first, she didn’t see anything. Then the creatures crept out of the shadows, and her heart thumped painfully.

The scaled creatures weren’t big. They were lizard-like and quick, with spikes on their short, stumpy tails. How bad could they be?

There was a sudden movement, and the male captive beside her was shoved by the guard.

The man screamed as he fell.

“No!” Bellamy yelled.

The man hit the sand below, and the caquls pounced.

As the man screamed and bones crunched, Bellamy looked away. They were like a pack of piranha, ripping and tearing at the man.

She didn’t look, but she made herself listen to the screams until they died away.

The caquls made low growling sounds.

She lifted her head and glared at Zulnath. He was grinning. Laughter echoed through the room from his people. A man had died, and these people thought it was funny. The woman beside her was crying now.

“Any quips now, troublemaker?” Zulnath asked.

“Yep. Fuck you.”

The man waved the guards closer.

Bellamy dragged in a breath as the guards advanced. She had nothing to lose. The guard coming at her was holding a long, metal staff.

He advanced. He had dreadlocks falling around his scarred face. As he gave her an ugly smile, his scarred cheek twisted.

Come on, asshole. Bellamy had grown up fighting in the street and schoolyard. A neighbor boy had taught her to fight—smart and scrappy.

The guard got close, and Bellamy moved.

She ducked low and punched out hard, hitting his groin. The man made a horrible, choked sound.

His grip on his staff loosened and she snatched it, and swung.

She smacked him in the gut, knocking him off balance. He took two staggering steps backward…and tumbled into the pit.

He screamed, and the caquls attacked.

“Stop her!” Zulnath roared.

All around the room, men and women leaped up, grabbing their weapons.

Bellamy backed up and grabbed the arm of the other captive, tugging the woman back.

A man charged them, a bulky, metallic weapon in his hand. Flames spewed from it.

Flamethrower. Shit.

Bellamy pulled the woman with her and they dived over a table.

The man came closer, and Bellamy scrambled under the heavy table. She whacked the staff into his legs.

She heard the snap of a bone breaking. He yelled, and fell to the floor. His weapon flew out of his hand and skittered across the stone tiles.

“Get her, you idiots!” Zulnath’s enraged voice.

Bellamy darted out and grabbed the flamethrower. She smiled.

Then she rose. Zulnath’s green gaze met hers, and his eyes widened.

She pressed the trigger and sprayed flames all around.

CHAPTER THREE

They were still a long way out from the Meridian Outpost, when he saw the plumes of smoke.

Maxon leaned forward. What the drak? The thick, black smoke rose in huge columns into the pale-blue sky.

“What does that mean?” he asked.

Magnus’ face was focused like a predator, staring through the forward viewscreen of the sleek ship. “Nothing good.”

The House of Rone’s elite cyborgs—except Zaden, who’d stayed behind in charge of the House of Rone—and Quinn filled the seats in the ship. They all waited, tension filling the air. Quinn crossed her long legs, her blonde braid dangling over her shoulder. Her face said that she really wanted to fight.

Soon, the outpost swept into view.

It was encircled by tall, metal walls—common in the desert to protect inhabitants from beasts and raiders. Inside the walls, Maxon saw that several buildings were on fire, and people were running and fighting out on the sand.

In the mêlée, he spotted a small blonde waving a flamethrower around.

Drak. Earth women.

Maxon watched as several men, including an Edull, began to converge on her.

“We have to help her,” Quinn said.

“Magnus,” Maxon growled.

“I see.” Magnus leaned forward over the pilot’s chair. “Dachard, get us in low.”

“Sure thing, imperator,” Rillian’s pilot replied.

The ship swooped low over the outpost.

“Everyone ready?” Magnus scanned the cyborgs and Quinn, who were all standing, each one of them filled with edgy energy.

“Let’s do this.” Quinn smirked. “I’m ready to crack some heads.”

Drak, yeah. Maxon nodded. “Let’s go.” He wanted this done.

Magnus opened the side door of the shuttle and wind rushed in. Then, without pausing, the imperator leaped out. He sailed into the air and dropped fast.

Jax, Quinn in his arms, jumped next, his red cloak flapping behind his body.

Mace, Acton, Toren, and Seren followed.

Maxon pulled in a breath and leaped, the wind rushing into his face. The ground raced up to meet him.

The House of Rone cyborgs landed in crouches all around the outpost. Maxon bent his knees to absorb the impact, coming up and assessing the fighters.

Beside him, Mace’s skin turned into a silver shield, and he charged an Edull. Magnus swung his cybernetic arm, which glittered with blue electricity.

The other cyborgs and Quinn leaped into the fight.

Maxon lifted his weapon, aiming at the man attacking Bellamy. He fired, the bolt of laser finding its target. He swiveled and fired again.

With screams, two fighters went down.

Bellamy and several other slaves, only wearing tiny, ridiculous scraps of fabric, were all fighting. Bellamy had a fierce look on her face, spewing flames around.

Then the flamethrower died. She shook it, her lips moving. Maxon could imagine her creative curses.

A large alien closed in on her. She threw the flamethrower at the man.

Maxon charged in and kept firing.

“Bellamy!” he roared.

Their gazes locked, and it was as though a jolt of electricity hit him. He grabbed the second gun out of his holster and threw it. It sailed through the air.

She snatched the weapon, lifted it, and smiled.

They both started firing, and he worked his way toward her.

Suddenly, a tall alien tackled her from the side. They crashed to the sand.

Drak.

Maxon sprinted closer. He grabbed one of his knives from his belt and threw it at another incoming alien. Bellamy and the alien wrestled on the sand.

With a roar, Maxon grabbed the alien and yanked him off her.

As the being tumbled through the dirt, Maxon raised his weapon and fired. The alien slumped on the sand.

Turning, he held a hand out to Bellamy. She put her small hand in his and he pulled her up. The tiny piece of fabric she was wearing shifted, and he saw smooth skin and elegant tattoos on her belly.

Despite the circumstances, Maxon was shocked to feel blood pool in his groin and his cock harden.

Drak. Ignoring his body’s response, he asked, “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “You came.”

Before he could respond, pain speared through his shoulder.

Bellamy shouted and Maxon looked down. A metal tip protruded through his shoulder, sending blood streaming down his chest.

He reached behind him, and felt the spear protruding out of his back. Turning, he lifted his weapon and fired on the man who’d thrown the spear. The attacker clutched his neck and faceplanted in the sand.

Then pain crashed in on Maxon and he went down on one knee, breathing heavily. His systems kicked in, trying to stem the bleeding and pain.

“God.” Bellamy crouched, concern on her face.

“Pull it out,” he said between gritted teeth.

She nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. She circled out of his view and a second later, she yanked the spear out of his skin. No hesitation, no uncertainty.

Drakking hell. He groaned and fought to stay conscious. Pain ripped through every cell in his body. His cyborg systems worked hard to block the agony.

She came back into view and he saw her stiffen. “Watch out!”

A blue-skinned man rushed at them. He matched the description of Zulnath.

The sandsucker grabbed Bellamy, and she struggled against the man’s hold.

Fighting the black blotches dancing in his vision, Maxon scanned for Magnus and the others.

They were all busy fighting.

Dredging up some strength, Maxon pushed up. But suddenly, two men grabbed his arms on either side, the jolt sending more pain through his battered body.

They dragged him through the sand, while Zulnath towed a struggling Bellamy, around one of the burning buildings.

“You’ve caused me a lot of problems, Earth woman,” Zulnath snarled.

Bellamy snarled back. “Boohoo.”

The crime lord’s face twisted. “I’ve had enough of you.” Zulnath pulled a large blade out of a sheath on his belt. The dagger was shiny like a mirror, and sunlight reflected off it.

It was made of flaza. The substance could be honed to the sharpest edge.

No! Maxon shoved at the men holding him. They both tumbled into the dirt. Then using the last of his strength, he jumped into the air, reaching over his shoulder for the vibrasword strapped to his back.

He yanked it out. It lit up, vibrating under his palms. He slashed it down.

Zulnath screamed. The blade carved through the man’s body, and as he went down, Maxon twisted. He stabbed the crime lord through the chest.

Landing back on his feet, Maxon staggered, the pain now excruciating. Bellamy jumped up, and then her arms clamped around him, holding him upright.

Her hand wrapped around his on the hilt of the sword and together, they pushed it deeper.

Green blood bubbled from Zulnath’s mouth. He made a choked noise and collapsed on the sand.

Maxon and Bellamy pulled the sword free and then they both fell backward onto the ground.

“God.” She scrambled up and touched his bleeding shoulder.

Her face was streaked with blood and soot. Her short hair showcased the long, almost delicate line of her neck. So elegant, for such a tough spitfire of a woman.

“There’s so much damn blood.” Worry and panic coated her voice.

Maxon stilled. When was the last time anyone had truly worried about him? “My internal systems have slowed the bleeding.”

Green eyes, like the fields of grass on the homeworld he barely remembered, met his. “Okay, that’s good. You’ll be all right?”

He gave her a quick nod.

Her hand moved, stroking his skin, sending shockwaves of sensation through him.

Maxon gritted his teeth. He didn’t like being touched, and he definitely didn’t like this out-of-control, shocking emotion that went with it.

He drew back and her hand dropped. She blinked, her fingers curling.

“Maxon.” Magnus’ shout.

“Over here,” Maxon replied gruffly.

The House of Rone cyborgs appeared.

“Bellamy.” Quinn engulfed the woman in a hug, blocking her from Maxon’s view.

Good. He needed the distance. He wanted these out-of-control urges gone.

She was safe, and now he could get back to his drakking work.

BELLAMY ABSORBED QUINN’S HUG, tears pricking her eyes.

Damn. She did not cry. Ever. She hadn’t shed one tear through all this ordeal. She hadn’t cried since she was six and her mom had left her.

Tears changed nothing.

She sniffed. “Damn glad to see you guys.”

“We’re damn glad that you’re okay.” Quinn scanned around. “I see you raised some hell.”

“They deserved it.” Suddenly, Bellamy felt drained and tired. Her adrenaline was crashing, and everything was slamming down on her.

She turned to look at her tawny-haired savior. A handsome cyborg with a red cloak was tending to him. She heard him grunt and start to complain.

“Don’t worry, Maxon is as tough as old leather.” Quinn grinned. “And about as cheery.”

“Bellamy, I’m glad to see you aren’t injured,” someone said.

She looked up at one of the cyborgs, the blond-haired Toren. She’d met him at Bari Batu with Simone.

“Hi, Toren.” She found a smile for him.

“Bellamy Walsh.”

The deep voice made her turn and she swallowed. This man had “boss” stamped all over him.

“I’m Magnus Rone.”

So, this was “the” cyborg. “Thanks for the rescue.”

The man’s expression didn’t change, but she sensed he was amused. “I believe you did just fine rescuing yourself. The other women from the Helios are eager to see you.”

“Simone’s okay?” she asked.

Magnus nodded. “And her daughter. Along with Sage and Jayna.”

Bellamy’s chest hitched and she looked at Quinn. “That’s it?”

Quinn squeezed her arm. “And Mina. That appears to be all from the Helios who were sold to the Edull. There are several others from Fortuna Station. Most of them are at the House of Galen.”

But there had been so many more aboard the Helios. Jesus. Bellamy had to face the fact that they were dead or sold on some other distant planet.

A big, scowling cyborg stepped up beside Magnus. “You want us to round up any of Zulnath’s people who survived?”

The imperator nodded. “Set them free in the desert, Mace. And I want to talk to the other residents and find someone capable of taking over here.”

The handsome cyborg moved close to Quinn, running a hand down her arm. “Magnus, Corsair’s mentioned an enclave close to here. It’s run by a woman called Cassana and her mate, Lena. Rumor is that Cassana is a former escaped slave and she welcomes anyone who’s been enslaved, anyone with no home to go to.”

“You think she’d be happy to take over this outpost?” Magnus asked.

“I think so. Corsair said she’s been taking in anyone who’s escaped from Bari Batu.”

“Contact her.”

The handsome cyborg smiled. “Consider it done.”

Quinn smiled. “Bellamy, this is Jax. My cyborg.”

The man smiled, seemingly more in touch with his emotions than the others. He looked extremely happy to be claimed by Quinn.

“A pleasure, Bellamy.”

Quinn went on to introduce the grumpy-looking Mace and brown-haired Acton, and the tough, female cyborg, Seren.

As the others got busy rounding up Zulnath’s people, Bellamy went over and crouched by Maxon.

He was scowling, his eyes burning hot. Wow, they actually looked like melted gold. A temporary bandage had been pressed to the spear wounds on his back and shoulder. His turbulent gaze met hers—hot, electric, and cranky as hell.

When he tried to move, she pressed a hand to his uninjured shoulder. “You should stay still, or you’ll bleed more.”

He made a sound like an annoyed bear. “I’m a cyborg. I don’t need coddling.”

“Man, you’re even grumpier than I remember.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “And you’re even more irritating than I remember.”

Bellamy laughed. It felt like something cracked open inside her, and it felt good. God, she hadn’t laughed in so long.

When she calmed, his moody gaze moved across her face. Like she was a puzzle that confounded him, but he really wanted to solve.

“No one’s made me laugh for a really long time, cyborg,” she said quietly. “So, thanks.”

Something worked behind his eyes.

She reached out to touch his bandage, but he lifted a hand. “If you want to help, go and find my weapons.”

She rose. “Lord, you’re bossy.”

He raised a brow. “So?”

Shaking her head, she stalked over to where they’d fought the crime boss and his goons.

Magnus, Quinn, and the other cyborgs were gathering a crowd of Zulnath’s followers. Several were beaten up and in bad shape.

Bellamy couldn’t find it in herself to feel much sympathy for them.

She spotted the shiny-looking gun Maxon had used and lifted it. She remembered him firing it with expert ease. She ran her hand down the metal. Nice. It had a sleek design, but was also sturdy.

Next, she lifted the wicked sword he’d used to kill Zulnath and found the sexy little blaster he’d thrown at her to use.

There was a whoosh of sound overhead, and she looked up to see a shuttle landing in the courtyard. It was like no ship she’d ever seen on Earth.

“That’s our ride,” Quinn said.

As Bellamy headed toward the shuttle, she watched Mace and Jax send Zulnath’s people into the desert. She knew just how deadly Carthago’s deserts could be. They didn’t stand much of a chance.

Magnus was talking to a tall woman, clearly a worker. It appeared she was the newly appointed leader of this dusty outpost.

Bellamy didn’t care who was left in charge. She just wanted to get out of there.

“Here.” She handed the weapons to Maxon.

He took them with a grunt.

Jeez, the man was a total bear. “You’re welcome.”

Toren appeared and helped Maxon to his feet. They headed toward the shuttle.

Bellamy walked with Quinn and boarded. “Nice.”

The shuttle’s interior matched the sleek exterior. It had a plush, expensive feel, with wide seats, and high-tech cockpit.

Quinn nodded. “An ally, Rillian, owns it. The man has a gazillion credits, owns the glitziest casino in Kor Magna, and fills out a suit mighty fine. He’s mated with Dayna. She’s a former cop who was taken off a transport docking with the Fortuna. I’ll fill you in on all the humans who’ve been rescued on the trip back to Kor Magna.”

“Thanks again, Quinn.”

The woman touched Bellamy’s shoulder. “You’re safe now. We’re all making a life here, and you will too.”

Bellamy forced a smile, but inside, she felt jittery and uncertain.

Vossol and his Edull thugs were still out there, killing people in their fucking desert arena.

Bellamy might be safe, but she didn’t feel free.

CHAPTER FOUR

Her eyes snapped open, and Bellamy released a shaky breath.

The room wasn’t dark; she’d left the light on earlier. She’d been given a gorgeous bedroom at the House of Rone.

But despite the large, comfy bed behind her, she was sleeping on a rug on the floor. She sat up. She’d tried the bed, and loved the soft feel and the silky covers. But after months of sleeping on the ground, she hadn’t been able to fall asleep on the soft bed.

She knew that it was the middle of the night. That harsh time when it seemed like the whole world had fallen away and that she was all alone.

Bellamy had been welcomed at the House of Rone like a long-lost sister. The women, led by Ever, had welcomed her warmly. She’d been to Medical, and been checked over by the old, calm healer Avarn. She now had an implant to protect her from all kinds of diseases and pregnancy. Then, she’d been able to bathe, and rid herself of layers of dirt and grime. And now she had this room, filled with lovely clothes, and a belly full of good food.

She’d ended the day in Ever’s sitting room, holding a damn heavy cyborg cat that had jumped into her lap, and eating amazing treats that Calla, a rescued alien woman, had baked for her.

Every woman had shared their incredible story. Each one had been through so much, snatched away from everything they’d known.

She’d watched Ever and Magnus’ little girl, Asha, crawl around. She’d listened to the women’s laughter, seen their happiness and joy. They’d moved on from their hurt and pain, and they’d embraced life.

Bellamy scrubbed her face with her hands. It had all been too much. She’d eventually told them that she was tired, and she’d been ushered to this beautiful room.

She looked out of the windows, and caught a glimpse of the Kor Magna Arena and the skyscrapers of the District beyond it. The arena’s old cream stone was such a contrast to the glass-and-metal buildings behind it.

She was definitely not on Earth anymore. A hollow feeling cut through her. There was no way back to her own planet. That was okay. She’d easily come to terms with that, because there was nothing for her to go back for. Her gram was dead, and the rest of her family had left her a long time ago.

She was free, but some part of her inside continued to twist and scream. It was angry and poisonous, and it wanted to tear the Edull apart and set them on fire.

“You just need time, Bellamy,” she murmured.

God, she’d just been rescued. She needed time to adjust to everything.

But looking out the window, the pressure inside her grew until she thought she’d shatter. She rose and opened the door. Her throat was tight, like a scream was trapped inside.

She wandered the stone halls, conscious that she was barefoot, and only wearing a sleep shirt. Everyone was asleep, except the guards she spotted at the end of a long corridor. They stood by the large double doors at the front of the House of Rone.

She turned, and when she saw some stairs, she went up.

God, how could she feel so freaking alone, when she was surrounded by people here who cared? People who’d risked themselves to rescue her?

A glow of light came from the end of a corridor. She also heard the distant, rhythmic clanging of metal on metal.

She walked that way, her heart hammering. She couldn’t break. She had to stay strong. Pausing in the doorway, she glanced in and found herself looking at a workshop.

Then everything in her body stilled.

A shirtless Maxon was beating a large hammer against some metal clamped on a work bench.

Bellamy’s mouth went dry, and all thoughts went flying out of her head.

He wore black trousers, low on his lean hips. His bare skin was a golden-brown, and his chest and abs were things of beauty. Hard, masculine beauty.

His shaggy hair shifted as he struck with the hammer again. There were so many colors amongst the strands—brown, oak, gold, tan.

Then he stilled and his head whipped around.

Golden eyes locked on her for a second, before they drifted down her sleep shirt to her bare feet.

He scowled and set the tool down. “You should be sleeping.”

He sounded about as welcoming as a spitting cobra.

That actually made her feel better. He didn’t treat her with gushing warmth, trying to make her feel better.

“I tried to, but I…”

As her words dried up, he kept looking at her. “My workshop is off-limits to everyone.”

She kept looking at him. He made an annoyed noise, and turned back to his work.

Bellamy took that as assent to enter. She wandered in, taking in the half-built prototypes resting on the benches, and twisted bits of metal and wire.

“How come you aren’t sleeping?” she asked.

“I like working at night. No annoying people around to interrupt me.” He shot her a pointed look.

She almost laughed. Damn, something about this big beast of a man made her feel normal, more herself.

“Are you always this moody?”

“Yes.”

She leaned against the bench. The mechanic in her itched to touch the tools and some of his designs.

“So why couldn’t you sleep?” he asked.

She sighed. “I’ve been in survival mode for so long. I guess it’s like a soldier returning from battle. I’m too wired, too switched on to settle back into normal life. Everyone’s been so nice, but…”

“You can’t relax. Can’t change modes that quickly. Can’t trust it.”

He spoke those words like he had some experience. Shadows danced in the gold of his eyes, and she wondered what he’d suffered.

She lifted a tool off the bench.

“Don’t touch,” he barked.

Deliberately, she ran her finger down the metal and watched his eyes narrow. Then she set it down.

The pressure in her chest was back, and twisting like an evil poison. She wanted to run, and she wanted to curl into a ball like a child trying to escape the monsters under the bed.

Suddenly, a tanned, muscled arm moved in front of her, holding a different, smaller tool, shaped like a cylinder.

“Here.” He shoved it into her hand. “If you’re going to be in my way, you may as well be useful.”

He turned away and she stared at the smooth expanse of his back, all those shifting muscles. Then she smiled.

MAXON TRIED TO IGNORE HER.

He loved his workshop, his own space, and he hated people in it.

He tried to concentrate on the new design for the sword that he was working on. He’d blended new metals together, but the design just wasn’t working. The edge wasn’t what he’d envisaged, and there was a problem with the hilt.

He watched Bellamy out of the corner of his eye as she studied the tool he’d given her, then pulled some scrap metal out of a box. The laser cutter flared to life, and she grinned.

That smile was like a kick to his gut.

She had a strong face—a bold nose, bold jaw. She wasn’t beautiful, but when she smiled, it softened her features. She cut the scrap metal into strips, her arm moving with flourishes as she learned the tool.

“If you want to help, not just get in my way, cut up that scrap over there.” He jerked his head to a pile of metal on a nearby bench.

“Yes, sir,” she clipped. “Were you born this bossy and moody?”

“No. But when my family tossed me aside as a young man and abandoned me on Carthago, I learned not to waste time being nice.”

She stilled, and her green gaze flicked up to his face.

Drak. Why the drak had he said that?

He spun and got back to work. But tension ran through all his muscles. Memories of that time, screaming for his family, for his fiancée. Watching them stare at him with horror and disgust.

The anger exploded. He threw his hammer. It hit the far wall and bounced, knocking over some scrap. Everything clattered to the floor.

“Feel better?” Bellamy walked over and retrieved the hammer.

“No.” He heaved in a breath.

“I get it,” she said quietly. “I feel the same. I feel this ugly thing boiling and twisting inside me. I can’t enjoy this place, the other women. Damn, they are all so freaking happy.” She ran a hand over her short hair, then held out the hammer.

Maxon grunted. He took back the tool, and their fingers brushed. He felt an electric zing.

Scowling, he pulled back. He did not want to feel any connection to her, to anyone.

He wanted to be left alone.

“Get that scrap sorted.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not your slave, cyborg. You could handle learning a few manners.”

“Not going to happen.”

He turned back to the new weapon design. He needed to set the edge differently, and then solve the hilt. Soon he was absorbed in his work. He almost forgot Bellamy was there.

Then he heard a clang and a feminine curse. She had a low, throaty voice that he would never tell her how much he liked.

When he looked over, he saw her sucking on her finger. His brows drew together. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just cut my finger. Keep brooding.”

Ignoring her, he strode over. He snatched her hand and they had a brief tug-of-war battle.

“It’s fine,” she insisted.

“Let me see it.”

“I just escaped a bunch of assholes, so I don’t need to deal with another one.”

Maxon kept ignoring her sharp tongue. He was stronger, so he held her hand still while he studied the cut.

It was a ragged little scrape, but not too big or deep. Still, he hated seeing it on her skin. He dragged her over to the sink.

“Cyborg—”

“It needs to be cleaned.”

He put her hand under the water.

She sighed. “Fine.”

He focused on the task, cleaning the blood and dirt away. Then he grabbed a box of medical supplies off the shelf above the sink. He kept the kit on hand for minor scrapes. He pulled out a tube of med gel, then put some of the blue substance onto the cut.

“Looks like this isn’t the first time you’ve dealt with nicks and cuts,” she said.

He shook his head. “I’m always cutting or burning myself. Avarn and I had a few…discussions about them requiring treatment.”

She snorted. “You mean rip-roaring arguments.”

Maxon felt the uncharacteristic urge to smile. “Voices may have been raised. We compromised, and he left me this kit.” He carefully pressed a bandage over her finger. “And I use it, some of the time. There.”

“Thanks, Ace.”

Ace? He mentally shook his head. She was giving him a nickname? No one had ever given him a nickname before.

Suddenly, they both went still, him holding her hand, his thumb stroking over her skin. It was soft skin, although like him, she had several small scars and calluses on her fingers. She was a woman who used her hands.

She was the exact opposite of the soft, fragrant, and expensive woman he’d once promised to marry.

Maxon stepped back. “I need to work this design out.” He scowled. “Stop distracting me.”

Her eyes fired. “I didn’t cut myself on purpose. And I’m just standing here. Does my breathing distract you?” Her tone was one level above snarky.

“Yes, it does.” He turned back to his bench.

She made a low, angry sound, then she elbowed him out of the way, and grabbed his sword prototype.

“Hey!” he snapped.

“You need to lengthen the hilt. Maybe add a bit more weight to get the balance right.”

His scowl deepened. “I’m the weapons master here.”

“You’re the grump master.” She set the sword down, then headed for the door. “I’ll leave you to brood in peace and loneliness.”

She flounced out the door. Okay, maybe not a flounce, more a swagger with a hint of challenge.

Maxon was surprised to find a faint smile on his lips. She hadn’t been as tense and worked up as when she’d first arrived in his workshop. The pain in her eyes had eased.

He looked back at the bench. And drak, she was right about the hilt—it needed to be longer, with more weight added.

Lifting his tool, he got back to work, wondering why the blessed solitude didn’t feel quite as good as usual.

CHAPTER FIVE

Bellamy chased little Asha as the girl crawled across the floor. Asha plopped on her butt and giggled.

“Who’s so clever and beautiful?” Bellamy said.

Asha giggled harder.

Bellamy smiled. This precious little girl was loved and protected. Ever had been through the worst of circumstances—abducted, dragged across the galaxy, enslaved, then finding herself pregnant—and here she was now, with this little angel.

And everybody knew that Asha’s cyborg daddy would rain hellfire down on anyone who hurt her.

Bellamy’s dad had split when she was too young to remember. Her mom had been an alcoholic, with a penchant for bad boyfriends and heavier drugs when it suited her. Bellamy had learned to take care of herself pretty young. Then one day, her mom had dumped her on Gram’s doorstep—an estranged grandmother she’d never met before—and Bellamy had barely seen her mom again.

Thank God for Gram. The old woman hadn’t complained once. She’d loved Bellamy in her own, no-nonsense style, bullied her to go to school, scolded her for her wild ways, and did her best to feed and clothe them both.

A fond smile for the old woman crossed Bellamy’s face. Gram had died when Bellamy was nineteen.

“You’re good with kids.”

She glanced up at Ever. “I have no experience, but yours is so cute.”

“I think so. And her daddy thinks she’s the most beautiful, clever child to ever be born.” Ever smiled and handed Asha a toy.

Bellamy had spent the entire day learning every nook and cranny of the House of Rone—the training arena, Medical, the kitchens, the maintenance workshops.

She’d avoided one particular workshop. She blew out a breath. For some crazy reason that made no sense, being around Maxon made her feel good. Even when he was being grumpy.

He wasn’t solicitous to her, didn’t treat her like glass.

Ever and the other women were so awesome, but every cautious, friendly smile made Bellamy remember exactly what she was trying to heal from.

Still, she knew better than to entrust her well-being and feelings to a man. She’d done that once, and it had been a disastrous mistake of epic proportions.

No, she’d keep poking at the grumpy lion who interested her, but it was all just for fun. She had no plans for a cozy, heart-in-her-eyes existence like Ever, Quinn, and all the others.

“I think I’ll head to my room,” she said. “Go to bed early.”

Ever touched her shoulder. “Sleep’s good. Bellamy…”

She looked up into Ever’s light-green eyes.

“We’ve all been where you are right now. I know you see all of us happy and you think you’ll never get there, but trust me, you will.”

Bellamy hunched her shoulders. Shit, she’d thought she’d been hiding her discomfort. “Thanks, Ever. I just need to give it some time, right?”

“Right.”

Pausing, Bellamy shoved her hands in her pockets. “Has Magnus talked about plans for destroying the battle arena?”

“He’s still gathering intel and planning,” Ever said. “If you want to be a part of it, just tell him. Our overprotective cyborgs make a lot of noise about keeping us safe, but they’ve always let us help them when we’ve needed to.”

Bellamy liked the idea of that. No, she needed it. She needed to be a part of taking the Edull down.

The metal-scavenging aliens would pay—for every life stolen, every beating, every family broken apart, every person destroyed.

She waved goodbye and headed to her room. Once she got there, she drew a bath and had a long soak. She’d never been a bath person before, but being denied the opportunity for so long meant she didn’t mind indulging.

When she climbed into the soft bed, she was surprised that she was actually relaxed and sleepy.

Being thrust awake by a vicious nightmare a few hours later was not so welcome.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Bellamy scrambled out of the bed, her chest heavy, her heart racing.

“Fuck.” She rubbed her face.

She’d dreamed she was locked in a racing battle bot. She’d been screaming, something had been on fire and the smoke was choking her. The screams of the other dying slaves had rung in her ears.

“Get a grip, Bellamy. It was just a lousy nightmare.”

Rising, she went into the bathroom and splashed some water on her face. It didn’t help.

Her heart was still pumping like she was running for her life, her mouth as dry as dust.

