CYBORG

GALACTIC GLADIATORS #10

ANNA HACKETT

Cyborg

Published by Anna Hackett

Copyright 2018 by Anna Hackett

Cover by Melody Simmons of eBookindiecovers

Edits by Tanya Saari

ISBN (ebook): 978-1-925539-45-5

ISBN (paperback): 978-1-925539-46-2

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 action romances

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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

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Preview - Among Galactic Ruins

Also by Anna Hackett

About the Author

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CHAPTER ONE

Her bare feet were quiet on the stone floor.

Ever Haynes walked down the darkened corridor, surprised to find the stone was warm. When you thought of gladiatorial houses in the bowels of an alien arena, you didn’t expect underfloor heating.

She pushed her dark hair back from her face. It was getting late and she should be asleep. Strangely, the reason she couldn’t sleep was because her bed was too soft. She fought back a bitter laugh. For months, she’d dreamed of having a soft bed instead of a hard, cold floor in a cell. Now she had one, and she couldn’t sleep.

Memories crashed over her, and even as her pulse sped up, she let them come in. She stopped, breathing deeply. Broken images of the alien attack on the Fortuna Space Station, where she’d worked as a scientist, her abduction by horrifying aliens, the fear, the pain, the fighting, having no idea if her sister was still alive.

Ever blew out a shaky breath. She’d been through so much over the last few months, culminating in being dragged across the galaxy by Thraxian slavers and sold to a wild desert arena. She’d been forced to fight for the sick pleasure of bloodthirsty spectators…until she’d been rescued.

Her throat tightened, one of her hands curling into a fist, and she struggled not to fight against the memories. She knew blocking them or ignoring them would only make things worse. She had to confront what happened and find a way to move on. Ever itched for her notebook and pen. She was a scientist at heart and jotted everything down in her notebooks. Hell, it had started long before that…as a young girl pouring out her broken heart in her diary.

She pulled in a deep, steadying breath. She was alive. Her sister, Neve, was alive, and that was what mattered.

Ever felt a soft kick in her belly and she smiled, the now-familiar mix of shock, wonder, and nerves filling her chest. She rubbed her palm over the small mound of her stomach. This was one other thing that had definitely changed. She was now pregnant with a half-alien baby. A sense of love unfurled. Oh, she still felt the trickle of holy shit panic, but this baby was hers, no matter what happened in the future.

Ever had always wanted children. Her own happy family had imploded when her parents died, leaving her and Neve in the hands of their bitter, old aunt, and Ever had vowed that she’d one day fall in love. One day, she’d look at a man the same way her mother had looked at her father. One day, she’d be surrounded by beautiful babies.

Okay, so she’d thought it would happen after love and marriage, and without the alien bit, but dammit, she was going to rock the hell out of being a mommy to her peanut.

She heard a door slam nearby, followed by the sound of deep voices echoing off the stone walls. She looked up at the stunning blue wall hangings lining the corridor. They all depicted gladiators fighting in a huge arena made of cream stone. House of Rone gladiators, fighting in the Kor Magna Arena. She hadn’t seen these particular ones before. She’d only been here for three days and was still busy learning her way around.

Following the sound of the voices, she paused, taking in several muscled gladiators wearing simple leather harnesses across bare chests, and leather trousers. There was one tall female as well, also dressed in fighting leathers. They’d just entered through the large double doors, the four of them carrying a twisting, screaming man between them.

Ever gasped. The man was covered in blood and had numerous terrible wounds on his arms and chest.

Then another big man stepped into the corridor and blocked her view. “Take him to Medical. Now.”

That deep voice whispered through her. So cool, so emotionless. A shiver worked up her spine.

She lifted her gaze and saw the man staring at her, even though she was hidden in the shadows.

Magnus Rone. Imperator of the House of Rone.

Well over six feet tall, with wide shoulders, and one arm made entirely of silver-gray metal. It wasn’t bulky, but sleek and fascinating. Especially to Ever, who specialized in research projects for military armor and enhancements.

When he was in the House of Rone, he went bare-chested with only a simple leather harness. Outside, he tended to cover up more. Not that she thought he was hiding his enhancements, it was more to keep a lower profile until he was ready to show exactly what he was.

Her gaze shifted to his face. Rugged features, just shy of handsome, dark hair he kept clipped short, and a silver metal implant that circled his left eye. She saw that eye flash now, a neon-blue glow through the shadows.

Magnus Rone was a cyborg.

“On our way,” one of the gladiators called out.

She watched the way the gladiators deferred to him. She knew he ruled his house in a tough, but fair, manner. He kept staring at her, his face not showing a flicker of emotion. Her hand dropped to her belly again.

He was also the father of her child.

It was mind-bogglingly strange that she went from a practical, Army-trained scientist to victim of alien slavers, and then in the blink of an eye, she was now pregnant with a cyborg’s baby and living on a far-flung desert world.

As the gladiators and the injured man disappeared down the hall, Magnus strode toward her. “You should be sleeping.” His voice was cold, almost hard.

It hadn’t been, that long-ago night in the darkness of a cell.

Ever cleared her throat. “I couldn’t sleep. The bed is too soft.” And there was something else that she wasn’t going to admit to Magnus. Pregnancy was playing havoc with her hormones. She shifted, her thighs rubbing together, and her gaze dropped to Magnus’s unaltered hand. It was big, wide, and long-fingered. Fully capable of holding a sword…or stroking a woman.

Jeez, Ever. Cool it. She switched to look at his cybernetic hand and its silver-gray skin. She knew it would feel cooler against her…

Okay, the pregnancy hormones were seriously a pain in her ass, and a few other places.

She was well aware that Magnus didn’t remember that night in the desert. He didn’t remember their connection in the darkness, didn’t remember touching her. Her stomach jittered with something she was loath to call disappointment. He’d been captured in the desert and his cyborg systems had been damaged. The side effect was a loss of memory afterward.

But she remembered. Every hot moment of it. Desire flooded through her, stronger than anything she’d ever felt before. Damn pregnancy.

The unfortunate fact was that since she’d come to the House of Rone, he’d been cool toward her. There was no sign of interest in his eyes, no indication he felt anything for her. He’d vowed to protect her and the baby, but other than that, nothing.

Her belly clenched.

“Who was the injured man?” she asked.

A faint narrowing of Magnus’ eyes. “Someone who now has the protection of the House of Rone.”

“So, someone you rescued?” Like he’d rescued her. And from her daily wandering around the House of Rone, like he’d rescued and helped most of the people who lived and worked here.

Magnus stepped closer, or rather flowed. He moved so silently, like liquid. He touched his cybernetic fingers to the implant at her temple.

God, she could smell him. Somehow, he smelled like a rainstorm. Everything inside her yearned for him, and pain cut through her. To him, she was a stranger. “My implant is fine. You checked it earlier, remember?”

He nodded. “But it is malfunctioning and I won’t risk your life. My healers tell me they should soon have the procedure ready to remove it.”

She licked her lips. “It won’t hurt the baby?”

His gaze dropped to her stomach. His face didn’t show a flicker of any emotion about the mention of his child. “I will ensure you and the child are protected.”

“Magnus?” a voice called from down the hall.

Magnus took a step back, then paused to look at her again, hesitating. “I have to go.”

She nodded, tucking an unruly curl behind her ear. Magnus didn’t move.

“Magnus,” the voice said again, edged with impatience. It was Jaxer, Magnus’ second-in-command. “Draynor is here for the business meeting.”

“On my way.” Magnus gave her a nod. “Get some sleep.” He swiveled and strode silently down the corridor with a powerful stride she never failed to notice.

She watched him follow Jaxer’s tall form through another set of double doors, into a space she knew doubled as a meeting room. Ever stayed where she was, telling herself to turn and head back to the well-appointed room she’d been given when she’d first arrived at the House of Rone.

Right, and toss and turn in her sheets. Or stroke herself because this damn horniness wouldn’t go away.

Instead of heading for her room, she followed Magnus. Damn, she was so weak. But she was irrevocably linked to the man and she was desperate to know more about him.

Because the first moment she’d seen him in that desert cell, she’d known. Something inside her had known this man was hers.

Now, for her and her baby, she had to know if the emotions he’d shown her in the desert were real. To know if he could really feel.

“Ahh, Imperator Rone,” a low voice drawled. “It is a pleasure to see you. I’ve been looking forward to concluding our deal.”

Ever paused in the doorway. She had a clear view of Magnus in profile, as well as the man he was talking to. They stood in front of several large crates. The man was dwarfed by Magnus. He had a long, slim form, and was only wearing leather trousers. His sunken chest, covered in gray skin, was bare. He had large eyes, no nose, and a wide mouth. He reminded her a little of the gray aliens people on Earth claimed abducted them. She made a mental note to find out if those abductions were actually real.

“Let’s get down to business,” Magnus said, his voice clipped.

The alien cocked his head. “I want a discount.”

“No.”

The man opened his arms, displaying three-fingered hands, a wide smile on his face. “I’m one of your best customers, Rone.”

“And you get a good deal, Draynor.”

Magnus’ voice made Ever shiver.

Draynor’s smile slipped. “I’m outfitting four new desert mining camps. I deserve a better price.”

“You got a good deal,” Magnus repeated. “You won’t find better quality anywhere else.”

Draynor scowled now. Ever was thinking the guy was an idiot for not heeding the warning in the sharp edge of Magnus’ voice.

Suddenly, Magnus turned his head and looked her way. She saw a slight tightening around his eyes, which she’d already learned over the last three days meant he wasn’t happy.

Ah, well, she was already busted. No point in hiding. She entered, walking over to him.

The customer’s eyes widened. “A human woman.” His wide eyes narrowed, skimming her body. “There’s been a lot of fuss of late over these humans.” His tone said that he was unimpressed.

She inclined her head. “Sorry to interrupt.” Okay, not really.

Magnus stepped closer to her.

“Powerful people are at war because of you,” Draynor said. “And your kind.”

Ever shot the man a tight smile. “Because we refuse to roll over and be slaves.”

The man shrugged. “Slavery is a fact of life.”

She took a step forward. “Only for assholes.”

All of a sudden, Draynor moved. His hand shot out, wrapping around her neck. Magnus went stiff and was already moving.

But Ever had been protecting herself for a very long time. The Army had trained her well. She moved fast, gripping Draynor’s arm. She shifted her weight, tugged him closer, and then flipped him over her shoulder. He landed flat on his back with an oof.

“Like I said. Assholes.” She leaned down. “People from Earth will never lie down and let other species run over us, or others. Nor will the people helping us. None of us get off on taking advantage of others.”

A flash of silver shot past her. Magnus grabbed Draynor by the neck and yanked him up into the air. He held the man several inches off the floor.

Draynor’s face turned green. “Magnus, I—”

“Touched a woman under the protection of the House of Rone. Under my personal protection.” Magnus slammed his fist into the man’s face. “A woman who is carrying a child.”

“Ow!” Blood ran down Draynor’s chin.

“Get out. You have no more business with the House of Rone.” Magnus dropped him.

The alien man scrambled across the floor. “No! I need the weapons. Your House makes the best.”

Two cyborg guards appeared. They were big, muscled, faces set like stone. Part of Magnus’ elite guard. One had two silver, cybernetic arms, and the other was wearing black clothes, hiding whatever enhancements he might have. Half of his face was entirely silver, his eye glowing green. Without batting an eye, the two men scooped a protesting Draynor off the floor and carried him out.

The House of Rone had quite a few cyborgs. During her explorations, she’d seen both men and women with enhancements and biomechanical limbs. Magnus also had a team of big, well-trained gladiators who had no enhancements. Cyborgs were banned from the Kor Magna Arena, so the House of Rone gladiators weren’t enhanced.

“You should not have come in here,” Magnus said.

Ouch, his voice was as cold as ice. “I know. I’m sorry—”

All of a sudden, a wave of dizziness hit her. Not now. The room spun in front of her.

“Ever?” His face loomed in front of her, his expression intense.

“I…” She felt a wash of prickly heat on her skin and pressed a hand to her mouth. She was going to be sick.

Frantically, she glanced around. She needed somewhere to toss up everything in her stomach without losing the last shred of her dignity. She made a choked sound.

Magnus’ arms wrapped around her and he lifted her off her feet. Seconds later, he rushed her into an adjoining room. A bathroom, thank God.

As soon as her feet touched the tiles, she hurried toward the rectangular toilet, leaned over, and emptied her belly.

MAGNUS KEPT one arm around Ever as she was violently sick.

He felt a very unfamiliar sense of helplessness and frowned. He was a man who liked solving problems and Ever’s nausea wasn’t something he could fix. It was even worse that he was the cause of it.

When she was finished, she sagged against him, exhausted. He held her tightly, wanting to make her feel better. His frown deepened. Wanting to make someone feel better had never been a priority for him.

The feel of her was…familiar.

She’d mentioned how they’d met in the desert. His jaw tightened. He’d been ambushed by a former client while he was delivering weapons. He didn’t remember much of the attack or his imprisonment, just a few flashes. The so-called client had sold him out to drakking desert slavers.

Slavers working for the Thraxians, no less. They’d been moving Ever out to the Zaabha desert arena.

His gaze drifted down her body and snagged on the rounded mound of her belly. A child rested there. His child.

Everything in Magnus stilled as he tried to process that thought.

He had been created in a lab and bred in an unforgiving military program. He’d been told that he could never procreate. Yet, somehow, he and this woman from Earth had made a child. It was an idea to which he was still adjusting. His healers still didn’t have any answers for him.

What he hadn’t told them was that somehow, Ever Haynes made his emotional dampeners short circuit. Usually, he could easily block out emotion. It was what had made him the perfect soldier and assassin in the Oronix Military.

He realized that she was watching his face. She watched his face a lot, making him feel like some experiment she was keeping an eye on. He shifted, and his advanced systems detected a spike in her pulse rate.

“Sorry about that.” She shot him a weak smile. “Bet you don’t have too many women vomiting all over you.”

“Feel better?” he asked.

She nodded. “Thirsty.” He lifted her, carrying her out of the bathroom and back into the main hall. He set her on one of the couches lining the wall. “Stay here.”

He moved quickly to the adjoining kitchens, ignoring the shocked looks from his night staff. Magnus took his meals in his room at set times. Food was sustenance for him, nothing else.

“Imperator.” A chef bowed low. “What can we do for you?”

“I need a drink.” What would be best for her? “Something tart and refreshing.”

The chef blinked. “Oh. Would you like some govran juice?”

“It isn’t for me.” He accessed the records on his system. Govran juice was slightly aerated, considered refreshing, and a good source of nutrients. “Govran juice should suffice.”

When he returned to the hall, Ever was still sitting on the couch, her legs tucked up beneath her. He handed her the juice and she took it quickly. She tipped her head back and gulped it down. Magnus watched her throat work as she drank. Her consumption was so urgent, her need clearly overwhelming her.

Something rose in him, hot and hard. He felt it in his cock, where he usually felt little, unless he wanted to. But he recognized desire.

He tried to strengthen his emotional dampeners. All his life, he’d been programmed and trained to suppress his emotions and do his job. Normally, he had no problem utilizing his systems to keep his emotions at a minimal level. He was more effective and efficient that way. It was far easier to save lives and run a gladiatorial house on a dangerous planet without emotions interfering. He’d never had any problem controlling them in the past.

But for some reason, being with this woman cut through his dampeners like an electroblade through metal.

Suddenly, a flash of images flickered in his head. He remembered her drinking water in the darkness of a cell, hungry to relieve her intense thirst.

“Magnus?” She lowered the glass, her perceptive green gaze on him.

“I remembered you drinking. In the desert.”

She blinked, shifting to face him. “Oh. Do you remember anything else?”

He tried, attempting to hold onto the image, but it slipped away. He shook his head.

Disappointment crossed her face.

“You shouldn’t have entered the main hall. Many of my clients are not people I want you around.”

She tilted her head. “So they aren’t the nicest people, yet you sell weapons to them anyway?”

“They employ hard-working people who need protection. Draynor has several mines, and the desert is a dangerous place.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry. I was just looking around and I was curious.” She smiled. “Not that Draynor will be bothering me again.”

Magnus felt another strange flash of emotion. Amusement? “You should rest.”

She wrinkled her nose.

“You’re tired. The baby needs rest too.”

“I’d…I’d like to keep talking. I want to get to know you, Magnus.”

Her quiet voice moved through him, leaving sensations that pricked at him like desert fire ants. He strengthened his dampeners. He could not let this woman close.

In his logical mind, he ticked off all his reasons. She affected him in ways he didn’t like. He’d already taken advantage of her and made her situation harder. He knew nothing about relationships. She needed things he wasn’t capable of giving her.

“That is unnecessary.” He pulled her to her feet and ushered her out of the hall.

But he saw a flash of pain on her face, then her face went blank. She pulled away from his hold. “I know the way to my room. Good night, Magnus.”

He took two involuntary steps toward her, before he forced himself to stay still and watch her walk away. Magnus always took the best, most efficient course of action. But for the first time, it felt very wrong.

CHAPTER TWO

“You still have no idea how I could have impregnated her?”

Magnus’ head healer, Avarn, turned away from his desk in Medical. He was old, his hair a long fall of white, but his eyes were a lively green.

“Well, when a man and a woman—”

Magnus scowled.

Avarn laughed. The man had been with him from the first day Magnus had created the House of Rone. Magnus had paid for cybernetic limbs for Avarn’s daughter and the healer had paid him back with bone-deep loyalty. He was one of the few people Magnus allowed to laugh at him.

“You have programming to prevent conception,” Avarn said. “I can only speculate that the damage you sustained when you were attacked short-circuited that programming.”

“But you said my programming seemed fine when you healed me after the desert attack.”

Avarn shrugged. “Then something about Ever, or human physiology didn’t agree with your program. I haven’t been able to pinpoint what exactly.”

Magnus paced across Medical. Morning light filtered through the large arched windows. He wondered if Ever had slept well and if she’d eaten. Frowning, he swiveled and continued his pacing. The space was filled with high-tech devices he spent a fortune on to keep his gladiators in top form. His healers also specialized in cyborg enhancements. He turned again. “And Ever’s health? Her implant? Have you come up with a procedure to remove it?”

“I’ve stabilized that implant for now. Drakking Thraxians. Experimenting on a pregnant woman.” Avarn shook his head. “I think in another day, we’ll have finished our simulations and be sure the procedure to remove it won’t harm her or the baby.”

The baby. A child that was part of him. Magnus dropped into a chair.

Avarn’s hand gripped his shoulder. Most people didn’t touch Magnus, and he rarely initiated contact. But Avarn had always ignored Magnus’ scowls and pointed looks.

“You’re going to be a father. How do you feel about that?”

“I don’t feel anything.”

Avarn snorted. “I know you’ve conned most of Carthago into believing that.” The healer sat across from him. “But I know you are a man, Magnus, under all your metal. You feel, even when you try not to.”

“You’re certain the procedure won’t harm Ever?”

A smile curled Avarn’s lips. “I will make sure that your woman is perfectly fine.”

“She’s not mine.”

Avarn made a non-committal sound. Magnus curled his hand. “She…affects me.”

The healer’s smile widened. “Good.”

“Not good. I need to be in control of all my systems. You are well aware of what I’m capable of.”

“Oh, pfft.” Avarn waved a wrinkled hand.

“And…she has suffered enough. She needs comfort, companionship, caring.”

Now Avarn stilled. “And you think you can’t give those to her?”

Magnus stood. “I will ensure she is protected.”

“Mm-hmm.” Avarn grabbed something off a shelf. “Well, I do believe Ever requires a vitamin supplement. A half-alien child is taxing on her human body, not to mention that the baby is growing rapidly. I’m told human pregnancies typically last nine Earth months. About eight months here on Carthago. But with the mix of your genetic material and hers, it is impossible to guess the length of her gestation. I’d guess she’ll be lucky to make two or three months.”

Taxing on her body? It was intolerable to think of Ever in pain. “Give me the supplement. I’ll make sure she takes it.”

Avarn smiled. “I thought you might.”

“She is suffering nausea as well.”

“It’s normal.”

But Magnus didn’t like it. “I want you to find a way to help her.”

Avarn handed over a small vial of dark fluid. “I added something to the supplement that should help a little.”

Good. Magnus closed his fingers around the vial. “Update me when you’re ready to remove her implant. I want to be there.”

“Of course. A lot of interest in a woman you don’t care about.”

Avarn had a suspiciously bland look on his face, but Magnus ignored him and his words, and went in search of Ever.

He found her on the wide balcony off her bedroom, picking at the tray of breakfast food he’d ordered for her. Below, the clang of swords echoed up from where his gladiators were training in the arena.

“Good morning,” he said.

She jolted a little, then glanced at him. She had dark circles under her eyes. She straightened her shoulders, then smiled. “Morning.”

He moved closer. “Is the food not to your liking?”

Her nose wrinkled. “Nausea.”

“Avarn sent a vitamin supplement.” He held it out. “It should help with the nausea as well.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

Magnus sat and watched her drink the fluid. He saw an open book on the low table in front of her. “What’s that?”

“Just a notebook. I’m jotting all my thoughts down. On everything that’s happened.”

Silence fell and despite a nagging need to stay, he stood again.

“Do you want something to eat?” she asked.

“No.”

“I know you aren’t interested in getting to know me, Magnus.” Her tone strengthened. “But whether you like it or not, we have a child on the way. This child’s father will not be a stranger, to me or her.”

He blinked. “Her?”

Ever shrugged. “Just a feeling.”

“I have no experience with relationships,” he said baldly.

She rolled her eyes. “You seem like a smart guy. Learn.”

Again, Magnus felt the prickle of emotions hitting him. “If you wish to ask me questions, I will endeavor to answer.”

She sighed. “Fine. I’m sure you have imperator things to do.” She waved a hand at him. “I’ll just…find something to do.”

He studied her. Her hand was idly rubbing the fabric of the couch, but there was something about the set of her shoulders. Magnus was used to judging people’s thoughts by what his scanners detected—elevated heart rates, increased perspiration, minute expressions. For some reason, he had more trouble reading Ever.

“You don’t have sufficient things to entertain you.”

She winced. “I’m not looking for entertainment, Magnus. I’m used to being busy and productive. God, I hated being locked in that Thraxian cell for hours on end, with nothing to do. I missed my work, my experiments back on Fortuna Station. I miss using my brain for something and having a purpose.”

Magnus studied her a little longer. He felt a forceful need to give her the things she wanted, to please her. “Come on.”

She got to her feet. “What?”

“Come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“I have something I think you’ll enjoy.”

She smiled at him, and then slipped her hand into his non-enhanced one. He barely controlled his start of surprise.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m holding your hand.” Her lips twitched. “It’s quite common for people to do that, especially if one is leading the other one somewhere.”

Magnus had never held hands with anyone before, but he didn’t pull away. He tightened his hold on her and pulled her down the corridor.

EVER FOLLOWED MAGNUS INTO A ROOM.

He paused, and she managed to drag her gaze off his muscled back—the man had a lot of sleek muscles—and turned to take in the airy space.

The room they were in was almost empty, but one stone wall held a built-in bookcase. It was filled with several books, as well as some small carved boxes, and devices that she guessed could be puzzles or games.

“What is this place?”

Magnus clasped his hands behind his back. “Nothing important. I use it for storage.”

She glanced at the only pieces of furniture in the room—two large chairs and a small table. The chairs were huge and covered in some sort of animal hide. One in particular looked well-used. The table had some sort of game board built into the surface of it.

“You can make this your space, Ever. Do whatever you’d like here.”

Warmth flooded her. “Thank you.” She eyed the room again. A place of her own, after so long with nothing but fear. “I’d actually like to work.”

He tilted his head. His eyes were a deep, fathomless blue.

“I’m a member of this house now and I want to find my place.” She straightened her shoulders. “I know you specialize in weapons. My work was for the Earth military. I researched armor improvements for soldiers.”

“Useful work. Talk to Jaxer. Whatever you need, he’ll get it for you.”

She grinned. “I’ll talk to Regan about some of the work she’s doing, and see if I can get some equipment from her.”

Regan had been a scientist on Fortuna, as well. She’d been rescued by the gladiators of the House of Galen, and was now happily mated to the big, wild gladiator Thorin. She had a small lab and had told Ever that she loved the work she was doing here in Kor Magna.

“Anything you want, Jaxer will authorize the purchases. I want you to be comfortable.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

But a thought pricked through her happiness. Was he doing this out of guilt? Because of the baby? He’d made it clear he didn’t want to get involved with her. She could practically feel the wall he was keeping between them.

Magnus gave her a small nod and moved over to the chairs. He sat, and then reached for the small, carved box on the table. He flipped it open.

“You might enjoy this game. It’s called darnalli. It’s a game of strategy.”

She sat down in the other chair, absently rubbing her belly. The nausea had passed, thankfully.

“Will you show me how to play?” Even though it was crazy, she wanted to keep him around a bit longer. She felt so drawn to him, to the power that radiated off him. To that blank, emotionless face that she was sure hid so much more.

Maybe it was her own wishful thinking.

“Here are the basic rules.” Magnus ran through the rules, setting small, glowing stones out on the patterned surface of the table.

Ever took it all in and thought she had it worked out. It was a little bit like chess. “You go first.”

He moved his piece, and before she knew it, Ever was completely sucked into the game. She was fairly competitive, but her sister had been ultra-competitive growing up. Ever had learned quickly how to hold her own.

When he made another quick move, Ever laughed. “God, you remind me of Neve. You’re so aggressive!”

He tilted his head. “Yes. It was how I was trained. And my programming enhances it.”

Her gaze slipped over his implant. “You aren’t using your uber-fancy systems to cheat, are you?”

“No. I would never do that.”

She already knew that Magnus Rone didn’t need to cheat at anything. “How did you become a cyborg?”

“I was born and bred for the military. As you know, I was created from genetic material from several species. Each species was selected for their various strengths. As I got older, enhancements were added.” He lifted his cybernetic arm. “The enhancements depended on the specialization of the soldier or agent.”

He spoke so clinically. She swallowed, hungry to know more, but hurting for the young boy bred to be a soldier, and unsure whether or not to dig further.

Magnus looked back at the game. “It’s your move.”

She moved her piece, waiting as he puzzled over his next step. He was controlled and composed, but she hadn’t imagined the night together in the desert. He’d been more open, so demanding. He’d wanted her, like he’d been starving for the taste of her all his life.

“Magnus?”

“Yes?”

She swallowed. “How much do you…feel?”

His cybernetic eye glowed. “Not much. Emotions are inefficient. I have emotional dampeners that keep my emotions in check.”

His bland words were like a punch to the sternum. He’d mentioned his dampeners before. “You care about your House and the people here.”

“The House of Rone is my purpose. Protecting my people, growing the House, and making it a success are my top priorities.”

Her throat was suddenly dry as dust. He wasn’t talking about love and caring. She forced herself to make another move on the board. “How is the search for Zaabha going?” She tried not to think about the horrible, vicious place, but there was still another human woman imprisoned there.

“You don’t have to worry about it.”

Ever felt a spurt of anger. “Don’t worry my pretty little head about it?”

He looked up, his dark brows drawing together. She realized he was confused by the Earth phrase.

“I was a captive at Zaabha, Magnus. I was forced to fight. I still have a reminder of it every time I look in the mirror.” She touched the implant at her temple.

“My healers will remove that soon.”

“But not the memories. And Sam is still stuck at Zaabha. She saved my life, more than once. She’s still trapped there, fighting for survival. Neve told me that she sacrificed her own chance to escape so that we could get away.” Ever pressed her hands to the table and saw that they were shaking. “I will do everything and anything to make sure she gets out. I need to be a part of this search.”

“Calm yourself. Galen is searching for Zaabha.”

“And?” she urged.

His lips flattened. “It is proving elusive.”

She closed her eyes. “You have no idea where Zaabha is? Where Sam is?”

“Galen and I, including all our gladiators and allies, are tearing through Kor Magna. We are questioning anyone who has any knowledge, or any link to the desert arena or the Thraxians. Anyone who may have been invited before.”

“So you have leads?”

“No one has received an invite since we rescued you.”

She sucked in a breath. “No one?”

He shook his head. “Many are unhappy about it.”

Unhappy they didn’t have the chance to see people forced to fight to the death. To stain the sand with blood. “Sick bastards.”

“We will find it, and Sam.”

Nodding, Ever tried to focus back on the game, but her emotions were churning inside her.

Magnus moved once more. “I win.”

She didn’t detect any pleasure in his announcement. “Do you always win?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, the baby gave a large kick, and Ever gasped. She pressed her hand to her stomach and saw Magnus tense.

“It’s okay. The baby’s kicking.”

When his gaze dropped to her belly, she fought back a smile and without thinking, reached out. She took his hand and pulled it closer, pressing his big palm to her stomach.

His entire body went still, and as his baby kicked his hand, she saw something move through his eyes. “Incredible.”

He did feel. For a second, she saw the man who’d made love to her in the desert.

But then his gaze cooled and he abruptly stood. “I need to go. Enjoy the room, Ever.”

Ever sighed. It was one step forward, two steps back with this cyborg. She wondered if she was beating her head against a brick wall that would never break.

CHAPTER THREE

Magnus leaned back in his office chair, staring at the wide expanse of his desk in front of him. It was late and his comp screen glowed in the corner, filled with data on the work he’d been doing.

Or trying to do.

He had an arena fight with the House of Kali to plan. New gladiator recruits to assess. A possible sighting of factory workers in the industrial district with crude, illegal body enhancements that were probably forced on them to investigate. He was also coordinating with Galen on the search for Zaabha, but his mind kept wandering.

“Magnus? Magnus?”

Magnus lifted his gaze. Jaxer was staring at him from the other side of his desk.

“Are you even listening to me?”

Magnus cleared his throat. “Of course.”

Jax shook his head, his long, brown hair brushing his shoulders. He was several years younger than Magnus, with a leaner build and fewer cyborg enhancements. They’d been born and bred in the same military program. Jax was a brother and a friend.

“No, you’re not,” Jax said. “You’re distracted, and I know by who.” Jax rolled his eyes. The man might be a cyborg, but his emotional dampeners had never been as strong as Magnus’.

“I’m functioning at full efficiency,” Magnus said.

Jax snorted. “Don’t pull the ‘unfeeling cyborg’ routine on me. I know you’re more man than machine.” His friend pulled a face. “Though you sometimes prefer to forget it.”

Magnus ignored his friend. “Did you purchase the things Ever requested?”

“Yes.” Jax’s eyebrows rose. “I can’t believe you gave her your own private games room. You love that room.”

Love was a concept Magnus had no experience with. “It’s just a room. She needed a space to call her own.”

Leaning a hip against Magnus’ desk, Jax frowned. “It’s the only place I’ve ever seen you relax.”

“She wants to work. She has a specialty in armor. I told her to ask you for whatever she needed.”

“She did. Mostly lab equipment and every different type of armor we have. She’s been puttering around in there all afternoon.”

“Whatever she wants.”

Jax grinned. “Whatever she wants, huh? And what if she wants to get up close and personal with a cyborg imperator?”

Sometimes Jax was incredibly irritating. “I want to protect her. She’s been through enough and she’s pregnant.”

“I think it’s more than that.”

First Avarn, and now Jax. Magnus scowled. “She stirs…emotions in me, Jax. That could be dangerous.”

“You are not a ruthless killing machine anymore. You aren’t an assassin being pointed at a target, and you aren’t mindless or out of control. You are your own man, Magnus, you have been for years.” Jax pressed his hands to the desk. “I think she’d be good for you.”

Magnus raised an eyebrow. “You just want to see me make a fool of myself.”

“Yep.” Jax smiled.

It was a smile Jax assured Magnus drove the ladies wild. Jax was also much more interested in sex and women than Magnus had ever been.

“Like I said,” Jax continued, “she’d be good for you. It won’t hurt to have someone shake you up a bit.”

Magnus didn’t want to be out of control, and he certainly didn’t want to be drowning in chaotic emotions. For so many years he’d been an assassin for the military. He’d killed so many people without feeling a thing. He pulled in a deep breath. He had dangerous skills and abilities buried inside him, and he required full control of his systems to keep everything in check.

Wild emotion was just as dangerous as no emotion.

Suddenly, an alarm blared through the room.

Both men shot to their feet. It was the security alarm. The heads-up display in Magnus’ left eye flared to life, spewing information. The House of Rone had been breached. His gut clenched. “Ever’s room.”

Magnus charged out, throwing the door to his office open and sprinting down the hall. A lethal calm wrapped around him. If someone hurt Ever, he would annihilate them.

“Magnus!” Jax’s shout. “Wait.”

But Magnus charged ahead. He had to get to her.

He thundered down the hallway. His heads-up display filtered information to him. There was a foreign bio signature in Ever’s room.

As her door came into view, he didn’t slow down. He tilted his shoulder and hit the wood hard, exploding through the door.

Ever whipped around to face him, a lamp casting her in a soft glow of light.

She stood in the center of the room, wearing a voluminous nightgown. She was unharmed.

The intruder stood beside her.

His vision zoomed in on the woman standing across from Ever. She was tall and toned. As she saw him, she moved into a fighting stance. She was well-trained.

“Magnus.” Ever stepped in front of him, her nightgown so fine that he could see the faint shadow of her nipples against the fabric. His body responded and he increased his dampeners.

“Are you okay?”

“Of course.” She held up her hands. “It’s just Neve.”

The protective need thundering inside him ebbed a little. Neve Haynes, her sister. He looked over Ever’s shoulder, his gaze settling on the woman.

She glared at him.

It was clear that the women were related. Both were tall and athletic, but Neve was leaner, with a harder edge. Her black hair was curlier than Ever’s and pulled back ruthlessly. They both had the same pale-green eyes.

“We have a front door,” he bit out.

Neve lifted her chin. “I wasn’t sure you’d let me in. You’d denied my requests to visit.”

“Only while Ever was recovering. Now, if she wants to see you, you can visit.” If that made Ever happy, he’d grant it.