Needing to move, she wrenched open the door to her room. She had no conscious thoughts, just walked down the hall, then up the stairs.

Light glowed from his workshop.

She broke into a jog. By the time she reached the door, she was running.

Once again, Maxon was shirtless. His head lifted. He had some goggles over his eyes and he pushed them up onto his head.

Thick brows drew together. “Bellamy—”

She flew across the workshop, straight to him.

A part of her wondered if he’d shove her away, but strong arms closed around her.

She pressed her face to his chest, absorbing the warmth of his skin. She breathed him in. He had a woodsy, masculine scent, overlaid with a touch of healthy, male sweat from his work.

“Shh. Drak, you’re cold.” He held her closer.

She hadn’t realized that her hands and feet were like ice. Suddenly, he lifted her onto the bench. He rubbed her hands in between his big ones.

“Here.” He shoved a mug into her hand.

It was half empty, but still warm. She sipped it and made a humming sound. “It tastes like nothing I’ve ever had before.” A little bitter and woody, with a faint hint of sweetness.

“It’s called erca.”

Apparently, whatever it was, he liked it strong.

“Nightmare?” he asked.

She nodded and turned her head, staring at the stone wall.

“It’s a normal reaction after being rescued from the situation you were in,” he said matter-of-factly.

“When your family abandoned you, did you have nightmares?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Yeah.”

Damn, now she felt guilty about making him relive something that was clearly painful. Then she realized how close they were. He was standing between her legs, while she sat on the bench. Her legs were mostly bare, her sleep shirt draped over the rest of her.

Heat washed over her, and she saw a flicker in his eyes that looked like melted gold.

Then Bellamy reached up, and tugged his head down.

She didn’t dive right into the kiss, which was her usual MO when she wanted a man. She nibbled at his lips. They were full, well-shaped. Yummy.

He made a low sound, then his mouth covered hers.

Everything exploded—he was heat, light, desire. Their tongues stroked; his hands gripped her hips. She moaned into his mouth and he angled his head, taking the kiss deeper.

Yes. That one word vibrated through her. Nothing had felt this right…ever.

Suddenly, he wrenched his head away.

Bellamy blinked, feeling bereft. No, dammit. She wanted this. A mindless, hot fuck would erase her nightmare, help her not think for just a little while.

Maxon’s face looked like rock, his eyes turning to steel.

When she reached for him, he gripped both her hands with one of his. Then he scooped her up and carried her over to a battered couch resting against the far wall.

“You need sleep,” he growled.

She just looked at him. With jerky moves, he snatched up a blanket and covered her with it. It smelled like him.

She could picture him sleeping right here, when he’d worked too long and didn’t want to leave his workshop.

“Now, go to sleep and quit distracting me.” He stomped back to the workbench.

She watched the flex of muscles in his tight, muscular ass.

Strangely, she lay down and fell asleep, feeling warm and relaxed.

THE NEXT MORNING, striding down the corridor to Magnus’s office, Maxon was still thinking about Bellamy.

Drakking woman had invaded his head, like she did his workshop.

When he’d woken this morning, he hadn’t been surprised to find the couch in his workshop empty. The blanket had been folded neatly over the back of it.

A house worker exited a doorway and smiled at him. He glowered back and she hurried off.

Bellamy didn’t even blink at his scowls.

And she’d kissed him.

At the memory, his body surged to life, his cock lengthening against his fastenings.

Drak. He dragged in a breath. His body had been revved and oversensitive all morning. For the first time in a very long time, he’d taken himself in hand in the shower and stroked himself until he’d spilled. As he did that, he’d been imagining Bellamy Walsh’s hands and mouth on him.

“Enough,” he muttered under his breath.

He’d stopped the kiss last night because she’d still had the shadows of her nightmare in her eyes. She’d come to him, upset and shaken. Even he wasn’t enough of a crudspawn to take advantage of that.

He’d had sex—both before and after becoming a cyborg. Before, he’d wanted it all the time, as he guessed most twenty-year-old young men did.

Afterward, he hadn’t wanted anyone close to him. A few times, when his body’s urges got too hard to control, he’d found a woman. He’d kept it brief, barely touching them, and got the job done. But it had been a long time since he’d done that.

Until now.

He stepped into Magnus’s office. All the elite cyborgs were already there, and so was Bellamy. She was talking animatedly with the handsome, young Zaden. The powerful telekinetic cyborg had been abandoned to the House of Rone because his powerful natural abilities needed to be leashed by his cyborg enhancements.

Bellamy looked…fine. Like her nightmare had never happened.

She glanced over and their gazes met. His desire roared to life in his gut, which made him angry. He looked away.

He didn’t want this. He didn’t want all this disruption in his life.

The door opened again, and Galen and Raiden entered.

Galen looked his usual rugged self with his black eyepatch over one eye and his black cloak framing his battle-ready body. His champion gladiator, Raiden Tiago, was hard and muscled, showing why he dominated the arena. His cloak was red. Both men were from the same planet, and had intriguing tattoos across their torsos and arms.

“All right, we’re all here.” Magnus leaned against his desk. “Bellamy asked to join us. She has a vested interest in seeing the Edull and the battle arena go down.”

“And the House of Galen wants to help,” Galen said. “The Edull’s arena is an abomination.”

“We need to ensure total destruction of the battle arena,” Magnus said.

Bellamy nodded. “I have a few ideas, but the place is huge. We need to get the captives out. They deserve to be free.”

“They will be set free,” Raiden said.

Bellamy glanced his way and smiled. “I’m Bellamy Walsh.”

“Raiden Tiago. And this is Galen.”

Did she have to smile at the gladiator like that? Maxon crossed his arms over his chest, feeling irritated.

“Galen and I, along with all our allies, are trying to find out every scrap of information on the battle arena,” Magnus continued. “We can’t just blow it up. We need to free the slaves first. And it needs to be destroyed in a way that will cripple the Edull and their business.”

Galen nodded. “The Edull have their share of enemies.”

“But they also have allies,” Maxon said. “All the sandsuckers willing to spend money to attend the races. People who buy their scavenged metal.”

“True,” Magnus agreed. “I’ll speak with Rillian. We’ll see if there is a way to cripple them by making their flow of customers dry up as well.”

Bellamy straightened. “I can share other things I know about the battle arena. There are parts of it I’ve never seen, but I was in the power generation area once. I didn’t understand the tech they use, but maybe there’s a way to overload it?”

Magnus nodded. “We’ll see what we can come up with. In order for this to be a success, we need all the intel we can get, and a plan for how to destroy the arena. Without that, we can’t launch a full-scale attack.”

There were nods all around.

“I want to be on that mission,” Bellamy said.

“No,” Maxon growled.

All heads turned to face him. He focused on Bellamy as she swiveled in her chair, her chin jutting forward.

“Excuse me?” she said.

“You can’t go.”

Her green eyes narrowed. “I may not be a cyborg gladiator, but I know the arena better than anyone here.”

“You were kept captive. Almost killed. If they see you, they’ll try to kill you again. And all of that is messing with your head.” Maxon turned to Magnus. “She’s not in the right headspace to go back there.”

He heard her suck in a sharp breath.

“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do—”

“For the last two nights, she hasn’t slept well. She’s wandered all over the house, upset and angry.”

Bellamy made a sound and he met her gaze. He almost flinched at the betrayal he saw in her eyes, but he shoved the emotion away.

He had to keep her safe. He’d just gotten her out of there, and he wasn’t going to let her run back in.

The other cyborgs all had to cope with the other Earth women going on missions and putting themselves in danger. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake.

“He does not speak for me.” Bellamy’s words were clipped. She shot to her feet.

“There is no mission yet,” Magnus said carefully. “When we decide to go in, we’ll discuss it again at that time. Bellamy, all of us here want to help you, remember that.”

She nodded and turned. She strode straight up to Maxon and he tensed.

Then she rammed her fist into his gut.

It barely hurt, but he did grunt.

She’d made her point.

Eyes shooting daggers at him, she strode out.

CHAPTER SIX

She was going to her first arena fight.

Bellamy walked through the wide tunnel, flanked by Jayna and Sage. The other House of Rone women had already gone on ahead to the House of Rone’s seats. Right now, Bellamy wasn’t thinking of stupid men and bone-headed cyborgs.

She was still incandescently angry at Maxon. His controlling actions made her want to punch him again. She knew all about men who thought they were in charge and had the right to boss her around. She’d started to trust the idiot, then he’d ripped her open and exposed her vulnerabilities to everyone.

She kept stoking her anger. It was better than feeling hurt.

“I knew that scarf would look great on you.” Jayna bumped her hip companionably against Bellamy.

Bellamy stroked the silky scarf tied jauntily around her neck. Jayna had given it to her, and Bellamy loved the swirls of blues, greens, and silver.

“You’re going to love the arena.” Jayna’s dark-brown curls spilled around her attractive face. She had brown skin and a curvy body. “Watching muscled, sweaty gladiators fight.” The woman waggled her eyebrows.

Bellamy had to smile. “I wouldn’t let your cyborg hear you saying that.”

Jayna laughed, dark curls bouncing. “He can get a little possessive.”

“A little?”

“Okay, Mace doesn’t really do subtle. He’s a lot possessive, but I like it.” Then her face turned serious. “These cyborgs aren’t that great with relationships, or coping with emotions that they aren’t used to dealing with.”

Bellamy stiffened. “Jayna—”

“I’m just saying. I heard what Maxon said. I don’t know him well because he purposely keeps to himself—”

“Because he’s a grumpy beast of an asshole.”

Jayna bit her lip, clearly hiding a smile. “I’m just saying, all our cyborgs have screwed up lots of times. They kind of need a little help to work out what’s right in a relationship.”

“I don’t have a relationship with Maxon.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Sage murmured from the other side of Bellamy.

“I don’t. I like his workshop.”

“Right,” Jayna said. “It’s nothing to do with that muscled body, golden-brown skin, all that hair, and that intense scowl that makes a woman want to run…or shiver.”

“I don’t do relationships. I had a bad one and I say good riddance to it. I don’t mind tearing up the sheets with a hot guy, but that’s it. They’re more trouble than they’re worth.”

Sage shifted and popped her head between Jayna and Bellamy, her copper-colored hair in a messy bun. She linked arms with them both. “I get the feeling the lady is protesting way too much.”

Bellamy sniffed. “I’m not dignifying that with an answer.”

Luckily, she was saved from adding more because they reached the end of the tunnel and stepped into the arena.

The crowd was cheering and chanting from the tiers of seats that ringed the arena floor below.

For a horrible second, an image of the Edull battle arena popped into her head. The screams of the crowd vying with the roar of engines.

Bellamy blinked hard, and saw only the sand-covered arena below. No battle bots. No Edull. She sucked in some air.

“Bellamy?” There was concern in Jayna’s voice.

“I’m good.”

“It reminds you of—”

“It’s fine. I’m fine. Hungry. What is there to eat?”

“I’ll grab us something,” Sage said.

As they walked down a set of steps between the seats, Bellamy spotted the House of Rone cyborgs. Jayna led her to a stone bench.

“I really wish our guys could fight in the arena more. Cyborgs are banned, but the House of Galen is always a treat to watch. And occasionally, they have an exhibition match where our guys can fight.”

Magnus and Jax were deep in conversation near the railing. The other cyborgs stood nearby. Ever, with Asha sitting on her lap, was sitting beside Calla and Quinn on the benches. Seren was leaning into a muscled, dark-skinned gladiator. Wow, when the tough female cyborg looked at the man, she looked almost…soft. Well, as soft as Seren could ever look.

“That’s Xias,” Jayna said. “He’s the champion gladiator of the House of Rone.”

“He’s not a cyborg?” Bellamy asked.

“No, but still an amazing fighter. Seren put up an impressive fight, but he finally claimed her.”

Another couple in love. Dammit. They were everywhere.

A young boy moved to join the pair. Xias elbowed the boy playfully and Seren said something that made the boy smile. He had black, tattoo-like markings on his face similar to Seren’s.

Jayne leaned closer. “That’s Virin. He recently joined the House of Rone. He’s the same species as Seren, and she and Xias rescued him from the desert.”

The House of Rone just couldn’t abandon anyone in need. She looked at Magnus’ impassive face and wondered what had driven the imperator to do all of this.

A part of the crowd started cheering and singing some sort of chant. Bellamy took a moment to study the arena. The atmosphere here felt different—it was full of anticipation, excitement. It didn’t have the dark edge of the battle arena, where people were waiting to see death and destruction.

Bellamy knew that no one died in the Kor Magna Arena. She’d been warned that there would be blood, but that all the houses invested in excellent healers and medical tech to keep their gladiators fit and healthy.

A flash of golden-brown caught her eye. Maxon arrived like a lion prowling across the savannah. He nodded at the women before moving to talk with Magnus.

Bellamy went rigid.

“Well,” Jayna drawled. “Maxon rarely comes to the fights.”

Great. Bellamy grunted.

Then he turned his head and their gazes locked. She mentally sent him an image of her hitting him over the head with his hammer.

Suddenly, he moved her way and sat down beside her.

“Go away,” she whispered fiercely.

“No.”

“I don’t want you here. Sage is going to sit there.”

“Acton will claim her and make her sit with him.”

Bellamy made a harrumphing sound. “You are annoying, and I don’t like you.”

“You’ll get over it,” he said, sounding unconcerned.

She swiveled her head. “No, I won’t. You were a douchebag of epic proportions in Magnus’s office.”

“I wanted to keep you safe.” Maxon stared steadily into her eyes.

She was shocked to see his eyes were turbulent, unsettled. “Would you like it if I told you what you could and couldn’t do? Or if I shared private details about you? Spilled your vulnerabilities to everybody?” She flung her hand out to make her point.

His brows drew together, realization crossing his face.

God, Jayna was right. The man had no clue what he’d done to hurt her and piss her off.

“I had…someone try to dictate my life before, and I had the Edull taking away all my choices for months. I won’t let that happen again.”

A muscle in his jaw worked.

“Say you’re sorry, and that you won’t do it again,” she said.

He turned to stare down at the arena. “I’m sorry.”

He sounded like he was chewing on lumps of jagged metal. Bellamy figured the man didn’t apologize much.

“And you won’t do it again.”

He looked at her again, golden eyes aflame. “I can’t promise that.”

“Why?” she hissed.

“Because I have this irrational urge to keep you safe. And I’ll do whatever I have to do to ensure that, even if you hate me for it.”

Bellamy just stared at him. It suddenly seemed like the world and everyone around them disappeared. No one had ever said anything like that to her. Ever.

Her parents had never cared about her. Gram had done her best. The older man she’d stupidly gotten tangled up with after Gram’s death had just wanted to control her.

Suddenly, a long, deep horn echoed across the arena.

“The fight’s starting,” Maxon said. “Still want me to move?”

Bellamy sighed. “No.”

MAXON WATCHED the House of Galen gladiators, led by Raiden and his mate Harper, cross the arena sand.

The gladiators of the House of Loden came out from a tunnel on the opposite side of the arena. They wore tan-leather harnesses and gauntlets, and deep-green cloaks. They were all tall, lean, and muscled, holding fighting knives and staffs.

The crowd’s screams rose to loud and unruly levels.

Maxon glanced at Bellamy, watching her take it in. She had a curious, interested look on her face. He realized she’d had no chance to relax and enjoy herself in her months of captivity. His hand curled against his thigh. Drakking Edull.

The fight began. He watched Saff from the House of Galen throw a net, her mass of black braids spinning around her shoulders. Her mate raced up beside her, his powerful body leaping into the air. Blaine was the sole male survivor from Earth. His swords whirled.

Maxon had first come to Carthago to see the fights. The wealthy Shaye family had traveled a lot, and he’d been the older of two sons. He’d been engaged to the beautiful, glamorous daughter of another wealthy family. Silva had been high maintenance, but gorgeous, and always ready for a good time.

He’d thought he’d had a charmed life. Until he’d been attacked by a gang of thieves in a Kor Magna back alley. He’d been so severely beaten that he’d been dying.

The House of Rone had found him. Magnus’ house had been much smaller then, but still dedicated to helping the injured. They’d saved him by giving him synthetic organs, an internal cybernetic system, and metal bone replacements.

His family—from the elitist world of Velios, who prized good breeding and pure bloodlines—had been horrified.

Silva had looked at him like he was a monster, with disgust and repulsion. They’d all renounced him, telling him that they would have preferred that he died.

He’d still been recovering in bed when they’d left Carthago, leaving him behind.

Magnus had offered him a home.

Maxon had been angry for so long. He’d eventually looked up his family. Silva had gone on to marry his brother, Erix.

Maxon shifted on the bench seat. Time had made him realize that his family and Silva had never truly loved or cared for him. He was actually grateful to have escaped that shallow existence.

A hand touched his thigh. He flicked his gaze up.

Bellamy squeezed his leg. “Okay?”

He nodded. How could she see through him so easily?

“Howdy, House of Rone,” a female voice said.

A slim redhead stood nearby, holding a wriggling young boy, who clearly wanted down. Behind her were several other women.

“Bellamy,” Jayna said with a wide smile. “These are the Fortuna Station survivors from the House of Galen.”

Maxon stayed back as Bellamy was introduced around, and hugged and greeted like a long-lost sister.

“Dada.” The little boy lunged out of his mother’s arms.

“Finley!” Rory tried to catch her son.

Maxon caught the sturdy boy and found himself being studied by green eyes a different shade to Bellamy’s, but exactly like Rory’s.

“Dada?” The boy pressed his hand against Maxon’s shirt.

“He’s busy right now.” Maxon pointed down to the arena floor.

The boy’s father, the gladiator, Kace, was fighting two rival gladiators.

Spotting his father, Finley laughed and clapped his hands. Then he turned and slapped Maxon’s cheek.

“Thanks.” Rory retrieved her son.

Maxon jerked his chin up at the woman. Then he realized Finley had smeared something sticky on his shirt. Wonderful.

Bellamy sat back beside him, her lips twitching.

“What?” he growled.

“You look cute holding a kid.”

Cute? He scowled. “Couldn’t let him dive off the railing, could I?”

“Mmm.”

He ignored her.

Then she reached up, her knuckles rubbing his cheek. Sensations whispered through his entire body.

“You have something sticky on your cheek.” She gently wiped it away.

They stared at each other for a long moment, then she sat back.

“Hey, Sage,” she called out. “What happened to my snack?”

The other woman was sitting behind them, nestled up with Acton.

“Oops, sorry.” Sage grinned. “I ate them all.” She held up an empty packet.

Bellamy looked around and pointed to a man holding a tray of snacks.

“Hey, over here.” She raised her arm to get the seller’s attention.

The man headed her way.

“Wait, I don’t have any money.”

“Here.” Maxon fished around in his pocket and handed her a small medallion. The metal coin was stamped with the logo of the House of Rone—a gladiator’s helmet over crossed swords. “Just show it to him.”

“The Carthago version of a credit card.” She held the coin up.

The seller came closer, holding his tray filled with paper bags of different snacks. “What would you like?”

“Mmm, it all smells good,” Bellamy said. “Oh, that looks like popcorn.”

Maxon felt a chill along his spine. He frowned. A bad feeling settled on him like a black cloud.

As Bellamy talked to the seller, he scanned around. The sense of doom grew.

No one appeared to be paying any extra attention to them, or presented any danger. A faint, sickly sweet smell hit his enhanced senses.

Bellamy was reaching for the snack she’d purchased.

“Wait!” Maxon grabbed her wrist.

“What’s wrong now?” she grumbled.

Maxon breathed deep. The scent was stronger. “I smell demis.”

Acton leaned forward, a frown on his face. “I detect the scent as well.”

Maxon spotted a faint gold dust on the food. “The snacks are poisoned.”

Her eyes went wide. “What?”

The seller froze. The man was reptilian, with a faint, brown, scale pattern on his skin, and no hair. His elongated eyes blinked.

Then he tossed the tray of snacks at them.

Food flew everywhere, and Maxon leaped up.

The man stepped back and pulled a long, thin blade from his belt—an assassin’s blade, designed to slide through ribs and puncture organs. He stabbed at Bellamy.

She gasped, and Maxon shoved her out of the way. She tilted and fell off the back of the bench. Then Maxon yanked his own blade off his belt. His was bigger with a dangerous serrated edge.

He and the assassin slammed into each other, blade against blade.

He heard shouts and screams, Magnus bellowing orders.

The assassin smiled. “There is nothing you can do, cyborg. The woman is marked for death.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Bellamy struggled to her feet.

She saw Maxon and the assassin fighting, knives flashing.

Anger exploded inside her. This was the Edull’s doing. They were the only ones who wanted her dead. Bastards.

She saw Maxon take the assassin down, swinging one powerful leg around to trap the man as he surged with his knife. Both men rolled before coming back to their feet.

She lunged forward, but a hard arm banded around her. She was pulled back against Acton’s lean body.

“Stay back,” the cyborg warned.

Bellamy growled. She’d never been good at following orders.

The other cyborgs were busy clearing spectators out of the way.

The assassin broke free of Maxon’s hold, and yanked something from his pocket. He tossed a small ball into the air.

Bellamy tensed. The device broke apart, and a swarm of small, metallic bots flew out. They were tiny, no bigger than insects, and ducked and weaved, moving as a swarm.

They turned and rushed at her.

Shit.

Acton surged forward and Bellamy ducked. The swarm dodged around the cyborg and rushed her. She spun, but the edge of the swarm hit her—cutting at her skin like small knives. She yanked her scarf off. The swarm flew away, whirled, then zoomed back.

“Bellamy!” Maxon roared.

She held the scarf up. The insects raced closer and she tossed the fabric over them, then pulled it tight. They jerked, but she held them and smiled grimly. Take that.

Then they started to slice through the scarf.

Oh, hell. She released the bundle and leaped away.

She saw Zaden leap past her, his arms raised. The bug bots froze in midair, then started to crumple inward.

She wanted to watch, but she heard a grunt and spun. Maxon landed a hard punch in the assassin’s face, but the man absorbed the blow and swiveled around. He darted away from Maxon and jumped on some of the empty seats, running along the curving bench.

Right at Bellamy.

The man held his long, thin knife like a lance. His reptilian eyes focused on her with scary intensity.

Crap. Bellamy dived out of the way. The knife flew past her, but the assassin’s body hit her hard.

They slammed into the arena railing…and tipped over it.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

The sand raced up to meet her and she braced herself. She hit the ground hard enough to knock the wind out of her.

Beside her, she heard the assassin grunt.

Knowing this was life or death, she shoved back her pain and rolled away. She pushed to her feet. Her ribs ached, but she was pretty sure nothing was broken.

The assassin rose into a crouch. He tilted his head, a predator assessing its prey.

“The Edull want you dead, female. You know too much. I’m going to slide my sweet blade right into your heart.”

“Sorry, asshole. I’m not interested in being murdered today.”

Suddenly, a big body hit the sand between them.

Maxon rose, his large knife clutched in his hand, his gold eyes glowing.

More bodies dropped, circling them—Magnus, Jax, Mace, Zaden, Seren.

Several other gladiators jogged over—led by the sexy Raiden, and others from both the House of Galen and Loden.

The assassin’s face twisted. He ran, and as Maxon rushed to grab him, the assassin dropped to the ground, sliding feetfirst through the sand, right past Maxon’s legs.

He rushed at Bellamy, but Maxon was fast, swiveling and slamming a punch into the man’s back.

He drove the assassin to the ground, then raised his arm and stabbed his knife into the assassin’s shoulder.

Bellamy made herself look as Maxon flipped the assassin over, and then stabbed the man in the chest. Neatly, right in the heart.

Maxon rose, breathing deeply.

“We’ll take care of cleanup,” Magnus said. “You take care of Bellamy, and your injuries.”

“Injuries?” Bellamy jolted. She strode toward Maxon and saw the blood on his shirt, soaking the fabric.

She made a noise, gripped the hem of his shirt and yanked it up.

Several deep cuts covered his chest and abdomen, where the assassin’s blade had caught him.

“You need to get to Medical,” she said.

“No, I don’t.”

She glared at him. “You do.”

He shot her a mutinous look, his eyes looking like melted gold.

Hmm. Time for a change of tactics. She staggered a little and he caught her arm.

“Bellamy?”

“I don’t…feel great.”

He slid an arm around her. “Magnus, I’m taking Bellamy back to the House of Rone.”

The imperator nodded, but Maxon was already leading her to the closest tunnel.

Bellamy tried to keep the smile off her face. She had no qualms about her little trick. The man had a hard head, and wouldn’t listen to reason.

They moved quickly through the tunnels, and soon came to the doors of the House of Rone, flanked by two cyborg guards. The guards nodded and opened the doors for them.

“I’m feeling a bit better,” she said.

Maxon’s head whipped around and he eyed her.

“Can we go to your workshop?” she asked. “I’ll take care of your cuts there.”

His gaze turned suspicious, but he led her up the stairs. Once they were in his workshop, she shoved him toward the couch.

“You aren’t feeling faint?” he asked.

She snorted. “I haven’t felt faint once in my life.”

His eyes narrowed. “Little liar.”

She yanked his shirt over his head. “I do whatever I need to do to get the job done. These need attention.”

Ow. Sympathy ran through her. Two of the cuts were really deep and had to hurt.

She strode over to the sink and rinsed out a cloth. Then she knelt beside him and started cleaning the blood away.

“The bleeding’s stopped,” she said.

“My cyborg systems can direct blood flow away from injured locations.”

“That is so amazing.”

Next, she grabbed the medical kit he’d used on her scraped finger. She pulled out the tube of med gel.

“One of the Earth women, Regan, enhanced the gel,” he said. “It works far more effectively now.”

“I didn’t get to meet her tonight.”

“She’s pregnant, and her gladiator mate, Thorin, is…overprotective.”

“You guys are all overprotective all the time.” She carefully smoothed the med gel onto his cuts.

“Here.” He took the tube and squeezed some onto his fingers. “There’s blood on your shoulder.”

She twisted and saw the rip in her shirt. “Those insect bots got me.”

He reached through the tear, rubbing the gel on the small cuts.

“It’s just a graze.” She went back to tending his lacerations.

Then she heard his breath catch.

Her fingers stilled and she looked up. They were both pressed close together, touching each other. Desire danced in his eyes, and she felt an echoing flood of reaction right between her legs.

She licked her lips. “Maxon.”

MAXON GRIPPED BELLAMY’S ARMS, his fingers sliding over the beautiful, colorful ink on her arms.

He remembered the glimpses of the tattoos on her belly, and he wanted to see them again, too.

She stroked his shoulders. “Do the cuts still hurt?”

“No. I can block the pain, but they are minor. Yours?”

“They barely sting.” She leaned against his leg. “Thanks for protecting me.”

He slid a hand down and cupped the back of her skull. “I don’t want to desire you.”

Her lips parted, the corners quirking. Her gaze dropped to the heavy bulge in his trousers. “Can’t you turn it off? Like the pain?”

“No,” he growled. “I tried.”

She ran her hand down his arm. “I understand. I don’t want to want you either. I never expected to get rescued and feel so damn drawn to someone.”

He pulled her closer. He was trying to fight the urge, but he needed to taste her. In his head, he kept seeing that drakking assassin lunging for her.

Their mouths crashed together. Maxon plunged his tongue into her mouth and she moaned. He took his time, drawing in the tart taste of her.

Then she pulled back. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“The cuts are already healing.”

Her hands stroked an unmarked part of his chest. “God, I love your skin, your muscles—”

He kissed her again. She undulated against his leg and then he pulled her onto the couch, and pushed her onto her back.

Her cheeks were flushed, her lips parted.

She wanted him. She didn’t look at him with horror or disgust that he was a cyborg. Or worse, the curious, twisted lust he saw sometimes in men and women who wanted sex with cyborgs.

Bellamy’s body arched with pure, undiluted desire.

“God, I feel like I’m on fire. Touch me, Maxon.”

He wanted his hands on her more than anything he’d wanted before. He ran his fingers down her chest, between her high, firm breasts.

He wanted to see the markings on her skin. Roughly, he opened the fastenings on her shirt and shoved it aside. She was wearing no underwear beneath, and his gaze locked on the pink nipples that were hard little nubs. She had a toned stomach, and those gorgeous markings circling her navel and climbing up her body.

With a growl, he lowered his head to her breast. He licked her nipple and she purred. He took his time—sucking, nipping, tasting. Her hand sank into his hair.

“The other one too,” she murmured.

He obeyed, sucking the other sweet nipple into his mouth. She rocked against him and moaned his name.

Maxon had vague recollections of sex with Silva. She’d always been worried about how she looked, wanted it over fast, and had never made a noise.

Bellamy writhed beneath him, her husky cries leaving no doubt as to how she felt.

Maxon moved his mouth down her belly and traced the elegant tattoos with his tongue.

“You like my ink?” she panted.

He nodded against her skin. “You’re gorgeous.”

Her chest hitched.

Pausing, he looked up at her face. “No one’s told you that before?”

She shook her head. “Sexy, fuckable,” she swallowed. “Not gorgeous.”

“Earth men must be idiots,” he said.

She smiled. “Something tells me that you think most people are idiots.”

“I’m usually right.”

He stroked between her legs, over the seam of her trousers. Her hips lifted and she let out a husky groan.

“You want to touch me there?” she asked silkily.

“Yes.”

Together, they got her trousers open, and he yanked them down her legs. He felt a twinge in his cuts but he ignored it.