Several Rone gladiators and cyborgs burst into the room behind Jax, who was holding a large sword.

Magnus held up a palm and they stilled. There was a noise from the hall, and another man shouldered past the gladiators. He wore brown leather trousers topped with a beige, loose-fitting desert shirt. His tawny hair fell around a rugged face dominated by golden eyes.

“Neve.” His tone was angry. “What the hell were you thinking, sneaking in here?”

“I had to see her, Corsair. I had to see for myself that he—” she stabbed a finger at Magnus “—was taking care of her.”

“I’m fine,” Ever said. “Magnus is looking after me very well.”

Neve shot another hard look at Magnus. He bit back the impulse to tell her the look was wasted on him, because he didn’t care what she thought. He stared back, face impassive.

Then he felt a soft hand stroke his arm. Looking down at Ever, he relaxed a little. She moved to hug her sister.

“Thanks, big sister.” Ever pulled back. “I’m fine and feeling pretty good, all things considered.”

“Good,” Neve said.

“Do you have any news on Zaabha?” Ever asked. “Or Sam?”

“No.” Neve shook her head, frustration on her face. “We’re helping Galen’s gladiators question people across the city. Most intel has proved useless, but…” She glanced at Corsair. “We may have a possible lead.”

“What?” Magnus demanded.

Corsair moved up beside Neve. “It could be nothing. Let us check it out tomorrow and we’ll report back.”

“I’m coming back in the morning.” Neve’s chin jutted out defiantly. She looked at Ever. “We’re having breakfast.”

“I’d like that,” Ever said.

Magnus watched the sisters hug again.

“You’d better go,” Ever whispered, clearly forgetting he could hear the quietest sound. “Stop worrying.”

Neve tugged her sister’s hair. “I always worry about you, E.”

Corsair finally gripped his lover’s arm and pulled Neve out. She shot Magnus one more glare and then they were gone, escorted by one of his elite cyborgs, Acton. The man’s half metal face gave nothing away.

“Mace and Toren, I want you outside to stand guard at the window that Neve used to climb inside.”

The cyborgs nodded. Lean, blond Toren exited out the door, but big Mace moved out onto the balcony outside Ever’s room and with a leap, jumped over the edge.

Ever watched, her mouth open.

“I want this window secure,” Magnus ordered. “And the door will need to be fixed.”

Jax nodded. “I’m on it.”

After everyone left, Magnus stared at Ever. She’d dropped into a chair, her arms wrapped around her body.

“Well, nothing like your room being filled with big, silent cyborgs to liven the night up.”

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

He studied her face, noting the dark circles under her eyes were worse than before. She and the baby needed rest. “You’re not sleeping.”

A gusty sigh. “No.” Her gaze drifted down his body, then jerked away. She bit her lip, moving restlessly on her chair.

“Are you unwell?” He scanned her. “I can sense your increased heart rate, and a slight increase in your body temperature—”

“Don’t scan me!” She groaned. “Yes. I know all of that. I’m fine.”

Magnus kneeled in front of her. “I can get the healers—”

“No.”

“Whatever it is, I’ll help you.”

She huffed out a laugh. “Can you help me with pregnancy hormones?”

He frowned. “Ah…”

She reached out, rubbing the crease between his brows. “You can’t fix everything.”

Her touch sent a rush of sensation through him. “I can try.”

That got a smile out of her. Her fingers moved, something igniting in her green eyes. She stroked down his nose, across his cheekbone, and then up to touch his implant.

He didn’t see fear in her eyes. Or that edgy, hungry look he sometimes saw in a woman’s face—the one that said she wanted to know what sex with a cyborg was like. As Ever stroked his face, he only saw fascination.

“Your implant will be removed tomorrow,” he told her. “I had a message from my head healer. He informed me that they have finalized the procedure. First thing in the morning.”

“Okay. I’ll be ready.”

She kept stroking, and again, he felt that strange sense of familiarity. “You touched me like this before.”

She nodded

“I want…” Magnus didn’t know what he wanted. Something. He had this unfamiliar yearning inside him and he couldn’t seem to fight it. “Tell me what I can do to help you with your pregnancy hormones, so that you can sleep.”

“No.”

“Yes. Tell me.”

She groaned again, her cheeks turning pink. “Magnus, I’m turned on. The hormones are making me feel aroused.”

He blinked. Lots of thoughts flickered through his head, including several images from the manuals that he’d studied on sex and reproduction. “I see.”

“I doubt it.”

He pulled in a breath. “I can alleviate your desire.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “What?”

“Whatever you need. I’ll provide it.”

Her hand fell away from his face. “No. I don’t want an unfeeling machine—”

Magnus shot to his feet. “Understood.” She didn’t want someone who was only part man, who had metal and circuitry instead of flesh and blood.

She’d clearly been desperate for companionship in the desert. That had to be why she’d turned to him then.

“No, Magnus.” She stood. “That’s not what—”

“Get some rest.” He pulled what he could from his emotional dampeners. His voice cooled. “I’ll have the kitchen send you a warm drink to help you sleep.”

“Magnus!”

He strode out of her ruined door and marched down the corridor. He fought not to dwell on her words, or the painful emotions trying to break through. His cybernetic hand clenched into a hard fist.

CHAPTER FOUR

Ever sat on the balcony off her room, eating breakfast with Neve. There was a huge spread of food on the low table in front of them. Apparently, the House of Rone chefs never tired of sending Ever new foods to try. She had a sneaking suspicion that a certain cyborg was responsible for that.

She rubbed her eyes, tiredness like an ache in her bones. She’d spent the entire night thinking about Magnus. She was pretty sure she’d hurt him with her careless words. Of course, he hadn’t stuck around long enough to let her explain.

She rubbed her temple, brushing against her implant.

“Nervous?” her sister asked.

“Huh?” She looked up at Neve.

Neve gestured. “About getting the implant removed.”

“Oh. No, Magnus assures me that the healers have everything under control. And the procedure is safe for me and the baby.” She didn’t miss the way Neve’s gaze dropped down to her stomach and her jaw tightened. Her sister quickly looked away, taking a sip of her juice.

Ever sighed. Clearly, Neve needed a bit more time to adjust to the fact that Ever was having a baby. Not really a surprise, as she’d only just learned about it.

“View’s not bad,” Neve said.

Ever turned her head to take in the sweat-slicked muscles of the gladiators training in the arena below. Most wore leather harnesses and were swinging swords or axes. There were several different alien species, although most were humanoid. She’d been fascinated to learn about the Creators, an advanced species who’d seeded life throughout the galaxy millennia ago, and given rise to most humanoid lifeforms having similar anatomy.

There were also several cyborgs, all standing tall and straight, overseeing the training. When they demonstrated moves, they moved fast and hit hard.

“Where’s your desert hunk?” Ever asked.

“Talking with the cyborg.”

Ever felt a flare of frustration. “He has a name.”

Neve sipped again. “You look tired.”

“I didn’t sleep well. I have an alien baby sitting on my bladder, remember.”

Neve slammed her glass down with a rattle. “Did he force you? Did that bastard—?”

Ever reached out and grabbed her sister’s hand. Neve had always been overprotective. “Neve.”

Her soft tone made Neve release a long breath. “I’m calm.”

“He didn’t force me. It was…a flash of light in the dark. I was so cold and alone—”

“Vulnerable!”

“I was there, not you,” Ever snapped. “I’m not a little girl needing her sister to beat up the bullies for her. It was the best sex I’ve ever had.”

Neve winced.

“And he doesn’t remember any of it.” Pain slashed Ever’s heart. It had meant something to her, that stolen night. She’d thought she’d finally found a man who’d been meant for her. For him, it wasn’t even a memory. “He’s—”

“So cold,” Neve finished.

Ever wasn’t so sure about that. She saw tiny glimpses in him that proved he felt things. She prayed it wasn’t just her imagination. She hugged her belly. For both her and her child.

“I…I connected with him, Neve. I know it’s sudden, and in the middle of a hellish experience, but I know what I feel.”

Neve sighed. “You’ve always been a romantic.”

“And you’ve always tried to protect me from everything.” Ever grabbed Neve’s hand. “You’re the best big sister in the world…ah, galaxy. But I’m all grown up.”

Another sigh. “Did you have to pick an emotionless alien cyborg?”

Ever snorted. “Says the woman shacked up with the alien desert caravan master.”

They smiled at each other.

“Happy you’re in love and he loves you back, big sister.”

“Me too.” Neve’s fingers squeezed Ever’s. “I want the same for you, baby sister. So Magnus Rone is it?”

“He’s keeping his distance, but at the same time, he’s taking care of me.”

Neve’s lips quirked. “You were always stubborn when you wanted something. My suggestion, you bash some sense into that cyborg and have him worshipping you.”

Laughter bubbled out of Ever.

A knock at the door had them both sitting up. Ever glanced inside her room and watched as Jax entered.

Magnus’ right-hand man sauntered out, a smile on his handsome face. He showed his emotions far more readily than Magnus even though she could see the cyborg enhancements on him. A dash of silver skin along his cheekbone and metal peeking out of the back of the neckline of his tight-fitting, black shirt. Today his long, brown hair was pulled back in a stubby ponytail.

“Good morning, ladies,” he drawled.

Neve sniffed and sipped her drink. Ever heard her mutter something about cyborgs.

“Hi, Jax,” Ever said.

“How’s your lab?”

“Awesome.” She grinned at Neve. “Wait until you see the work I’ve started. I’ve begun replicating my camouflage project.”

Neve’s eyebrows rose. “The cyborg gave you a lab?”

She straightened. “Yes.”

“He’s authorized anything you want,” Jax added.

“I have a few other things I’ll need. And I was hoping I could talk with some of your weapons makers. See if they have suggestions for projects I could help with.”

Jax winced. “Our head weapons maker is…”

“A grumpy, ill-tempered asshole,” Neve said.

Ever gasped. “How do you know?”

“Everyone in Kor Magna’s heard of Maxon. Genius with weapons, not so great with social skills.”

Jax looked like he was fighting a smile. “Sounds about right.”

“I’d still like to meet him,” Ever said.

“I’ll see what I can arrange. And ensure Magnus doesn’t rip the man’s head off for being rude to you.”

There was another knock on the door. This time, it was one of the healers from the medical team—the lead healer, Avarn—who stepped inside. He wore a fitted outfit in House of Rone blue.

The man inclined his head. “Mistress Ever. It’s time.”

Nerves fluttered in her belly. Ever nodded and set the rest of her meal down. What she’d eaten curdled in her stomach.

Jax gave a small bow. “Good luck. I’ll have the additional things you requested in your lab by this afternoon.”

When she stood, her sister stepped closer and grabbed her hand. No matter what they’d been through, Neve had always been there for her. When their parents had died, Neve had been her sole lifeline. Ever squeezed her sister’s fingers. The Haynes sisters against the world. Or, actually, the galaxy—which was probably more appropriate now.

“I’ll be right outside Medical waiting for you, E.”

“Thanks.” Cupping one hand over her belly, Ever moved to follow Avarn. They made their way through the corridors of the House of Rone, nodding at a few gladiators that they passed.

When they reached Medical, Corsair and Magnus were waiting for them. Ever let herself drink in his cool face.

Magnus moved to her side, trading a glare with Neve. “Are you ready?”

“No.” Ever took a deep breath. “But let’s get this done.”

Neve hugged her hard, and then Ever let Magnus lead her through the doors.

Following directions from the healers, she pulled herself onto a bunk and lay back. Now, panic swelled inside her. The bright lights speared into her eyes. For a second, she felt like she was back on the Thraxian slave ship. They’d loved to poke and prod their new abductees.

A hard hand gripped hers. She didn’t dare look at him, or she might throw herself into his arms and cling. Instead, she absorbed Magnus’ quiet strength and support, squeezing his fingers tightly.

“We just need a few minutes to prepare,” Avarn said. “Please relax.”

She nodded abruptly. Relax. Sure thing. “You didn’t let me finish last night.” She turned her head to look at Magnus, keeping her voice low.

Magnus was staring at the wall. “You didn’t have to.”

“Yes, I did. I do. You misunderstood me.” She cleared her throat. “I didn’t want someone touching me who doesn’t feel the same way as me. I didn’t want you to…treat it like a chore to get out of the way. A problem to solve.”

Magnus’ head whipped around to face her. “Ever—”

Avarn reappeared and patted her shoulder. “We’re almost ready.”

Magnus stayed silent as the healers continued their preparations. Ever sighed.

“I felt…the same.” His voice was low, deep and raspy.

Her mouth dropped open. “What?”

The sting of a pressure injector on her neck startled her. She tried to stay focused on Magnus, but her eyelids suddenly felt heavy.

“Magnus.” The panic returned in a bright flare. The Thraxians had drugged her plenty of times, and she hated the loss of control, the helplessness.

“I’m here, me-calla.” A warm hand stroked her arm. “Stay calm.”

Me-calla. It sounded familiar. She wondered what it meant. “Don’t leave me!”

“I won’t leave you.”

But he’d said those same words to her in the desert. He’d promised that once his people came, he’d take her with him.

The next day, she’d woken alone in her cell.

Unconsciousness engulfed her.

“IMPERATOR, YOU’RE IN OUR WAY,” one of the healers said.

Magnus looked up at his head healer. “I’m not leaving.”

Avarn let out a long-suffering sigh. “Work around our esteemed imperator.”

The healers got to work, circling Magnus when needed. He kept his gaze on Ever’s peaceful face. Drak, she was lovely. Her skin was a shade darker than his own bronze tint, and her eyelashes were thick and dark. He let his systems monitor her vitals. He knew his medical team was monitoring her, and they were among the best on the planet, but a part of him still needed the reassurance. He needed proof that her heart was beating, her chest was still filling with air, and that his child was safe and blissfully unaware of what was happening.

He watched as Avarn delicately lifted the implant from Ever’s temple. The healers removed several more deeply embedded components, and then they set to work healing her damaged skin.

“The child?” he asked.

“Resting peacefully,” Avarn said. “It’s going to be a healthy-sized baby.”

Magnus frowned. Ever was tall for an Earth woman, but small by Carthagoan standards. His frown deepened. And he was a big man. Perhaps she was too delicate to birth an alien baby.

A hand touched his shoulder. “She’ll be fine.”

He nodded at Avarn. Soon, the procedure was finished and the skin around Ever’s eye was fresh, smooth, and pink.

“The scar will fade with regular use of med gel,” Avarn said. “She’ll wake up shortly. I can call you when she stirs—”

“I’m not leaving.”

“Of course you’re not.”

Magnus stayed where he was, watching as Ever rested. He counted each rise and fall of her chest.

Finally, she started to stir. Her eyelids fluttered and opened. Her unfocused eyes found him, and she blinked. It was followed by a sleepy smile. “You’re here.”

“Yes. How do you feel?”

“God, I feel great.” She sat up, touching her eye. “How do I look?”

“Satisfactory.”

She grinned at him. “Ooh, don’t gush with the compliments, it might go to my head.”

“Your health is the most important thing.”

Her face turned serious. “How’s the baby?”

“You’re both fine.”

She smiled at him and their gazes locked. He felt the air change around them, like it was charged. He knew that couldn’t be possible, as his sensors didn’t detect anything.

Ever licked her lips and he followed the move, staring at her full mouth.

“You stared at me like this in the desert.” Her voice was husky. “You were hurt when they brought you in, and I checked your injuries.” She reached out, shifting closer on the bunk, her hands running along his shoulders.

Her fingers brushed his neck and a brilliant memory hit him. Of her touching him in that desert cell.

“You were cursing someone called Kuto, and the Thraxians.”

“Because Kuto double-crossed me and sold me out to the Thraxian scum.”

“You told me that your systems were malfunctioning, including your emotional dampeners.”

His breathing increased. “My dampeners help me suppress my emotions. They appear to…malfunction around you.”

“You were so strong.” Her voice lowered. “Even hurt, I sensed your strength and the heat that was radiating off you. You could see I was exhausted and you ordered me to sleep.”

Another hint of memory. “You said it was hard to sleep when you didn’t feel safe.”

“You remember?”

“Just those whispered words.”

“I slept deeply that night, for the first time in months.” Her voice was quiet.

“What happened next?” He cursed his faulty memory. He wanted to remember.

She leaned closer and he moved his hands to grip her hips.

“I kissed you.” Heedless of the healers still in the room, she leaned forward and stopped, her mouth hovering near his. “Can I kiss you, Magnus?”

She had some sort of magnetic control over him. “Ever.”

“You have to say yes.” Her warm breath mingled with his.

“Yes.”

She brushed his mouth with hers.

Sensation stormed through Magnus. There was no thinking, only feeling. He made a strangled sound and opened his mouth, deepening the kiss. She kissed him back, her hands slipping into his hair, making a hungry noise in her throat.

Closer. He needed her closer. In one smooth, strong move, he pulled her off the bunk and into his lap. She straddled his hips, moaning as she kissed him hard.

Her lips left his, moving to his neck. Teeth nipped at his skin. “We went wild like this then, too.”

Magnus’ cock was throbbing. He’d had sex in the past, but it had always been a pleasant pastime when he had the time for it. A nice activity he could easily turn on and off. This felt like a torrent he had no chance of controlling.