Then Bellamy was naked. His cock throbbed, heat like a blow torch inside him. So drakking pretty. He stroked her folds—so soft, so wet.

She moaned. “Just like that.”

He explored her, moving up to the swollen little nub that made her writhe.

“My clit,” she panted. “It’s a bundle of nerves—”

She broke off into a moan as he rolled it between his fingers. He wanted to stay there, but he moved his fingers lower.

“There,” she moaned. “Slide a finger inside me.”

Demanding little thing. Hearing her sexy words drove Maxon out of his mind. He carefully slid a finger inside her slick warmth.

“Another one,” she demanded.

He obeyed. Drak, she was tight. Her green eyes were luminous as she watched him.

“Do you want more?” she asked.

“I want to pleasure you,” he said.

“Then taste me.”

He frowned. He’d already kissed her—

She parted her legs wider, lifted her hips. Oh. Need hit him like a hammer. Drak, yes.

With a growl, he shifted and lowered his head and put his mouth on her.

Her husky cry hit him in the gut. Maxon dragged in the sweet, musky taste of her. With another growl, he lapped, then thrust his tongue inside her.

She went wild beneath him. She was like this because of him. Because of what he was doing to her.

He moved back to her clit. Her hands yanked on his hair.

“Yes. More, Maxon. Please.”

He worked that small nub, his hand stroking up her body, splayed over her taut belly to hold her still.

A second later, her body stiffened, then she shuddered. “Yes! Yes! Maxon.”

He watched pleasure flow through her, her cries the best thing he’d ever heard.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Bellamy couldn’t remember feeling this good in a really, really, really long time.

Maxon had magic hands and a magic tongue. Right now, he leaned over her—eyes like melted gold, face filled with intense hunger.

There was a noise in the corridor outside and Bellamy muttered a curse.

Quickly, he flicked a blanket over her naked body.

A worker appeared at the workshop door.

“Leave,” Maxon boomed.

At his voice, the woman’s eyes went as wide as dinner plates.

“Now!” he roared.

The woman scuttled away, and Bellamy slapped a hand over her eyes and burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” he grumbled.

She looked up at him. “If that poor woman had been a few minutes earlier, she would’ve gotten a real eyeful.”

His lips twitched.

“You smiled,” she said.

“Did not.” He rose.

Her gaze drifted down his impressive body before settling on his even more impressive erection, straining the front of his trousers.

“Since we’re here, we may as well work,” he said.

“I have a better idea,” she drawled.

He hesitated, his gaze on her face. “No.”

“What?” She sat up. Despite her orgasm, she wasn’t done with him. “Why? We both want it.”

“You’ve had a rough night. You were attacked, and someone tried to kill you.”

“I’ve had a rough few months.” Hell, a rough life. “You know what would go a long way to making me feel better? An orgasm.”

“I gave you one already.”

“Another orgasm,” she persisted.

Maxon pulled her up to stand and the blanket fell away. She was gratified to see him look at her body, a muscle ticking in his jaw. He grabbed her clothes and started slipping them back on.

“Man, I’m standing here naked, and you’re treating me like a kid.”

He fastened her shirt and pulled her up on her toes. He pressed a hard, demanding kiss to her mouth. She moaned against his delicious mouth, tasting herself on his lips. So damn sexy.

“I do not think of you as a child.”

Bellamy made a sound, trying to get her brain firing.

“Come on.” He tugged her over to a bench and handed her a tool. “I made this for you.”

She blinked, eyeing the slender device. “You made this for me?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “You have small hands.” A pause. “You’ll get more work done with the right tool.”

Warmth bloomed in her chest like a flower. “Thank you.”

If she wasn’t mistaken, there was faint color in his cheeks.

“See what you can do with that prototype. It’s been giving me a hard time.” He turned her so she faced some sort of crossbow resting on the bench.

He got to work on a sword, firing up his forge and setting some metal on it to melt.

Bellamy realized that in his own way, he was taking care of her, and taking her mind off things. Despite everything, she smiled.

“What?” He scowled at her.

“Nothing.” She set to work on the crossbow and hummed happily.

When his scowl deepened, her smile widened. Damn, she loved needling him. They worked quietly, finding a rhythm. Bellamy felt herself relax.

She worked on the crossbow firing mechanism, losing herself in the work. Finally, she stretched her neck and turned. She swallowed.

God, the man was something to look at. Maxon had stripped his shirt off, and his chest was sweaty. He was now hammering some metal into shape. A high-tech device skimmed up and down the metal, cooling it.

She watched as he worked until he was happy with it, and then he set the new sword on the rack.

She could watch him work all night.

He grabbed a drink of water, tipping the bottle back and chugging from it.

“How’s it going?” he asked.

She nodded and waved a hand at the crossbow.

He wandered closer, taking another sip of the water. She could smell the sweat on his skin and stifled a moan.

He studied her work, touched it, then made a humming sound. “Not bad.”

“High praise coming from you.”

He opened a drawer and pulled something out. When he came back, she saw him holding some sort of snack bar. He broke it in half, and handed her some.

She fiddled with it. “So, I guess the Edull want me dead.”

“Crudspawn are going to be disappointed.”

The solid certainly in his voice made the tight knot she hadn’t even known she was nursing in her chest ease.

“I want to make them pay. They use and kill others for entertainment and profit.” She slammed her tool onto the bench. “I need to be a part of bringing the arena down.”

Maxon eyed her steadily. “Even if it puts you at risk?”

She lifted her chin. “I need this, Maxon.”

Finally, he nodded. “Okay. I can assure you that Magnus and the House of Rone are fully behind this. Magnus won’t stop until the Edull are dust.”

Bellamy felt the traitorous prick of tears behind her eyes and beat it back. It felt so strange and so good to have all these people caring for her.

“Now, get back to work,” he grumbled. “There are no lazy assistants in this workshop.”

“So, I’m your assistant, huh?”

“Here.” He lifted the crossbow and nudged some sort of metallic circular device across the bench. “Put it on here.”

He touched something and then let the crossbow go. It levitated in midair above the device, spinning gently. She touched it and realized it would be much easier to work on.

She stroked the cool metal of the device. “This is magnetic?”

“Yes.”

Bellamy stared at the spinning crossbow, her brain firing.

“Bellamy?”

Excitement was like a storm inside her. She spun and jumped on him, clamping her legs around his lean waist. She smacked a kiss to his lips.

His big hand cupped the back of her head and they went at each other, hard and fast.

When she finally lifted her mouth off his, they were both breathing heavily.

“What was that for?” His voice was deep and raspy.

She grinned. “I have an idea for how we can destroy the Bari Batu arena.”

MAXON HAD a worker summon Magnus to his office. It was late, and even after the cleanup required at the arena, he guessed Magnus was in bed.

Bellamy was looking out the windows, her face pensive. He much preferred her writhing in pleasure under his hands.

His body throbbed and he locked his desire down. Now wasn’t the time.

Magnus arrived. “Is everyone all right?”

“Fine,” Maxon replied.

If the imperator had been sleeping, he certainly didn’t look like it now. His hair was neat, his face alert.

“Bellamy had an idea about the battle arena,” Maxon said.

She moved forward. “You know that all the Bari Batu buildings can be lowered and raised into huge holes in the sand.”

Magnus inclined his head.

Somehow, the Edull had excavated huge voids in the desert, and used advanced tech to levitate their buildings and structures over them. It was how the aliens had kept the desert city hidden for a very long time. Maxon would kill to be able to study the tech.

“They use some sort of magnetic fields to do this,” Bellamy said. “If we disrupt the magnetic technology—” she smiled “—the arena will crash down into its hole. Suffering irreparable damage.”

Magnus was silent a moment. “You’ve seen the tech?”

She winced. “No. As far as I know, they keep the mag-tech well hidden and don’t let any slaves near it.”

“It’s a good idea, Bellamy.” Magnus crossed his arms. “We still need more intel. We need to know where this tech is and how to destroy it, but it’s an excellent start.”

She dragged in a deep breath, and Maxon felt a faint tickle along his intuitive senses. He stiffened.

“I need to be a part of this, Magnus.” She stared Maxon straight in the eyes. “I need to help bring the Edull down.”

Maxon’s gut clenched. “No. It’s too dangerous.”

“I need this.” Her gaze narrowed. “I told you before, you can’t boss me around and tell me what to do. I had an asshole do that to me once. He tried to control me.”

Maxon wanted to tear whoever the man was to shreds. “I don’t want to control you. I want to keep you safe.”

“Then help me make myself safe, Maxon. The Edull took so much—” her voice cracked “—so damn much from me. I want to get it back.”

Maxon gripped the back of a chair, emotions twisting inside him. The overwhelming urge to ensure Bellamy wasn’t in danger was hard to wrestle with. “We just got you safe and you want to go back into danger.”

She scrubbed a hand over her hair. “I don’t want to be in danger, but I’ll take some risks to burn the Edull’s arena all down. To take back my strength and power.” She paused. “Help me.”

Drak. The chair back cracked under the pressure of his fingers. The thing was, he understood. After his family’s betrayal, he’d felt like nothing. Everything he’d trusted and known had been obliterated. He’d had to build a new life, a new him, from scratch.

She took a step toward him, her face composed, but her eyes were pleading. “Maxon?”

“I don’t want to control you. I can be…heavy-handed.”

Her lips twitched and Magnus made a sound.

Maxon released a breath. “Fine, I like things my way.”

Bellamy’s lips twitched again. “I might have noticed.”

“I really just want to keep you safe.”

Her face softened. “I know.”

“I’ll…” Drak, this was harder than he thought. “I will help you get your revenge on the Edull.” And he’d be at her side every step of the way. He’d do whatever it took to keep her safe.

She moved straight to him and pressed her face against his chest. He wrapped an arm around her.

Magnus was watching them with a steady gaze. The imperator didn’t give off many emotional tells, but Maxon thought Magnus was pleased.

“Get some sleep,” Magnus said. “Tomorrow, I’ll set up a meeting with our allies to start formulating a plan for getting into the Bari Batu arena and finding the mag-tech.”

“Thank you, Magnus,” Bellamy said. “For everything.”

The imperator gave her a faint smile. “You’re House of Rone now, Bellamy. The thanks are not necessary.”

“Well, you’re still getting them.”

His smile widened a little. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”

Maxon ushered Bellamy into the hall. Inside, his gut was still churning, and he felt the need to get to his workshop and hammer the drak out of something.

“Time for bed.” He steered her down the corridor.

“Your bed?” She looked up at him.

But he noted the dark circles under her eyes. She’d not been sleeping well and the attack tonight at the arena had been draining.

“No. I’ll see you to your room.”

She sighed. “You’re mad at me.”

“I’m not.” He paused in front of her door. “I do understand what’s driving you, even if I don’t like it.” He touched her short hair, then ran his thumb across her cheekbone. “It’s been an intense day, and you need some rest.”

She sighed again.

“And if you were in my bed, you wouldn’t be getting any sleep, all night.”

Her breathing hitched. “Ace, that just makes me want to walk into this bedroom alone even less than before.”

He lowered his head, and touched a quick, light kiss to her lips. “Sleep well, Bellamy. No nightmares. I hope you’ll dream of me.”

She licked her lips. “You’re a tease, cyborg.” A sexy smile tipped her lips and she cocked her hip. “Well, you can go to your empty bed, and think of me in mine, with my hands between my legs, stroking, and imagining my hands all over your big body.”

The little temptress. Heat poured into his gut and he growled.

Then she cupped his jaw. “Thank you, Maxon. For fighting for me, for protecting me, and for understanding that I need to be a part of this fight.”

She slipped into her room, shot him a wink, and closed the door.

Maxon let out a breath. His cock was pressing hard against his trousers. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight.

But what bothered him most was the nagging feeling that something bad was coming. A dark cloud was gathering on the horizon and every instinct he had told him that it was centered on Bellamy.

CHAPTER NINE

Maxon stayed close to Bellamy as they entered the Dark Nebula Casino the next morning.

She was practically vibrating with energy. She was also surrounded by House of Rone cyborgs.

Magnus was in the lead, and beside her were Jax and Mace. Maxon was right behind her. They were not giving the Edull’s assassins another chance to get to her.

She’d outlined her plan to Maxon and Magnus last night. Now, they would meet their allies—Galen, Zhim, and Rillian—to discuss it more.

Bellamy looked around at the opulence of the casino lobby, then arched her head around Mace’s bulk to get a better look through the large, grand doorway into the main casino area.

“No.” Maxon rested a hand on her shoulder. He wasn’t going to let her expose herself.

She wrinkled her nose as they crossed the glossy lobby. “The place looks amazing. When this is over, I’m coming back here.”

He touched her face. He wanted her safe. “I’ll bring you.”

She looked back at him, surprise and pleasure in her eyes.

Drak. This woman was worming under his skin without even trying to. Maxon wasn’t sure he liked it, but knew for certain he didn’t want to change it.

A Dark Nebula security officer dressed in a fitted, black uniform showed them to an elevator and entered a code so it would take them to the top level.

The elevator zoomed upward, and it wasn’t long before it opened, disgorging them into a plush hall.

They walked down it toward a set of large, glossy doors. Magnus thumped his fist against the wood.

“Come in,” a deep voice replied.

They walked into a huge, spacious office, with a semicircle of glass windows that reached ceiling to floor.

Bellamy sucked in a breath. Maxon looked at the view. It was worth a gasp or two. Rillian’s office provided a dazzling view of Kor Magna—the lights and glitz of the District, the arena not far away, the sprawl of the city beyond. Even a glimpse of the desert in the distance.

Then Maxon watched Bellamy take in the man who rose from behind the desk.

“Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Hubba hubba.”

Rillian was rich, and it showed. He wore tailored, dark trousers and a crisp, blue shirt made of a fine fabric. The man’s bronze skin, handsome face, and black hair that fell almost to his shoulders vied with his long, lean body.

Maxon fought off a scowl. She didn’t need to drool over the man like a rabid desert night beast.

“Magnus.” Rillian stepped forward. The owner of the Dark Nebula Casino might be dressed in immaculate clothing, but the way he moved screamed predator. He exuded power.

Every one of Maxon’s senses warned him that this man was dangerous, despite the urbane charm. He was well aware that Rillian was bonded to an alien symbiont that gave the man deadly abilities.

“You must be Bellamy,” Rillian said.

She shook his hand. “And you must be gorgeous.”

Maxon swallowed a growl.

Rillian smiled. “Thank you. My lovely mate from Earth thinks so.”

“Lucky lady.”

“I’m the one who’s lucky. She’ll be here soon. Dayna is excited to meet you, Bellamy.” The casino owner’s face turned serious. “I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through.”

“I’m free now.” A sharp smile tipped Bellamy’s lips. “And the Edull are going down one way or another.”

“A woman after my own heart,” a feminine voice said from the doorway.

Maxon turned his head and saw the tall brunette stride in.

“I’m Dayna.” She had long legs, a fit body, and thick, brown hair. She smiled at Bellamy.

The women hugged.

“I’m so glad you’re well.” Dayna moved to stand beside Rillian. The casino owner dropped a kiss to his mate’s lips.

The office door opened again. “Stop talking.”

A small, dark-haired woman stormed in, holding a hand up to the tall, lean, and scowling man behind her.

“Ryan,” Zhim growled.

“Uh-uh. I’m spamming you with kitten pictures as soon as we get home.”

Kor Magna’s premier information merchant groaned.

The woman smiled, her dark eyes dancing. “Sorry, lover’s tiff.” She winked. “He annoys me, I annoy him back, then we have wild, make-up sex.”

Maxon frowned, but Dayna and Bellamy both laughed.

“You’re Bellamy.” Ryan grabbed Bellamy’s hands. “I’m Ryan Nagano. This is the brilliant, genius, arrogant, and often-annoying love of my life, Zhim.”

The long-haired information merchant rolled his nebula-colored eyes. “Nice to meet you, Bellamy.”

“What did I miss?” Imperator Galen swept in.

“Zhim and Ryan’s lover’s tiff,” Jax said.

Galen flicked a glance at the pair, his single eye the color of ice. “I’m just glad that I no longer have to referee them.”

“Hi, Galen.” Ryan gave the imperator a kiss on his rugged cheek.

Magnus shifted. “Thank you all for coming. Bellamy has had a good idea concerning the Bari Batu arena. I thought we should all discuss it.”

Zhim leaned a hip against Rillian’s large desk. “We have news as well.”

“You go first,” Magnus said.

“The Edull have a race coming up. A big one.”

Bellamy gasped. Sensing her disquiet, Maxon reached out and touched her back. She leaned into him.

“It means they’ll get a big influx of slaves for the races.” Her hands balled into fists. “A lot of innocent people will die.”

“Not if we can help it,” Maxon growled.

Rillian leaned against his desk. “I’ll keep working with my contacts. I’ve had some success deterring both spectators and competitors with battle bots from going anywhere near Bari Batu.”

“Keep it up,” Magnus said.

“Bellamy,” Rillian said. “You had an idea regarding the arena?”

She cleared her throat, then launched into her idea about destroying the mag-tech and crashing the arena.

Zhim arched a brow. “Brilliant. Do you know how to do this?”

Bellamy grimaced. “That’s the only problem. I’ve never been near the mag-tech. It’s kept hidden and well protected.”

“Drak,” Rillian murmured.

Dayna, leaning against the desk beside Rillian, crossed her ankles. “Before any attack, we need to know exactly where this tech is, and how we can take it down.”

“Yes,” Magnus agreed.

Zhim crossed his arms. “I’ll see if we can find any info on this mag-tech through other channels. The Edull must have purchased parts from somewhere. If we can get the intel, then a team can go in to destroy the mag-tech.”

“I can lead the team in,” Bellamy said. “I know the layout of the arena, and how to get through their security better than anyone.”

Maxon had known this was coming. He gritted his teeth together so hard that his jaw creaked. He’d agreed to help her, but he still didn’t like it.

Bellamy turned to look at him, and he managed to give her a nod. She smiled back at him.

He wanted her safe, but he understood her need for revenge. He’d felt that same twisting need after his family’s abandonment.

“I suggest you use the big race as cover,” Zhim said. “Pretend to go in as guests. The place will be packed and busy, so you’re less likely to be spotted in areas where you’re not supposed to be.”

“When is the race?” Bellamy asked.

“In three days.”

“It doesn’t give us much time to get more information on the mag-tech,” Rillian said.

“We have to,” Bellamy said fiercely.

Magnus nodded. “Everyone, tap your contacts. Whatever it takes. My cyborgs and I will plan the mission.”

“My ships and any other resources are at your disposal,” Rillian said.

“So how can we get an invite to the race?” Magnus asked.

“Unfortunately, not very easily.” Zhim frowned. “The Edull have increased security since you and Galen, along with Rillian’s assistance, have done so well scaring off a lot of their customers.”

“I know someone,” Galen said. “He’s off-planet royalty from the Sarkany System. He’d be able to secure an invite, and he’s a good man. He could take our people in as part of his entourage.”

“Good,” Magnus said. “Get the invite, Galen. We have three days to plan.”

Maxon’s hands curled into fists. Three days before Bellamy ran headlong back into danger.

BELLAMY STEPPED out of the Dark Nebula Casino and scanned the busy street. Even here in the middle of the city, the hot desert sun beat down. She vowed to come back to the casino soon and have some fun: eat too much, drink something bubbly, and play.

She glanced over at Maxon. His face was set like stone. She was going to drag him along as well. Her chest tightened. She wanted the grumpy, anti-social cyborg.

And that both excited her and scared her.

Tangling with Lenny the controlling dick had left her cautious of relationships. He’d been nice at first, reeling her in. They’d partied hard, gone for long rides on his Harley. Then he’d started dictating what she did, where she went, what she wore. She’d been a grieving teenager, all alone, and she’d wanted to please him. It had taken her a while to work out he was a scumbag.

Maxon was not Lenny, but he had a strong, bossy personality.

Suddenly, she heard a man’s loud shouts, followed seconds later by screams.

Around her, the cyborgs tensed as one. She glanced down the sidewalk and saw a giant, out-of-control alien man barreling down the sidewalk. His skin looked like rock, and he was swinging his arms. People on the sidewalk scattered.

He slammed his fist into the window of the building and it shattered into a thousand pieces.

“Jax, get Dark Nebula Security,” Magnus ordered.

With a nod, Jax sprinted back inside the casino.

The alien man picked up a woman and she screamed loudly. Magnus and Mace pushed forward to intervene.

“Maxon, stay with Bellamy,” the imperator called back.

Maxon pressed close to her side, never taking his gaze off the rampaging man.

“Never a dull moment in Kor Magna,” Bellamy said.

He glanced down at her. “Nothing rattles you for long, does it?”

She shrugged a shoulder. “Shit happens, we deal. That’s life.” She was still having nightmares about the Edull and the battle arena. That made her more determined to destroy the arena once and for all.

“I don’t like the feel of this,” he growled.

“The feel?” she prompted.

“My species has a well-developed intuition. I can sense when things are going right or wrong.”

“Handy.” She watched him scan around them, his big body tense and alert.

A woman appeared beside them—tall, elegant, her long, lipstick-red hair falling around her shoulders in gorgeous waves. She wore a stunning, liquid green dress that clung to her toned body. If Bellamy had to guess, she’d say the woman had been whiling her hours away in the casino.

“What’s happening?” the woman asked.

“No idea,” Bellamy replied.

“Hmm, well, he’s proving an excellent distraction.”

The woman’s pleased tone made Maxon stiffen and Bellamy turn. The woman’s voice made the hairs on the back of Bellamy’s neck rise.

The redhead lifted an elegant hand with over-long fingers. She was clutching a small circular device.

Maxon made an enraged noise. Bellamy looked at him and saw he was straining, his muscles tense, and the veins in his neck bulging.

“Maxon? What’s wrong?”

“My little toy here is holding him in place.” The woman’s smile was as sharp as a blade. “It’s using the metal attached to his bones and a magnetic field to freeze him in place.” Her dark eyes locked on Bellamy. She lifted some sort of small, slim weapon, and aimed it at Bellamy’s chest. “You’re coming with me.”

Another fucking assassin. Anger flooded through Bellamy. “Screw you.”

The woman swiveled and aimed the gun at Maxon. “Come quietly, or I’ll kill him.”

Fucking hell.

“No.” Maxon managed to get the word out between gritted teeth.

“The ammunition in this weapon is designed to liquefy metal.” A pleased smile. “It’ll do extensive damage to a cyborg.”

Bellamy ground her teeth together and glanced over her shoulder. Magnus and Mace were still locked in the fight with the out-of-control alien. Bellamy bit her lip. She wouldn’t risk Maxon’s life.

She stepped toward the woman.

In a fast, practiced move, the woman slapped some slim cuffs on Bellamy’s wrists.

“Good choice.” The assassin set the freezing device down at Maxon’s feet, keeping him in place. Then she grabbed Bellamy’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”

The woman’s fingers dug into Bellamy’s skin, and she shoved Bellamy forward.

Bellamy looked back at Maxon.

He was still locked in place, his eyes aflame, his mouth a hard line. Then the crowd swallowed her and the assassin, and she couldn’t see him anymore.

As the woman forced her along the sidewalk, Bellamy’s heart pumped hard. Damn. Damn. Damn. She needed to find a chance to get away from this assassin, or take the bitch down.

“Where are you taking me?”

The woman gave her another shove. “No talking.”

They stopped beside a sleek, silver transport. The doors winged open—two on the sides and one at the back—and Bellamy found herself shoved in a small storage compartment at the rear of the transport.

“You’re making enemies out of the House of Rone,” Bellamy warned. “The Edull aren’t worth it.”

“Be quiet.” The woman’s pale skin rippled, like her body was containing something it shouldn’t.

Bellamy’s eyes widened.

The assassin smiled. “Haven’t you met a morpher before?”

“You can…change shapes?”

“It makes me a very good assassin.”

The door closed, locking Bellamy in the dark space.

She listened to the front doors closing, and then a second later, the transport started moving.

Great. Just great.

In the dim light, Bellamy examined the cuffs. She needed to get them off.

Then she noticed a bit of light coming through a small gap in front of her. She slid up awkwardly in the small space and pressed against it. She saw the assassin sitting in the front seat. The transport was zipping through traffic.

The woman touched the console, flicking her red hair back over her shoulder. “I have the package.”

“Good.” A raspy voice came through the console.

Bellamy’s stomach contracted. An Edull.

“Confirm with us when the task is complete,” the Edull said. “Then we’ll transfer the credits.”

“Very well,” the assassin replied. “Expect my call soon.”

Screw this. Bellamy was not sitting around waiting to be killed.

She started working on the cuffs, trying to get them loose. She slid her hand into her pocket and pulled out the tool Maxon had made for her. She’d kept it on her since he’d given it to her. Hell, she’d even slept with it under her pillow last night after Maxon had bullied her into getting some rest. She grunted as she worked it out of her trouser pocket.

Then the transport started to slow.

Dammit. Dragging in a deep breath, Bellamy kept herself calm. She gripped the tool and started working on a small link in the cuff. Come on. Suddenly, she heard a small click.

She smiled. The cuffs fell away. The assassin was going to get a fight, that was for sure.

The transport pulled to a stop. The doors opened, and the vehicle dipped as the assassin got out. Bellamy tensed, waiting for the cargo compartment to open, but after a minute, the assassin still hadn’t come for her.

She had no idea how long she had, but she wasn’t going to waste it.

With her hands now free, she pressed on the panel in front of her. She gripped her tool and started undoing the screws.

There. The last one fell to the floor. She shoved the front panel forward, then climbed into the front of the transport.

She slid into the front seat. Nice. The transport had sleek seats that cupped the body and fancy controls. The glass around her was all dark, and the roof was clear. There was no sign of the assassin.

Bellamy started touching the console controls.

“Palmprint not recognized,” the computer voice intoned.

Damn. Using her tool, she pried off a part of the panel. Then she jammed the tool into the wiring and circuits.

Bellamy had hotwired a few cars in her misspent youth. Surely, an alien transport on a desert planet half a galaxy away wouldn’t be that difficult? Especially when this was life or death.

It gave her good incentive.

Suddenly, sparks flew out of the inside of the console, and Bellamy turned her head away. When she looked back, she saw the transport’s console flare to life.

“Yes!”

Then it died.

“Come on,” she muttered.

She jammed her tool in again, and the console lights flickered. Bellamy smiled as they stayed lit. She touched the controls and the transport started forward.

Yes!

She pulled the vehicle jerkily out into the street. It wasn’t smooth, but they were moving.

Suddenly, there was a thump on the roof. Bellamy looked up through the clear glass and saw the redhead’s enraged face.

Shit. Bellamy touched the controls, searching for the accelerator. She swiped the screen.

The transport leaped forward and sped away.

The assassin tumbled off.

Hell, yeah. Bellamy kept working the controls. The transport turned a corner, and joined the busy flow of traffic.

Crap. She didn’t want to crash into any innocent people. She kept her hands on the controls, trying to work it all out. In the distance, she spotted the cream walls of the arena.

She’d head straight there, and get back to the House of Rone.

Bellamy moved over into the next lane, gunning forward.

That’s when two transports roared up on either side of her vehicle. They pinned her between them.

Uh-oh.

She looked over, and in one, saw the female assassin inside. The woman had the side window open and was aiming a weapon at Bellamy.

Oh, shit.

CHAPTER TEN

Maxon fought the force holding him in place. He wanted to roar out his frustration, but the drakking field kept his voice locked down.

He was going to pulverize that drakking device once he was free.

“Maxon!” Magnus’ shout.

Maxon managed to turn his head enough to see Magnus, Jax, and Mace running toward him. He couldn’t even yell at them to warn them.

He heard Jax curse first. All three cyborgs snapped to a halt. They all had enough enhancements and cybernetics to be caught by the field of the device.

He watched as his fellow cyborgs strained against the magnetic field holding them. Pain flared inside him. The force exerted on his spine made his bones ache.

Then there were more shouts and movement.

A tall, muscular man in a black suit stepped in front of Maxon. A small, blonde woman appeared beside him.

“Hey, hold on, big guy.” The woman crouched and touched the device. “There.”

The force was gone. Maxon staggered, but the man caught him.

“Are you all right?” The man’s eyes were locked on Maxon’s face.

Tannon Gi was head of security for the Dark Nebula. Maxon nodded. “Thanks.”

The woman patted his arm, scanning the street.

“I’m Mina.” Her blonde hair brushed her jaw line. “They took her?”

Maxon growled. “Not for long.”

The woman smiled. She wore a Dark Nebula Security uniform, but he knew instantly that she was from Earth. This had to be Tannon’s mate.

“Bellamy’s tough,” Mina said. “She’s probably planning her abductor’s downfall as we speak.” Mina shot him a satisfied smile. “She won’t be an easy victim.”

“You know her,” he said.

“I’m from the Helios.”

“My security team is tracking the transport,” Tannon said. “We control all the traffic cameras in the District.”

“My hunk-a-licious is a control freak,” Mina added, pride in her voice.

Two black, streamlined transports slid up in front of them, and opened. There was no one inside.

“They’re all yours,” Tannon said to Maxon and the cyborgs. “Tracking information is on the onboard system.”

“Nice.” Jax climbed into one while Mace joined him.

“Get her back,” Mina said.

Maxon climbed into the other transport, Magnus sliding into the seat beside him. Maxon nodded at the small Earth woman.

Jax and Mace pulled away first.

As the doors closed them in, Maxon stared through the smoky glass. They slid smoothly into traffic. Maxon leaned forward and ripped open the control panel.

“Rillian just loaned this to us,” Magnus said. “It’s not nice to rip it apart.”

“I’m just finessing some more speed from the controls.” Transports often had speed locks for the city. The transport jumped forward, picking up speed.

An assassin had Bellamy. They couldn’t waste any more time. They sped past Jax and Mace. The others would have to catch up.

Drak. Maxon wanted to pummel something. Preferably an Edull or two.

Magnus straightened in his seat. “There.”

Ahead, Maxon saw two dark transports flanking a silver one.

He spotted the female assassin, her red hair whipping around in the wind, leaning out a window. Her hair streamed out behind her like a river of blood. She was aiming a weapon at the silver transport.

Bellamy.

Maxon touched the controls. They sped up and he watched as Magnus gripped the door.

“Maxon—”

“Hold on.”

They crashed into the back of the assassin’s transport.

The woman jolted and almost lost her balance. Fury choked Maxon. This crudspawn had dared to take Bellamy, threatened her, and planned to kill her.

He wouldn’t allow any of that.

He touched a button and the roof of the transport opened.

Magnus straightened. “Maxon, we need—”

“I’m getting Bellamy back.”

The imperator sighed. “Be careful.”

Maxon climbed up onto the roof. He balanced on top of the speeding transport, then leaped.

He landed on the assassin’s vehicle with a thud, then yanked his weapon out of his holster.

The redhead popped up through her own roof and shot at him. He ducked down, and fired back.

She popped up again and shot at him once more.

This time, he wasn’t fast enough. The laser hit his shoulder, but he ignored the stinging burn.

The assassin swerved the vehicle and with a curse, Maxon dropped down and clung to the roof.

They slammed into Bellamy’s transport.

He turned his head and his gaze met hers through the glass. Her eyes were wide.

The assassin fired at him again and he ducked back. This time, he watched anger flaring on Bellamy’s face.

Her roof opened.

“Stay down,” he roared.

The assassin popped up and flew bodily out of her roof, a knife glinting in her hand.

Drak.

Avoiding the blade, he rolled, almost tumbling off the edge of the speeding transport.

The woman’s knife cut into the metal.

“You shouldn’t meddle, cyborg.”

“And you shouldn’t kill innocent people.” He swung out and hit her with his fist.

She slid across the roof, grunted, and clung tight.

He heard the crash of metal and glass. He glanced over and saw that Jax and Mace’s transport had smashed into the vehicle on the other side of Bellamy’s. Both vehicles fell back.

Bellamy’s transport kept pace with the assassin’s, her head visible through the roof.

The assassin twisted, the green fabric of her dress flapping in the wind, showing her toned legs. She bunched those legs up and kicked at him. Hard.

Maxon slid across the slick roof. He gritted his teeth, clinging hard. His head dipped down, the ground whizzing past near his eyes.

Then he felt a stab of pain in his left thigh and he roared. She’d stabbed him.

“Maxon!” Bellamy screamed.

Hearing her voice gave him strength. He had to save her. He blocked the pain and then pulled himself up, just in time to see Bellamy launch herself off her transport.

Fear tried to strangle him. Drakking stubborn, brave Earth women.

She landed on the assassin and the two women slid across the roof of the transport. Bellamy got on top of the assassin, punching the taller killer with brutal hits.

“Bitch!” Bellamy growled. “You don’t get to hurt my man.”

Punch. Punch. Punch.

The assassin’s head lolled. But the woman suddenly shoved Bellamy off her. Both women rose, balancing precariously on the moving transport.

“Bellamy.” He climbed toward her. If she fell…

Bellamy launched herself at the assassin. She dodged the woman’s punch and kicked her. With a scream, the assassin fell off the transport, her arms flailing.

She hit the road, then tumbled under another transport.

Bellamy crouched and met his gaze. She grinned.

Drak, she was so damn wild and gorgeous.

Suddenly, the transport went crazy and out of control. It started zigging and zagging across the road.

Maxon clung harder, while Bellamy lost her balance.

No!

They sideswiped another transport. He saw Bellamy start to fall.

Maxon pushed himself up and ran two steps across the roof.

With a curse, Bellamy fell off the side of the transport, and Maxon jumped.

Using all his cyborg strength, he sailed through the air. He hit her midair, curling his body around her.

Then he turned so he hit the ground first.

THEY HIT the ground with a bone-jarring jolt, but Maxon had absorbed most of the fall.

Bellamy swiveled. “Are you okay?”

He rose to a sitting position and nodded. “You?” His gold eyes were intense.

“Yes, because you saved my ass.” She cupped his cheeks. “And that tool you gave me helped me escape.” She kissed him.

He clamped her to him, his hold hard, and kissed her back.

That’s when she felt something wet. Blood.

“My God.” She glanced down. “You’re bleeding.”

“The assassin stabbed me.” He touched the wound on his thigh. “It’s not critical. My systems are already stemming the bleeding, and it’s healing.”

“Bleeding for me again,” she said quietly.

The damn Edull. They hurt too many people.

“Hey.” He lifted her chin. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. The Edull won’t stop until I’m dead.”

Maxon’s rugged face hardened. “Unless we kill them first.”

Transports pulled up beside them, and Magnus climbed out of the closest one. Jax and Mace exited the other.

“You’re both all right?” the imperator asked.

Maxon rose, pulling Bellamy up with him. “We’re fine. The assassin is dead, so you can’t question her.”

They all turned to look at the smoking, crumpled remains of the assassin’s original transport.

“But we can see if she left anything,” Bellamy said. “There might be data on the transport computer.”

They all leaned over the twisted lump of metal. Bellamy’s stomach did a sickening turn. If she and Maxon hadn’t gotten off it in time…

She shook her head. There was no point torturing herself with what-ifs. They were alive.

She dug around inside the cockpit of the transport.

“In the center, there,” Maxon said. “Press down on that screen.”

She touched the screen. It was badly cracked. She thumped a fist against it, and a small compartment opened. Something came out, and she saw it was some sort of data chip. She grabbed it and turned. “It’s intact.”

Magnus held out his cybernetic hand and she placed it on his palm. The imperator inserted the chip into a small opening on his cybernetic arm. One of his eyes glowed a bright neon-blue, then he frowned. “There’s not much here.”

Maxon grunted. “Any decent assassin wouldn’t keep important data unsecured.”

“There are coordinates in here. A location in the city.”

“Maybe it’s where she was taking me?” Bellamy put her hands on her hips. “Maybe there are Edull there?”

“Let’s check it out,” Maxon said.

Magnus nodded and they moved back to the transports. Bellamy had to sit in Maxon’s lap, but he was holding her close, stroking her arm. She couldn’t say she didn’t like it. It was like he didn’t want to let her out of his sight.

She had to admit, she liked that a lot.

Bellamy leaned forward and drummed her fingers against the console. “We need to take down that arena, burn it to the ground, leave the Edull with nothing—”

“Okay, my bloodthirsty warrior. Calm down.” Maxon shot her an amused look.

She elbowed him, then turned to look out the window.

“I smell blood,” Magnus said.

“Assassin stabbed my thigh,” Maxon said. “Missed anything vital and the bleeding’s stopped.”

Bellamy screwed up her nose. “That bitch, I wish I could—”

Maxon pressed a palm over Bellamy’s mouth. “Calm down. She can’t get any more dead.”

“Any aftereffects from the magnetic weapon she used on us at the Dark Nebula?” Magnus asked.

“I felt some strain on my bones at the time, but it’s gone now.”

“Maybe check in with Avarn later,” the imperator suggested.

Maxon made a non-committal grunt.

Bellamy stared at him. Oh, she’d make him go.

The city changed as they drove. The three-story, cream stone buildings gave way to more rambling structures, with large enclosed walls and gates.

“We’re near the edge of the city,” Magnus said. “Close to Varus’ tarnid stables. This is where caravans and travelers head out into the desert.”

They reached the coordinates, pulling up in front of an arched gate. Jax and Mace exited their vehicle, Mace crossing his arms over his chest as he scowled at the gate.

“The Alzen Stables.” Maxon frowned. “Never heard of it.”

“It looks abandoned,” Bellamy said. The place had that neglected, empty feel to it.

“The stables went out of business a long time ago.” Magnus climbed out of the transport.

Maxon helped Bellamy out and they circled around close to the gates. There was movement off to the side, and they turned to see Zaden, Acton, Seren, and Toren striding toward them.

Wow, they kind of looked like a team of superheroes. Bellamy hid her smile. She suspected the cyborgs would hate hearing that.

“I asked them to meet us,” the imperator said.

They all stood in front of the metal gates.

“We could scale the walls,” Acton suggested.

Zaden stepped forward and raised a hand.

The metal gates vibrated and Bellamy’s eyes shot open. A second later, the gates ripped off, flying through the air to land on the ground.

Holy hell.

Maxon grunted. “That works as well.”

They all strode inside.

There were musty smells of old feed and animals. The building had clearly once been used as stables.

Bellamy froze, her feet stuck to the ground with shock and anger. “No.”

“What the drak?” Maxon clipped out.

Cages. There were rows of small cages lining the space.

Not all of them were filled, but enough were. Bellamy stared at the people and she knew the looks on their faces—they were tired, scared, without hope.

Her gaze continued along the cages, and then she saw the kids.

They were mostly lanky teens. Her gut churned. The Edull liked to put young slaves in the battle bots. They had quicker reflexes, were more willing to take risks to try and survive on the track.

“Edull slaves,” she said woodenly.

Some of the prisoners spotted them and called out for help.

Breaking free, Bellamy strode forward. She stopped by one cage, and inside was a young boy, maybe ten or eleven. He was too thin.

She yanked at the door, but it was locked. She pulled on it viciously.

Then Maxon was beside her. He kicked the lock off and the door swung open.

“You’re safe,” Bellamy said. “We’re going to get you out of here.”

The thin boy with the shock of matted, black hair and pale skin let her help him out. Then because he wavered on his feet, she put an arm around him.

“Watch out,” he whispered. “They have—”

Clanking and whirring sounds filled the old stables.

The House of Rone cyborgs spun. Several bots stomped into view.

Bellamy’s blood ran cold.

There were several different designs, mostly humanoid. There were all tall, towering over seven feet. One was on tracks, and another had six arms.

Mace punched a fist into his palm. “Good. I didn’t think we were going to get a decent fight.”

“House of Rone,” Magnus said. “Take them down.”

The cyborgs strode forward. Seren leaped, disappeared, then reappeared right behind the lead bot. The female cyborg rammed a pair of wicked-looking fighting forks into the metal.

Wow. Bellamy’s pulse spiked. Seren could teleport. Maybe the female cyborg really was a superhero. Not far away, Zaden used his amazing powers to topple a bot to the ground. He attacked it with his sword.

Magnus and Jax rammed their fists into another bot, tearing its insides out.

Toren stood back, a weapon rising up from the metal implant on his shoulder. He fired precision laser bolts that ricocheted between several bots. Mace and Acton were circling two other bots.

“Stay back,” Maxon said. “Protect the boy.”

Then he spun, striding into the fight. He reached over his shoulder and pulled out his vibrasword. He lunged and struck, fighting with powerful hits that tore into the bot.

They were amazing.

“By the sands.” The boy trembled. “They are…”

“The House of Rone.” Bellamy patted his arm. “They’re going to set everyone free.”

The boy fought back tears, ducking his head to hide them.

She gripped his shoulder. “It’s okay. I was the Edull’s prisoner for a while, so I know how you feel. But I’m free now, and you can go home soon. We’ll take care of you.”

With a sniff, the boy nodded. “But…they already took my older brother.”

Damn. She touched the young boy’s arm. “What’s your name?”

“Calrin.”

“Well, Calrin, we’re going to find your brother. I promise.” Don’t make me a liar, universe. “What’s your brother’s name?”

“Zan.”

Suddenly, a bot broke through the line of fighting cyborgs. Fuck.

It barreled right toward Bellamy and the boy. She glanced around, looking for some sort of weapon.

She grabbed a metal bar resting beside the cages and lifted it. She pushed Calrin behind her.

The bot rolled closer.

Bellamy leaped up onto an empty cage then jumped, swinging her bar through the air. Her swing slammed into the bot’s head.

The bot stopped, and she saw the dent in its head, before she landed back in a crouch on the ground.

“Come on, you overblown tin can.”

It rolled at her and she swung again. One of its arms grabbed the bar. She tried to jerk it away, but the bot held it steady. It was too strong.

Shit.

A roar sounded, almost like a lion on the attack. Maxon landed on the bot’s back. He was holding some sort of gun in his hand. He pressed the sleek weapon to the bot’s head.

He pulled the trigger and blew the bot’s head off.

The construct teetered and collapsed, just as Maxon leaped off it.

Bellamy kicked the destroyed bot. Good riddance. She looked up and smiled at Maxon. “I love watching you kick ass, Ace.”

His lips twitched. “Stay out of trouble.”

“Never.”

She turned back to the boy, and together, they watched the House of Rone cyborgs make metal mincemeat out of the Edull robots.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Maxon watched Bellamy free the last of the kids from the final cages.

She was talking calmly, reassuring them. She coaxed a smile from a boy, and then hugged a small girl.

He stayed close to her. He didn’t want to be too far away from her. Part of him didn’t want her out of his sight.

But he stayed back. He was big, the kids were skittish.

The other reason he was staying close was that rage vibrated off Bellamy. The kids might not be picking it up, but he sure was.

A team from the House of Rone arrived to help deal with the freed captives. The workers sprang into action.

“Our people will get them all medical checks and then some food,” Magnus said.

Maxon grunted. The House of Rone was used to helping those who needed it.

“We’ll get them back to their homes and families,” Magnus continued. “Or offer them a new one, if need be.”

As the imperator had once offered Maxon a home. He hoped these kids had people who cared and homes to go back to.

There were a few adult captives as well. He heard a man’s deep laugh and turned.

A smooth, handsome Heelevian man was laughing with Bellamy.

Maxon frowned. The man was standing way too close to her. Why was she smiling at him like that?

Before he could intervene, he felt a tug on his leg and looked down to see a small girl with tangled, pale hair.

“What?”

The girl blinked, and her lip quivered.

Maxon tried not to scowl. He remembered the way Bellamy had crouched to the kids’ level when she spoke to them.

He went down on one knee. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head.

“Looking for someone?”

That got him another shake.

Drak. He had no idea what to say to this small child.

Then the girl moved closer, her body cautious, then pressed against his chest.

Raising an arm, he awkwardly hugged the girl. She was so small and fragile. He felt a trickle of panic and looked up, searching for someone to take the girl off his hands.

She clung to his shirt like she was never going to let go.

Then he saw Bellamy smiling at him.

His panic eased. If this earned him that look on her face, he’d hold the little girl for hours.

Suddenly, an older girl appeared. “Zalista.” She took the girl’s hand and pulled her away from Maxon. “I’m sorry. You look like our father. The same hair.”

“You have family?” Maxon asked.

The older girl nodded. “They’ll be frantic. They’ll be looking for us.”

He rose. “We’ll help you get home.”

There was a gleam of tears in the girl’s eyes before she sniffed them back. “Thank you.”

The little girl patted his leg, then left with her sister.

“Kids seem to like you.”

He watched Bellamy approach.

“I have no idea why.”

“Because you make them feel safe.” She pressed into his chest. “You make me feel safe.”

There was a storm of emotion inside him. He cupped her cheek. “Why were you talking and laughing with that man?” His tone came out harsh and surly.

Her mouth curved. “Jealous?”

Maxon gripped her biceps. “Don’t play with me, Bellamy.”

Her smile faded. “I’m not. I was being nice to someone who’d been in captivity, like I was.”

Maxon released a breath. He needed to get his own feelings under control and think about hers.

She jerked away. “Don’t piss me off, cyborg. I’m mad, and looking for a convenient punching bag.”

He sensed that barely leashed fury simmering, her body vibrating with it.

“The Edull tried to kill you again, so you have the right to be angry,” he said.

She made a scoffing noise, and waved a hand in the air. “It’s not that. Kids, Maxon. They locked up all these kids.” Her voice hitched. “They would’ve shipped them to Bari Batu and killed them.”

He reached out and touched her pale hair. “Bellamy. We will stop them.”

Her voice was close to a whisper. “How many will die before we can do that?” A tear slipped from her eye and she dashed it away, making an angry noise. “Dammit, I don’t cry.”

He wished he knew what the drak to do to ease her pain.

“Maxon—” Her voice cracked. “Get me out of here. I’m going to break or explode or something.”

He grabbed her hand. “Magnus, I’m taking Bellamy back to the House of Rone.”

Magnus nodded. “Go. We’re almost finished here. Take one of Rillian’s transports.”

They didn’t talk on the way back. Once they reached the arena, he led her into the tunnels. His long strides ate up the distance, and she was practically jogging to keep up with him.

They moved quickly through the House of Rone doors without stopping to talk to the guards. He tugged her straight into his workshop.

She strode into the center of the space and he expected her to cry.

Instead, she made an enraged sound and grabbed a tool off the bench. She threw it at the wall. Then she started grabbing whatever was within reach and tossing things at the wall. She had good aim.

She was incandescent with rage. Drak, she was magnificent.

Maxon knew this wasn’t just about the kids. This was about letting out her anger, fear, and fury about her own abduction, what she’d lost, what she’d seen.

Then, it seemed like the storm was petering out. She lowered her arm and spun.

Her green eyes were blazing, and the heat ran through him.

Even a cyborg could recognize the mix of lust, desire, sex.

BELLAMY LET her gaze drift over Maxon’s hard form.

Need and want twisted through the rage welling inside her. Her anger morphed into something hotter and needier.

Throwing shit had helped her. Fucking Maxon would be even better.

“What do you want?” His voice was low and edgy.

She stepped toward him. “You know.” She yanked her tank top off.

His gold gaze moved over her breasts, devouring her. “Tell me.”

She flicked open her trousers and dropped them. She kicked off her panties and then she was naked.

His gaze was glued to her belly. The man had a thing for her tats.

“I want your big, callused hands on me. I want your mouth on me.” She reached for him and pressed her palm against his trousers, right over his cock.

He groaned. He was already hard, and she stroked him through the fabric.

“You want to use me?” he growled. “To get your anger out? Forget all your troubles?”

She lifted her chin. “You got a problem with that?”

“Drak, no.” He wrapped an arm around her, and lifted her off her feet.

God, the way he easily picked her up made her damp. She bit his jaw. “Maxon?”

That molten gold gaze met hers.

“This isn’t just fucking, or working my anger out. It’s you. Only you.”

He made a sound like a muted roar. With his other arm, he swept across the bench, knocking tools and gear off the surface.

Bellamy’s belly caught, desire thrumming between her legs.

He set her down on the bench and shoved her legs apart. He moved between them, his big body crowding hers. He pushed her until she was lying flat on her back. One of his hands ran down her middle, his callused fingers tracking over her tattoos.

She felt the caress deep inside.

He circled her navel, then he lowered his head. His shaggy hair brushed her skin. Then his tongue was on her tattoo.

She arched into him. “Maxon!”

“Stay down.” He pinned her there. “You’re mine to touch and taste.”

Then his mouth was between her legs, licking and sucking like he couldn’t get enough of the taste of her. Like he was starving for her.

She shoved her hands into his hair, making incoherent noises.

“I want you inside me,” she panted. “Now.”

He gave her a final lick, sending her trembling close to the edge of a climax. His hands closed around her waist, dragging her to the edge of the bench.

“So tough, but so soft here.” He stroked her thighs. “You make so much feeling well up inside me, Bellamy. You take me places I’ve never been before.”

He reached up and ripped his shirt off.

God, that chest. All that smooth bronze skin. She wanted to explore every hard inch of it.

Then he opened his trousers. He leaned over her and she felt the thick head of his cock brush between her legs. She cried out.

He stilled, his big body shaking against hers.

“Maxon?”

“It’s been…a long time. I don’t want to hurt you.”

She felt a burst of warmth in her chest. “It’s been a while for me too. I want this. I need this. You.”

He made a choked sound and surged inside her with a single, hard thrust.

A strangled cry was ripped from her throat. Wild desire washed through her. His long, thick cock stretched her with a sweet sting of pain.

He pulled out, thrust back in with a groan. Desire went crazy, like a flame to tinder.

“More.” She sat up, gripping his shoulders, her legs clamped around him. She clung to him, hunger turning desperate.

“Bellamy.” His big hands slid under her ass. He lifted her off the bench.

He used his strength to help her move. Up, down. She cried out, taking his cock deep inside her. Her climax roared closer, all her muscles tensing. She trembled on the edge, clutching his shoulders.

Maxon pumped into her again, his fingers biting into her buttocks.

She clamped down on his cock and her orgasm crashed into her. She screamed, digging her nails into his back, clawing him.

With a growl, he thrust into her again before his own release hit. As he groaned her name, she lowered her head and bit into the hard muscle at his shoulder.

His big body jerked, then his cock pulsed as he spilled inside her.

MAXON COULDN’T FORMULATE one single clear thought.

All he could think of was Bellamy. The sexy handful of a woman he held tight in his arms.

She was all heat and wicked curves, and the scent of her—mixed with the musk of sex—wouldn’t leave him for a long time.

She made a husky sound, dropping a kiss to his shoulder. “Ace, we totally should’ve done that months ago.”

“We didn’t know each other months ago.”

“Who cares about details.”

Pleasure—and other strange feelings—mixed inside him. He blinked, then realized they were standing naked in the middle of his workshop.

He wasn’t interested in anyone else seeing Bellamy’s naked form. He carried her to a doorway, and then up a set of stone steps and into his living quarters.

He set her down and she took it all in.

“You don’t spend a lot of time decorating, huh?”

He looked at the space through her eyes. A simple, steel-frame bed dominated the far end of the space, and there wasn’t much else.

The window behind the bed was an arch, showcasing a nice view of Kor Magna.

“I don’t spend much time up here.”

She wandered, unperturbed that she was naked. She poked her head into his bathroom and her eyes widened. “I like your tub.”

He had a huge, deep tub sunk into the floor. He lifted a shoulder. “If I get stuck on a design, I like to soak and think.”

Unashamedly naked, she strode toward him. “I heard cyborgs aren’t fond of baths.”

“I don’t have any outward metal parts.”

“No, you don’t.” She stroked his chest. “What do you have?”

“A lot of synthetic organs, metal infused into my bones.”

Something flickered on her face. “What happened to you?”

Maxon’s gut cramped, and he scooped her off her feet. Thankfully, she let him avoid the subject.

He strode over and dropped her on his bed. She stroked the covers and he felt a punch of satisfaction at seeing her spread out there.

His cock appreciated the view too.

Her gaze drifted down his body, her lips lifting. “What’s on your mind, Ace?”

You. Always you. But he didn’t voice the words.

Instead, he watched as she parted her legs. Drak, he had a perfect view of her pretty, pink folds.

Then boldly, she cupped her breasts. One of her hands drifted between her legs and she stroked herself.

His cock felt like steel, rising high.

Wild Bellamy—she never held back. She went after what she wanted, showed what she was feeling. No artifice or pretense. She showed him how turned on she was.

“I still feel you here,” she murmured.

Maxon climbed onto the bed and covered her body with his. He leaned down and kissed her. She bit his bottom lip.

“How can I want you again so soon?” she said.

“Bellamy—”

She shoved against his shoulders and exerted enough pressure for him to roll onto his back. She climbed on top of him and his gut went tight with desire.

“Watch me, Maxon. Watch me take you inside.”

She gripped his cock, giving it one hard pump. It pulsed in her hand. She dropped her head down and gave it a quick lick that made his hips buck up.

She was a drakking temptress, driving him out of his mind.

She rose up, then slowly descended on his cock.

He growled.

“You like that, don’t you?” She made a choked noise. “My body stretching to take you, you big beast.”

He gripped her hips, and drove her down.

Her cry echoed off the walls of his room. Then she started moving, riding him hard.

“Oh, God, yes.” She picked up speed.

Hot pleasure pumped through his body. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled his ears. The wild, burning lust made him want to claim and plunder. Her hungry, needy moans echoed in his ears.

But they’d already clawed at each other downstairs. Already dissipated the fury, and now he felt a strange, alien need for something else.

Maxon pushed up and flipped them over.

“Hey,” she complained.

He hitched her legs up high, and slid back inside her—hard and deep. He savored the expressions that floated over her face. Memorized every one.

“So damn full,” she said.

Maxon started thrusting—slow, firm, even.

“Faster.” Her nails bit into his back.

“Slow,” he countered.

“Maxon.”

Their eyes locked. “Slow. Just feel, Bellamy.”

Her lips parted. He moved deeply, loving every sensation—her warmth, wetness, the musky scents, her small sounds of pleasure.

“Maxon.” His name like a sigh.

He felt her body clamp down on his cock. Both hers and his own release drawing closer. Instead of a violent explosion, it was growing like a slow-moving sandstorm.

“I’ve got you, Bellamy.”

There were a million emotions in her green eyes.

“Let me watch you come,” he murmured.

Her body arched into his, and she cried out.

Maxon watched her, what he did to her, before his own release slammed into him. He roared her name, feeling her hands on his biceps, and knowing that she had him as well.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Bellamy woke with a stretch and a hum. Her body was deliciously sore.

And there was a big, hard chest under her cheek. Maxon was…petting her. One of those big, callused hands stroked her side, then down to her ass.

She smiled against his chest and he made a rumbling sound. Almost like the purr of a big, satisfied lion.

“Sleep well?” she asked.

“Yes. You? Any nightmares?”

She sucked in a breath and realized that not a single bad dream had plagued her while she’d been tucked up in his arms.

“No. Guess you scared them off.” She rubbed her hand over his chest, desire stirring lazily. Her crazy body clearly didn’t know when enough was enough.

“So, you have synthetic organs and super-strong bones?”

“Yes.”

“You must’ve been really injured.”

Silence.

She lifted her head and looked up at him. “You know everything that happened to me, but you won’t tell me anything about you?”

“I don’t talk about it.” His voice was cold.

She sighed. “Fine.” Maxon was the most closed-off man she’d ever met. “Keep your secrets.”

A heavy beat of silence. “I was attacked. By a gang of thieves. I was…from a wealthy family, and we were visiting Carthago for the Arena and the District.”

She blinked and tried to imagine a young Maxon on vacation. She failed dismally.

“We’d been partying,” he continued. “I was drunk, and got separated from my family.”

Bellamy’s heart began beating hard.

“The thieves attacked me, beat me, and took my things. It’s a common thing in the District for gangs to target the young, wealthy, and stupid. They kept beating me.”

“Okay.” She smoothed a hand over his chest. She didn’t want to hear anymore.

“You wanted to know.” His voice was harsh.

“Stop.”

“No.” He sat up. “My organs were pulp. My bones were splinters. They left me dying in a pool of my own blood. Someone found me, and then Magnus came.”

Bellamy swallowed. Something warned her that his injuries were the least of what had caused him pain.

“I woke up in the House of Rone medical. Avarn and his team had replaced my organs. The bones they couldn’t repair were infused with metal.” Maxon shot her a mirthless smile. “I was happy to be alive.”

“Of course, you were.”

“Then my family arrived.” His hand clenched on the sheets. “My parents, my brother. And my fiancée.”

Bellamy gasped. He’d been planning to get married?

“I was engaged to marry a wealthy family friend. A beautiful, frivolous woman that you would hate.”

Bellamy sort of hated the woman already. “That’s enough. I can guess the rest.”

Maxon cupped her jaw, his eyes boiling. “My family believed in untainted bloodlines and good breeding. On my homeworld, it’s a priority to keep the family tree pure.” He spat out that word.

“Maxon—”

“When they learned that I was a cyborg, they were horrified. I was contaminated. Silva looked at me like she wanted to vomit.”

That cow. She’d had a man like Maxon, and she’d rejected him?

“My family denounced me and left me here. Silva went on to marry my brother, Erix.”

Bellamy closed her eyes. “I’m sorry.” She understood rejection all too well. She kissed his cheek, then the other one. Then his forehead, nose, eyes. “I understand being cast off by those who are supposed to love you.” He’d bared his soul, so it was time to show him some of the scars and stains on her own. “My family left me. I don’t even remember my father, and my mother had a weakness for booze, drugs, and bad men. She dumped me on Gram, my grandmother, when I was six.” Bellamy smiled. “She was a crusty old lady, but she loved me in her own way.”

“I’m glad you had her.”

“I was still really angry. The two people who were supposed to love me the most had tossed me away without a backward glance. For a long time, I kept wondering what was wrong with me.”

Maxon’s hands tightened on her. “Nothing.”

She almost smiled at the growl in his voice. She felt a beat of shared kinship.

“I know that now.” But she wondered if he knew that about himself. “Gram died when I was nineteen. I was a pretty wild teenager and often in trouble, driven by my anger.” She smiled. “I have a bit of a temper.”

“Really?” he said dryly.

“I was all alone and then I met this guy. An older guy. He showered me with attention.” She felt Maxon go still. “Turned out he was an abusive asshole who liked to prey on vulnerable young women.”

Maxon growled.