Suddenly, the sound of a throat clearing broke through the haze of desire.

“Sir?” A healer’s hesitant voice. “Mistress Ever’s sister is demanding to see her.”

Magnus pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. He let out a growl, and Ever responded with a small laugh.

“Later.” She nipped his bottom lip and stood.

Magnus rose, watching as she smoothed her mussed hair. He followed her out of Medical.

Corsair was leaning against the wall, like he didn’t have a care in the world. Neve was pacing in front of the doorway. Jax stood guard at a polite distance. Magnus’ second would never let guests wander the House of Rone unattended.

When Neve saw her sister, relief flashed on her face. “You’re okay?”

“Perfect.” Ever hugged her.

“Good.”

Magnus pressed a palm to Ever’s lower back. “She needs to rest.”

“I’m fine,” Ever insisted.

Neve’s suspicious gaze fell on his hand, but she nodded. “Corsair and I have work to do.”

Ever stilled, her gaze narrowing on her sister. “You know something? You have a lead?”

Neve smiled. “I was a perfect corporate spy, but I could never keep a secret from you.”

“I know you too well.”

“What is it?” Magnus demanded.

“One lead panned out,” Corsair said. “I’ve heard whispers that someone at the Kor Magna Weapons Market has intel on Zaabha.”

Magnus’ focus sharpened.

“Let’s go.” Ever spun to face Magnus. “This could be our way to Sam.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You stay here.” He looked at Corsair and Neve. “It’s best if you stay here, too. The House of Rone is well known at the Weapons Market. Strangers make people nervous.”

Neve set her hands on her hips. “You’re trying to steal our lead.”

“Magnus, I’m coming.” Ever also propped her hands on her hips, in an exact copy of her sister.

Corsair cleared his throat. “Actually, I was hoping you’d go and talk to this weapons dealer, Magnus.”

Neve spun. “What?”

“If the informant was in the desert, of course, we’d go. But the Weapons Market isn’t my place, Neve.”

The woman’s nose wrinkled. “I hate when you make sense.”

One sister convinced, one to go. Magnus zeroed in on Ever. “You’ve just had a medical procedure—”

“And I feel fine! Whatever they did, I feel amazing. I’m coming.”

He was conscious of Corsair and Neve watching their interaction. He tried to find the right words to tell her no. He wouldn’t risk her and he wanted her protected. “No.”

“Yes,” she countered. “I need to be a part of this. I can’t…” Her voice cracked. “I can’t sit here safe and sound, when I know Sam isn’t.”

Drak. As she stared up at him, determination and a quiet plea on her face, Magnus couldn’t find the words to order her to stay.

Double drak. He turned to Jax. “Double the size of the team we’ll take to the market.”

Jax looked like he was fighting a smile, but he nodded. Ever beamed, and Neve looked at him with an unreadable look on her face.

Suddenly, he was getting an idea of how Galen felt with a house full of human females.

Magnus straightened. “Let’s get to the market.”

CHAPTER FIVE

This was her kind of place. Ever looked around the Kor Magna Weapons Market with keen interest.

It packed a punch, that was for sure. It was a huge, cavernous building, with scarred stone floors and walls, and a sweeping roof made of opaque glass.

Noise echoed through the space. Conversations, laughter, and the din of weapons being tested. She studied the space, her gaze landing on several testing areas, where people were firing weapons and swinging swords at battered dummies.

Her group moved forward, and most of her view was blocked by muscled backs and broad shoulders. Ever rolled her eyes. She was surrounded by muscle-bound gladiators and cyborgs. The imperator himself was walking one step ahead of her, on full alert, his gaze scanning ahead. Jax caught her gaze and shot her a smile.

Smiling back, she craned her neck to peer past two of her guards and look at the nearby stalls. Vendors had dozens of swords, staffs, axes, and lots of projectile weapons, as well. There were plenty of other things she couldn’t identify, and a part of her itched to know what they did, and how they functioned. It was fascinating. Her military research had been in biological cloaking. While she specialized in armor, she’d often assisted with weapons projects. A pang hit her. Damn, she missed her work. She’d been so close to some major breakthroughs before the Thraxian attack, and she hoped she could get back to where she’d been with it.

“So, who are we meeting?” she asked.

“A woman called Halla,” Magnus answered over his shoulder. “A mid-level weapons merchant. Corsair’s intel suggested she has knowledge of Zaabha.”

“How come the House of Rone doesn’t have a stall here in the market?”

He glanced back at her. “Because we don’t need to hawk our wares. Our customers come to us.”

Her lips twitched. Of course. She spotted several projectile weapons lined up on the next stall. Some were palm-sized, and others were so huge she doubted she’d be able to lift them. “There are no projectile weapons in the arena, right?”

“Correct. The fights in the arena are about skill and athleticism. It is about battling your opponent face-to-face with no tech involved. But the weapons market doesn’t just supply weapons for the arena. They are for protecting convoys and camps in the desert, and for work in the city.”

Ever spied another table of interesting-looking armor. She was definitely coming back here one day to take a long look around.

The baby chose that moment to kick, and suddenly a wave of nausea washed over her. No, not now. Ever breathed slowly through her nose. She tried to stay calm. If Magnus detected a whiff of her not feeling well, she’d be whisked back to the House of Rone faster than she could blink. The most important thing right now was finding whatever information they could in order to find Zaabha and Sam. Slowly, the nausea passed, and Ever sent up a quick thanks to the universe. She was going to be okay.

Finally, Magnus stopped the group in front of a long stall filled with quality-looking laser pistols and swords.

A gorgeous woman wearing a bright-red shirt and slick, leather trousers stepped forward. She had a tall, willowy body, and short, blonde hair streaked with red. Twin pistols were holstered at her slim hips.

“Well, Imperator Rone, it is an honor.” The woman’s dark eyes moved up and down Magnus’ form. “And a pleasure.”

A sharp, visceral sensation snapped through Ever’s belly. She did not like this woman eyeing Magnus like he was some icy, delicious treat she’d like to lick.

Magnus was as cool as always. “Merchant Halla.”

“I am eager to show you my wares.” The woman swept a hand over her table. “Perhaps not Rone quality, but I have some pieces that might interest you.” Her dark eyes flashed.

“No, we’re here about Zaabha.”

Ever watched the woman freeze. Not so happy and flirty now, are you? Halla took a step back, just as Jax and some of the Rone gladiators stepped around the table and blocked the woman in.

The merchant stiffened and moved her hand toward her hip.

Magnus struck. With a swift move, he snatched the laser weapons out of Halla’s holsters before the woman could even touch them. Damn, he was fast.

“Talk,” he demanded.

She released a shaky breath. “I’ve been to Zaabha. Once.” Her eyes lit up. “Magnificent fights. Raw, primal. I’ve never felt so alive.”

Ever took a step forward, feeling sick. How could this woman find pleasure in what was done to the prisoners at Zaabha?

Fingers brushed hers, and she glanced down to see Magnus had reached for her with his cybernetic hand. She gripped the cool metal and the touch steadied her.

“No invites have been going out recently,” Halla added. “The regulars are hungry for a fix.”

Ever lunged forward. “You’re talking about people’s lives, bitch.”

A hard arm banded around her waist, holding her back. Magnus’ strong body pressed against her back.

Halla looked at Ever, and the woman’s inky eyes widened. “You’re one of them. One of the humans.” A smug look crossed the woman’s face. “From what I hear, they were sorry to lose you. They want you back.”

Magnus stiffened, his body like steel. “You don’t look at her.” The chill in his voice made Halla’s smile dissolve. “You don’t talk to her.” Magnus shoved Ever toward Jax, and loomed over the merchant. “You certainly don’t threaten her.”

The threat of violence loomed heavily in the air. Magnus’ gladiators were tense, waiting. Several bystanders nearby who were witnessing the confrontation had begun to slowly back away.

Halla swallowed. “I…please don’t kill me.”

“I won’t today, but if you threaten her again, or even look at her, I will crush you with one flex of my hand.” He lifted his cybernetic hand and curled his fingers into a fist.

Okay, Ever knew it was so wrong, but her heart did a little happy dance in her chest. And she had to admit she was the teeniest bit scared and turned on all at the same time.

“Do you have information on Zaabha’s current location?” Magnus asked.

Halla shook her head.

“People are whispering that you do,” he said, voice icy cold.

Halla swallowed. “I was showing off to some customers, and mentioned I knew all about Zaabha.” An unsteady smile. “A girl’s got to do what she can to sell some weapons.” Her smile withered under Magnus’ look. “None of us know where it will be until we get an invite.”

“If you discover anything, you will contact the House of Rone.”

The woman gave a sullen nod.

“If I hear you didn’t…”

That cold, lethal tone made Halla’s head jerk up. This time she gave a vigorous nod. “Yes, Imperator Rone.”

Magnus spun around, nodding at his men. He gripped Ever’s arm and urged her forward.

“Wow, you can do scary badass amazingly well,” she said.

“Because I am, as you say, a scary badass.”

She peered at his face. Was he trying to be funny? She couldn’t tell, but the warmth in her belly said that he was starting to open up to her. She was cracking that icy exterior. At that moment, she vowed that she would learn everything she could about this fascinating man. There was more to him, and she wanted to know it. One day, she’d be able to tell exactly what he was thinking…and feeling.

Bang.

Bright, searing light flared in front of them, flying into the air above. Screams echoed through the market.

As the sear burned her eyes, tears rushed down Ever’s face, and she wobbled, struggling to keep her balance. What the hell? She turned to Magnus. He had his hands clamped to his head. The neon glow in his left eye flared, then flickered out.

“Magnus?” She could barely hear herself over the shoppers’ screams.

Then he pitched forward, toppling like a felled tree.

No. She moved to grab him, but before she could reach him, hard arms grabbed her from behind, and jerked her off her feet.

MAGNUS BLINKED. He quickly assessed his body. He was lying on the floor, his systems were offline, and his ears were ringing.

“Magnus?”

The deep rumble of one of his gladiator’s voices roused him. “Xias.”

The big, dark-skinned man knelt beside him. “We got hit with a luma.”

Drak. He started a reboot, feeling naked without his scanners. He pushed to his knees, getting one foot beneath him. Luma stun grenades were painful to all victims, but were specially designed to disrupt cyborg systems.

He looked around. His cyborgs were littered on the ground around him, groaning, while the few unenhanced gladiators were standing guard. Jax was still flat on the floor.

“Jaxer?” Magnus gripped his friend’s shoulder.

The man moved. “I’m okay.” He sat up, cradling his head.

Magnus shook his head, trying to clear some of the fog. He growled in frustration.

That’s when he remembered. They were in the weapons market. Ever.

Ever. He looked around frantically. There was no sign of her.

He shot to his feet. “Ever!”

Jax cursed, shouting orders at their men. Halla’s words echoed in Magnus’ head. The Thraxians wanted Ever back.

“Xias?”

“I didn’t see her in the confusion.” The gladiator pulled his sword from the sheath on his back.

“Spread out,” Jax ordered.

All around, people were running, screaming, and stumbling.

Where was she? With his systems offline, Magnus couldn’t scan or track her. He closed his eyes, listening. His enhanced hearing was still working. With panic closing his throat, he forced himself to concentrate. He couldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t let her be hurt again.

Noise crashed over him. He sifted through the chaos of sound, and that’s when he heard a whisper of something. A woman’s sharp voice. An angry cry.

It was coming from above.

He looked up.

Shadows moved across the opaque roof of the weapons market. Several were large, but one was more slender, and struggling against the larger form holding her.

“Roof. Go!”

As his men thundered toward the stairs at the back of the market, Magnus crouched, pressing his hands to the scarred floor. His systems came back online, text scrolling across his vision. He summoned his strength.

He jumped, flying upward, and seconds later, he smashed through the glass roof.

Shards of glass fell around him in a deadly rain. He pushed forward to land on a pane of unbroken glass. He heard a gasp and several shocked cries. He stood, his gaze zeroing in on Ever, and the Thraxian holding her arm. Several Srinar guards—with their tumor-ridden bodies—surrounded them.

He strode across the glass toward them.

The Srinar guards stepped in front of Ever, lining up and holding up laser rifles.

Magnus raised his cybernetic arm and activated his shield. The blue energy field extended in front of him.

“Stop him,” the Thraxian with Ever shouted.

The Srinar fired, but Magnus’ shield absorbed the laser fire.

As the fighters moved toward him, the Thraxian started dragging Ever away. He was headed toward the edge of the building.

Magnus gritted his teeth. She’s mine, crudspawn.

Just then, a Vortex copter rose up from below, hovering at the edge of the building. It had twin spinning rotors and moved nimbly, like an insect.

No. They were going to take her. Everything inside Magnus went cold. Ever was his.

Magnus reached for his belt and grabbed several baari throwing stars. He also charged up the electric energy field he could produce with his cybernetic arm.

Blue lightning crackled over his skin. He gritted his teeth. It hurt him to use it, but it was an effective weapon.

The throwing stars lit up and he tossed the lethally sharp weapons. One. Two. Three.

Three Srinar fell, the baari lodged fatally between their eyes. Two fighters to go.

Behind them, he watched Ever kick the Thraxian. The big alien swung a clawed fist at her. She ducked, ramming her own fist into the man’s gut.

Magnus felt a sting on his shoulder. He raised his shield and glanced at the laser hit that had burned through his skin. Focus, Rone.

He marched forward, satisfied with the way the Srinar guard’s single eye widened. Magnus lowered his shoulder and slammed his cybernetic arm into the closest guard.

The force of the blow sent the man flying. He flew off the edge of the building with a sharp scream. Magnus grabbed the other guard, spinning the female around, and tossing her behind him. She hit the glass roof with a cry. The panel splintered beneath her and she fell.

He looked up. The Thraxian was alone now, holding Ever by the hair. They were almost at the building’s edge. Magnus saw the alien’s body tense as he readied himself to leap into the copter.

Magnus broke into a sprint, pumping his arms.

Ever kicked the Thraxian, breaking free of his hold. The Thraxian spat out a vile curse and glanced up, his eyes widening at the sight of Magnus barreling toward him.

With another curse, the Thraxian reached for Ever. She jerked away from him and fell, sprawling, on the glass.

With a final glare, the Thraxian spun and leaped onto the copter alone. Magnus reached the edge of the roof a second later, staring as the copter whizzed away.

“Magnus!”

He detected fear in Ever’s voice. He spun, and his blood went cold.

She was crouched, frozen, on the glass, a spiderweb of cracks on the pane beneath her.

“Don’t move,” he said.

“I’m not.” Her gaze met his.

There was a loud crack. The glass splintered beneath Ever and she fell.

No!

CHAPTER SIX

Ever tried to scream as she fell, but the sound was locked in her tight chest. Oh, God. She closed her eyes, wrapping her arms protectively around her belly.

Suddenly, strong arms clamped around her from behind. Magnus’ big body shifted to close around her like a protective shield.

Bam.

They hit the floor, but held tight to his chest, Ever didn’t feel a thing.

She opened her eyes. There was no pain, nothing. Magnus had absorbed all the impact from the fall.

He stood, holding her in his arms. She looked into the fierce lines of his face. “Oh my God. Are you okay?”

He nodded, silent intensity radiating off him.

She saw that they were standing in a small crater in the floor of the market. She reached out, running a hand over his face. She didn’t see any damage on him. “You saved me.”

“I’ll always save you.”

The words made her quiver. “I saw them shoot you.” Her gaze dropped to his shoulder.

“A graze. It’s already healed.”

“Magnus.” Jaxer appeared.

House of Rone gladiators converged on them, and surrounded them, weapons up.

“Back to the House of Rone,” Magnus ordered.

Ever found herself carried out of the market by Magnus, surrounded by the wall of gladiators. With adrenaline surging and nausea threatening, she curled her arm around his shoulders, and decided to enjoy the ride. The set, deadly look on his face didn’t welcome any talking.

They were almost back to the House of Rone when she started shaking. God, it was stupid. She was safe and unhurt. But in her head, she remembered the feel of the glass giving way beneath her. She shuddered. She knew it was a normal reaction, but she hated the show of weakness. Her aunt had berated her for crying when she’d been a little girl. Magnus’ arms tightened around her.

Finally, they approached the double doors of the House of Rone. In the center, a beaten metal circle graced the doors and etched into it was the logo of the House of Rone—a gladiator helmet resting on crossed swords.

When they stepped inside, Ever couldn’t say that Magnus relaxed, but she sensed the tension in him lessening slightly.

“Tell Avarn to come to my room,” Magnus barked. “I want him to give Ever a thorough check.” One of the gladiators nodded and strode off.

Magnus stalked through the corridors, and then entered a large doorway not far from her room.

Ever swallowed. His bedroom. As he set her on the bed the size of a small lake, she looked around. The room wasn’t cluttered and had simple, masculine lines. Everything was decorated in shades of gray and blue. It suited him.

He loomed above her, his hands in tight fists by his side.

“Magnus,” she murmured.

“I need to make sure you’re okay.” His voice was gruff as he knelt beside the bed.

“I’m okay. Because of you.”

He reached for her, and before she could say anything, he yanked her shirt over her head. She gasped. “Hey!” She hadn’t bothered with a bra and quickly covered herself.

He gripped her wrist. “I need to see for myself.”

Ever shivered. His face didn’t give much away, but she felt the protective need pumping off him. He pushed her back to lie on the bed and pulled her sandals off. Then his hands ran down her arms and along her sides. One warm and one cool. Seconds later, he snagged the waistband of her trousers and skimmed them off, leaving her in her panties.

He smoothed his palms over her shoulders, kneading her flesh. The metallic skin of his cybernetic hand was cool, but not hard. It was strangely soft.

He stared at her, his gaze intense. His hands slid down, cupping her breasts. She swallowed a moan, arching into his touch. She studied the contrast of the silver-gray metal against her skin.

“Are these larger now?” he asked, his voice husky.

“What?” She was too lost in the pleasure of him stroking her to fully comprehend what he was saying.

“I’ve read several articles about pregnancy. It says it is common for a woman’s breasts to enlarge when she’s with child.”

Her belly clenched. “Yes, they’re larger.”

“More sensitive?” He flicked gently at her nipple and she moaned.

“Yes.”

He kept shaping them, tugging at her nipples until they were hard nubs. “Our child will suckle here.”

Oh God, she was on fire.

“I also know that men kiss their lovers here.”

She raised up on her elbows, her gaze on his face. Had he never kissed a woman’s breasts before? She had to admit she liked the thought. His eyes were glittering as he stared at her.

“Kiss me, Magnus.”

His neon eye glowed, and then he lowered his dark head.

He pulled one of her nipples into his mouth and sucked. He rolled his tongue around it, and she cried out, her hands gripping the covers. He made a growling sound, sucking harder.

Moaning and writhing, Ever kept her gaze locked on his handsome face. It still had a cool expression on it, but ruddy color filled his cheeks.

He lapped at her for a few more moments, and then moved to her other breast. The sensations were so incredible. She’d never had anyone show her breasts this much attention. Desire wound through her, and with every suck on her nipple, she felt a tug in her womb. Her panties were beyond damp.

“Magnus. I’m going to—”

Her orgasm hit her fast, and she cried out, arching up into his mouth. Shattered, she collapsed back on the bed, her chest heaving.

After a moment, she opened her eyes. A very satisfied-looking cyborg was watching her. It was only the faint curve to his lips that gave him away, but he looked pleased with himself.

His hands slid down, over her belly. He spent time there, stroking where their growing child rested. As his hands continued downward, caressing her legs, Ever was shocked to feel desire growing again. Damn hormones.

He stroked her feet, then circled her ankles. The look on his face made her breath catch. Like he was mesmerized. His hands slid upward, caressing her legs. Then his hands went back to her belly and his eyes closed.

“I’m okay,” she murmured. “We’re okay.”

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her belly. Ever’s insides turned to mush.

“I should stay away from you.”

Her pulse jumped. “What? Why?”

Neon blue eyes looked at her. “You deserve a man who knows how to care for you. Who is good with women and relationships.” He lifted his palms. “Who wasn’t created to be a killer.”

“I only want you,” she murmured. “You just have to let me in.”

Needing more contact, she sat up, wrapping her arms around him. She pressed her mouth to his. They’d barely deepened the kiss, Ever tracing her tongue over the seam of his lips, when there was a knock at the door.

Magnus groaned. “Avarn.”

With a squeak, Ever realized she was naked. She tore at the covers, yanking a sheet around her body.

Magnus stood, and she watched as he adjusted the large bulge in his pants. She stared. Oh, God. She knew exactly how that long, thick cock felt inside her. Her belly burned. She wanted to feel it again.

“Ever. Stop looking at me like that.”

She dragged her gaze off his crotch. “Sorry.”

That faint smile was back. “No, I don’t think you are.” He strode to the door to let the healer in.

“I hear you’ve had an eventful morning, Ever?” Avarn called out.

“Something like that.” Ever tried not to feel embarrassed about the fact she was naked, and that the healer probably had a good idea what she and Magnus had been up to.

The healer pulled out a small scanner and checked her over. He studied the screen. “You’re perfectly fine. Although I suggest you avoid falling through any more glass ceilings for a while.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Avarn winked. “I suggest you avoid it at any other time, as well.”

Magnus made a strangled sound. He didn’t look happy that they were joking about her fall.

As the healer packed up his gear, Ever tried to control the faint trembling in her body. She was so turned on. She desperately wanted to get her hands on a certain cyborg imperator.

She pressed her thighs together and shifted restlessly on the bed.

Magnus saw the healer out. He closed the door and turned. The hot look in his eyes made her gasp.

He took one step toward her…and there was another knock on the door.

Magnus’ head bowed. “What?” His voice was a dark growl.

“Imperator Galen is here to see you.” A worker’s muffled voice. “And there are several women from the House of Galen demanding to see Mistress Ever.”

Ever cursed under her breath and dropped her head into her hands. When she looked up at Magnus, she clearly saw disgruntlement on his face.

She grinned. Oh, yes. He might fight them tooth and nail, but this cyborg definitely had emotions.

MAGNUS STOOD at the side of his bedroom, watching the Earth women fuss over Ever.

They were all here, including Harper, the human gladiator now bonded to the champion of the Kor Magna Arena. Curvy, blonde Regan stood with redheaded Rory, who had a tiny baby strapped to her chest. Just behind them, dark-haired Madeline and Winter sat with tiny, fair Mia.

Magnus stole a glance at Rory’s baby. It didn’t seem possible that soon there would be another child among the Houses—his and Ever’s. He glanced back at Ever.

She was now wrapped in a silky, green robe. He’d selected it for her only days before. He’d liked the color because it matched the green of her eyes. She was smiling at the women, clearly happy to see them.

“Did you settle on a name?” Ever asked Rory.

“We did.” Rory tilted the little guy. “Meet Finley. It’s a good Scottish name, meaning ‘fair-haired hero.’”

Ever smiled. “It suits him.”

“So this merchant Halla has been to Zaabha,” Galen said with a scowl, interrupting Magnus’ musing.

“Apparently.” Magnus forced his gaze away from Ever. “She also warned us that the Thraxians wanted Ever back.”

“Hmm.” Galen’s scowl pulled at the scar on his cheek. “She might know something they don’t want us discovering.” The imperator’s gaze went to Ever. “So there are no invites going out to Zaabha at this time.”

“Correct,” Magnus said.

Galen shook his head. “The Thraxians wouldn’t have closed it down.”

“Agreed. It’s too valuable to them.”

“But they must have a plan.” Galen let out a harsh expulsion of breath. “We just don’t know what it is yet.”

“Do you believe that Sam Santos is still alive?” The woman had helped them escape from the Zaabha arena. Her captors wouldn’t have been happy with her.

A muscle ticked in Galen’s jaw. “Yes. She’s tough.”

Magnus looked again at the women in the room. Ever was laughing. Not for the first time, he wondered if perhaps she would be more comfortable with the women, back at the House of Galen. The reason she’d come to his house in the first place was to have the implant removed, and that had been done.

Then she looked up, her gaze connecting with his. She smiled at him. The sight struck Magnus deep inside, and a feeling of protectiveness crashed over him.

No. Ever was his, and she wasn’t leaving him.

“I’ve offered many incentives for any information on Zaabha.” Galen’s face hardened. “Nothing yet, but I hope an informant comes through, sooner rather than later.”

“Someone out there knows something.”

Galen nodded. “Yes.”

Whatever it took to protect Ever, he would do it. For Magnus, this wasn’t just about rescuing Sam, it was about ensuring no one came after Ever again. That meant dismantling Zaabha once and for all.

His gaze was drawn back to her. Like she was a magnet and he was helpless against her pull.

Galen made a sound. “Not you, too, Magnus.”

He met Galen’s single, ice-blue eye.

The imperator shook his head. “You’re falling for her.”

“She’s carrying my child. I’d give my life to protect her.”

Galen shook his head, a slightly bewildered look on his normally stern face. “These women of Earth wield some sort of dark magic.” The man crossed his arms over his chest. “The strongest men I know are falling for them every time I turn around.”

For the first time in a long time, Magnus felt the need to smile. He couldn’t quite get his lips to fully form the movement, but they quirked. “One day, you’ll understand.”

Galen held up a hand. “I have a house to run, gladiators to train, and unlawfully kept slaves to save. I do not need a woman.” Then his gaze narrowed. “Are you smiling?”

“No.”

Galen made another rude sound.

But Magnus’ humor faded. “I will not stop until we find Zaabha. We have to end this.”

Galen nodded. “Agreed. If I hear anything, you’ll be the first to know.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Ever moved between her new lab benches, scribbling down notes. She was going to need another book soon.

As the House of Galen women had prepared to leave, Magnus had disappeared to work, and Ever knew she’d go crazy thinking about Sam and imagining all of the horrible things that could be happening to her.

Work had always been her sanctuary. Just as her studies had been when her parents had died in a car accident when she’d been eight. Her aunt had taken her and Neve in. Ever squeezed her eyes closed. The bitter old lady should never have been given two grieving kids to raise. She’d been more interested in drinking the money their parents had left.

Pushing old memories aside, Ever stared at her notebook. She realized that beside her work notes, she’d been doodling a sketch of Magnus.

Shaking her head, she scanned her lab. Pride filled her. Her very own space. Jax had gotten everything on her list, plus a few extras. Several alien animals sat in glass tanks that Ever had set up as habitats for them. Regan had stayed and helped Ever put it all together. The woman had been only too happy to help. Jax had been at their beck and call, shifting heavy things around.

He’d apparently sourced lots of things that Ever needed from Kor Magna’s underground goods market and the weapons market. Thinking of the weapons market again made her shiver. She cradled her baby belly and moved to the nearest workbench.

She lifted some high-tech fabric. It was amazing stuff. Shaped like a jumpsuit, it stretched to fit any size. She’d already started modifying the surface so she could start adding some of her own tech to it.

Ever was hoping that, in time, she could replicate the work she’d been doing on Fortuna Station. She arched her aching back, abruptly realizing how long she’d been hunched over her benches. One of the alien animals chirped at her, and she smiled at the lizard-like creature. It was very similar to the chameleons she’d had back on Fortuna. She’d had a collection of animals for her research—chameleons, an octopus, some cuttlefish, and lots of frogs. All animals that could change the color of their skin rapidly. Ever had been determined to adapt that ability into a stealth suit.

“You’re working too hard.”

The deep voice from right behind her made her jump. Ever pressed a hand to her chest and spun. She scowled up at Magnus. “Make some noise next time.” How could such a big man move so silently?

“I wasn’t designed to make noise.” He sat on a stool.

Magnus’ rainstorm scent tickled her nostrils and instantly heat arrowed through her. God, these pregnancy hormones would be the death of her. It seemed she spent her time either worried about Sam and Zaabha, or feeling turned on by the lightest brush of air on her skin. Or the tiniest glimpse of this man.

And she still wasn’t sure how he felt about her. If he felt that much at all.

“Where are you from, exactly?” She realized she really knew very little about the man, and Ever was suddenly insanely curious to know more about him.

“I was designed and bred in a lab on Oronix II. A military installation in the Zion sector. I was part of an elite military unit.”

How could anyone breed children purely as soldiers? She stroked her belly. You’ll be loved, peanut, I promise. “How did you end up here on Carthago?”

He was quiet for a moment, and she wasn’t sure he was going to answer. “My emotional dampeners became less effective. It gave me enough autonomy to no longer blindly follow orders. I didn’t like what I was being used for.”

She swallowed. “And what was that?”

The neon in his eye glowed. “I was an assassin, Ever. A very cold and efficient one.”

And yet she heard something buried in his voice. “You didn’t like it.”

“I didn’t feel. I went in, did my job, and left. Until I was tasked with killing an entire military base belonging to one of our rivals.”

He was silent.

“Did you do it?” she whispered.

“Yes. But my dampeners started to malfunction.” He pulled in a breath. “I started to have nightmares. A cyborg doesn’t have nightmares.”

“Magnus—”

“They betrayed me.” His voice vibrated with something. “They used me and they betrayed me.”

Her chest constricted. “So you left?”

“Not at first. I was struggling. I…did a few more missions, but I questioned everything. The men in charge were using me for private jobs, against people they had personal grudges with, and they had no regard for the rules of combat, or minimizing loss of life.”

She reached out and gripped his shoulder.

He lifted his head. “I stopped being so efficient and effective. They stepped up their efforts to rehabilitate me.”

They hurt him. He didn’t need to tell her, she heard it in his voice.

Then his voice turned Arctic cold. “Then they decided to decommission Jaxer. So I took him and left.”

Another betrayal. Jaxer meant something to him. She touched her belly again. Whatever happened, she’d ensure this baby meant something to him as well.

“And you decided to come to Carthago?” Skepticism coated her voice and her lips twitched.

The faint quirk of his lips made her feel like she’d won the lottery. “It’s a good place to lose yourself.”

“And reinvent yourself.” She looked around her lab, and felt the baby move inside her. That was what she was doing. What all the human survivors were doing. Making new lives, new homes.

“I was too enhanced to fight in the arena, but there were other fights.”

His flat tone made her realize that these “other” fights had been dark and dangerous. Her heart ached for that younger Magnus. After the strict regime of military life, making a new life on Carthago must have been hard for him.

“Over time, I saved my money, and eventually had the resources to create the House of Rone and hire my own gladiators.”

“Why start a house?”

“Money. Power. Security. I wanted to ensure Jax was safe, and any other cyborgs that left the program knew they were welcome to join us.”

She leaned her hip against the bench. “Your elite cyborgs…they were from Oronix.”

He nodded.

So he’d saved them too. “I’ve talked to the people in your house, Magnus. You take in injured and damaged fighters. You give them new limbs and implants.”

“They become House of Rone,” he said simply.

He saved the people that no one else could. The people no one wanted to help. The broken and helpless. He helped them help themselves.

She stared into that impassive, handsome face. There was heat in him, and it was more than just a programmed response. He was man first, and machine second.

“Tell me about your work,” he asked.

Ever lit up. “You’ll regret asking me that.”

His gaze skated over her face. “I doubt it.”

She launched into her spiel on biological camouflage. “Chameleons were the main species I focused on. They’re able to change the color and pattern of their skin.”

Magnus grunted. “Advantageous.”

“It was speculated to be more than just camouflage, that they changed colors to communicate as well. But I focused on adapting that ability into a stealth suit. The chameleon has two layers built into its skin, one containing pigments, and another layer containing special crystals. They could change the space between the crystals, which in turn, changes the wavelength of light reflected off the crystals.”

“Which changes the color of their skin,” he finished.

“Right. I was on the verge of mimicking chameleon camouflage in a suit right before—” She broke off.

“Before the Thraxians attacked,” he finished.

She nodded, and once again, she thought of Sam. Out there, trapped at Zaabha, and already been through too much. The Thraxians would have punished her for letting them escape.

“This camouflage stealth suit is an ingenious invention, Ever. It is something my people could use.”

She smiled. “You’ll have to pay me for it.”

He cocked his head, studying her. “Oh?”

She laughed. “Absolutely.” Then she sobered. “I can never repay you for everything you’ve done for me, Magnus.”

“There is no need.”

When he leaned his cybernetic arm against the bench, she looked at it with hungry fascination. “May I?”

He went still and nodded. She lightly stroked her fingers up the limb, marveling at the silver skin. She touched the joints in his hand, then his elbow. It was a thing of beauty, and far more advanced than the prosthetic limbs she’d seen on Earth.

He shifted in his chair. Magnus never shifted restlessly.

“Does it bother you? Me touching you?” she asked.

A shake of his head. “I had another memory from the desert. Of you stroking my arm.”

She felt heat in her cheeks. She was just as fascinated by the cyborg parts of him as she was by the organic ones. “Can you feel sensation on this arm?”

He nodded. “There are receptors in the synthetic skin. They’re very sensitive.”

She ran her fingers over the joint between metal and flesh at his shoulder, then she stroked across his chest. “Do you feel that?”

He gave her a tight nod. When she flicked her finger over his hard nipple, she watched it pebble.

His breathing was faster now, and gathering more courage, she let her hand drift lower. He had such a magnificent body. Hard and strong, yet with a lean power. He could move at lightning speed or absorb the full impact of a fall.

“Are there enhancements I can’t see?” she asked.

A nod. “I have tanium metal fused to most of my bones. I can take a lot of damage and it increases my strength.”

She went lower still, fingering the hard belly just above the waistband of his trousers. Her gaze dropped and when she saw the hard bulge straining the front of his trousers, her breath hitched.

“Ever.” He stared at her.

She cupped him, stroking his cock through the fabric.

He made a pained sound and jerked to his feet. “I will protect you at all costs. I will keep you safe and provide everything you need. You don’t owe me anything for that.”

“Owe you?” Confused, she stared at him, and then her eyes widened. “You mean pay you with sex?”

He looked almost flustered. “You don’t need—”

She jerked back, bumping into the bench. “I wouldn’t devalue myself like that. I have sex with people I like and respect.” She shook her head. “I think it’s time you go.” She turned back to her bench, tears stinging her eyes. Damn hormones. “I have work to do.”