Bellamy grinned. Her overprotective cyborg. “He didn’t hit me or anything, just was very controlling. Anyway, he’s half a galaxy away. And I kicked his ass when I finally left him. I just…I wanted you to understand that I know. I know how it feels when the people who are supposed to love you walk away.”

Maxon stared at her without blinking.

“It’s on them, Maxon, not on us. They’re deficient.”

He grabbed her and kissed her. It was a kiss that was hungry, with an edge that was all wild.

He rolled her under him. “I have to meet a client for a weapons design, but I need to fuck you first.”

Her belly contracted, and she felt a pulse between her legs. “If you’re expecting me to say no, you’re sorely mistaken.” She bit his lip. “Now get that big cock inside me, Ace.”

With a sexy growl, he obeyed.

MAXON STIFLED A SNARL. The buyer was exceedingly annoying.

He was a thin man, with a billowing shirt of an eye-searing yellow. He circled the prototype crossbow Maxon had been working on, tapping a finger against his narrow chin.

“Exquisite.”

The man’s high-pitched voice hurt Maxon’s ears. His entourage hovered nearby, all of them dressed in gaudy clothes.

Jax stood beside Maxon, poorly suppressing a grin.

The buyer, Al’oth, threw his arms in the air. “It’s exactly what I envisioned.”

The man owned some mines in the desert and needed protection for his workers from dangerous desert beasts and bandits.

“I do think it needs some small adjustments,” Al’oth continued.

Maxon ground his teeth together. The man had no clue about weapons design. Most of his suggestions were ludicrous.

Al’oth launched into his ideas, his arms waving, and his entourage nodding.

Maxon growled. He didn’t want to waste time with this idiot. He wanted to be with Bellamy.

His blood heated. Their night had been wild and drakking amazing. His cock twitched just thinking about it. He reached deep for some control.

She’d taken him places he’d never been. She’d been open, not hiding how much he pleased her.

Jax elbowed him. “I know that look. Pay attention.”

Maxon grunted. Al’oth was still going on and on. He forced himself to listen to the buyer.

Some of the suggestions… Drak, no. He’d never compromise his designs with this nonsense. The man’s second in charge stood beside him, and clearly read Maxon’s face.

“Sire, the weapons master and the House of Rone are the best at this. He’ll deliver you an exquisite weapon. Why don’t you give him the gifts you brought?”

“Yes, yes.” Al’oth clapped his hands. “A little token of my appreciation.” Some of his entourage came forward with boxes. “Gifts from my oasis. One-of-a-kind.”

They opened the boxes and Maxon stared at sparkly useless objects, bottles filled with liquids, and polished rocks.

He bit his tongue, trying not to snap. He crossed his arms over his chest.

Jax leaned in. “You know, women enjoy gifts. Pretty things, stuff that makes them happy.” The cyborg raised a brow. “Especially a woman who’s been in captivity and denied lots of things.”

“I don’t do gifts.” Unless it was a weapon.

Or a tool. Bellamy had liked the one he’d given her.

Just thinking of her again made him want to see her, and get an update on the Edull situation.

“Enough,” Maxon boomed.

Al’oth and his retainers froze. Jax rolled his eyes.

“I will design the weapon as I see fit.” Maxon spun and walked out.

He was known for being difficult. He didn’t give a drak if the client had a tantrum. He headed out into the corridor and down to the training arena. As he drew closer, he heard feminine laughter.

He turned the corner, and saw the sand of the training arena framed by the pillars and archways of the walkway. Bellamy and the other women from Earth were out in the sunshine.

Quinn was swinging her sword, while Sage, Jayna, Bellamy, and young Grace fired weapons at targets.

Sage and Jayna were laughing hard. Both were clearly terrible shots. Their targets were almost untouched.

Bellamy and Grace appeared to be much more talented. Although he knew Toren had taken a keen interest in training the girl. Simone sat in the shade nearby, sipping drinks with Ever.

Bellamy laughed and ruffled Grace’s straight, black hair.

The sound of her laughter echoed right through Maxon.

She hadn’t had any nightmares while she’d been in his arms. He was drakking happy about that. And here she was, laughing.

Everything she’d been through, and she was healing. She wouldn’t let it twist her like he had.

His lip curled. His family’s rejection had changed him. What happened when Bellamy was settled? Would she still want a surly loner like him touching her?

“Thanks for abandoning me with Al’oth.” Jax appeared.

“I don’t pander to idiots.”

Jax snorted. “You aren’t nice to anyone.” He cocked his head. “Although, the way you’re looking at Bellamy, like you want to get her naked and to lick her all over, makes me think you’ll be nice to her.”

“There’s nothing going on,” Maxon denied. He didn’t want people in their private business.

“Riiiight,” the cyborg drawled.

The women spotted them and waved them over.

“Any update on the Edull?” Bellamy asked straight away.

“Galen is talking with his king friend today about an invite,” Jax said.

Drak. Bellamy’s gaze locked with Maxon’s. She smiled.

Once they had an invite, that meant he’d have to take her back to Bari Batu. Drakking hell.

“And Zhim has some other info as well,” Jax continued.

Bellamy moved toward Maxon. Then surprising him, she leaped on him.

He caught her just seconds before she kissed him. He lifted her higher and kissed her back. Her hands slid into his hair.

Hoots and laughter filled the air.

“Hey, Ace,” she murmured against his lips. “I missed you.”

Drak. He’d missed her too.

“You are trouble.” He set her down and squeezed her ass.

Jax shot Maxon a knowing look.

“I knew it was only a matter of time.” Quinn grinned at them.

“We knew, too.” Sage beamed, her arm wrapped around Jayna.

“Guess what?” Bellamy said.

“What?” Maxon asked.

“The women have organized a dinner in my honor. There’s going to be eating, drinking, having fun.”

He grunted. Socializing was not his idea of fun.

She leaned closer, her voice dropping into a whisper. “Have you ever had drunken sex?”

His heart kicked. “No.”

She licked her lips and he couldn’t look away.

“You’ll like it.” She winked at him. “Promise.”

It looked like Maxon was going to dinner.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Bellamy sipped her drink and smiled.

She was happy. Damn happy.

She stared around the huge table, everyone around her eating and talking and drinking.

It had been so long since she’d been happy, even well before her abduction. Feminine laughter—wild and bold—made her glance down the table. Mina and Ryan were cackling over something. The House of Rone women were all laughing as well.

The cyborgs were sitting back, faintly bemused, but smiling at their women.

Maxon touched her leg and she looked up. He was sitting beside her and talking with Mina’s man—Tannon. Tannon gave Maxon a run for his money with his serious face. The pair were talking weapons. Surprise, surprise.

The table groaned under plates and trays of food. Zaden’s woman, Calla, had outdone herself. The pretty, dark-haired woman kept popping in with more dishes—flushed and happy that everyone was enjoying her food.

Each time she appeared, Zaden caught her and gave her a kiss, which made her even more flushed. The pair was so freaking cute together.

Bellamy looked at Maxon. Sensing her gaze, he shot her a scorching look. She felt it all the way through to her lady parts. Yes, she was so freaking happy.

Then she bit her lip and lifted her drink. She’d learned not to trust being happy. Life loved throwing her curveballs—crappy ones.

Quinn leaned over from across the table. “OMG, Maxon is hot when he isn’t looking like he wants to punch someone.”

“Mine,” Bellamy murmured.

“I have my own hunky cyborg.” Quinn grinned. “And I can see he’s very much yours. The way he watches you.” The woman shivered.

“It’s new. I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing.” It was so intense. Was it too much, too soon?

Quinn grabbed her hand. “We’ve all been there. Go with your gut. Trust your heart.”

Bellamy laughed darkly. “My heart has led me astray before.” Lenny the abusive dick had taught her a painful lesson.

“Bellamy, you survived the Edull, believe me, you can trust yourself.”

She’d need to think about it. “Damn glad we made it, Quinn.” She scanned the table. “All of us.”

Quinn smiled. “Me, too. It’ll be even better when the Edull are crawling in a gutter, somewhere.”

“Hell, yeah.” Bellamy lifted her drink to that.

Then she glanced down the table. Magnus sat at the head, talking with Zhim. Baby Asha was fast asleep and nestled safely in his arms.

“God, any man looks totally hot holding a sleeping baby. Extra points when he’s a cyborg.”

Quinn snorted. “I’m pretty sure Magnus looks hot with or without the baby.”

A second later, Magnus stood. “I’m glad everyone’s enjoyed the evening. Calla, thank you for the food.” The alien woman was sitting on the arm of Zaden’s chair, and she blushed deeply.

“Now, to more serious matters.” Ever appeared by her mate’s side and took the sleeping baby from his arms. “We all know things aren’t over until we put a stop to the Edull’s activities.”

“Until the battle arena is destroyed,” Bellamy said.

Under the table, Maxon took her hand, squeezed her fingers.

Magnus nodded. “Yes. Galen’s ally has confirmed that he secured an invite to the upcoming race.”

Bellamy’s pulse kicked up a notch. This was it. Finally.

“He’ll take a small team of our people in disguise as part of his entourage.”

Yes. She squeezed Maxon’s hand. She’d have a chance to make the Edull pay.

“And Zhim has news,” Magnus continued.

The information merchant stood. He was dressed in all black, and he worked it. With his long hair brushing his shoulders, the look totally suited him.

“I found a supplier of the mag-tech. He’s off-world, but he talked for a price.”

Ryan snorted. “He talked because you threatened to hack his ship and shut down all his power systems.”

Zhim smiled. “Perhaps.”

“It was hot, info boy.” Ryan winked.

Zhim dragged his gaze away from his mate. “The supplier contributed some parts of the mag-tech to the Edull.”

Bellamy straightened. “Did he have information we can use?”

“Yes. I’ll send it through. It may give you some ideas on the tech’s location, and how to destroy it.”

Maybe she could find a way to destroy that hellish prison once and for all. She smiled at Maxon.

He stroked her jaw. “I’ll help you.”

“Thank you.”

Dinner wound down, and the guests left. Bellamy found herself back in Maxon’s workshop, but she was too wired to sleep.

“I want to look at the data. There has to be a way to destroy the mag-tech—”

Maxon wrapped his arms around her. “Not tonight.”

“Maxon—”

“I have other plans.” He lowered his head and kissed the side of her neck.

Bellamy shuddered, forcing her brain to stay functioning. “This is important.”

“And it will still be there in the morning, when you’re rested and refreshed.”

“You’re going to fuck me so I rest, Ace?”

He growled, lifted her, and tossed her over his shoulder. Her breath caught in her chest and she pressed her hands to his back.

“After I fuck you hard, you’ll be exhausted.”

A quiver of desire moved through every cell in her body. “That’s a big promise.”

“I always keep my promises.”

HE GRIPPED BELLAMY’S HIPS, pounding into her tight body from behind.

She moaned.

Drak, Maxon loved having her in his bed, that ass uptilted and thrusting back to accept him.

She slid her arms out on the bed and his gaze raked up the smooth skin of her back.

“Take me,” he growled.

“I am,” she moaned. “More. I’m close.”

He reached a hand under her and thumbed her clit. It only took a second for her to shatter.

Her body gripped on his cock and he groaned. He thrust harder, burying himself deep, knowing his fingers would leave bruises on her skin. But drak, he liked the idea of leaving his mark on her.

Maxon felt his body implode. He thrust deep, holding still as he groaned, pouring himself inside her.

He collapsed on her, but had enough sense to roll off to the side. He was too heavy for her. She turned and snuggled into him.

Warmth filled him. A contentment he’d never felt before. He pulled her close, his hand sliding into her hair. He looked at her face. There was something in her eyes.

“What?” he asked.

She looked away. “Nothing.”

He tipped her face back up. “Tell me.”

“God, you’re bossy.” She rolled her eyes.

He kept watching her, waiting patiently.

“It’s just… I feel safe. I’ve never felt like this before.”

Drak. Her words rocketed through him, and he pressed her face against his chest. “Sleep now.”

He held her while she drifted off. He didn’t need much sleep, and often ended up in his workshop in the middle of the night.

With the scent and warmth of Bellamy against him, he fell asleep quickly.

He woke sometime later to find her kicking and thrashing beside him.

“Bellamy?”

He pushed them up to sit, and when he touched her, she swung at him. Her punch caught him in the shoulder.

He gripped her wrist. Her body was trembling, and she made a horrible sound in her throat.

“Bellamy.” He shook her gently. “It’s a nightmare.”

She blinked, then stilled. “Maxon?”

“Yeah. You awake now?”

She sagged against him, taking in several deep breaths.

He stroked her back, found her skin clammy. “It was bad?”

“Aren’t nightmares always bad?” she asked tiredly.

“Yes.” His own had always started with the look on his family’s faces, watching them walk away, abandoning him. And him screaming, but they never turned around.

“Hey.” She cupped his cheek. “Don’t go wherever you were going.”

“What was your nightmare?”

“The Edull. What else? In it, I’m always trapped in a bot on the arena track.”

He fingered her hair. “That’s not going to happen.”

She smiled and touched his lips. “My personal cyborg will make sure of it.”

“Yes, not to mention, you’re tough and mean.” He rubbed the shoulder she’d hit.

She laughed and he was happy to hear the sound.

“I don’t think I can go back to sleep,” she said.

“It’s morning, although daylight is still a couple hours away.” An idea popped in his head and he slid off the bed. “Come on.”

She put her hand in his and he dragged her off the bed.

They dressed and he led her down, through his workshop, and through another door that led to his own private firing range.

“Oh.” She looked around, smiling.

It was small, with several electronic targets set up against the far wall. The rest of the walls were full of carvings—of gladiators in battle, all of them holding different weapons.

He opened a weapons chest, and pulled out some of his newest prototypes.

“Here.” He handed her a gun. It was made of a dull-gray metal.

“I like this.” She stroked the butt of it.

“Still a work in progress.”

“It’s gorgeous, Maxon. You sure found your calling designing weapons.” She glanced up. “Was it always something you wanted to do?”

His gaze swept over the weapons. “No. My family was rich. I didn’t do anything.”

“It would have been a damn waste of talent, if you’d stayed a lazy, rich man.”

His lips twitched. His life would have been very different, if his family hadn’t abandoned him. He pulled Bellamy closer.

He wouldn’t have found the House of Rone, or his calling as a weapons master. And he would never have met this tough, tattooed woman from Earth.

“I think you’re lucky,” she said. “Maybe what happened, as horrible as it was, was a blessing in disguise.”

He grunted. He’d actually started thinking that himself. “Is that how you feel? About your abduction?”

She gave a small nod. “The thing is, it doesn’t matter. What ifs are fucking useless. We have to make the most of whatever life throws at us. Move forward.” She shot him a sexy grin. “Now, I want to shoot some of these gorgeous weapons.”

Maxon selected a gun for himself and moved up beside her.

“Maxon?”

“Yes?”

“I bet if your family and your high-maintenance ex saw you now, they’d be astounded. They’d regret being elitist, snobby assholes.”

He liked that, but right now, all he cared about was Bellamy. He gave her ass a swat. “You going to shoot, or keep yabbering?”

She went up on her toes and smacked a kiss to his lips. “Okay, okay, Mr. Grumpy. Let’s shoot.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Bellamy held tight onto Maxon’s hand as he tugged her down a busy street at the edge of the District. Acton and Zaden trailed not far behind them. Extra bodyguards in case any of the Edull’s assassins were lurking around.

She really would have preferred to be back in his workshop, keeping busy, or better yet, luring Maxon into doing naughty things. Anything so she didn’t think about the looming mission. She took a deep breath. She wanted to take the Edull and the arena down, but that didn’t mean it didn’t frighten her.

Maxon slowed and she saw they were in front of a building with some glitzy storefronts. He led her inside and she saw that the place wasn’t large, but was home to several high-end stores. The closest one was a jewelry store, filled with glittering display cabinets and lots of rich-looking tourists wandering around.

He towed her past the swanky stores to one at the back. It had a more old-fashioned feel, like it had been there a long time. Its windows were filled with fancy gadgets and electronics, most of which Bellamy couldn’t identify.

With a nod to Acton and Zaden, who stationed themselves at the door, Maxon led her inside. There were shelves of more gadgets made of different metals with blinking lights.

“Wow,” she murmured.

A small, round older man with no hair bustled out of the back room. “How can I help you?” He wore a vest over his shirt and had one metallic, cybernetic eye. It zoomed out like a lens to look at them. “Maxon!”

“Good to see you, Desmon.”

“It’s been too long since you came in and spent lots of credits.”

A smile touched Maxon’s mouth.

The shopkeeper turned to study Bellamy, his organic eye widening and his cybernetic one zooming in even more. “Now, who is this?”

“I’m Bellamy.” She held her hand out.

The man took it and turned her palm up. “Good. A woman who works with her hands. Excellent choice, Maxon. No one wants some pretty flower who needs constant attention.”

Bellamy laughed. “I’m definitely more the hardy weed type.”

“But a very attractive one,” Desmon said.

“Aren’t you a charmer?” She tilted her head at Maxon. “You should give him some lessons.”

Maxon grunted. “I didn’t hear you complaining last night.”

She gave him a light whack in his gut.

Desmon let out a chuckle. “I am very happy to see Maxon has come out of his workshop long enough to meet a woman.”

“Actually, I just pushed my way into his workshop and ignored his growling.”

“Hmm, even more fascinating,” Desmon said.

“Desmon, I wanted to get Bellamy a full set of your custom tools.”

Bellamy stilled. “What?”

“Desmon is the best tool maker in Kor Magna.” Maxon turned to the man. “She’s working with me and needs the best. I want them sized for her and made from nanga steel.”

The tool maker nodded thoughtfully. “I can do that.”

“Maxon.” Warmth blooming in her chest, she moved closer to him.

“I want you to have them. You’ll get more work done.”

That wasn’t it at all. Damn, her cyborg had his own kind of growly charm. She went up on her toes and kissed him noisily. Even with the mission to Bari Batu looming over them, life was good.

She wanted this man, this cyborg. She was going to keep him and explore all the goodness of being with him.

He smiled at her, and that small movement of his lips felt like a prize. Yep, her beast was thawing.

“I can have them ready for you in a week,” Desmon said.

“That’s fast,” Maxon replied.

Desmon smiled. “Anything for your lovely Bellamy, and anything for you, my friend.”

Maxon nodded. “Thanks, Desmon.”

“Bring your girl back with you when you come to pick them up. Goes without saying that I am very happy for you, Maxon.”

Bellamy grabbed Maxon’s hand, smiling as they walked out. Her man was getting her some cool tools, he was smiling, and soon, the Edull would be gone. Then they could get on with life.

They headed out of Desmon’s store.

“When we get back, let’s do some work on that crossbow,” she said. “I have an idea and I want you to—”

Maxon stopped moving, his body going still, his face blank. He was staring over her shoulder.

Frowning, Bellamy turned.

A couple had just exited the jewelry store. The woman was holding up one thin arm, admiring some sparkly rings on her fingers. The man had stopped and was staring at Maxon. Then the woman lifted her head and her perfectly painted mouth dropped open.

Bellamy felt a chill sweep through her—harsh and unpleasant.

The man was a few inches shorter than Maxon. His face was bloated and flushed—from too many years spent imbibing. Bellamy knew the look as she’d seen it on her mother’s face. He was…soft. His cheeks were rounded and he was carrying extra weight around his middle. But there was no mistaking that beneath all that, he had similar facial features to Maxon.

Oh, God. Bellamy’s stomach tied itself in a knot and she made herself look at the woman. This had to be Silva. The woman Maxon was once going to marry. She had a cloud of blonde hair, and was tall and slender, like a model. She wore a slip of a dress with a pale pink, iridescent sheen.

“Maxon,” the woman breathed. She looked like she’d seen a ghost. Her gaze ran over Maxon, something hungry igniting as she took him in.

Bellamy felt his fingers convulse on hers, and now she felt something really unpleasant crawl over her.

No. These people shouldn’t even be breathing the same air as him. He was magnificent and they were nothing.

She shifted in front of him, glaring at them. Silva blinked, like she’d only just noticed Bellamy.

“Keep walking,” Bellamy snapped. “Weapons Master Maxon of the House of Rone has no business with you.”

Acton and Zaden stepped forward to flank them, offering silent support. Silva and Maxon’s brother took them both in.

Silva licked her lips, and Erix frowned.

“You shouldn’t even get to see how amazing he is,” Bellamy said. “Crawl back to your meaningless existence, and know you’ll never be as good as he is.”

Erix shifted, the red of his face deepening.

Silva straightened, tossing her hair back. “You can’t talk to us like that—”

“I can do whatever the hell I want. You abandoned him. And despite all of that, he made himself into something amazing.”

Silva’s gaze drifted back to Maxon and she took a step forward.

“Don’t look at him.” Bellamy held up a hand. “Come any closer and I’ll tear your hair out.”

An arm snaked around her waist, tugging her back against a hard body. “Stand down, warrior.” His breath brushed her ear.

“No. I’m going to beat them up, and then I’m—”

Without saying a word, Maxon half carried her out onto the street.

Bellamy realized her chest was heaving. She pulled away from him. “How can you just walk away?”

“Because they don’t matter.”

She blinked. “They ripped your life apart. Abandoned you and made you feel less.”

“And I’m realizing that I’m over that.” He cupped her face. “They aren’t happy. They’re the same empty people they always were, searching to plug the holes inside them with parties, drugs, things. If I’d stayed with my family, I’d be just like them.”

She gripped his wrists. “They hurt you.”

“And you know better than anyone that we use those hurts to fuel us to move on. I took a little longer to work that out, but seeing you deal with everything you’ve been through made me realize I could let the last of the poison go. I have so much more than them. Right now, I’m realizing just how much.”

“Maxon,” she breathed.

“They. Don’t. Matter. They’re my past.” He lowered his head and ran his nose along hers. “I want to kiss you so badly. Stepping in to protect me like a warrior.”

“So kiss me.”

“Not here, because once I start, I might not stop.”

Ignoring that, Bellamy jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist. She kissed him. It was long, deep, and amazing.

“They never deserved you,” she whispered.

“Just as your parents never deserved you.”

Her heart melted. “I really want to get naked with you. Right now.”

From nearby, Acton cleared his throat, reminding her that he and Zaden had enhanced cyborg hearing. Oops.

Maxon smiled. “Let’s go home.”

MAXON PROWLED into his living quarters, Bellamy two steps ahead of him.

He’d counted every step to get back to the House of Rone.

“I can’t believe we saw those losers.” She spun, anger setting her green eyes alight. “They were—”

Maxon strode to her and gripped her chin. He forced her to look at him. “My little warrior. Ready to protect me and take them down.”

“Yes,” she breathed.

“I need to fuck you. Right now.”

Her breath hitched.

He gripped the neckline of her shirt and tore it open. She gasped, excited shock on her face. Then he dragged her to the rug on the floor.

He pinned her down and lowered his mouth to one breast. He sucked on her nipple, and moved a hand, tracing down the ink on her belly. She arched up, tugging at his clothes.

It turned desperate. He needed her. Now. Their mouths connected, tongues tangling, and he moved his hands over her, shaping that sexy, compact body.

She dragged his shirt off his chest, her nails raking down his back. “Hurry, Maxon.”

He rose to his knees, not taking his eyes off her. She made a picture, lying on her back, breasts heaving. He yanked her trousers off, then he had his hand on her, sliding two fingers inside her.

“Yes.” Her hips rose.

All his.

She let her legs fall apart, her hot gaze locked on him.

Maxon made short work of pushing his own leathers down. His swollen cock sprang free and Bellamy moaned.

“Inside me,” she demanded. “Now. I need you.”

He leaned over her, gripping his cock as he found where she was hot and wet. Then he drove in.

She made a strangled sound, her body arching like a bow. He gripped her waist and held her as he powered into her. Drak, watching her body take his was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

“Drakking gorgeous,” he growled.

“Don’t stop,” she moaned.

Her cries turned to whimpers, and she held herself open to him, taking him hard and deep. He slid one hand up her body, pinching her nipple. She cried out his name.

His control snapped. He shoved her back and covered her completely.

“Maxon!”

“Take it. Take me.” His hips moved fast, his cock pistoning inside her.

“Yes.” Her nails bit into his shoulders. “Keep going.”

“Not going to stop, Bellamy. I’ll give you what you need.”

One of her hands cupped his jaw. “Maxon.”

There was so much in her voice. He saw on her face that she was getting close to coming.

He angled his hips, felt her body jerk, and knew he’d found the right spot. He ground down with every hard thrust.

She splintered apart, jerking wildly against him, and screamed his name.

Perfect. Maxon kept thrusting, even when her inner muscles clenched tight on his cock. He watched, felt, and listened to her come. He absorbed every bit of sensation.

He wanted to make her a part of him. Pull her inside and keep her safe forever.

“Maxon.” Her mouth found his and she bit down on his lip.

His climax drove down his spine like a spike. He thrust deep inside her and let go. Drak. It was so drakking good. His body convulsed and he groaned her name.

Spent, he collapsed half on her and half off. He felt her hand stroke his back.

“That was awesome,” she breathed. “I love when you go into beast mode.”

Beast mode? He shook his head, nuzzling her neck. Her skin was covered in a sheen of perspiration.

“If I see anyone else who’s keen to hurt you or mess with your head,” she said, “be warned, I’m going to take them down. Anything to earn beast mode again.”

Drak, she was so far under his skin that he’d never get her out. He nipped her shoulder. “Be quiet.”

“I don’t think you like me quiet. I think you like me moaning your name.”

Looking at her flushed face and the sparkle in her eyes made his cock start to harden again.

Her eyes widened. “Already?”

“You don’t have to defend me or talk to earn beast mode, Bellamy. You just have to breathe.”

She bit down on her lip, shifting against him. “Well, my chest is rising and falling, Ace, so get to work. I’m more than ready for round two.”

Maxon took her mouth with his and scooped her off the floor. “Bed next.”

“I’m all yours, cyborg.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Okay, she felt a bit nervous.

Bellamy fidgeted as she stood in the large room. Maxon told her this airy, spacious hall was where they met groups of clients.

Galen and his king friend were due.

It was not every day a mechanic from Earth met a galactic king. She stood there flanked by Maxon and Magnus wondering if people curtsied on Carthago. Shit, she didn’t even know how to curtsey.

The doors opened and Galen entered first, looking as badass as always. A man followed behind him, and the air clogged in her lungs.

Oh, wow.

When they’d said king, she’d pictured an elegant, aristocratic man in royal robes and a crown.

This man was nothing like that.

He was big—several inches taller than Galen. His powerful torso was wrapped in metal armor, with a bronze medallion resting right in the center of his chest. His massive biceps were bare, his strong forearms covered by metal gauntlets. Blood-red fabric was tied to a metallic belt at his waist, and his powerful legs were clad in dark leather. She noted the hilts of two swords peeking over his shoulders, so they were obviously strapped to his back. His face made as much impact as his body. Shaggy, black hair framed a face that was rugged and more than a little dangerous, and stubble covered a strong jaw. She had no trouble imagining this man running into a fight, leading his horde of barbarian warriors into battle.

This man was a warrior king.

“I’d like to introduce Overlord Rhain Zhalto Sarkany,” Galen said.

“Good to meet you.” Magnus inclined his head. “We’re grateful for your assistance.”

Overlord Sarkany nodded. “Galen explained the situation.” The king had a deep voice that held a bit of grit and a lot of command. His strong jaw hardened. “I’ve met plenty of species like the Edull. Whatever I can do to help you bring them down, I will.”

“Thank you, Overlord Sarkany,” Bellamy said.

The king’s silver-gray gaze moved to her, and the weight of it made her want to look away. This was a man with power and authority bred into his bones.

“The Edull held me captive,” she said. “I’ve seen the horrors of the battle arena up close.”

The man nodded. “I see you’re dedicated to getting your justice. I’ll do my bit to help. I understand the need to fight for what you believe in. Please, I’d be happy for you to call me Rhain.”

Maxon moved closer to her, his big body brushing hers.

Hmm, someone was a little jealous.

The overlord’s lips twitched. “I see your man is dedicated as well.” Rhain turned back to Magnus. “I have an invitation to the race, and it’s expected that I’ll take an entourage. I can slip five of your people in.”

“I’m too recognizable,” Magnus said. “As are many of my cyborgs with obvious enhancements. Bellamy has to come, as she knows the arena best. In addition to that, Maxon, and my second, Jax will come with you. And two of my lesser-known and newer elites, Zaden and Seren.”

“Very well.” Rhain swept them all with a stormy gaze. “We leave in two hours.”

“Magnus,” Galen said. “I’ll have a team on standby close to the arena. Just in case.”

Magnus nodded back. “I’ll supplement your team with my cyborgs. And myself.”

Galen nodded, and the king raised a hand. “In two hours, then.” Rhain turned and swept from the room, Galen in tow.

“The Edull are going down.” Bellamy felt a vicious satisfaction through her belly.

“Bellamy, you’re too noticeable, and too recognizable,” Magnus said. “You’ll need a disguise.”

She nodded at the imperator.

“Go and see Avarn. He can help.”

“Gotcha.”

As she headed out of the room, Maxon was on her heels. He was quiet, and she could tell he was troubled.

She turned to face him and pressed a hand to his chest. “Okay?”

He shook his head and pulled her close. “I don’t want you anywhere near the Edull.”