There was silence behind her, and she waited for him to say something. To explain himself. The silence stretched on, and finally, she turned.

The room was empty. He’d gone. Leaving as quietly as he’d arrived.

Dammit. She sagged against the bench and dragged in a deep breath. She smelled him. That stormy male scent that drove her crazy. She closed her eyes, remembering dragging her hands across his body, of taking him inside her.

She shifted, her thighs rubbing together. She was so turned on. It was all the time, every hour of the day. She thrust her hands into her hair. It was driving her crazy.

He was driving her crazy. She wanted Magnus inside her, filling the emptiness.

But he was a cyborg, and clearly emotion wasn’t easy for him. A part of her knew he’d only taken her in because it was the right thing to do. If nothing else, she knew Magnus was a protector, with a strong need to save others.

Ever stared at the shiny bench. She wanted the man to feel something for her. She wanted to know that her hands on him drove him crazy with need. Not that it was something he could easily ignore or lock away.

But none of that stopped the desire thrumming through her. Her skin felt so sensitive, her clothes heavy and irritating. And need was a throb she couldn’t ignore.

She hurried over to the lab door and flipped the lock closed. Then she blew out a breath. There was no way she could concentrate on her work like this. She couldn’t think straight.

A comfy couch sat against the far wall. On Magnus’ orders, Jax had had several gladiators manhandle it into place. A place for her to rest when she got tired.

Damn the man. She dropped onto the couch, then let her hand slide up under her dress. She pulled in a shuddering breath, the dress bunching at her waist. She slid a hand inside her panties and found where she was so wet and needy. She stroked herself. Oh, yes.

She leaned back, touching herself, imagining Magnus’ big hands were on her. Damn hormones.

MAGNUS STOPPED IN THE CORRIDOR, leaning against the stone wall.

When Ever had touched him, emotions had flooded him. Stronger than ever before. He hadn’t known what to do. Drak. He, who had spent his life weighing life and death situations, facing danger and fighting when needed, hadn’t been able to cope with the way one small woman made him feel.

He was an imperator. He held the lives of so many in his hands. He prided himself on keeping a cool head and making the decisions he had to make to keep everyone safe.

But anytime he was too close to Ever, anytime he was touching her, or she was touching him, he couldn’t think.

He could only feel.

He’d made her unhappy. He blew out a breath. That was unacceptable.

He had to apologize.

Pushing off from the wall, Magnus strode back down the corridor. He passed a pair of new gladiator recruits who nodded at him, eyeing him strangely. He was well aware that it wasn’t often that he could be found staring off into space while standing idly in a corridor. Actually, it had never happened before.

He reached Ever’s lab door, and realized it was locked. He frowned. Why would she lock it? His muscles tensed. Something must be wrong. Had someone snuck through his defenses without him realizing?

Heart pounding, he quickly pressed his palm to the door lock, letting his systems integrate with the electronic lock. He made short work of hacking it.

He pushed back his fear enough to enter the room quietly. No intruders showed up on his bio scans. Only Ever. He relaxed the tiniest bit. She wasn’t standing at the benches. Soft, husky sounds reached his ears and he frowned.

He skirted the benches, intent on finding her.

His gaze fell on the couch and he froze.

She was lying back on the couch, her legs spread, and the skirt of her simple dress pushed up, baring toned thighs. She was touching herself.

Her face flushed and her lips were parted. His gaze dropped to the juncture of her thighs, where she was pink and plump. His fingers curled into his palm.

She spotted him and let out a startled squeak. Her eyes went wide, and her hand slipped from between her legs.

He took a step closer. “Don’t stop.” His voice was thick, choked.

She watched him, frozen, but then, hesitantly, she touched herself again. As she stroked those appealing folds, Magnus knelt down beside the couch, his gaze glued to her. She was so soft, so pretty.

Her breathing quickened and he felt his own chest constrict.

“Magnus.” There was a husky plea buried in her voice and something snapped inside of him. His emotional dampeners were completely useless. Gone, like he’d never had them.

He moved close to her, sliding one hand up her thigh.

“Please,” she murmured. “Touch me.”

He moved his hand between her legs and stroked.

“Yes.” Her hips moved up to meet his touch. “I need you so much it hurts.”

“I’ll make it stop hurting, me-calla. I’ll give you everything you need.”

Then he lowered his head, desperate to taste her. He’d never put his mouth between a woman’s legs before.

“Yes.” Her hand slid into his hair.

She tasted so good, and he took his time lapping at her.

“A little harder,” she urged. “Yes, that’s so good.” Her fingers directed his touch until he hit the right spot. “Yes!”

Ever rocked beneath him, her taste filling his mouth. His cock was hard and throbbing. He looked up. She was flushed, tousled, her body writhing. He’d never seen anything so gorgeous. His.

“My clit,” she said in a breathy voice.

“Here?” He stroked the small, swollen nub.

She arched up off the couch. “Yes. Suck it into your mouth.”

When Magnus had left the military, he’d vowed to never follow anyone else’s orders again. But this one, he’d gladly obey.

As he sucked harder, she made hungry noises. Magnus slipped a finger inside her. She was so tight and so warm. He’d had sex before, but it had always been perfunctory and to the point. Scratching an itch. He’d never taken time for exploration and foreplay.

He fiercely wished he could remember touching her that first time in the desert, and remember being inside her.

He kept sucking and lapping at her, sliding a second finger inside her warmth. A second later, her body locked, and she came, screaming out his name.

Magnus didn’t want to give up the tastes and sensations of her. He kept lapping at her, ignoring when she half-heartedly tried to push him away. When her second orgasm hit, she let out a wild, keening cry.

He gently pushed her boneless body back on the couch, sliding her dress down.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

He reached up, rubbing his thumb over her lips. “You never have to thank me for anything. And I know you would never let me touch you, or you touch me, as payment.”

Her gaze stayed on his as she sucked his thumb inside her mouth. Magnus felt that small touch all the way to his aching cock.

There was a hard knock at the door, and it suddenly opened. They sprang apart.

“This is getting ridiculous,” Ever said.

“Agreed. I’m going to whisk you away where we’ll have no interruptions.” He turned his head. “Enter.”

Jaxer walked in, not bothering to hide his amusement when he spotted them. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Magnus straightened. “What is it?”

“Galen has news.”

Ever gasped, moving up beside Magnus. She slipped her hand into his. No one had ever given him such easy trust. He was well aware he made people nervous…but not this small woman from Earth who’d turned his world upside down.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Magnus’s office was sparse. That was the best word to describe the almost sterile space. Everything was so neat and tidy it made Ever’s teeth ache.

She shook her head, and decided she was getting him a plant to brighten the place up. Or a pet.

He sat in his huge desk chair behind his very clean desk, looking every inch the imperator. He touched something on the smooth surface, and a thin, clear screen rose up from the desk. She circled around to stand behind him.

A second later, Galen’s scarred face appeared on the screen.

“Galen,” Magnus said. “What have you found?”

“A possible lead. I had a call from Rillian.”

Rillian owned the Dark Nebula Casino, and he and his human lover, Dayna, had been instrumental in Ever’s rescue from Zaabha. She curled her hands around the back of Magnus’ chair. Rillian was some sort of billionaire, and he owned the casino and a bunch of other businesses in Kor Magna. Dayna was a former New York City police detective who had been on her way to Fortuna Station to join the security team when she’d been nabbed by the Thraxians.

“Some of the cleaners at the Dark Nebula found a partially destroyed invitation in an empty hotel room. It’s an invite to Zaabha. For a fight in a day’s time.”

“Coordinates?” Magnus demanded.

Galen shook his head. “The invite had been melted. The coordinates must have been in the damaged part of the invitation.”

Magnus muttered under his breath, and Ever felt a stab of disappointment.

“Who rented the room?” Magnus asked.

“Off-worlders. Some high roller.”

Magnus sat back in his chair, considering.

“There have been whispers that only off-worlders are receiving invites,” Galen added. “None of the local regulars.”

Ever clutched Magnus’ chair harder. The thought of anyone being a regular to the vicious fights made her stomach turn. “What are the Thraxians up to now?”

“I’d like to see the room and the invite,” Magnus said.

Galen nodded. “Rillian said we’re welcome at any time. He’s cordoned off the room. And I’ll let you know if I find out any more.” The screen blinked out.

Magnus sat still and straight. Ever stepped in front of his chair. “Let me get changed and we’ll go.”

He stood, towering over her. “You’re not coming.”

She stiffened. “What?”

“After the weapons market, you are not to leave the House of Rone.”

“No.” Panic spiked through her veins. This wasn’t Zaabha, but the thought of being confined, of being locked up, instilled sharp terror.

“I need you safe.” Magnus’ tone was unyielding.

Ever shook her head, trying to control the emotions churning inside her. “I need to help find Sam.”

“Ever—”

“No!” She stumbled back, bumping into his desk. “Magnus, you can’t keep me locked up. The Thraxians already did that.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw.

“Please. If I’m locked away, that isn’t living. That isn’t freedom.” She swallowed. “I may as well still be in a cell.”

Something flickered in his eyes.

She took a step forward. “Bring your gladiators with us. Besides, we’ll be in the Dark Nebula Casino, and you can’t tell me that it isn’t riddled with security. Rillian doesn’t strike me as the type to settle for the second-best of anything.”

Magnus didn’t say anything, just watched her, his eye glowing the faintest blue. She leaned forward, pressing her hands to his chest. “And you’ll be with me.”

He let out a sigh, his hand cupping her cheek. “Drak.” His voice was resigned.

Ever smiled. He was going to take her.

It was then that she realized that her cyborg couldn’t say no to her. A heady rush of emotion filled her. This powerful man who professed to feel very little couldn’t say no to her.

ON ENTERING the Dark Nebula Casino, Magnus was assaulted by noise and light.

Always vigilant, he had his scanners up and running, and his heads-up display was continuously spewing information at him. He kept Ever by his side, watching as his gladiators fanned out around them. He had two of his elite cyborgs with him—the ever-silent Acton and mountainous Mace. Magnus would do whatever he had to do to keep her safe.

There were so many people packed into the main level of the casino that sorting through the data was hard, even for his advanced systems. There was a mixture of alien species, all of them playing various games at the numerous tables.

“Wow. Just wow.” Ever stood, wide-eyed, taking in the glossy, elegant entertainment space.

Magnus stared at the wonder and interest on her face. He turned, trying to see the place through her eyes. Black walls, gaming tables covered in red, huge vases of alien flowers in various hues of purples and reds.

He saw her tip her head back, her lips parting. Even he had to admit that the ceiling of the casino was impressive. Expensive, advanced technology simulated a dark, galactic sky, glittering with stars and a multicolored nebula.

“It’s so beautiful,” Ever murmured.

His gaze stayed on her face. He wasn’t sure the ceiling could compare to her.

Suddenly, the crowd parted, and a couple approached them.

Magnus watched Rillian walk with a smooth, fluid gait, his silver eyes on them. The man was suave and polished, his suit tailored, and his dark hair brushing his shoulders. Magnus didn’t need his advanced scanners to know that Rillian was dangerous, but his heads-up display detailed the alien symbiont lying along Rillian’s spine, and the enhanced abilities it gave the man. Rillian used his charm and polish to hide just how dangerous he was.

Next, Magnus’ gaze moved to the woman at Rillian’s side. Dayna Caplan suited the casino owner. She walked confidently at her man’s side. Tall for a human woman, she had a lithe body, and glossy, brown hair pulled back from a tough face. Assessing, gold-brown eyes were locked on Magnus.

He was also aware that the human woman was the host of a symbiont, as well.

“Magnus.” Rillian’s voice was a smooth drawl and his smile was easy.

“Ever.” Dayna came forward. “I’m Dayna. It’s so good to see you.” The woman pulled Ever in for a quick hug. “How’s the baby?”

“Growing.” Ever patted her belly. “Fast.”

Dayna nodded, smiling, before her gaze shifted to Magnus. He watched as some of the pleasure drained from her eyes. The woman was no longer in law enforcement, but she still looked like she was measuring everything and everyone around her.

“And I’m Rillian.” The casino owner took Ever’s hand with a charming smile.

Magnus battled a frown. Did the man have to hold her hand so long?

“Thank you so much for what you did to free me from Zaabha,” Ever said. “I don’t have the words to tell you how much it meant to me.”

“No thanks are necessary,” Rillian said. “Come. Let’s go up and show you the room.”

The couple led them to a bank of glass-fronted elevators. Magnus noted Rillian’s security team members blending with the crowd. His scanners also pulled up all of the hidden cameras discreetly located on the walls and ceiling.

“It appears you’ve added more cameras recently.” Magnus followed Ever into the elevator.

Rillian smiled. “Dayna’s been making some additions to my security. And generally driving my head of security crazy.”

Dayna crossed her arms, a smile flirting on her lips. “Tannon loves me.”

Rillian leaned closer. “No, I love you.”

Magnus watched the pair with interest. He knew nothing of love, but although his scanners couldn’t detect anything different about the couple, even he could see the looks on their faces. Total devotion.

The elevator shot upward, and Magnus pulled up the building schematics. When the elevator slowed, he saw they were on one of the premium hotel levels.

Rillian led them down the corridor. “The room was rented by an off-worlder by the name of D’Heli. He’s been here for a week, mostly gambling in the casino, but he also took in some matches at the Kor Magna Arena. He left for the desert today.”

“Is he the type to watch a fight at Zaabha?” Ever asked.

“Yes.” Dayna’s face hardened.

Rillian pressed his palm to a lock and the large door swung open. They entered the suite, and even Magnus had to admit that it was big and luxurious. He scanned the room, ignoring the plush furnishings and the striking view of Kor Magna through the glass windows. Instantly, he spotted the sunken fire pit resting across from the sleek couches. Inside, a partially melted piece of metal. The invitation.

Magnus strode closer. The text was clear on the invite, with Zaabha etched at the top, and the date for the fight tomorrow.

But the bottom of the invitation was melted. No coordinates. No other information.

“So this bastard has already left for Zaabha.” Ever released a breath. “Where does that leave us?”

Magnus turned. “Are there any other off-worlders who fit the profile? Anyone else who might have received an invite?”

“My security team is looking into it,” Rillian said.

Magnus watched Ever circle the room.

“We have one possibility,” Dayna said. “But he isn’t staying here in the casino. He rented one of Rillian’s larger villas at the city’s edge.”

“He came with an entourage and demanded a larger residence.” Rillian’s tone was dry.

Dayna straightened. “The man was also bragging about going on a desert trophy hunt. He wants to hunt a desert beast and take its head home.” She grimaced. “He fits the profile of an asshole who’d watch a fight at Zaabha.”

“Have you questioned him yet?” Magnus demanded.

Dayna shook her head. “He doesn’t return from the desert hunt until late tonight.”

Magnus’ neon eye flashed. “I’d like to be there when you question him.”

Rillian smiled. “Funny, Galen said the same thing. We’re going to the villa first thing in the morning.”

“Perfect,” Magnus said. “I’ll meet you there.”

Magnus moved over to Ever. She was standing near the window, staring sightlessly at the view of the city. She had her arms wrapped around her middle, and he knew, instinctively, something was wrong.

“Ever?”

She turned her head, her gaze scanning the luxurious room again. “Sam is out there, being forced to fight to survive. And so many others are languishing in cells and fighting to the death for other people’s entertainment. Meanwhile, this bastard is wallowing around in luxury.”

Magnus wanted to take away her pain. He rested his hands on her shoulders. “We are going to free Sam.”

“If she’s alive. She saved my life. She sacrificed herself so we could get out of Zaabha.” Ever’s green eyes met his. “She’s unstoppable and ruthless in the arena, but she’s only one woman.”

“One woman who is the Champion of Zaabha. Because she’s unstoppable, ruthless, and the best, they won’t have killed her. She’s too valuable to the Thraxians.”

Ever slid her hand down to her stomach. “Sam gave up her chance at freedom to save me and the baby.”

“For that, she’s earned my loyalty, and the loyalty of the House of Rone. I will rescue her.”

“Thank you.” Ever leaned against him, pressing her face to his chest. “I was living in a nightmare before, but since you came into my life, everything feels like a dream.”

He tightened his arms on her and vowed he would do everything to keep his promise.

Suddenly, her face turned white.

“Ever?”

She slapped a hand over her mouth, and her cheeks took on a green tinge.

Magnus swept her into his arms. “Don’t worry, me-calla. I have you.”

CHAPTER NINE

Ever blinked her eyes, waking from a deep sleep.

Morning sunlight struggled to peek through the closed curtains. She turned her head on the pillow…and stared into the neon glow of Magnus’ blue eyes. He sat in a chair beside the bed, watching her.

The last thing she remembered was puking her guts up at the Dark Nebula Casino, followed by Magnus carrying her back to the House of Rone. She’d puked some more while Magnus had held her hair and stroked her back. Then she’d clearly passed out and he’d tucked her into bed to sleep. His bed.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Pretty good, actually.” She sat up, trying to tame her curls. “Did you get any sleep?”

“No. I didn’t need any.”

“So you watched me sleep?”

“I wanted to make sure you got a good rest.”

Damn, the man knew how to melt her heart. “I would have slept better if you were in the bed with me.”

He cocked his head. “Really?”

“I like having you close,” she whispered.

He moved, pressing a knee to the side of the bed. “You do things to me, Ever. Make me feel things…I’m still not sure if that is a good thing. I know it isn’t safe.”

Her throat tightened. “You make me feel safe.”

He stroked his fingers down her cheekbone. “I have to go. I’m meeting Rillian and Galen.”

To question the rich off-worlder. She shoved the sheets back. “I want to come.”

Magnus gripped her arm. “No.” She watched his face turn fully cyborg, all emotion gone.

“Magnus—”

“For me. Please. You were very sick yesterday. Avarn assures me it is normal, but you need to take it easy.”

“I’m feeling fine.”

“We are going into an unknown and possibly dangerous situation.” His fingers tightened. “I need to know you and the baby are safe.”

She blew out a breath. Maybe he could say no to her sometimes, after all. She rubbed her belly and felt a wave of nausea wash over her.

She tried to hide it, but his gaze narrowed on her.

“Oh, okay,” she conceded.

He touched her hair, seemingly fascinated with a curl. “Thank you.” He touched his lips to hers and then strode out of the room.

Ever lay back on the pillows and willed the ugly taste in her mouth to pass. If she lay here wondering what was going on, she’d go crazy.

Lab. She pushed out of the bed. She needed her work to keep her busy.

Her experiments absorbed her attention for a while, but every few minutes her gaze kept going to the windows of her lab. Were they there yet? Had the off-worlder told them anything?

She flopped down on a stool. She did not like waiting. Worry crawled up her spine. She had no idea why she felt so edgy. She jumped up again and started pacing.

The soft beep of a comp made her look over. Jax was sitting in the corner of the lab, reading something on a portable comp screen. She wrinkled her nose. Her bodyguard.

“Relax, Ever. They’ll be back soon, and hopefully, we’ll have the location of Zaabha.”

“I know. I just feel…” She turned to one of her benches, fiddling with some of her new gear.

Shaking off the bad feeling, she got back to work. The tech that she’d picked up here on Carthago was amazing, and was really speeding up her research. She lifted a prototype of the stealth suit she’d put together. With a few more tests, she might actually have a working suit.

“How do you like your lab?” Jax asked.

“I love it. It’s so great to have a place of my own.”

“He gave you his own personal games room, you know.”

She turned to face the cyborg. “What?”

Jax lifted a shoulder, his blue gaze on her. “This was Magnus’ private room, where he came to escape sometimes. He’d never show it, but sometimes even an imperator feels the strain of taking care of so many people.”

Her gaze fell on the darnalli table in the corner. He’d given her his own special space. “I’ll make sure he relaxes.”

A wide, glamorous smile lit up Jax’s face. “I bet you will.”

“Others here look at me with suspicion or confusion,” she said, “but you just smile.”

“I like you, Ever, and I think you’re good for our imperator.”

“You’ve known him a long time.”

Jax’s face turned serious. “I have.”

“He told me he got you out of the program.”

Jax’s blue eyes boiled with emotion before he hid it. “He saved me. In more ways than one. I’ve never met a man I admire more than him.”

Boom.

The explosion outside rattled the windows and the glass vials on her bench. Gasping, she gripped the edge of the long table.

Jax leaped to his feet.

Her heart thundering, Ever rushed to the window. Across the city, right at the edge of the desert, a cloud of thick, black smoke was rising into the clear sky.

Jax brushed against her as he joined her at the window. He let out a string of curses.

Her heart clenched. “This is where you tell me that this kind of thing is common here. And it’s nothing to worry about.”

The man’s handsome face twisted. “I would if that were true. But it isn’t.” He frowned. “The smoke is coming from right at the location of the villa.”

“No.” Fear exploded inside her and, without thinking, she spun, heading for the door.

Strong arms wrapped around her. “You aren’t going anywhere. He gave me orders.”

“He could be hurt—”

“He’ll be fine.”

“Fine?” She struggled against Jax’s hold. “Did you miss that massive explosion?”

“Calm down.”

“Let me go.”

“Calm down, first.”

She forced herself to be still, looking up at him. “There. Calm.”

His arms loosened.

Suddenly, dizziness washed over Ever and her head spun. Her legs went out from under her.

With a curse, Jax caught her, carrying her toward the couch. He gently helped her down onto the cushions.

“I’m okay.” She dragged in some deep breaths.

Jax was eyeing her like he was considering calling the healers. “Magnus is good at these situations. The best. He would have detected the explosives long before the explosion. You need to stay calm.”

To distract herself, she took this moment to study Jax up close. Eyes a similar shade to Magnus’ stared back at her. “How long have you known him?”

“All my life. You know we were in the same military program.”

She tilted her head. “Are you related?”

“We probably have some shared genetic material. I’m younger than he is. He was already a legend by the time I entered active service.”

“Then what happened?”

“I was injured. They decided it was too costly to fix me, so I was going to be discontinued.”

“Discontinued?” That was a strange term. “Discharged from service?”

“Yes.” He smiled, but it was far from a happy expression. “Deactivated. You can’t have a trained killer running around the galaxy.”

She hissed out a sharp breath. “You mean killed. Murdered! That’s horrible.”

Jax smiled. “I can see why Magnus is obsessed with you.”

A flush filled her cheeks. Damn, she wanted that to be true.

“Magnus was already feeling disillusioned by the program,” Jax said, continuing his story. “Dangerous thoughts for a cyborg soldier. He wasn’t supposed to think, feel, or judge. He was supposed to follow orders without question. We were friends, and when he found out what was planned for me, he grabbed me one night and we escaped. We came here to Carthago, and he paid for me to get most of my military implants and programming removed.” Jax tapped one of his legs. “And to get a new cybernetic leg, because my injuries from my final mission were too severe. He saved me.”

Regardless of what genetic material they did or didn’t share, these men were brothers. “He seems to like saving people.”

“He’s the best man I know.”

He was the best man she knew, too. Her hands clenched on her thighs. And right now, she had no idea if he was okay, hurt, or dead.

There was a loud, sudden noise outside in the corridor—shouts and the sound of running feet.

Both of them raced for the door. Ever was quicker and rushed out into the corridor. She rounded a corner and saw the front doors of the House of Rone slam open. A big group of Magnus’ gladiators were carrying something heavy through the door. Each of the men and women were all covered in blood and soot.

Her chest contracted and she moved forward.

“Ever.” Jax tried to grab her arm, but she dodged him.

She saw the face of the man the gladiators were carrying. The air whooshed out of her. Not Magnus. The injured gladiator was unconscious and covered in burns. Two more big cyborgs came through the door, Magnus between them. He had his arms slung over their shoulders and looked like he could barely stay upright. His neon eye was flickering. His cybernetic arm was torn open, and his other arm was covered in burns and blood.

Air lodged in her chest. “Magnus.” She hurried forward.

His gaze locked on hers and didn’t shift. He looked at her with a hard intensity that did nothing to hide the pain he was feeling.

“Quick, get him to Medical,” she said brusquely.

With a nod, the cyborgs turned, carrying the semi-conscious Magnus down the hallway. She followed, her pulse hammering in her ears. He’d be fine. He had to be.

They entered Medical, and the room was a frenzy of activity. Several healers were already working on the other injured gladiator. But another group, headed by Avarn, rushed to help their imperator. Soon, Magnus was lying on a bunk, lights focused on him, and the healers moving around him. She was pushed to the edge of the room, her belly churning.

“His vitals are fluctuating,” someone said.

“Ever.” The word was low and gritty, but she heard it.

She pushed forward, ducking under someone’s arm. “I’m here.” She grabbed his hand. His skin felt so hot.

He turned his head, and again, his gaze locked on her face, like he couldn’t look away.

She saw the lines of strain around his mouth and eyes. “You’re in pain.”

“Pain…dampeners inoperable.”

She leaned in closer, pressing her mouth to his ear. “The healers will get you fixed up.”

“Been in pain before. In military…they never used painkillers.”

Bastards. She squeezed his fingers and, trying to keep her tone light, started to murmur to him. She paid no attention to the healers working around her, she just focused on Magnus. She told him anything and everything. She told him about her work, how worried she’d been when she saw the explosion, about how their baby had been kicking extra hard today.

“His vitals are more stable.” Avarn’s voice.

Ever looked up. The healer was studying her curiously.

“Keep talking to him, Ever.”

She did. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the healers running some high-tech tool across the metal skin of Magnus’ cybernetic arm. She glanced over and watched the skin close up before her eyes.

Another healer leaned in close, starting to put med gel on the burns and scrapes on the side of Magnus’ face. He lifted his arm and tried to push the healer away.

Ever huffed. “Let them work.”

“It’s minor,” he grumbled.

“Let them put the med gel on.” Ever used her sternest voice.

He glared at her. “I don’t need it.”

Heaving a sigh, she grabbed the gel from the healer. “Yes, you do.” She squeezed out the blue gel and started applying it, herself.

He glared at her a bit longer before he dropped his arm back on the bed. “Fine.”

Ever smiled. Suddenly, she became aware of the silence in the room. She kept stroking the med gel on his skin and looked up. All the healers were staring at her.

“He won’t lie still forever, so I suggest you get back to work,” she said.

Avarn cleared his throat. “You heard Mistress Ever.”

The healers moved back into action, and Magnus gripped Ever’s free hand.

MAGNUS MOVED CAREFULLY DOWN the hall with Ever. She had her slim arm wrapped around his waist.

She had attempted to get a stretcher for him, but he’d immediately dismissed the idea. He didn’t tell her that he was barely putting any weight on her. He could walk just fine, but she appeared to need to feel that she was helping him.

“What happened at the villa?” she asked.

He took a deep breath and his senses filled with her fresh scent. She smelled so good.

“The off-worlder wasn’t pleased to have visitors. He had several bodyguards with him.” Magnus made a small sound. “They had more weaponry than skills.”

She led him into his bedroom. They crossed the space, and she nudged him down onto the bed. Then she leaned down, cupping his cheek and checking his face.

“Did he confess to receiving an invite to Zaabha?”

“Yes. But he turned it down. He’s leaving the planet today.”

Ever’s face fell. “Did he still have the invite? Did you get the coordinates?”

“No. As soon as he declined, he destroyed the invite. He did a better job of it than the first off-worlder.”

“Dammit.” She dropped to the edge of the bed beside him. “We just can’t catch a break.”

“Ever.” He cupped her cheek, mimicking how she’d touched him. “Don’t worry. He told us of yet another off-worlder with an invite. An acquaintance of his.”

She straightened. “That’s great.” Her eyes narrowed. “He told you? Just like that?”

“Perhaps after some…persuasion.” It had been no hardship for Magnus to help neutralize the man’s security team and then hold him, dangling off his balcony, until he’d told them everything they needed to know.

She shot him a look that said she wasn’t fooled. “Right. So what’s the plan now?”

“I talked with Galen. We’re planning to follow the off-worlder into the desert. We aren’t going to alert them. We’ll follow him and avoid detection until he leads us to Zaabha.”

She frowned. “Won’t it be hard to stay hidden in the desert? If you get too close, they’ll see you, and if you stay too far back, you could lose them.”

“It will be difficult, but we’ll do it.”

“Do your scanners work in the desert?”

“Not particularly well. You know the minerals in the sand disrupt most tech.”

She bit her lip. “So the odds of your plan succeeding aren’t very high?”

“It’s the only plan we have.”

“And Sam is probably running out of time.”

“We’ll make it work,” he vowed.

Her eyes narrowed and she tapped a finger against her chin.

“What?” he demanded.

She shook her head. “Nothing. So you have a day to prepare?”

“Yes. And then we will find Zaabha and free Samantha Santos.”

“Finally.” Hope flickered like a flame in Ever’s eyes. Magnus refused to disappoint her. He wouldn’t let this mission fail.

“How’s the baby?” His gaze dropped to her belly.

“Our baby is doing very nicely.” She grabbed his hands and pressed them against her. He shaped them over the mound.

It was a miracle. Ever was a miracle.

Suddenly, her breath hitched, and he detected the change in her breathing. He also sensed something else he recognized now…her arousal.

“Hormones, again?” he murmured.

Her cheeks pinkened. “Not just hormones. It’s anytime you have your hands on me. Or are close.” Her flush deepened. “Or are breathing.”

Magnus felt a spurt of something he was pretty sure was amusement. He pulled her closer for a kiss, letting his tongue sweep inside her mouth. He kissed her, long and deep.

“You could have died out there today,” she whispered.

“Ever. I need…” He couldn’t find the words to describe what he wanted.

“Tell me, Magnus.”

“You.” He wanted her spread out before him, wanted to see the pleasure on her face. More than anything, he wanted to make her happy. “Everything.”

She licked her lips and he followed the movement with his gaze.

“So, take me,” she said.

“You’re sure, me-calla?”

She pressed against him. “What does me-calla mean?”

“It’s the name of a flower I saw once at the market. The most beautiful flower I’d ever seen.”

Her mouth found his. “I’m sure.”

He pulled her down on the bed, kissing her again and tugging her close. He lay back, moving them to the center of the bed. He took a second to yank a pillow over and place it beneath his head.

Ever knelt beside him.

“Take your clothes off,” he commanded.

Her breath hitched. She took her time, slipping the fabric off slowly. Each expanse of skin she uncovered made him ache. His cock throbbed against his trousers.

Then, she was naked, her long legs tucked beneath her, and dark curls falling over her shoulders. Her pink nipples peeked through the locks. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

He needed to taste her. He needed to feel her body shaking and hear her husky cries.

He yanked her up until she straddled his chest.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said.

Magnus froze. No one had ever said those words to him. “You can’t. Now, let me pleasure you.”

“Well, I was…oh!”

He pulled her up farther until the warm core of her was right over his face, her thighs straddling his face. She looked shocked for a second, her hand shooting out to grasp the headboard.

Then he licked her.

She jerked, a moan tearing from her throat. Magnus loved that sound. He wanted her moans echoing off the walls. He slid his tongue inside her, stroking her wetness.

“God, Magnus.” Her hips shimmied against him.

She tasted so good. A taste that he wanted to keep to himself forever. He sucked on her clit, and soon she was riding his face, her hips moving jerkily, rubbing herself against him.

“You’re getting good at this,” she panted.

“I’m a fast learner.”

The volume of her cries increased with every passing second.

Magnus’ cock was so hard now it was painful, but looking up at her gorgeous body and seeing the pleasure on her face was everything he needed.

Her back arched. “Oh, I’m so close.”

He sucked harder and her legs tensed around his head. A second later, she threw her head back and screamed his name.

It was the most beautiful sound he’d heard.

CHAPTER TEN

Lying on Magnus’ big bed, Ever tried to even out her breathing. Her brain had given up thinking for the moment.

Wow. She stretched, enjoying the lazy feeling flowing through her body. Tendrils of pleasure still licked in her belly.

Magnus lay beside her, stroking her bare skin.

“So, clearly, you’re an expert at making me come.” She pushed up on her elbow. “But what do you want?”

“Your pleasure.”

She paused. No man had ever been solely focused on pleasing her so much. It was…amazing.

She leaned over him and opened his shirt. He didn’t move, and she brushed her fingertips over his skin, moving up to where his cybernetic arm met his flesh. Metal and skin. Man and machine. She loved the contrast, was fascinated by every inch of him.

But she knew he had the same wants and needs as any man. He’d told her that he was used to dampening his feelings, but as she stared into his eyes, she saw a wealth of emotion.

Ever slid her hand down, scratching one of his nipples with her fingernail. He sucked in a sharp breath.

“You want to please me?” Man, was that husky voice hers?

“Yes.”

“What will please me is you, naked. Clothes off.”

Watching her, Magnus slid to the edge of the bed and stood. He shrugged his shirt off. Sweet Jesus, the man was built. She had to touch him again.

She reached out, gripping his hips, and pulled him closer. His big body went still, but vibrated with tension. She undid his belt, and then the fastenings on his trousers. She felt his intense gaze on her, and when she looked up, his cheekbones were heightened with color, and his eyes were heavy-lidded.

Then she freed his big cock. Oh, yes.

Leaning forward, Ever wrapped her fingers around his long, hard length, then licked the wide head. He groaned, and as she licked down his cock, taking her time and enjoying the musky taste of him, she saw the muscles in his legs strain.

Her belly quivered. There was nothing quite as intoxicating as seeing the proof that you were affecting a strong man. She sucked him into her mouth and moaned with pleasure. His hand slid into her hair, and she sucked harder. She pulled him deeper and was rewarded by his harsh groan.

As she worked him, she felt some of his control slip. His hips pumped forward, his cock shoving farther into her mouth.

“Ever…” A guttural sound.

She pulled off with a popping noise. “Do you like this?”

His fingers tightened in her hair. “Yes.”

She licked under the head of his cock, finding a sensitive spot. He groaned again.

“Do you like seeing my lips around your cock?”

His eyes fired. “Yes.” His hand slid down to her cheek, nudging his cock back into her mouth.