God, this man cared about her so damn much. “I know. We do this, we destroy them, and the battle arena, then they are out of our lives forever.” She rubbed against him. “After that, I plan to spend a lot of time working on new designs in your workshop.”

He grunted.

“Fair warning, I’m going to rearrange your tools.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I am.”

That earned her a growl that made her smile.

“And I’m planning on lots of wild sex with you.” She patted his chest. “So be ready, with that cyborg stamina of yours.”

“Bellamy—”

She kissed him. “We’ll get through this, Maxon. Together.”

She left him—a scowl firmly in place on his face—with a wave and headed to Medical. Avarn helped her with a disguise that was kick ass. Quinn brought her fighting leathers. Ever delivered an outfit that the king’s people had sent. All the women stopped by to wish her luck.

“You’re doing this for all of us,” Simone said. “And everyone we lost on the Helios, and Fortuna Station. Everyone who died at Bari Batu.”

“Hell, yeah.” Bellamy clasped the woman’s hand, and then hugged her. The other women all moved in, and they shared a huge group hug.

Bellamy had never had loads of girlfriends. She’d always been one of the boys. But this felt nice. Real nice.

She pulled on the fighting leathers, then a rich, red robe with gold cord for a belt over the top. The fabric was soft and expensive—fit for the entourage of a king. Some interesting bronze jewelry—a hammered necklace and bracelets—completed the look.

Then she headed out to meet the rest of the team.

As she approached, she saw the cyborgs were dressed a little different than her. Jax, Maxon, Zaden, and Seren were all in fighting leathers, but the men had a purple sash across their bare chests and Seren’s went over her fitted, leather halter top. They all had bronze gauntlets wrapped around their forearms.

“Look at you guys,” Bellamy said.

They turned.

Maxon saw her and scowled. He strode up to her and lifted her off her feet.

“Hey, Ace.”

He fingered her new ponytail, his scowl deepening. Avarn had stimulated her hair to grow, and changed the color to black. It was now just past her shoulders and the color of coal.

Maxon touched the corner of her eye. They were now gray, not green. Then his hands slid down her bare arms. There were no signs of her tattoos.

“Avarn has some kick-ass tech for creating disguises.”

Maxon grunted.

“Hey, I’m still me. My hair and eyes can be changed back. My ink is still there, just hidden under dermal-something-or-other.”

She felt some of the tension in his body ease.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

“Drak, no, but let’s get it done.”

They turned, and Magnus’ neon gaze swept over the group.

“Go. Rillian’s ship will take you to meet Rhain’s entourage in the desert. Mace, Acton, Toren, Quinn and I are going to join Galen’s team. We’ll be close. Be careful and good luck.”

Bellamy lifted her chin. She didn’t need luck, she had the House of Rone.

HE HATED TARNIDS.

Maxon wrinkled his nose and held the reins of the beast loosely.

Rhain’s entourage moved slowly through the desert. Several people were holding banners, as they rode six-legged tarnids—the beast of burden of choice in the desert. The rest of the entourage were hard-eyed, battle-hardened guards.

He and the other cyborgs were dressed to match the guards—fighting leathers with a twist of purple fabric, swords on their backs, and daggers at their hips. Maxon had plenty of his own weapons tucked away in his waistband.

He also had several stealth weapons hidden around his body, along with some explosives.

It always paid to be prepared.

He looked sideways. Bellamy was on her own tarnid and smiling. Enjoying herself.

He drakking hated her black hair and changed eyes. He hated that she had to hide. He reminded himself that it wasn’t permanent, and that this would be over soon.

Then, he felt a ripple of very unfamiliar fear. He locked it down. He saw that despite enjoying the ride, Bellamy was hiding her nerves. She was smiling, but her hands were constantly moving on the tarnid’s reins.

And his intuition was screaming at him. An impending sense of doom had settled on him like a heavy cloak. They were headed into danger and he knew their mission wouldn’t go as planned.

Bellamy sucked in a breath and her gaze arrowed straight ahead.

He turned and saw the glimmer of Bari Batu in the distance. The towers of the city rose out of the sand like the fingers of someone drowning in a trap.

And then he saw the battle arena.

It was oval-shaped, its walls rising high out of the sand. It was made of dark-gray metal, banded here and there with rusted parts and large screws and rivets. Curved metal sheets made up the roof, covering the track itself.

Bellamy stared at it.

“Bellamy?”

She jolted. “I’m fine. I’m okay.”

She wasn’t. He hated her being anywhere near this place. “You’re not okay.”

She swallowed. “I’m a little bit not all right, but once I destroy that place, I will be.”

As they got closer, he saw more travelers heading into the arena. Sandsuckers. Going to watch innocent people die.

“This time, you aren’t alone,” he said.

She reached out and grabbed his hand. “You’re going to make me think that you aren’t really grumpy and that you’re secretly sweet.”

He snorted, and that made her smile.

Soon, they reached the entrance of the battle arena. Slaves, overseen by Edull guards, were directing guests and taking tarnids to pens.

Overlord Sarkany stood in the center of their group—tall and imposing. They closed in around him. Bellamy was too short for a guard, so she was dressed as a retainer.

Still, Maxon kept her close.

They moved through the arched doorway, and Maxon spotted lines of Edull guards. He sensed Bellamy stiffen.

“Easy,” he murmured.

Rhain’s group was waved inside.

As soon as they entered, Maxon heard the roar of the engines and the din of the crowd. Inside, the seats were filling up. His gaze went straight to the bots on the track.

Bellamy’s jaw looked like rock. He saw the echo of old nightmares in her eyes.

“Warm-up races.” She dragged in a breath. “Let’s do this.”

They followed Rhain to a private box with a clear view of the track and plush seats. Bellamy gripped the railing, her gaze glued to the warm-up races.

Drak, Maxon hated this place.

The cyborgs clustered together.

“Okay, we need to get to the slaves’ cells and free the prisoners,” Jax said.

“Quickest way down is that tunnel over there.” Bellamy nodded her head to a tunnel entrance in the stands. “It’ll take you right down there.”

Jax nodded. “The other job is to find the mag-tech. Once the slaves are free, and we scare the spectators out, we’ll blow the mag-tech and bring the arena down.”

“Fuck, yeah,” Bellamy whispered.

“Seren and I will free the slaves,” Jax ordered. “Bellamy, Maxon, and Zaden, find the mag-tech.”

Maxon nodded. “We have the proposed location that Zhim’s supplier suggested.”

“One level down, close to the maintenance workshops.” Bellamy lifted her chin. “I can lead us there.”

“I wish you good luck,” Rhain said. “If you need assistance, just let me know.”

“Stay here,” Jax said. “If you go missing, the Edull will know something is amiss.”

The king nodded. “I do dislike missing out on a fight. Go. Do what needs to be done.”

Jax and Seren left first. Bellamy and Maxon stood at the railing, discreetly watching the pair move through the crowd. They disappeared into the tunnel.

“Ready?” Maxon asked.

Bellamy nodded, her eyes lighting up.

Beside her, Zaden’s face was serious, and he gave a single nod.

“We need to take the main stairs down one level,” she said. “Below is a recreation area, and from there we can move into the tunnels to the workshops.”

“Let’s move,” Maxon said.

They walked through the crowd, and passed several Edull guards, who barely paid any attention to them.

They moved down the stairs.

The level below was a food area, with bars and stalls, and groups of people milling around. They were all having a great time.

“Assholes,” Bellamy whispered.

Then Maxon heard raised voices.

They all turned and saw a group of Edull storming across the space. Bellamy froze.

Maxon saw her glaring at one particular Edull, who was clearly in charge. He wore a red mask over his face, and was surrounded by others, who were trying to keep up with him.

The Edull glanced their way.

Maxon felt a tremor go through Bellamy—like she was holding herself back from attacking the alien.

A part of him wanted to pull her closer and wrap an arm around her, but he had to keep up their disguise.

“Look away,” he whispered.

She glanced down and the Edull swept past them.

“Bellamy? Who is he?”

“The asshole in charge. Vossol.”

Maxon stifled a curse. Vossol was the one who’d sentenced her to death at the Meridian Outpost. Maxon swiveled, reaching for a weapon. He was going to kill the crudspawn.

“Hey.” Bellamy gripped his arms. “Stand down.”

“He hurt you. Tried to kill you.”

“And failed. Hold it together.” She cupped his jaw. “Stay with me.”

Maxon shuddered, struggling for some control.

“Okay?” she whispered.

He nodded. “Let’s go ruin his night.”

“I like your thinking, Ace.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Seeing Vossol had ignited an even fiercer need in Bellamy to see this done.

She listened to the roar of the bots above. Soon, the real races would start. That meant they had to hurry.

They stepped into the maintenance area. She led Maxon and Zaden through to the main workshop.

Inside, several prisoners were working on bots. Bellamy had spent a lot of time down here. Parts of bots, both new and recycled, were piled all around the room. Many were damaged—bent, twisted, dented.

There were no Edull in sight.

Bellamy hurried over, and recognized a nearby prisoner welding pieces of metal together.

“Hern?”

The man frowned and shoved up the goggles covering his face. His eyes widened. “Bellamy?”

“Yeah.” She tugged on her new hair.

“I thought they killed you.”

She grabbed the man’s hand. “Nope. Killed a few of those nasty masks myself when they tried.” She glanced at Maxon. “I’m House of Rone now.”

Hern looked at Maxon and Zaden. “Cyborgs?”

“Yes. We’re taking the arena down. Tonight.”

There were gasps from the other prisoners.

“Our friends are springing people from the cells right now. I need you guys to go when you get the chance. Get out of here.”

“What are you going to do?” Hern asked.

“Do you know where they keep the mag-tech?”

Hern’s eyes widened even further. “No. They keep it protected and never talk about it.”

“We’re going to find and destroy it.”

A grin brightened the older man’s crusty face. “If anyone can do it, it’s you.”

A young woman pushed forward, grease streaked on her cheek. “I see lots of Edull guards around the ventilation room. They never let me in, and they are very protective of it.”

Bellamy’s pulse leaped. She shared a glance with Maxon.

“Thank you,” she said. “We’ll check it out. Get out when you can.”

“Take care, Bellamy.” Hern glanced at Maxon. “Although, it appears you have help. Keep an eye on her, cyborg. She’s fearless.”

“I know,” Maxon replied.

“Come on.” Bellamy led Maxon and Zaden through a door.

They moved down a narrow tunnel and she felt the vibrations of the bots racing around the track above. As they moved lower, the temperature increased.

“The ventilation room is down here.” She turned a corner. Two Edull flanked a curved door.

“Hey,” one rasped. “This is a restricted area. No guests.”

“I’m so sorry.” Bellamy made her voice breathy and high-pitched. “We’re lost.”

The other Edull stepped forward, a staff clutched in his hand. “You need—”

Maxon and Zaden attacked.

They were swift and deadly, and seconds later, both Edull lay slumped on the floor against the wall.

Nice. Bellamy hacked the electronic lock and the door opened.

It uncovered a circular, open elevator. They stepped onto the platform and she touched the controls.

The floor jolted and they started downward. Once the elevator stopped, she saw a huge, cavernous area ahead.

A few steps down led to the main floor.

Four enormous fans were embedded horizontally into the floor. They were spinning, sending air gusting up. They provided ventilation for the arena.

“Zaden, detect anything?” Maxon asked.

“No, but there are energy readings disturbing my scans,” the young cyborg replied.

“Mine, too.” Maxon didn’t sound happy.

They walked up to the railings circling the closest fan.

Air rushed up and when Bellamy looked down, she saw the fan spinning so quickly it blurred. “Let’s search for the mag-tech.”

They fanned out, exploring the space.

“I’m not detecting any strong magnetic fields,” Zaden said with a frown.

Damn. “It’s got to be here somewhere. Keep looking.”

As she searched, the whoosh of the fans echoed in her ears.

More minutes ticked by, and then Maxon grabbed her shoulder and shook his head. “It’s not here.”

“Dammit.” She wanted to punch something.

Suddenly, shouts echoed through the space.

Zaden tensed. “Several Edull just entered the room.”

“Drak,” Maxon muttered.

Laser fire winged past them, and they all ducked. Maxon pulled a weapon and returned fire.

Edull were running in their direction.

More shouts. Bellamy spun and saw another door on the far side of the fans. It was open, and more Edull guards were pouring in.

Shit, they were trapped in the middle.

There was more laser fire and Maxon grunted.

Her pulse spiked. “Are you hit?”

“Just a small burn.”

The three of them hunkered down behind the railing of a fan. Zaden closed his eyes. The railings started to vibrate, the metal floor shook.

What the hell?

Zaden moved his hand and one of the fans ripped free, rising up into the air.

“Oh, my God,” she breathed.

“Go,” Zaden said. “Get out. I’ll keep them busy, and then I’ll find you.”

Maxon nodded.

The fan flew through the air and crashed into one group of the Edull.

Maxon grabbed Bellamy’s hand and they sprinted across the space, circling around another fan.

They raced out of the vent room door, and into a dark corridor.

“We need to—” Her words were cut off as electricity hit her.

Pain, like being burned alive, hit Bellamy.

She tried to scream but her throat wouldn’t work. She saw Maxon go down to his knees, electricity all over him, his eyes rolling back in his head.

Her body twitched, and she collapsed beside him.

Fuck. It hurt so bad.

A pair of black boots appeared in her line of sight, black robes brushing the tops of them. Her stomach dropped.

Vossol crouched, his breathing rasping through the valve in his red mask.

“So, we meet again. You just won’t die.”

Bellamy was certain the Edull was smiling behind his mask.

“Guess I’ll have to do the job myself.”

AS THREE EDULL guards dragged Maxon across the floor, he held on to his rage.

They’d cuffed him and taken his weapons. Well, at least the ones they could see.

The crowd in the arena roared for the bots on the track. No one was paying attention to the small, track-side platform where the Edull had dragged him and Bellamy.

His chains clanked as they winched him up. His arms were fixed above his head, and he hung there from a metal frame.

Bellamy was shoved in front of him, her chin lifted and her eyes defiant.

The Edull leader stepped in front of her.

“I’m going to kill you,” she spat at him.

Vossol glared. “How many cyborgs are here?”

She glared back.

He backhanded her.

Maxon growled and jerked. His chains rattled.

“Interesting. This cyborg is very protective of you. I thought they were devoid of emotion.” Vossol looked back at her. “How many more are here?”

Bellamy’s shoulders slumped, dejection written in every line of her body.

Maxon’s gut cramped. He’d never seen her look like that before.

“It’s just the three of us,” she said quietly.

“The other cyborg slipped out of our grasp. I assume he abandoned you once he saw that you were both captured.”

Bellamy stared at the floor and Maxon felt something move through his chest. The little actress should be on stage in the District.

“Why did you come back?” the Edull drawled.

She shot him a venomous look. “To take you and your stinking arena down.”

Vossol hit her again.

Maxon jerked and bit his tongue, tasting blood in his mouth. He was going to pound this sandsucker into the ground.

Bellamy shook her head, but didn’t look beaten. “I’m going to destroy the mag-tech.”

There was a rusty sound and Maxon realized Vossol was laughing.

“You wouldn’t have found it.”

“I will find it.”

There was determination in her voice that made the alien hesitate, then he shook his head. “You’re captured. The cyborg is in chains.”

Bellamy glanced at Maxon and their gazes met. He saw worry in her eyes.

Vossol grabbed her hair and yanked her head back. She snarled.

“You’d never have found the mag-tech because it’s hidden in plain sight.”

She stilled. “What?”

Vossol’s eyes glittered. “It’s under the track.”

Maxon saw Bellamy frown, and the Edull gave another rasping laugh.

“It’s built in under the track. I wanted it where no one would think to look for it.”

Maxon sucked in a breath. The Edull had given it away. Now, they just needed to get free.

“You can’t take us down. Not a nobody from a distant, nothing world. The Edull are strong. We keep growing our power and influence. You’re just a speck of sand under my boot.” He flicked a glance at Maxon. “You may have found some allies, but this creation can’t help you. I doubt the House of Rone will risk everything for you.”

Maxon growled. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’re just machines. I’m going to take you apart for parts.”

Bellamy straightened. “You won’t touch him.”

Maxon’s heart squeezed. Drak, he loved that fierce look in her eyes.

The Edull shrugged a shoulder. “He’s just a cyborg.”

“He’s a talented, gifted man. He’s already suffered assholes who thought the amazing tech that saved him made him less.” Her gaze met Maxon’s. “He’s the most amazing man I’ve ever met. Even when he’s grumpy as hell, he makes me feel safe.”

Drak. Her words ran through him, filling dark spaces.

“Hmm.” The Edull made an annoyed sound and shoved her.

She fell to her knees.

“Leave her alone,” Maxon growled.

Vossol grabbed her hair again. “I’ve decided your fate, slave.”

“Fuck you,” Bellamy bit out. “I’m no one’s slave.”

The Edull leader lowered his voice. “I’m going to make you die right on the tech you wanted to destroy.”

She blinked and Maxon froze.

“What?” Bellamy said.

“I’m going to put you in a bot and make you race.”

“No!” Maxon jerked, trying to get free of the chains.

She shook her head. “Fuck you, I won’t race.”

“But I think you’ll do anything to save him.” Vossol pulled out a dagger and pressed it to Maxon’s gut. “He may be mostly machine, but I bet he still bleeds.”

Bellamy lifted her head, her face twisted.

“No, don’t listen to him, Bellamy,” Maxon said.

“You race, otherwise I’ll make you watch as we cut him open and pull out his parts.”

Drak, no. Maxon felt the fear and horror twist inside him. “Bellamy—”

Vossol dragged the knife over Maxon’s abdomen, and blood welled.

Bellamy’s hands curled into fists. “I’ll race.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Bellamy was shoved roughly through the hatch and into the cockpit of the stocky battle bot. It had a humanoid upper body, with wheels on the bottom. Huge saws were attached to the arms on its sides.

She glanced over. Maxon hung from the chains—bleeding and bruised. They’d beaten him several times to get her to comply. His glare was hot enough to melt metal.

In the stands around them, the crowd was wild. The warm-up races were finishing.

It was time for the real deal.

Her heart pounded hard, the heavy beat echoing in her head. She prayed Jax would get there soon with the others. She couldn’t see a way out of this mess, otherwise.

But she wasn’t going to let Vossol hurt Maxon.

She’d fallen for the grumpy, antisocial, brilliant cyborg.

“Get in.”

She suffered another hard shove and stumbled into the bot. The door clanged shut behind her.

“You drive, or the cyborg dies.” Vossol peered through the slit in the door.

“I will kill you,” she whispered furiously.

The alien laughed and pulled back. “Start your engines.”

She looked out the main cockpit window at the other two bots on the track. Inside, she spotted terrified kids sitting at the controls.

She sank down behind her controls and started the bot’s engines. Her hands were shaking.

This was her worst nightmare. Race and kill the kids. Or don’t race and Maxon dies.

Dammit. She closed her eyes. She couldn’t lose him.

The other two bots tore off around the track. Bellamy fingered the controls and followed.

She did a lap, following the dips and curves of the track. The mag-tech was here somewhere, right beneath her.

She raced around the track again, and realized one of the bots was gaining on her. It crashed into hers, and she was tossed forward in her seat.

The second bot raced past.

They whizzed around, the crowd a blur. One of the bots rushed closer, chains exploding out of its chest. They whipped around and cut into her bot.

Shit. She swerved and accelerated.

The whipping chain hit again, cutting the top of her bot’s cockpit off.

Fuck. She ducked, metal fragments hitting her. Through a huge tear in her cockpit, she saw the crowd roaring its approval.

Assholes.

Her opponent sped up. She took a jump and glanced down to the center of the track. She had a clear view of the maintenance bay in the center, with several prisoners repairing crashed and damaged bots below.

She came around the track again and saw the other two bots crash into one another. One got stuck on the other, dragging behind the lead bot, sparks flying.

Bellamy looked ahead. A large ramp was embedded in the track. Her pulse spiked. The dragging bot would hit the ramp, and it would destroy the cockpit.

And kill the driver.

No. No more death.

She slammed her hands on her controls and sped up. Her engines were smoking.

The still-functional bot whipped its chains around again. Bellamy dodged to the side, barely avoiding it. She activated her saws and used them to cut off the arm of the first bot. It set the second bot free, and it spun off across the track.

She drew side-by-side with the first bot. The kid inside was sweating, terrified, his hands clenched on the controls.

“Hang on!” she shouted, knowing he probably couldn’t hear her.

“I warned you,” Vossol’s voice came through her console.

She turned her head and looked at the viewing platform.

She caught a quick glimpse of Maxon in chains. Two Edull guards were beating him with staffs as he hung there, unable to fight back.

Cowards. Her stomach clamped to a tight point and she squeezed her eyes closed for a second. She couldn’t see a way to save him, the kids, and herself.

“Maxon, I’m sorry, I’m going to be a fearless woman from Earth.” She so wanted to make him smile again. To feel him moving inside her again.

But life never gave her what she wanted.

“Find your happy, Maxon.”

Bellamy sped up, whizzing around faster as the crowd gasped.

Two new bots erupted onto the track.

She drew closer and one fired a laser at her.

She darted out of the way, then rammed it. Her saw cut its weapon off.

Bellamy’s bot took a jump and sailed through the air. Another larger jump lay ahead. She needed to time this just right.

She pushed the last drop of speed out of the bot and hit the next jump. She wrenched the controls to the right.

Her bot flew off the track and crashed into the central maintenance area.

The saw cut through several parked bots, destroying them. She prayed all the captives got out of the way.

Her bot slid sideways, and she gunned the engine. The saw cut through more bots and equipment.

She grinned. “Hard to have death races with no bots, fuckers.”

Her bot kept sliding.

The solid, metal wall appeared ahead of her, and she swallowed.

She couldn’t slow down.

She closed her eyes. “Maxon.”

Crash.

Then Bellamy didn’t feel a thing.

NO. No!

Gritting his teeth through the pain, Maxon stared at the horrible, twisted wreck of the bot Bellamy had been operating.

A column of smoke rose up from it.

No.

His body was battered and bruised, and one of his eyes was swelling shut. But it was nothing compared to the pain tearing through him as he stared at the twisted ruins of the bot.

She’d destroyed all the Edull’s battle bots.

He felt a fierce pride. His fearless woman. Around him, the Edull were cursing, and Vossol’s fury filled the air.

Bellamy. Maxon waited to see her climb out of the bot.

There was no sign of her.

She could be hurt, bleeding, or—

He shut down that terrible thought, but it was hard to breathe. Bellamy was his heart. He’d never had a heart before. The synthetic organ inside him didn’t count. Bellamy was the one who had made him feel like this.

She saw him, liked him just as he was—cyborg parts, surly personality, and all.

He couldn’t lose her.

She’d survived hell—her abduction, the Edull, a life that hadn’t been easy. She deserved to live.

With a roar, he tore at the chains.

The Edull guards spun. He ripped his chains off the frame. They were still clamped around his wrists and the length of chain slid across the floor. He lifted it and swung it. He caught one of the Edull.

The guard shouted, and Maxon yanked the alien off his feet.

He turned, just as another Edull guard came at him with a staff. Maxon ducked. He knew all about staff fighting, and this Edull was not very talented.

He wrapped the chain around the staff, then kicked the Edull. As the alien staggered back, Maxon snatched the staff out of the alien’s hands.

“If you can’t use a weapon properly, you should never pick it up.” He swung the staff and it connected with the Edull’s head. The alien collapsed.

Dragging in a deep breath, Maxon turned and saw that Vossol was gone.

Drakking coward.

It didn’t matter. He needed to get to Bellamy.

He spotted one of his confiscated weapons nearby and shoved the gun in the holster in his thigh.

Maxon pressed a hand to the railing and leaped over, dropping down onto the track. He landed in a crouch, his chain rattling.

The remaining battle bots had stopped on the track, kids climbing out of them.

The crowd was in disarray and upheaval. Many people poured out of the stands, while others were shouting and booing.

Maxon charged down the track. Bellamy.

He had to get to Bellamy.

As he drew closer, he saw the ruins of her bot were worse than he’d thought. His gut twisted.

He was about to leap into the maintenance area, when he heard rhythmic, clanking sounds. He spun and lifted his staff.

Several smaller bots about his size jogged in formation toward him. They had thin, metallic bodies, and blank faces, with a red strip of lights for “eyes.”

He growled. Security bots. They were all armed with long stun batons.

They circled around him. Then the batons lit up, crackling with red energy.

Maxon smiled grimly. Everything welled up inside him, growing to huge proportions. He exploded into action.

He lunged low and swung his staff. It hit the first bot hard. Left, right, whack, whack, whack. He worked different parts of the bot in quick succession.

He needed to learn their weaknesses.

As he pulled back, a bot rushed in. They crashed together, energy sparks flying. The energy weapon burned against his skin but he ignored it.

He let his anger, pain, and fear fuel him.

He fell into a rhythm, following through with a flurry of hard strikes. Metal broke and snapped. A bot fell.

Moving the weapon was natural to him. His muscles knew exactly what to do. With the image of Bellamy’s face in his head, Maxon attacked the bots in a frenzy.

These things were stopping him from getting to her.

His staff became a deadly executioner. He slashed and whacked. Fluid spilled out of the bots and onto the track.

Maxon growled. “You’ll be scrap when I’m finished. I’ll take you home and turn you into something useful.”

A bot’s energy weapon whacked against his staff.

He whirled and knocked the weapon out of the bot’s metallic hands.

It clattered to the track, and he crouched and picked it up. The red energy crackled, and he was careful to keep his hands on the handholds.

Not bad. He swung it through the air. A few tweaks and it could be awesome.

He tore into the remaining security bots. The energy weapon cut through them like the sharpest blade through flesh.

Heaving in air, Maxon rose. The destroyed security bots littered the ground around him.

Bellamy.

He swiveled and ran. He leaped over the railing and into the maintenance area. He sprinted past the wrecked and destroyed bots until he reached her downed bot. He leaped onto its large body and ran along it.

He reached the cockpit and his gut lurched. It was so badly damaged.

He tossed the energy weapon aside, then ripped the bot open with his bare hands.

Then he saw her hand through the torn metal. It was slack and covered in blood.

“Bellamy.” A broken whisper.

Maxon heaved metal out of the way and pulled her out. She was so still.

Clutching her to his chest, he leaped back onto the ground and pulled her into his lap.

She wasn’t moving. Her eyes were closed.

A roar welled inside him. He couldn’t detect her heart beating. No. The pain threatened to tear him apart.

Then he realized something.

There was no impending sense of dread. No black cloud. It gave him the tiniest shred of hope.

“Bellamy!”

He reached out and grabbed the energy weapon. Then steeling himself, he pressed it to her chest.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Bellamy gasped, sucking in air. What the hell had happened?

She opened her eyes. She felt like she’d been through a meat grinder.

Maxon’s face came into view—rugged and male. She stilled. There were tears on his cheeks.

He was holding her tightly to his chest and made a harsh sound, like a wounded animal.

“Maxon?”

He froze. His golden gaze latched onto her face.

“Ace?” She tried to lift her hand, but all she got was an arm twitch. Hmm, her legs wouldn’t move either. Pain was starting to seep in. Ow. A lot of pain.

“Bellamy.” His voice was harsh, and filled with boiling emotions.

She gingerly turned her head and saw the destroyed bots. And her bot—which was now a crumpled mess.

And a lot of blood. All over her.

“I’m okay,” she said.

“Drak, you… You…”

Her big, gruff cyborg. His eyes were filled with such pain.

This time, she managed to cup his cheek. “I’m okay, Maxon.”

“But you were…you were dead. Your heart had stopped. I had to jolt you, but I didn’t know if it would work.”

Oh, her poor man. “Help me sit up. I need to kiss you.”

He helped her upright and their lips touched.

“I’m not leaving you, Ace. I plan to make you laugh, maybe yell a bit, and definitely growl, every day for a really long time.” She wiped the tears off his stubbled cheeks. “Don’t cry.”

“I don’t cry,” he said.

Her lips twitched. “Oh, right.”

“Bellamy.” He yanked her close and buried his face in her hair. “I can’t lose you.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Help me to my feet. We have douchebag asshole aliens to bring down.”

They rose and he handled her carefully. She tested her legs and found them wobbly, but nothing was broken. She’d feel worse later.

Around them, the arena was in an uproar. She heard shouts, screams and roars.

Drivers and slaves were running everywhere. She smiled. Go, get out.

Then she saw a group of Edull guards appear out of a tunnel. They marched down the track.

Several spectators climbed over the railing, looking amped up and ready to fight. Edull allies, or people whose bloodlust was up.

Oh, fuck.

“Have you seen Jax and the others?” she asked.

Maxon shook his head.

She hoped they were okay. The Edull were getting closer.

“Then it’s up to us to teach these guys a lesson.”

Maxon lifted a weapon that was sitting nearby and it lit up with red electricity.

Nice.

Then he pulled a slim wire from the seam of his fighting leathers. It unfurled, and as she watched, it started to knit together, forming a slim gun.

“Oh, wow.”

“Stealth design that I’m trialing.”

“You’re pretty awesome, you know?”

He shot her a small smile.

Her fingers closed around the small weapon, and when she looked up, the Edull were closing in. She lifted the gun and fired. It blasted out a thin line of laser.

The Edull scattered. One crouched and raced closer. Maxon attacked.

And unleashed hell.

Oh, her man could fight. And it appeared that after watching her almost die, he was seriously pissed off.

Then she heard a guttural roar, and turned to see a big alien with horns sprinting at them.

She fired, but the laser bounced off his tough skin. She aimed more carefully, and fired again.

This time, the laser hit his eye. With a shout, the big man staggered and fell.

More Edull and more of their asshole allies were coming. Shit, even with an arsenal, they couldn’t take them all down.

Suddenly, a large body sailed over the railing, and landed on the track in front of her with a bend of powerful legs.

Overlord Rhain Sarkany rose, two wicked, curved swords in his hands.

He charged into the fight, his swords slashing.

Oh, he sure was something.

Rhain leaped and spun in the air with an amazing flip, cutting down several Edull in one blow.

There was a crash of metal, and she spun to see Zaden, flanked by Seren and Jax, sending crumpled metal flying at the Edull. The cyborgs were fighting their way toward them.

Bellamy’s heart leaped. They were still outnumbered, but now they had a chance.

Then she spotted an Edull sneaking up on Maxon.

No way. “Maxon!” She fired on the Edull.

Maxon spun, his energy weapon whirling. He took down the Edull with one hit.

Their gazes met and she smiled. Then she saw another crowd of fighters—including lots of Edull—running down the track.

Dammit. They never stopped.

Then a sharp whistle from above cut across the track, followed by a deep voice.

“For honor and freedom!”

She saw a muscular body leap over the railing, black cloak flapping behind him.

Galen landed and lifted his head, his eye patch over one eye and his mouth set in a flat line.

Gladiators leaped onto the track all around him. She saw Raiden, and another large gladiator holding a giant axe. The elegant Saff grasped a staff and beside her, Blaine raised his sword above his head. Tall Nero hefted a giant sword while Lore crouched, his arm lighting up with flames. Blue-skinned Vek snarled and Kace stood with his staff, his cool gaze scanning their opponents.

A tall, built gladiator with a green cloak landed, his handsome face set in harsh lines. Around him, more green-cloaked gladiators landed. The House of Loden.

Then she saw the cyborgs land one after the other—thud, thud, thud. One had silver skin and it took her a second to realize that it was Mace. Acton and Toren were right behind him. Acton’s cybernetic arms glowed and Toren’s weapon rose up from his shoulder, swiveling to take aim.

Then Magnus landed, hard enough to make the track vibrate.

The imperator rose, his eyes glowing neon blue, and his cybernetic arm lighting up with electricity.

Then the gladiators and cyborgs ran into the fight.

Bellamy smiled. “For honor and freedom!”

MAXON FELT a savage satisfaction and pride seeing his fellow cyborgs and gladiators charge into the battle.

Magnus slammed his cybernetic arm into an Edull, lifting the alien off his feet.

The House of Rone had arrived. His family had come. A family that had found and claimed him at his lowest point. That accepted him just as he was.

He looked at Bellamy. She was running toward him, smiling. He still hated her altered hair, because it wasn’t her. He liked Bellamy just the way she was. But that smile on her face—that was all hers—and she was all his.

She’d claimed him from the moment he’d first seen her in the middle of a fight with the Edull.

She didn’t just accept him as he was, she liked him as he was.

Then he saw her gaze shift to the right. Her smile evaporated.

Maxon swiveled, clutching his weapon. Vossol.

Maxon’s chest swelled. The Edull leader dropped through a hole that had been torn in the track and disappeared.

Running like the bug he was.

Maxon saw Bellamy switch directions. She sprinted for the hole.

Drak. Maxon broke into a run after her. “Magnus!”

Even in the middle of the battle, the imperator heard him and looked over.

“Bellamy’s after Vossol. They’re both under the track where the mag-tech is.”

Magnus nodded. “Go. Help her.”

“The prisoners?”

“On their way out now. Quinn’s leading them. Now go.”

“Get the rest of the spectators out.”

“We’ll take care of it.”

Maxon reached the tear and jumped straight down.

It was dark under the track, with only a small amount of light filtering in from above. The back of his neck prickled, and he wondered what was hiding in the shadows.

A mass of metallic support columns made the place feel like a maze. There were rows and rows of them holding up the track.

There was no sign of Bellamy.

He pulled his gun. He moved silently, his senses on high alert.

He circled around several of the columns. Where was she?

He heard a noise and spun. Then he heard Bellamy.

“You fucking asshole!”

Maxon ran.

Bellamy and Vossol came into view. They were fighting. She rammed into the Edull, knocking him into a column. The impact made a dull clang.

The man made a raspy sound behind his mask, then shoved her.

She bounced on her feet, absorbing the blow. She punched the Edull in the gut. Then she followed through with another punch.

Maxon slowed, keeping his weapon aimed on Vossol. He let Bellamy take what she needed. So feisty and fierce.

“Not so easy when I’m not chained up.” Punch, jab.

Vossol doubled over and groaned.

“You’re not the big man when your flunkies aren’t around helping you.”

“You won’t…win,” Vossol gasped.

Bellamy punched him again, and he staggered.

“I already have. I’m going to finish you, then blow the mag-tech up, and turn this arena into a twisted pile of rubble.”

Vossol looked up, his eyes glowing. The alien was furious.

Maxon tensed.

Vossol charged at Bellamy, lifting her off her feet. They crashed into one of the columns.

Drak. Maxon rushed forward. He tackled Vossol off her, and they crashed into another column. But this time, Maxon’s strength and weight made the column buckle.

“Shit, watch out,” Bellamy yelled.

Part of the track collapsed, raining rubble down on them.

Maxon leaped on Bellamy, shielding her.

He rolled them to safety.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah, Ace.” She kissed him, quick and hard.

They sat up. Several large chunks of rubble pinned his legs.

Vossol was sitting up as well, coughing behind his mask and shaking dust off himself.

Bellamy’s face contorted with fury. “Enough. You’ve lost.”

“I don’t think so.”

Maxon shoved at the debris pinning him. His intuition flared like a supernova. “Bellamy, watch out!” He held up his weapon.

She was already reaching for it as the Edull pulled a gun out of his robes.

Bellamy jumped to her feet and fired.

Vossol fired at the same time.

Bellamy’s body jerked, but she kept firing, unloading a laser barrage into the Edull.

With a cry, Vossol fell back, still. Smoke rose from his robes.

Bellamy spun and helped Maxon clear the rubble off his legs.

“Where were you hit?” Panic was hot in his veins. He patted her down.

He saw the graze on her arm, and the tattoo peeking through the now-ruined dermal patches.

“It’s fine. I barely feel it.” She grabbed his head, yanked him down, and kissed him. “How about we play with some explosives, and blow this place?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Bellamy followed Maxon through the maze of columns.

He was tracking magnetic field readings. They had to find the exact location of the mag-tech. Shit, she hoped Vossol hadn’t lied.

Vossol was dead.

The reminder made her adrenaline spike, and she felt wired and elated. But deep down, she just wanted this done and over with.

She wanted to be tangled up with her cyborg on his big bed. She wanted the Edull to not dictate her thoughts or life anymore.

She studied Maxon’s broad back. He’d been with her every step of the way. He hadn’t let her down.

He wasn’t some romantic hero who’d sweep her off her feet and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. Her lips twitched. He might yank her off her feet and toss her over his shoulder, and grunt and growl at her. She was fine with that. He was hers and he was real.

Warmth burst in her belly. Oh, crap. She’d fallen in love with the big, sometimes annoying beast.

Bellamy almost tripped.

Maxon glanced back over his shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Just finally worked out what love feels like.

And she realized that he didn’t know anything about love. But that was okay, she’d teach her surly cyborg.

He made an annoyed sound. “Magnetic readings are low. I can’t find the source.”

“It must be shielded.” She scanned around. “Except if Vossol was lying. Then I’m going to kill him again.”

“He said the tech was here under the track.” Maxon glanced up through a hole in the track.

“And the Edull aren’t very subtle. They’re too arrogant.” She turned, her eyes narrowing. Where the hell was it?

Maxon closed his eyes and looked like he was concentrating.

“Maxon?”

“I’m using my intuitive senses.” He breathed deeply. “The mag-tech is here, Bellamy. All around us.”

All around them? Then a thought hit her. “Maxon, the support pillars!”

His eyebrows rose, and he swiveled. Then he jogged back to where they’d collapsed a pillar.

He picked up a chunk and knocked the coating off it.

He uncovered wires and a metal core.

“The mag-tech is in all the columns,” he said.

Bellamy’s heart leaped. “Let’s do this!”

He pulled his belt off and when he tipped it over, she watched as he popped small explosive patches off the leather.

“You had explosives hidden in your belt?” she said.

“Yes.”

That was her weapons master.

He handed her some of the explosives. Then they moved down the rows of columns.

“Press them to the base of the columns,” he ordered. “And spread out, ensure we get good coverage.”

They started pressing the explosives to the columns until they had none left.

“Let’s go.” He held out his hand.

She took it and they moved to the hole they’d used to get down. She spared Vossol’s body one last glare.

Maxon wrapped his arms around her, then jumped upward. She clung to his wide shoulders.

They landed on the track. The arena was completely empty.

The silence and emptiness were eerie. She looked around at the place that had been her prison for so long.

The stands were void of beings, and there were destroyed bots all over the track. Even when there hadn’t been races on, the place had always been filled with prisoners and Edull.

“No one will die here again,” she whispered.

“It’s almost over.” Maxon held out a small detonator.

She took it and nodded.

They jogged off the track and into a tunnel.

“This will lead us out,” she said.

They wound their way upward, and soon, she saw the glow of sunlight at the end of the tunnel ahead.

“Do it,” Maxon said.

Bellamy didn’t hesitate. She pressed the button on the detonator.

They waited a few seconds.

Nothing.

“Drak.” Maxon frowned, looking back down the tunnel. “You get out, I’ll check what happened—”

“Oh, no. That’s not how this works, Ace. We’re a team.”

He scowled at her. “Drakking Earth women.”

Bellamy poked her tongue out at him.

They moved back down the tunnel and into the arena. They came out in the empty stands. The spooky silence made goose bumps pimple her skin.

She started down the steps. “Let’s—”

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The ground shook beneath them.

Oh, shit. She grabbed Maxon to keep herself upright.

In the center of the arena, she watched the track explode upward, rubble flying everywhere.

“Run!” Maxon shouted.

They sprinted back into the tunnel. There were more violent explosions behind them, and she felt the floor start to sink under their feet.

“Faster!” he roared.

“I’m going as fast as I can,” she yelled back.

He scooped her up, and then he moved.

As the walls blurred, she looked back over his shoulder. The ceiling was collapsing behind them. She gripped him hard.

Then, a second later, they burst out into blinding sunlight.

Maxon sprinted across the large landing pad in front of the arena. Ahead, a crowd milled on the sand. She spotted Magnus and the others.

Maxon kept running, and then behind them came an earsplitting crash.

They tumbled to the sand, both of them panting. They turned, and Bellamy watched the Edull’s battle arena collapse inward.

Holy hell.

The structure collapsed and dropped out of sight.

“Now, it’s over.” Her voice was a whisper. She could hardly believe it.

“You’re free, Bellamy.”

She looked at Maxon. The sunlight caught the gold strands in his hair, lighting them up. His face was so serious.

“Now, you put the Edull behind you.” He touched his fingers to her cheekbone, brushing it like he was memorizing her face. “You can do whatever you want.”

Her throat tightened. Why did his voice sound like a goodbye?

“Start afresh,” she said. “Explore my new home.”

His jaw flexed. “Yes.”

“Meet new people and make new friends.”

“Yes.” He sounded like he was chewing glass.

And he thought that would take her away from him. She crawled to him, and saw his eyes widen.

“I’ll tell you what I’m going to do.” She nibbled his lips. “I’m going to work with you.”

“Really?” he said slowly.

“Yep. You’re going to have to share your workshop, Ace.”

His hand cupped her face.

“I’ll drive you crazy every day, and sleep beside you every night,” she said.

“You have it all planned out.”

She gave him another kiss, and noticed the others heading their way. “I’m going to make you fall in love with me.”

He stilled, his brows drawing together. “I don’t know anything about love, Bellamy.”

“Then hold on for the ride, Ace.”

MAXON CRADLED Bellamy as they waited for Rillian’s ship to land. He wanted out of Bari Batu and out of the desert as fast as possible.

Bellamy seemed fine. They were both battered and bruised, but alive.

And she wanted him.

A life with him.

He wanted it more than anything, but drak, his gut was churning. No one had loved him. His family had all walked away from him in the blink of an eye.

What if Bellamy did too? It would destroy him far worse than his family’s abandonment.

The cyborgs and gladiators were busy organizing and calming the rescued slaves. So many were children, so many not from Carthago and with nowhere to go.

“Hey, there.” The gladiator Lore crouched down beside them. “You two need some water?” He held out a water bladder.

Bellamy smiled. “Thank you.” She took a drink.

“You both did amazing work,” Lore said. “You saved a lot of lives.”

“I’m just glad everyone is free and the Edull are gone,” she said.

Lore grabbed her hand. “Once, I was a slave.”

Bellamy gasped. “Really?”

“Yes. I…lost everything.” Sadness moved through Lore’s eyes. “You’ve given these people something precious, I hope you know that.” Lore patted her hand and rose. He nodded at them both, and moved on to offer water to others.

As Maxon watched, Lore crouched by some shaken-looking kids. He held up a hand, flames flickering over his skin.

The kids all oohed, smiles sparking on their tired faces.

“That’s an amazing trick,” Bellamy said.

“His abilities are common in the males of his species,” Maxon told her. “Although, there aren’t many of them left.”

Cries went up in the crowd, and Maxon glanced to the west. He saw a group of tarnids moving closer.

“Who’s that?” Bellamy asked.

“I believe it’s a group from an enclave close to here. The leader is a former slave who’s created a haven for other escaped slaves. Magnus contacted them to come and offer a place to some of the people rescued here.”

The group pulled up and Magnus moved forward to greet the tall woman with long black hair on the lead tarnid. She slid down and clasped Magnus’ arm.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Cassana,” Magnus said.

“You too, Imperator.” The woman’s steady gaze moved over the crowd. “You and your people have done good work here today.”

“We’re happy to see the end of the Edull and the arena destroyed.”

Another woman, with a scarf covering her brown hair moved up beside Cassana. Maxon could see the scars down one side of the woman’s face and his gut hardened.

“This is my mate, Lena,” Cassana said.

Magnus nodded at the woman.

“What’s wrong?” Bellamy asked. “You went stiff.”

“Cassana’s mate. Her face is badly scarred. The scars were made from a knife and self-inflicted.”

“What?” Bellamy breathed.

“It’s common for sex slaves to cause their own scarring, to make themselves less attractive.”

“Oh, God.”

Maxon pulled her closer. “She’s free now.”

The woman, Lena, looked over the survivors. Then her gaze locked on Lore, who was still showing off to entertain the kids. The woman stiffened.

Maxon frowned. The woman took several steps toward the gladiator.

“Lena?” Cassana asked with a frown.

Lore lifted his head. He looked at the women and his gaze fell on Lena. The flames on his arm winked out, the color draining from his face. “Yelena?”

“Lore.” Lena pushed her scarf off. Only one side of her face was scarred. The other side bore a striking resemblance to Lore.

The gladiator ran. He scooped Lena off her feet. “I searched for you. For years.”

“Brother.” She cupped his face, a tear running down her scarred cheek.

“You’re alive.” The gladiator buried his face in his sister’s neck and held her tight. “I can’t wait to tell Madeline.”

“Madeline?” Lena murmured.

“My gorgeous mate. Wait until you meet her.”

“Oh, I think I’m going to cry,” Bellamy whispered to Maxon.

He tugged her closer and kissed the top of her head. “I thought you said you don’t cry.”

“I’ve decided happy tears are allowed.”

A ship roared overhead, coming in to land, kicking up sand. Several kids yelped with excitement.

Maxon rose and lifted Bellamy into his arms. “Time for us to leave.”

He carried her to the ship. He thought of Lena, what she must have endured. Once aboard, Bellamy wiggled out of his arms.

“Hey.” She tugged his head down. “I can practically hear your broody thinking. Stop it.”

He grunted.

“We won.” She kissed him.

Then Maxon forgot his worries. Bellamy was soft, warm, and alive. He kissed her back with everything he had, everything he felt.

“Get a room.” Quinn brushed past them, grinning. She was leading several tired kids onto the shuttle.

Bellamy went still and Maxon turned to follow her gaze. There was a dark-haired, pale-skinned boy who looked like a slightly larger version of the boy Bellamy had freed at the Alzen Stables. The boy had the same face and coloring as his brother.

“Hey.” Bellamy touched the boy’s arm lightly. “Are you Zan?”

The boy frowned. “Yes.”

“We met your brother, Calrin. He’s waiting for you at the House of Rone.”

A wave of emotion crossed the boy’s face. “He’s okay?”

“He’s fine,” she assured him.

“We’ll get you both home,” Maxon said.

The boy quivered. “Thank you.”

They all settled in seats, lots of the kids sitting on the floor, and soon, the shuttle lifted off.

Bellamy leaned across Maxon, and he watched as she looked down at the ruins of the arena. The crumpled remains were deep in the hole dug beneath the arena.

“Damn, I know I should be all enlightened, and above this, but revenge feels pretty awesome.”

He smiled at her and she grinned back.

“I love that you like my bloodthirsty tendencies.” She lowered her voice. “I’m bummed that we’re surrounded by people, and a bunch of kids, because I want to crawl into your lap and—”

“Bellamy.” His body was reacting to her words. “After things settle down…you might feel differently.”

“I might stop wanting that sexy body of yours? I might stop liking making you growl?” She rubbed her thumb across his lips. “I really like seeing you smile. I don’t know much about love either, Maxon. I know I’ve never felt like this about anyone else.” She leaned in. “I’m scared that you’ll break my heart too.”

He cupped the back of her neck. “I’ve never felt like this, either, and I’ll never hurt you. No one will ever hurt you again.”

He’d be her protector, and he’d wield all the weapons he made to keep her safe.

“It’s worth the risk, Ace. I’m going to show you every day that it’s you and me.”

When she kissed him this time, it was softer, sweeter. Maxon felt it deep in his chest. He’d do that too. Prove to her that he could care for her.

Magnus and Jax moved through the shuttle, talking with some of the survivors. They reached Bellamy and Maxon, shifting to sit on some of the seats.

“Well done,” the imperator said.

Bellamy leaned into Maxon and sighed happily. “We’re a pretty good team.”

“The battle arena is completely destroyed,” Magnus said. “The remaining Edull leadership have fled Bari Batu.”

Maxon scowled. He didn’t like the idea of any of those crudspawn getting away. “That leaves a power vacuum.”

“Galen and his gladiators will ensure new leadership. The battle arena will be buried, and the House of Rone will ensure all prisoners are returned home, or settled wherever they want to go.”

Bellamy grabbed Magnus’ forearm. “Thank you, Magnus. To all the House of Rone. You’ve fought for all of us taken from Earth, and all of the prisoners. And you never gave up.” She looked at Maxon. “You’re all heroes.”

Maxon scowled. He didn’t need to be a hero. “We were just doing what was right.” He looked at Magnus. “Rhain?”

“The overlord is with Galen. He wants to see this through before he returns to his own world, despite the fact that he has ongoing dangers to his planet to deal with.”

“He helped save us,” Bellamy said.

“And if he ever needs our help, he has it.” Magnus rose. “We’ll be home soon.”

“Home.” She snuggled into Maxon. “I’ve never really had a home before.”

He kissed the top of her head. “You do, now.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Back at the House of Rone, Bellamy just wanted to curl up with Maxon. She wanted him to whisk her away.

But she needed to help. The rescued kids were tired and traumatized.

“I need to help get them settled,” she said.

His gold gaze scanned the ragtag bunch milling in the entry of the House of Rone, and he nodded.

She ran her hand along his jaw, and gave him a quick kiss. Then he headed up to his workshop.

Bellamy worked alongside Ever and Avarn. The medical team was busy checking the kids over, and Ever was herding some off for baths and changes of clothes.

So many were still in shock, almost comatose.

Bellamy talked, hugged, held trembling hands. She wanted to kill the Edull all over again.

Suddenly, a couple burst through the front doors of the House of Rone. A little girl leaped up and cried out. The man and woman ran to the girl and engulfed her in their arms. All three were crying.

Bellamy felt the sting of tears. Damn. These were happy tears. She swiped them away. Even she was a sucker for a happy ending.

Then she spotted Zan sitting on the floor, hope and fear on his face.

“Hey.” She dropped down beside him. “How are you doing?”

“My brother—?”

“Will be here soon.” She noticed the way that he couldn’t sit still, his eyes shifting around. “You’re safe now.”

The teenager grunted. God, a Maxon in training. “I mean it. Give yourself some time to adjust. I’m still working on it.”

Zan cocked his head. “Really?”

“Yeah. I’ve had nightmares. You can’t expect to snap your fingers and feel normal again instantly.”

“I guess.”

“Want a hug?”

Emotions flitted over the boy’s face. He was at that age where it probably wasn’t cool to get hugs.

“I won’t tell anyone,” she said.

He gave her a small nod. She slid an arm across his shoulders and he leaned into her, his body tense.

“You’re not alone anymore,” she murmured.

She heard a sharp breath, then he slowly relaxed into her.

After a while, she looked up. She spotted Calrin standing in a doorway, scanning the room.

She nudged Zan. “Look.”

The boy raised his head and saw his brother. He scrambled to his feet.

Calrin’s gaze locked on his brother. The siblings both ran.

The boys collided together, each of them trying not to cry.

Jesus. All kinds of emotions washed through Bellamy’s belly.

“Feels good,” Ever said.

“It sure does.”

Ever slid an arm around Bellamy’s waist, and Bellamy leaned into her. She wasn’t alone anymore, either. She had friends, a new family, and a man she was going to love for the rest of her life.

Something fluttered in her belly.

“Go clean up,” Ever said. “Get some rest. You’ve earned it. And I bet your cyborg is getting twitchy, since he hasn’t seen you for a while.”

“Thanks, Ever.”

Before she left, Bellamy found Avarn and had him remove her disguise. She rubbed her hand over her short hair as she skipped up the stairs. When she reached Maxon’s workshop, she found it empty, and headed up to the living area.

There was no sign of Maxon there, either, but she heard running water. She paused in the bathroom doorway.

Her big cyborg was tipping bath salts into the tub. Candles were dotted around, releasing a woody scent.

She blinked. “What’s this?”

He spun, looking like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

“It’s for you.” He straightened, his gaze running over her. “You changed back.”

“I told you I would.” She tilted her head. “You have bath salts?”

He shrugged a stiff shoulder. “It’s a gift. I thought you’d like them. I had Avarn formulate a scent for you.”

She stared at him.

A scowl formed on his rugged face. “Jax assured me that women like gifts. And Toren suggested the bath salts.” It was all said in a bad-tempered tone.

God, her man. “It’s wonderful, Maxon.” Her voice was thick. “I love it. More than that, I love that you did this for me.”

He relaxed a little bit. She walked up to him and ran her hands up his chest.

“This is love, Maxon. It isn’t just the big sacrifices and grand gestures. It’s the small things too. It’s taking care of the person you care about. Love doesn’t need to be flashy and loud. It can be quiet and solid.” She pressed a kiss to his lips, felt the shudder through his big body. “Love is fierce and strong, soft and gentle.” She grinned and nipped his jaw. “And I’m seeing it can also be a little grumpy and bossy.”

“Get in the bath,” he growled.

She smiled. “God, I love you, Maxon.”

His hands tightened on her. “It’s the first time anyone’s ever said that to me.”

Fierce love welled up inside her. “Then you’d better get used to hearing it. A lot.”

“I believe I’m in love with you too.” One of his hands stroked over the corner of her eye, then across her hair reverently. “No one’s ever made me feel like you do, Bellamy.”

She smiled. Love was a warm burst in her heart.

“I’ve always dreamed of someone who’d be mine. I’ve been waiting for someone like you.”

His face softened. “Bellamy.”

“I didn’t know you’d be a cyborg with grumpy, antisocial tendencies, though. Or that you’d live on the other side of the galaxy.”

With a fierce growl, he lifted her off her feet. “Get in the bath.”

She threw her head back and laughed. Yes, she was totally in love with her cyborg.

THE PROTOTYPE WEAPON was not working right.

Maxon banged his fist on the workbench. Without a word, Bellamy leaned over, took the tool out of his hand, and adjusted something in the innards of the large gun. She shot him an indulgent look, and shoved the tool back in his hand.

Then she turned back to the vibrablade she was working on.

He peered at his prototype. Drak, she’d solved the issue.

He looked at her blonde head. It had been two days since the showdown at Bari Batu. The desert city was under new management. Their allies, the House of Loden, were now monitoring the area.

The few remaining Edull involved with the arena had scattered, and a few who had not been involved had stayed with the promise to be rule-abiding citizens.

Bellamy seemed…fine. More than fine. She was smiling, hadn’t had any nightmares, and at night, was always an enthusiastic lover.

So drakking resilient and tough.

“You’re staring,” she said.

“I’m allowed. You’re mine.”

He loved her colorful tattoos, her sparkling, green eyes. Bellamy always looked like she knew a secret.

“Yours?” She moved over to him.

He gripped her waist and boosted her onto the workbench. “Yes, mine.”

They’d made love on a lot of different surfaces in the room over the last two days. His productivity had seriously decreased. He kissed her forcefully, felt the prick of her nails on his biceps.

His productivity might be down, but his happiness had increased.

Bellamy made him happy. Just hearing her mutter as she worked, watching her eat with appreciation, having a bath with her and soaking the bathroom floor as they got busy doing other things, all of it was good.

She was right. Love was also the little things.

She broke the kiss. “Don’t get too carried away. We have a party to get to, remember?”

He growled.

She grinned and patted his shoulder. “My poor man doesn’t like parties.”

He didn’t.

“It’s a celebration, Maxon.” She rubbed her nose against his. “An acknowledgment that we survived, a celebration that the Thraxians and Edull are gone. It’s a thank you to the House of Galen, the House of Rone, the other houses, Rhain, and all our allies for being awesome. A celebration of our new home, our new family.”

Maxon would do anything to make her happy. “I’ll go.”

She nipped his bottom lip. “Thank you.”

He slid his hand up her leg, then in between them. He stroked.

She gasped, her hips tilting up. “Party, remember.”

“We still have time. I’ll be quick.” He bit her neck.

“You are never quick,” she moaned. “Thank God.”

No, he enjoyed her far too much to rush things. Wringing orgasms from Bellamy was his newest obsession.

He flicked her trousers open and slid his hand inside. Then his fingers were inside her.

“Oh, okay,” she panted. “We’ll be quick.”

THEY WERE a little late to the party, but Maxon didn’t care.

They walked through the tunnel to the main arena. Magnus had hired out the whole of the Kor Magna Arena for the celebration.

Tonight, there were no fights or crowds.

Bellamy looked amazing. He let his gaze run over her. Her tiny dress was electric blue, and short. Really short. For a small woman, she had a lot of leg on display.

Turning, she smiled. Her lips were painted bright red.

“You’re beautiful,” he said.

Her face softened. “And you’re too damned handsome.” She touched the collar of his white shirt. “I’ll have to fight the women off you.” She grinned. “Lucky I’m tough.”

“I’m all yours. Only yours.”

They stopped to kiss, and he was tempted to push her against the wall and take more.

“Come on.” She grabbed his hand and tugged him forward.

They entered the arena.

“Oh, wow,” Bellamy breathed.

The stands were dark and empty, but the center of the arena was lit up. Tonight, the sand had been covered by boards, and lights were strung up above, glittering like stars.

Entertainers wandered among the crowd—dancers spinning fire sticks, contortionists, and acrobats. Servers with loaded trays of food and drink weaved around.

Everyone was there—talking, laughing, enjoying the celebration.

His family.

Maxon hugged Bellamy to his side. Her face was filled with wonder.

“Welcome home, Bellamy.”

She bit her lip. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Laughing, Bellamy headed over to get another drink. She grabbed the glass from the young, smiling server. The man’s smile widened and she winked at him.

She turned, sipping the bubbly, yummy drink. She scanned the party and wondered if a person could die of happiness.

She’d never felt this damn happy before. Every day, it got better and better. Before, she would never have trusted that she could keep feeling this good.

But now that Maxon was hers, and she was free, she believed.

It wasn’t just because of her gruff cyborg, or the fact that she was so in love with him, it was all of this.

Her gaze fell on Magnus and Ever, smiling at each other. With them were Jax and Quinn—a gorgeous, well-matched pair. Galen had an arm around the waist of the attractive, intimidating Sam Santos. Overlord Rhain Sarkany was with them as well, sipping a drink, and looking far too delicious.

Bellamy spotted Jayna sitting in Mace’s lap, talking with Sage. Acton stood behind Sage’s chair, his hand on her shoulder. Xias was off to one side, kissing Seren like they were the only people alive.

Calla and Zaden were slow dancing on the shiny dance floor. Mia from the House of Galen was singing—her blue, tattooed mate, Vek, sitting close by, staring at her like she was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen. How a male as tough and wild as him could look scary and adoring at the same time, Bellamy had no idea.

Toren, Simone, and Grace were dancing together. Rillian and Dayna, polished and gorgeous, were dancing as well. Rillian had some smooth dance moves, and swung his mate into a dramatic dip. Dayna beamed up at him. Ryan and Zhim were dancing as well. Well, Ryan was doing most of the dancing. Zhim had his hands on her hips, watching her indulgently.

At the edge of the party was a gladiator huddle—Raiden had his arms around Harper, Blaine had an arm hooked around Saff’s neck, Kace was there with Rory, who was bent over, laughing uproariously.

The sexy, smiling, long-haired Lore had an elegant brunette tucked under his arm. Bellamy had met her earlier—Madeline had been the commander of Fortuna Station. They were talking with his sister, Lena, and her mate, Cassana.

A huge, barbarian gladiator stood with a small, dark-haired woman. She was talking animatedly, and he had a faint smile on his rugged face. That was Nero and Winter.

Bellamy had also met Ever’s tough sister, Neve, and her man, Corsair. Mina was trying to coax Tannon onto the dance floor, but the security chief was having none of it.

There was only one couple missing, the pair that Bellamy hadn’t met yet. The gladiator Thorin, and his pregnant mate, Regan. From the whispers she’d heard, the heavily-pregnant Regan had been having some contractions, and everyone was hoping she’d have her baby soon. Apparently, the baby was taking after its daddy and was big, and Regan was small.

All these women, and Blaine, had been snatched and stolen. They’d been through hell. But they’d made it.

Bellamy smiled. They were making a new life and they loved it.

She turned and saw Maxon talking with Zhim.

God, he was gorgeous. Her chest tightened. His trousers clung to his muscular form, and that crisp, white shirt looked gorgeous against his golden-brown skin.

Hers.

They’d fight, laugh, love, and still be doing it when they were old and gray.

Her gram would be so happy.

Maxon glanced her way. His melted-gold gaze caught hers, and he smiled.

Hmm, she was going to see if she could lure her beast onto the dance floor.

Magnus

MAGNUS WATCHED THE PARTY, listening to the sounds of happy people enjoying themselves.

Jax stood beside him, sipping his drink.

“Who would have thought that when you rescued me and we escaped the Orionix Military cyborg program, that we’d end up here,” Jax mused.

Magnus didn’t look at his second in command and best friend. Old memories filtered through his head—Jax badly injured, scheduled to be killed by their ruthless military commanders. Magnus had fought to free them, and they’d become fugitives. He’d been emotionless then, and he’d had one goal—survival.

He’d never, ever dreamed of this—the House of Rone, his people. His gaze fell on Ever. He’d never imagined the woman from Earth who’d brought him to life, given him love, and gifted him with a child.

He was no longer surviving. He was living life, in all its amazing glory. As were all his cyborgs, his allies, and the survivors from Earth they’d helped rescue.

Although, Magnus knew that really, it was the women who had saved all of them.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Magnus murmured.

“Me neither,” Jax agreed. “I’d suffer everything again, twice, if it brought me to Quinn.”

“We made it, Jaxer.”

Jax smiled. “We sure did.”

Fireworks speared into the sky. Magnus glanced into the center of the arena and spotted Lore setting off the pyrotechnics. Using his unique abilities, the gladiator sent flames and sparkles whizzing into the night sky. A flying beast made of flames sailed overhead, making the partygoers gasp and cheer.

The light and flames whirled and dipped. They formed a giant cat-like creature that padded forward and opened its mouth in a roar. Then it burst into showers of light.

Galen and Rhain appeared beside Magnus.

“Excellent party,” the overlord murmured.

Magnus nodded. “Thank you both for your assistance at Bari Batu.”

Galen linked arms with Magnus in a warrior’s clasp. “Our houses are forever linked, Magnus. If you ever need the House of Galen, you know that we’ll be there.”

“And the same for the House of Rone.”

“I’m glad I could help,” Rhain said. “The Edull deserved their downfall.” The king’s gray gaze drifted over the party.

Magnus’ did the same. He saw Bellamy dancing with young Grace. The pair were showcasing some wild moves and giggling.

“Your women are very unique,” Rhain said. “Fierce and tough, but feminine.”

“You can’t have them,” Magnus said with a smile. “They’ve all been claimed.”

The overlord smiled. “I guess I’ll have to find my own. If the wars I wage ever slow down.” A hard gleam entered the man’s eyes. “Is it worth the risk? Loving someone is…a weakness your enemy can exploit.”

“It’s worth everything,” Magnus replied.

Galen and Jax both nodded.

Galen cleared his throat. “Samantha’s pregnant.”

Jax laughed. “Well done.”

Magnus raised a brow, feeling a rush of happiness for his friend. “Congratulations, old friend. You’ll be an excellent father.”

Galen sipped his drink quickly. He looked a little nervous, and Magnus had never seen his fellow imperator look like that.

Magnus clasped Galen’s shoulder. “Fatherhood is another amazing thing. I can assure you that it’s worth the risk.” Magnus lifted his drink. “To your child, Galen.”

They clinked glasses.

Suddenly, Thorin appeared in one of the archways. He looked slightly disheveled, and he held a beaming Regan in his arms. Beside him stood a tall, slender, genderless Hermia healer from the House of Galen. In the healer’s arms was a small bundle.

All noise stopped.

Thorin gently set a flushed, tired-looking Regan in a chair, then took the bundle from the healer. A huge smile crossed his broad face.

He tucked the bundle into his massive brawny arms. “I have a son!”

Smiling wide, Thorin held up the tiny, precious baby in his arms.

Raiden was already hurrying over to his best friend. The women mobbed Regan and Thorin. Everyone tried to get a look at the baby. They kissed Regan’s cheek and slapped Thorin’s back.

“Regan was amazing.” He cupped his mate’s cheek. “She’s the most magnificent woman in the universe.”

Regan blew her man a kiss.

As the crowd gathered around the new parents, Magnus saw Bellamy leap onto Maxon’s back. He watched his weapons master smile.

Magnus was glad to see Maxon open up. He’d been so closed off for so long. When Magnus had been emotionless, he hadn’t realized how bad it had been for Maxon. It was only once Ever had come into his life, that Magnus had started to worry about Maxon.

Now, his weapons master looked just fine.

Even though Bellamy whispered in Maxon’s ear, Magnus heard her with his enhanced hearing.

“Want to go and get naughty in our workshop?”

“Yes,” Maxon growled in response.

“We’ll be old and wrinkled, and still having quickies on your workbench.”

“I hope so,” Maxon said.

As Bellamy bit his ear, Maxon lifted his head and met Magnus’ gaze.

The two cyborgs smiled at each other. They both knew exactly how lucky they were to have their friends, family, their mates, and love.

I hope you enjoyed Bellamy and Maxon’s story!

Don’t worry, we haven’t seen the last of Carthago, the gladiators, or the cyborgs yet. We also haven’t seen the last of Overlord Rhain Zhalto Sarkany. Keep an eye out for the GALACTIC KINGS series coming in 2021!

If you’re interested in learning more about the House of Galen gladiators and the strong, smart women from Earth they helped rescue or Magnus and Ever’s story, then check out Galactic Gladiators.

For more action-packed romance, read on for a preview of the first chapter of Edge of Eon, the first book in my best-selling Eon Warriors series.

Don’t miss out! For updates about new releases, free books, and other fun stuff, sign up for my VIP mailing list and get your free box set containing three action-packed romances.

Visit here to get started: www.annahackett.com

PREVIEW: EDGE OF EON

She shifted on the chair, causing the chains binding her hands to clank together. Eve Traynor snorted. The wrist and ankle restraints were overkill. She was on a low-orbit prison circling Earth. Where the fuck did they think she was going to go?

Eve shifted her shoulders to try to ease the tension from having her hands tied behind her back. For the millionth time, she studied her surroundings. The medium-sized room was empty, except for her chair. Everything from the floor to the ceiling was dull-gray metal. All of the Citadel Prison was drab and sparse. She’d learned every boring inch of it the last few months.

One wide window provided the only break in the otherwise uniform space. Outside, she caught a tantalizing glimpse of the blue-green orb of Earth below.

Her gut clenched and she drank in the sight of her home. Five months she’d been locked away in this prison. Five months since her life had imploded.

She automatically thought of her sisters. She sucked in a deep breath. She hated everything they’d had to go through because of what had happened. Hell, she thought of her mom as well, even though their last contact had been the day after Eve had been imprisoned. Her mom had left Eve a drunken, scathing message.

The door to the room opened, and Eve lifted her chin and braced.

When she saw the dark-blue Space Corps uniform, she stiffened. When she saw the row of stars on the lapel, she gritted her teeth.

Admiral Linda Barber stepped into the room, accompanied by a female prison guard. The admiral’s hair was its usual sleek bob of highlighted, ash-blonde hair. Her brown eyes were steady.

Eve looked at the guard. “Take me back to my cell.”

The admiral lifted a hand. “Please leave us.”

The guard hesitated. “That’s against protocol, ma’am—”

“It’ll be fine.” The admiral’s stern voice said she was giving an order, not making a request.

The guard hesitated again, then ducked through the door. It clicked closed behind her.

Eve sniffed. “Say what you have to say and leave.”

Admiral Barber sighed, taking a few steps closer. “I know you’re angry. You have a right to be—”

“You think?” Eve sucked back the rush of molten anger. “I got tossed under the fucking starship to save a mama’s boy. A mama’s boy who had no right to be in command of one of Space Corps’ vessels.”

Shit. Eve wanted to pummel something. Preferably the face of Robert J. Hathaway—golden son of Rear-Admiral Elisabeth Hathaway. A man who, because of family connections, was given captaincy of the Orion, even though he lacked the intelligence and experience needed to lead it.

Meanwhile, Eve—a Space Corps veteran—had worked her ass off during her career in the Corps, and had been promised her own ship, only to be denied her chance. Instead, she’d been assigned as Hathaway’s second-in-command. To be a glorified babysitter, and to actually run the ship, just without the title and the pay raise.

She’d swallowed it. Swallowed Hathaway’s incompetence and blowhard bullshit. Until he’d fucked up. Big-time.

“The Haumea Incident was regrettable,” Barber said.

Eve snorted. “Mostly for the people who died. And definitely for me, since I’m the one shackled to a chair in the Citadel. Meanwhile, I assume Bobby Hathaway is still a dedicated Space Corps employee.”

“He’s no longer a captain of a ship. And he never will be again.”

“Right. Mommy got him a cushy desk job back at Space Corps Headquarters.”

The silence was deafening and it made Eve want to kick something.

“I’m sorry, Eve. We all know what happened wasn’t right.”

Eve jerked on her chains and they clanked against the chair. “And you let it happen. All of Space Corps leadership did, to appease Mommy Hathaway. I dedicated my life to the Corps, and you all screwed me over for an admiral’s incompetent son. I got sentenced to prison for his mistakes.” Stomach turning in vicious circles, Eve looked at the floor, sucking in air. She stared at the soft booties on her feet. Damned inmate footwear. She wasn’t even allowed proper fucking shoes.

Admiral Barber moved to her side. “I’m here to offer you a chance at freedom.”

Gaze narrowing, Eve looked up. Barber looked…nervous. Eve had never seen the self-assured woman nervous before.

“There’s a mission. If you complete it, you’ll be released from prison.”

Interesting. “And reinstated? With a full pardon?”

Barber’s lips pursed and her face looked pinched. “We can negotiate.”

So, no. “Screw your offer.” Eve would prefer to rot in her cell, rather than help the Space Corps.

The admiral moved in front of her, her low-heeled pumps echoing on the floor. “Eve, the fate of the world depends on this mission.”

Barber’s serious tone sent a shiver skating down Eve’s spine. She met the woman’s brown eyes.

“The Kantos are gathering their forces just beyond the boundary at Station Omega V.”

Fuck. The Kantos. The insectoid alien race had been nipping at Earth for years. Their humanoid-insectoid soldiers were the brains of the operation, but they encompassed all manner of ugly, insect-like beasts as well.

With the invention of zero-point drives several decades ago, Earth’s abilities for space exploration had exploded. Then, thirty years ago, they’d made first contact with an alien species—the Eon.

The Eon shared a common ancestor with the humans of Earth. They were bigger and broader, with a few differing organs, but generally human-looking. They had larger lungs, a stronger, bigger heart, and a more efficiently-designed digestion system. This gave them increased strength and stamina, which in turn made them excellent warriors. Unfortunately, they also wanted nothing to do with Earth and its inferior Terrans.

The Eon, and their fearsome warriors and warships, stayed inside their own space and had banned Terrans from crossing their boundaries.

Then, twenty years ago, the first unfortunate and bloody meeting with the Kantos had occurred.

Since then, the Kantos had returned repeatedly to nip at the Terran borders—attacking ships, space stations, and colonies.

But it had become obvious in the last year or so that the Kantos had something bigger planned. The Haumea Incident had made that crystal clear.

The Kantos wanted Earth. There were to be no treaties, alliances, or negotiations. They wanted to descend like locusts and decimate everything—all the planet’s resources, and most of all, the humans.

Yes, the Kantos wanted to freaking use humans as a food source. Eve suppressed a shudder.

“And?” she said.

“We have to do whatever it takes to save our planet.”

Eve tilted her head. “The Eon.”

Admiral Barber smiled. “You were always sharp, Eve. Yes, the Eon are the only ones with the numbers, the technology, and the capability to help us repel the Kantos.”

“Except they want nothing to do with us.” No one had seen or spoken with an Eon for three decades.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Okay, Eve felt that shiver again. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a platform, about to be shoved under the starship again.

“What’s the mission?” she asked carefully.

“We want you to abduct War Commander Davion Thann-Eon.”

Holy fuck. Eve’s chest clenched so tight she couldn’t even draw a breath. Then the air rushed into her lungs, and she threw her head back and laughed. Tears ran down her face.

“You’re kidding.”

But the admiral wasn’t laughing.

Eve shook her head. “That’s a fucking suicide mission. You want me to abduct the deadliest, most decorated Eon war commander who controls the largest, most destructive Eon warship in their fleet?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Eve, you have a record of making…risky decisions.”

Eve shook her head. “I always calculate the risks.”

“Yes, but you use a higher margin of error than the rest of us.”

“I’ve always completed my missions successfully.” The Haumea Incident excluded, since that was Bobby’s brilliant screw-up.

“Yes. That’s why we know if anyone has a chance of making this mission a success, it’s you.”

“I may as well take out a blaster and shoot myself right now. One, I’ll never make it into Eon space, let alone aboard the Desteron.”

Since the initial encounter, they’d collected whatever intel they could on the Eon. Eve had seen secret schematics of that warship. And she had to admit, the thought of being aboard that ship left her a little damp between her thighs. She loved space and flying, and the big, sleek warship was something straight out of her fantasies.

“We have an experimental, top-of-the-line stealth ship for you to use,” the admiral said.

Eve carried on like the woman hadn’t spoken. “And two, even if I got close to the war commander, he’s bigger and stronger than me, not to mention bonded to a fucking deadly alien symbiont that gives him added strength and the ability to create organic armor and weapons with a single thought. I’d be dead in seconds.”

“We recovered a…substance that is able to contain the symbiont the Eon use.”

Eve narrowed her eyes. “Recovered from where?”

Admiral Barber cleared her throat. “From the wreck of a Kantos ship. It was clearly tech they were developing to use against the Eon.”

Shit. “So I’m to abduct the war commander, and then further enrage him by neutralizing his symbiont.”

“We believe the containment is temporary, and there is an antidote.”

Eve shook her head. “This is beyond insane.”

“For the fate of humanity, we have to try.”

“Talk to them,” Eve said. “Use some diplomacy.”

“We tried. They refused all contact.”

Because humans were simply ants to the Eon. Small, insignificant, an annoyance.

Although, truth be told, humanity only had itself to blame. By all accounts, Terrans hadn’t behaved very well at first contact. The meetings with the Eon had turned into blustering threats, different countries trying to make alliances with the aliens while happily stabbing each other in the back.

Now Earth wanted to abduct an Eon war commander. No, not a war commander, the war commander. So dumb. She wished she had a hand free so she could slap it over her eyes.

“Find another sacrificial lamb.”

The admiral was silent for a long moment. “If you won’t do it for yourself or for humanity, then do it for your sisters.”

Eve’s blood chilled and she cocked her head. “What’s this got to do with my sisters?”

“They’ve made a lot of noise about your imprisonment. Agitating for your freedom.”

Eve breathed through her nose. God, she loved her sisters. Still, she didn’t know whether to be pleased or pissed. “And?”

“Your sister has shared some classified information with the press about the Haumea Incident.”

Eve fought back a laugh. Lara wasn’t shy about sharing her thoughts about this entire screwed-up situation. Eve’s older sister was a badass Space Corps special forces marine. Lara wouldn’t hesitate to take down anyone who pissed her off, the Space Corps included.

“And she had access to information she should not have had access to, meaning your other sister has done some…creative hacking.”

Dammit. The rush of love was mixed with some annoyance. Sweet, geeky Wren had a giant, super-smart brain. She was a computer-systems engineer for some company with cutting-edge technology in Japan. It helped keep her baby sister’s big brain busy, because Wren hadn’t found a computer she couldn’t hack.

“Plenty of people are unhappy with what your sisters have been stirring up,” Barber continued.

Eve stiffened. She didn’t like where this was going.

“I’ve tried to run interference—”

“Admiral—”

Barber held up a hand. “I can’t keep protecting them, Eve. I’ve been trying, but some of this is even above my pay grade. If you don’t do this mission, powers outside of my control will go after them. They’ll both end up in a cell right alongside yours until the Kantos arrive and blow this prison out of the sky.”

Her jaw tight, Eve’s brain turned all the information over. Fucking fuck.

“Eve, if there is anyone who has a chance of succeeding on this mission, it’s you.”

Eve stayed silent.

Barber stepped closer. “I don’t care if you do it for yourself, the billions of people of Earth, or your sisters—”

“I’ll do it.” The words shot out of Eve, harsh and angry.

She’d do it—abduct the scariest alien war commander in the galaxy—for all the reasons the admiral listed—to clear her name, for her freedom, to save the world, and for the sisters she loved.

Honestly, it didn’t matter anyway, because the odds of her succeeding and coming back alive were zero.

EVE LEFT THE STARSHIP GYM, towel around her neck, and her muscles warm and limber from her workout.

God, it was nice to work out when it suited her. On the Citadel Prison, exercise time was strictly scheduled, monitored, and timed.

Two crew members came into view, heading down the hall toward her. As soon as the uniformed men spotted her, they looked at the floor and passed her quickly.

Eve rolled her eyes. Well, she wasn’t aboard the Polaris to make friends, and she had to admit, she had a pretty notorious reputation. She’d never been one to blindly follow the rules, plus there was the Haumea Incident and her imprisonment. And her family were infamous in the Space Corps. Her father had been a space marine, killed in action in one of the early Kantos encounters. Her mom had been a decorated Space Corps member, but after Eve’s dad had died, her mom had started drinking. It had deteriorated until she’d gone off the rails. She’d done it quite publicly, blaming the Space Corps for her husband’s death. In the process, she’d forgotten she had three young, grieving girls.

Yep, Eve was well aware that the people you cared for most either left you, or let you down. The employer you worked your ass off for treated you like shit. The only two people in the galaxy that didn’t apply to were her sisters.

Eve pushed thoughts of her parents away. Instead, she scanned the starship. The Polaris was a good ship. A mid-size cruiser, she was designed for exploration, but well-armed as well. Eve guessed they’d be heading out beyond Neptune about now.

The plan was for the Polaris to take her to the edge of Eon space, where she’d take a tiny, two-person stealth ship, sneak up to the Desteron, then steal onboard.

Piece of cake. She rolled her eyes.

Back in her small cabin, she took a quick shower, dressed, and then headed to the ops room. It was a small room close to the bridge that the ship’s captain had made available to her.

She stepped inside, and all the screens flickered to life. A light table stood in the center of the room, and everything was filled with every scrap of intel that the Space Corps had on the Eon Empire, their warriors, the Desteron, and War Commander Thann-Eon.

It was more than she’d guessed. A lot of it had been classified. There was fascinating intel on the four Eon homeworld planets—Eon, Jad, Felis, and Ath. Each Eon warrior carried their homeworld in their name, along with their clan names. The war commander hailed from the planet Eon, and Thann was a clan known as a warrior clan.

Eve swiped her fingers across the light table and studied pictures of the Desteron. They were a few years old and taken from a great distance, but that didn’t hide the warship’s power.

It was fearsome. Black, sleek, and impressive. It was built for speed and stealth, but also power. It had to be packed with weapons beyond their imagination.

She touched the screen again and slid the image to the side. Another image appeared—the only known picture of War Commander Thann-Eon.

Jesus. The man packed a punch. All Eon warriors looked alike—big, broad-shouldered, muscular. They all had longish hair—not quite reaching the shoulders, but not cut short, either. Their hair usually ranged from dark brown to a tawny, golden-brown. There was no black or blond hair among the Eon. Their skin color ranged from dark-brown to light-brown, as well.

Before first contact had gone sour, both sides had done some DNA testing, and confirmed the Eon and Terrans shared an ancestor.

The war commander was wearing a pitch-black, sleeveless uniform. He was tall, built, with long legs and powerful thighs. He was exactly the kind of man you expected to stride onto a battlefield, pull a sword, and slaughter everyone. He had a strong face, one that shouted power. Eve stroked a finger over the image. He had a square jaw, a straight, almost aggressive nose, and a well-formed brow. His eyes were as dark as space, but shot through with intriguing threads of blue.

“It’s you and me, War Commander.” If he didn’t kill her, first.

Suddenly, sirens blared.

Eve didn’t stop to think. She slammed out of the ops room and sprinted onto the bridge.

Inside, the large room was a flurry of activity.

Captain Chen stood in the center of the space, barking orders at his crew.

Her heart contracted. God, she’d missed this so much. The vibration of the ship beneath her feet, her team around her, even the scent of recycled starship air.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” a sharp voice snapped.

Eve turned, locking gazes with the stocky, bearded XO. Sub-Captain Porter wasn’t a fan of hers.

“Leave her,” Captain Chen told his second-in-command. “She’s seen more Kantos ships than all of us combined.”

The captain looked back at his team. “Shields up.”

Eve studied the screen and the Kantos ship approaching.

It looked like a bug. It had large, outstretched legs, and a bulky, segmented, central fuselage. It wasn’t the biggest ship she’d seen, but it wasn’t small, either. It was probably out on some intel mission.

“Sir,” a female voice called out. “We’re getting a distress call from the Panama, a cargo ship en route to Nightingale Space Station. They’re under attack from a swarm of small Kantos ships.”

Eve sucked in a breath, her hand curling into a fist. This was a usual Kantos tactic. They would overwhelm a ship with their small swarm ships. It had ugly memories of the Haumea Incident stabbing at her.

“Open the comms channel,” the captain ordered.

“Please…help us.” A harried man’s voice came over the distorted comm line. “…can’t hold out much…thirty-seven crew onboard…we are…”

Suddenly, a huge explosion of light flared in the distance.

Eve’s shoulders sagged. The cargo ship was gone.

“Goddammit,” the XO bit out.

The front legs of the larger Kantos ship in front of them started to glow orange.

“They’re going to fire,” Eve said.

The captain straightened. “Evasive maneuvers.”

His crew raced to obey the orders, the Polaris veering suddenly to the right.

“The swarm ships will be on their way back.” Eve knew the Kantos loved to swarm like locusts.

“Release the tridents,” the captain said.

Good. Eve watched the small, triple-pronged space mines rain out the side of the ship. They’d be a dangerous minefield for the Kantos swarm.

The main Kantos ship swung around.

“They’re locking weapons,” someone shouted.

Eve fought the need to shout out orders and offer the captain advice. Last time she’d done that, she’d ended up in shackles.

The blast hit the Polaris, the shields lighting up from the impact. The ship shuddered.

“Shields holding, but depleting,” another crew member called out.

“Sub-Captain Traynor?” The captain’s dark gaze met hers.

Something loosened in her chest. “It’s a raider-class cruiser, Captain. You’re smaller and more maneuverable. You need to circle around it, spray it with laser fire. Its weak spots are on the sides. Sustained laser fire will eventually tear it open. You also need to avoid the legs.”

“Fly circles around it?” a young man at a console said. “That’s crazy.”

Eve eyed the lead pilot. “You up for this?”

The man swallowed. “I don’t think I can…”

“Sure you can, if you want us to survive this.”

“Walker, do it,” the captain barked.

The pilot pulled in a breath and the Polaris surged forward. They rounded the Kantos ship. Up close, the bronze-brown hull looked just like the carapace of an insect. One of the legs swung up, but Walker had quick reflexes.

“Fire,” Eve said.

The weapons officer started firing. Laser fire hit the Kantos ship in a pretty row of orange.

“Keep going,” Eve urged.

They circled the ship, firing non-stop.

Eve crossed her arms over her chest. Everything in her was still, but alive, filled with energy. She’d always known she was born to stand on the bridge of a starship.

“More,” she urged. “Keep firing.”

“Swarm ships incoming,” a crew member yelled.

“Hold,” Eve said calmly. “Trust the mines.” She eyed the perspiring weapons officer. “What’s your name, Lieutenant?”

“Law, ma’am. Lieutenant Miriam Law.”

“You’re doing fine, Law. Ignore the swarm ships and keep firing on the cruiser.”

The swarm ships rushed closer, then hit the field of mines. Eve saw the explosions, like brightly colored pops of fireworks.

The lasers kept cutting into the hull of the larger Kantos ship. She watched the ship’s engines fire. They were going to try and make a run for it.

“Bring us around, Walker. Fire everything you have, Law.”

They swung around to face the side of the Kantos ship straight on. The laser ripped into the hull.

There was a blinding flash of light, and startled exclamations filled the bridge. She squinted until the light faded away.

On the screen, the Kantos ship broke up into pieces.

Captain Chen released a breath. “Thank you, Sub-Captain.”

Eve inclined her head. She glanced at the silent crew. “Good flying, Walker. And excellent shooting, Law.”

But she looked back at the screen, at the debris hanging in space and the last of the swarm ships retreating.

They’d keep coming. No matter what. It was ingrained in the Kantos to destroy.

They had to be stopped.

Eon Warriors

Edge of Eon

Touch of Eon

Heart of Eon

Kiss of Eon

Mark of Eon

Claim of Eon

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PREVIEW - HELL SQUAD: MARCUS

In the aftermath of a deadly alien invasion, a band of survivors fights on…

In a world gone to hell, Elle Milton—once the darling of the Sydney social scene—has carved a role for herself as the communications officer for the toughest commando team fighting for humanity’s survival—Hell Squad. It’s her chance to make a difference and make up for horrible past mistakes…despite the fact that its battle-hardened commander never wanted her on his team.

When Hell Squad is tasked with destroying a strategic alien facility, Elle knows they need her skills in the field. But first she must go head to head with Marcus Steele and convince him she won’t be a liability.

Marcus Steele is a warrior through and through. He fights to protect the innocent and give the human race a chance to survive. And that includes the beautiful, gutsy Elle who twists him up inside with a single look. The last thing he wants is to take her into a warzone, but soon they are thrown together battling both the alien invaders and their overwhelming attraction. And Marcus will learn just how much he’ll sacrifice to keep her safe.

Hell Squad

Marcus

Cruz

Gabe

Reed

Roth

Noah

Shaw

Holmes

Niko

Finn

Theron

Hemi

Ash

Levi

Manu

Griff

Dom

Survivors

Tane

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Team 52

Mission: Her Protection

Mission: Her Rescue

Mission: Her Security

Mission: Her Defense

Mission: Her Safety

Mission: Her Freedom

Mission: Her Shield

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Treasure Hunter Security

Undiscovered

Uncharted

Unexplored

Unfathomed

Untraveled

Unmapped

Unidentified

Undetected

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Eon Warriors

Edge of Eon

Touch of Eon

Heart of Eon

Kiss of Eon

Mark of Eon

Claim of Eon

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Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone

Sentinel

Defender

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Guard

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Beast

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Hell Squad

Marcus

Cruz

Gabe

Reed

Roth

Noah

Shaw

Holmes

Niko

Finn

Theron

Hemi

Ash

Levi

Manu

Griff

Dom

Survivors

Tane

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The Anomaly Series

Time Thief

Mind Raider

Soul Stealer

Salvation

Anomaly Series Box Set

The Phoenix Adventures

Among Galactic Ruins

At Star’s End

In the Devil’s Nebula

On a Rogue Planet

Beneath a Trojan Moon

Beyond Galaxy’s Edge

On a Cyborg Planet

Return to Dark Earth

On a Barbarian World

Lost in Barbarian Space

Through Uncharted Space

Crashed on an Ice World

Perma Series

Winter Fusion

A Galactic Holiday

Warriors of the Wind

Tempest

Storm & Seduction

Fury & Darkness

Standalone Titles

Savage Dragon

Hunter’s Surrender

One Night with the Wolf

For more information visit www.annahackett.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m a USA Today bestselling romance author who’s passionate about fast-paced, emotion-filled contemporary and science fiction romance. I love writing about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.

I live in Australia with my own personal hero and two very busy, always-on-the-move sons.

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

What readers are saying about Anna’s romances

Anna Hackett Box Set

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Preview: Edge of Eon

Preview - Hell Squad: Marcus

Also by Anna Hackett

About the Author