Ever sucked him harder, loving the way his gaze was glued to her mouth.

Gripping the base of his cock, she kept pleasuring him. God, she loved this.

“Ever…I’m…” His hips thrust forward again.

She pulled back. “Come, Magnus.” She sucked him in again.

A moment later, his body went as stiff as a board. Then, with a harsh cry, he came. She tasted his salty release in her mouth and she swallowed it down.

Suddenly, his hands slid under her armpits, and he lifted her up like she weighed nothing. He set her down in the center of the bed. As he pressed one knee to the covers, she saw that his cock was still hard.

She reached out, stroking him. “I guess there are a few advantages to being a cyborg.”

He grunted. “I’m always hard around you.”

Her heart thumped against her ribs. His body shifted over hers, but she saw that he was careful to keep his weight off her. He sat back on his knees and nudged her legs apart. The broad head of his cock nestled at her folds and she made a whimpering sound. Their gazes locked. She was on fire, and she needed him so much.

Then, he pushed forward. She moaned again, her body stretching to take him. God, she was so full, and he was going so deep.

Finally, he was lodged within her, and then he pulled back, making her cry out. He started thrusting.

Each plunge was heavy and powerful. She felt the muscles straining in his back, and she reached up, scratching her nails down the skin.

“Need you.” His deep voice rumbled through her.

“You have me.”

Soon, he was thrusting harder, the bed thumping against the wall. Yes. Possessed by her cyborg. It was everything she’d ever wanted.

One of his hands moved to grip hers. He pinned both her hands above her head. He held her there, his hips pistoning inside her. She loved every second of it.

Ever’s orgasm crashed over her and she came hard. She screamed, thrusting herself up against his big body.

Then Magnus grunted, thrust one more time, and jetted his release inside her.

He dropped down beside her, pulling her into his body. Their sweaty skin stuck them together, and their thundering heartbeats were the only things she could hear.

Then she felt his lips brush her bare shoulder, and she knew nothing had ever felt so right to her before.

NAKED, Magnus walked out of the bathroom, a warm cloth in his hand. Ever hadn’t moved, and was still sprawled on his bed with a lazy, well-satisfied smile on her face.

He sat beside her, nudging her thighs apart, and cleaned between her legs.

His body was still tingling. He’d never felt so much pleasure before. His cock was already hard again, stretching upward to brush his belly. But he ignored it. Right now, he was focused on Ever.

He took his time cleaning her and then tossed the cloth aside. Because he couldn’t stop himself, he stroked her with his fingers. She was so pretty and soft there. Pink and swollen. His.

She moaned and stretched like a hunting cat.

He moved back onto the bed, resting his back against the headboard. But he didn’t take his eyes off that gorgeous body.

Memories trickled into his head. But instead of her skin drenched in the golden light of his bedroom, it was Ever’s glossy skin drenched in shadows. Her husky cries echoing off stone walls. He remembered her straddling him and taking his cock deep.

“You’re quiet.” She shifted on the bed and moved up beside him.

He pulled her to straddle his lap, his hands clamping on her hips. More memories came. This was how they’d made love in the desert. They’d been desperate for each other, to touch and feel.

Magnus remembered now. He’d been overwhelmed with emotions—need, desire, pleasure. He’d tried to stop her, worried that she was vulnerable, but she’d told him that she was finally doing what she wanted, and had refused to stop.

“I remember.” He lifted her up, his cock rubbing the folds between her legs.

Her eyelids fluttered. “The desert?”

“Yes.” The head of his cock lodged in her warmth, and then he used his hold on her hips to push her down.

As his cock slid inside her, stretching her, she let out a strangled moan. “You remember that first time in the desert?”

“Yes. I took you just like this.”

She let out a breath. “No, I took you just like this.”

He stilled, lodged deep. “I remember we talked for hours. You tended my wounds.”

She nodded. “And I finally drifted off to sleep for the first time in so long, knowing you were keeping watch. But I had a nightmare, and you held me.”

“Then you attacked me,” he said with a faint smile.

She gasped, rising up on her knees. But Magnus pushed her down again. Drak, she felt like a hot glove closing around him.

“I did not.” Her tone was indignant. She tilted her head, a smile on her face. “Well, maybe a little. You were so strong and hard. Don’t tell me that I took advantage of the big, bad cyborg?”

Even then, wounded and caged, he’d felt a connection with her. He’d felt the overwhelming need to please her, care for her.

“You rode me hard that first time,” he said.

She started to move, hips slapping against his. “Like this?”

She slid up and down on his cock, and Magnus gritted his teeth. “Yes.”

“God, it felt good then, and it feels good now.” She was panting, riding him hard. “Afterward, you took me again.” Her voice hitched.

“From behind.” The memory of her rounded ass shoving back against him made his gut clench.

“Yes.” A husky whisper. Her inner muscles clamped down on his cock.

Magnus pushed up, lifting her off his cock. He spun her around, planting her on her hands and knees in the center of his bed.

“Magnus—”

He gripped her hips, sliding one hand over the smooth cheek of her ass. Then he moved forward, notched his cock between her thighs, and thrust inside.

She arched her back. “Yes.”

She pushed back against him, and it wasn’t long before Magnus was slamming into her warm body. He slid a hand beneath her, finding that little nub, and stroked.

“More,” she panted. “Harder.”

Whatever Ever wanted, he’d give it to her. He increased his thrusts, gritting his teeth to hold off his own release. A second later, she splintered apart, crying out.

He gripped her hips harder and picked up the pace of his thrusts. It only took a few more plunges into her tight body for his orgasm to hit him.

It was like taking a round to the chest. He roared his release.

His body shaking, he pulled her down onto the bed. He couldn’t find a pillow and glanced around. The bed was completely wrecked. The blankets were skewed, and all of the pillows were on the floor. He didn’t care. He curled around her body and pressed a big palm to her belly.

“I’m glad you remember,” she said.

“Me, too. I’m sorry, Ever. I’m sorry I left you there.” Pain clawed at him. To think of what they’d shared, and then his gladiators had rescued him, and she’d been left behind. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t remember.”

She turned to face him, stroking his jaw. “It’s not your fault. You were injured, and I’m sorry to tell you this—” her voice lowered “—but you aren’t all-powerful.”

“They expected me to be.”

She stilled. “The military?”

He nodded. “I was their best killer. The most efficient and the one with the most kills.”

Another stroke over his cheek. “You aren’t what they made you. You’re the man that you’ve made yourself to be. Imperator, rescuer, friend, ally.” She kissed him. “Lover. I like you, Magnus. A lot.”

He pressed his hips against her, his hardening cock rubbing against her skin.

She laughed. “I guess you like me, too.”

“A lot,” he murmured, taking her mouth with his.

A laugh escaped her. “Again?”

“You do need help with your pregnancy hormones.”

Her smile lit up her face. “It is very kind of you to help me out.”

He stood, liking the way her hot gaze stroked over his naked body. He scooped her into his arms.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“I’d like to fuck you in the shower now.”

She licked her lips. “Oh. Well, carry on.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ever worked feverishly, one hand writing notes in her notebook, and the other popping a salty snack the kitchen had made for her into her mouth.

She was starving today. She patted her belly, which she was pretty certain looked bigger than yesterday. She wasn’t just hungry because of the peanut. A long, energetic night had left her ravenous. She looked up, smiling at the memory. She’d woken this morning wrapped up in her sexy cyborg. Waking up pressed against Magnus’ warm skin was…she shivered. Glorious.

Then she frowned, her gaze moving back down to her work. Guilt flooded her in an overwhelming wave. Sam was still stuck at Zaabha, and it made Ever feel so guilty for feeling so good.

Reaching out, Ever stroked the fabric of the stealth suit resting on the bench. She was planning to get it operational and show it to Magnus today. It was just what they needed to help them follow the off-worlder to Zaabha without being seen. Without it, she knew there was a huge risk the team would be discovered.

And that would blow their only chance of finding Sam.

There was a knock at the door. “Come in.”

Rory bounded through the doorway, her baby nestled in her arms. A big gladiator followed right behind her.

Ever smiled. Rory Fraser, her husband, Kace, and their new baby boy.

“Hi.” Rory grinned, face glowing. “Thought you might like a visit from a new mommy, a cute baby, and an overprotective, but very sexy, gladiator.”

Ever saw Kace scowl at his woman and she swallowed a smile. “I’d love that.” She didn’t miss the way Kace scanned her lab like enemies might pop out of the shadows at any moment. “This prospective mom, baby bump, and overprotective cyborg who is currently off doing imperator business, would love that.”

As Rory moved closer, Ever made eye contact with the bright-eyed baby looking in her direction. He looked several weeks older than she knew he was.

“Hello there, Finley. Aren’t you looking cute today?”

The baby rewarded Ever with a gummy smile.

Her heart melted into a puddle. God, she could hardly believe she was going to have one of these soon. The healers didn’t know the exact length of her pregnancy, but she knew it was likely she didn’t have long to go. “Can I hold him?”

“Sure. The kid weighs a ton.” Rory handed him over.

Kace frowned. “He’s tiny.”

“Compared to you,” Rory said.

Ever snuggled the baby close and breathed deep. It didn’t matter that he was half alien, and that they were a galaxy away from Earth, he still had that familiar, new-baby smell.

He was a big boy, and when she brushed his cheek with her finger, he latched onto it, gripping hard. He was strong, too. “He’s gorgeous, you guys. Nice job.”

Rory leaned into Kace, and Ever saw the man soften. He pulled Rory close, his gaze resting on his son. It was clear that the military-trained gladiator adored Rory and their child.

A lump formed in Ever’s throat. Could that be her and Magnus? He’d worshipped her body in bed the night before. Could she show him how great they could be together? And what a great father he could be?

“What are you working on?” Rory asked.

Ever pulled Finley up to her chest. “You’ll regret asking me that.”

Rory snorted. “I spend most of my days with Regan. That woman can go on and on about her experiments.”

“I’ll see if I can match her.” Ever launched into an explanation about her stealth suit and research. She saw interest spark in Kace’s eyes.

“That sounds like a very useful piece of technology,” he said.

“I just need to figure out a power system for it. What I’m using right now doesn’t last long enough before it burns out.” She was really hoping she could sort the issue out today. Then Magnus could use it for the mission.

Her gut clenched. Seeing him injured last night had driven home the fact that he wasn’t invincible. He could be hurt…or killed.

“Hmm.” Rory turned Ever’s notebook around and flicked through the pages. Ever had forgotten that the woman was an engineer.

“What about using a carno?” She plucked the energy crystal out of the box of things Ever had on the bench. “They’re common here on Carthago, and we use them to power a lot of smaller devices at the House of Galen.”

“I tried. I couldn’t get the connection stable enough.”

“If you join it up here…”

She picked up one of Ever’s tools and started fiddling with it, connecting the power crystal into the suit. A second later, the suit changed color, matching the silver of the bench. It disappeared completely.

“Oh, wow,” Rory said.

Kace moved closer. “Incredible. I’ve seen some prototype stealth suits before in the military, but none that functioned this well.”

Ever handed Finley over to Kace. She paused to watch the man as he expertly shifted the baby into his brawny arms. God, was there a sight surer to make a woman’s insides gooey than a bare-chested man snuggling a baby?

Leaning over the bench, Ever fiddled with the crystal that Rory had connected. Then she lifted the suit and quickly shimmied into it. The stretchy fabric was extremely adaptable and forgiving, and she flicked the lightweight hood over her face. She stepped away from the others and activated the controls on the side of the suit.

“Oh, my God,” Rory gasped. “You literally just disappeared.”

“It’s working.” Excitement spread through Ever’s veins. She walked around the lab.

“I have no idea where you are,” Rory said, grinning.

Suddenly, the suit flickered. “Crap.”

“Is it the power or the camouflage failing?” Rory asked.

“Power’s fine. It must be the camouflage.” Dammit. “I really need longer to work out all the kinks.” But the mission was tonight. She reached down to the controls, flicking the small panel open. She fixed the problem, causing the suit to flash, and she disappeared again. But it was a temporary fix. She knew it would fail again.

The door opened, and Magnus entered. She watched his gaze sweep the room, and then he tensed.

“Where’s Ever?” His gaze moved over her without stopping.

She grinned. Then his gaze moved back to her location and stopped. Her smile dissolved. Damn, how did he know where she was?

“I can smell you,” he said.

Hmm, she needed a way to have the suit mask scents as well. She made a mental note to add it to her research. She pressed the controls and reappeared.

Magnus blinked. Aha. She’d managed to surprise her cyborg.

She held her arms out. “What do you think?”

He strode up to her, fingering the suit. “Incredible.”

She quickly pulled it off and handed it to him. He rubbed the fabric between his fingers, and the small crystals embedded on the fabric shimmered in the light.

“I can outfit six people with these suits for the mission.”

He raised his brows. “Really?”

She nodded, then licked her lips. “But they aren’t in perfect working order. They still have glitches.”

He frowned. “Glitches?”

“The camouflage fails and needs a quick adjustment. Really, I need more time to find a permanent solution to the problem.”

“We don’t have more time.”

“I know, but I have a workable, temporary solution for the mission.” She glanced at Rory, who gave her an encouraging thumbs-up. “I come on the mission, and ensure the suits stay operational.”

“No.”

“Magnus—”

“No.” His tone was hard. “I’m not taking you into the desert. I’m not taking you back there.”

She swallowed. She didn’t want to step foot in Zaabha ever again, and she didn’t want her baby anywhere near there. But more than anything, she wanted Sam found and Zaabha destroyed.

“Without the suits, we both know the chance of following the off-worlder without being discovered is next to nothing. If they spot you, Zaabha will be gone, and so will Sam. It could take months to find it again.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“But I’m not an invalid. I’m healthy, and I’ll have protection. I’m also not stupid. Once we reach Zaabha, I won’t enter it. I’ll hide in the desert until you get Sam.”

Magnus’ hands curled into fists and a muscle ticked in his jaw.

“Earth women.” There was a dose of commiseration in Kace’s tone. “They won’t let you lock them safely away, and they don’t follow orders.”

Rory elbowed him.

“And they are more courageous than the fiercest gladiator,” Kace added.

“I don’t want you to go out there.” Magnus’ voice was a growl.

“I’m not particularly happy about it, either, but I need to help save Sam.” Ever patted her belly. “I have to be a good role model for our child.”

Magnus spun, resting his hands on the back of his neck.

“I can’t stay here, locked behind these walls, when I know I can help Sam. The risk is low, Magnus.”

He moved suddenly, swiping an arm across her bench, knocking bottles to the floor.

She winced.

He turned and shot her one furious glare, then he stalked out of the room.

With her heart hurting, she looked at the broken glass on the floor. She shot a tight smile at Kace and Rory. “Well, that went well.”

MAGNUS PACED HIS OFFICE. He didn’t look up when Galen stepped inside.

“You don’t look ready for the mission,” Galen said, voice dry.

Magnus spun around. “Life was easier when I could shut off my emotions.”

Leaning against the wall, Galen crossed his arms. “And you can’t now?”

“No.” Magnus shoved a hand through his hair. “Not with Ever. She short-circuits everything.”

“Apparently women have a way of doing that.”

“They never have before.” Magnus dropped into his chair and it creaked under his weight.

“Ever updated me on the stealth suits,” Galen said.

Magnus struggled against the combination of annoyance and pride. “Her work is amazing.”

“Yes.” Galen pushed away from the wall. “And the suits would give this mission a huge chance of succeeding.”

Magnus looked up. “Did she also explain that she needs to come?”

“Yes.” Galen sighed. “We’ll protect her.”

“Things go wrong on missions, Galen, you know that.” In his head, he saw images of Ever hurt, or worse. They taunted him. “I know she wants Sam back safely.”

Galen leaned against Magnus’ desk. “It’s not just that. She wants you back safely, too.”

Magnus raised his head, an unfamiliar feeling spreading through him. She was doing this for him, too? “How do I let her go into danger?”

“If you don’t let her help, if you don’t trust her, you’ll…damage something inside her.”

Magnus groaned. “I know. And she’s drakking well aware that I can’t say no to her.”

A faint smile crossed Galen’s face. “I am so glad that I haven’t lost my mind.”

“Your turn will come, Galen.”

“I’m too old and too smart for that, my friend.” An inexplicable look crossed Galen’s face before he smoothed it away.

Magnus sighed. “I’ll talk to Ever about the mission and prepare the team.”

“She’s in her lab, working on the other suits.”

Of course she was. She wouldn’t be napping or resting. “You’ll bring two gladiators?”

Galen nodded. “Raiden and Nero. Nero is my best tracker, and we might need his tracking skills. And I’ll have my backup team join yours.”

Magnus leaned back in his chair. “The backup team will stay out of range. Once we find Zaabha, we’ll signal them to come in to help us take it down.”

“So the initial scouting party is me, you, Raiden, Nero…”

“Ever and Jaxer.” Saying her name made his heart hurt. He trusted Jaxer with his life, so he was the only one Magnus trusted enough to help keep Ever safe.

“We’ll make sure no harm comes to her,” Galen said.

They would. Because if anything happened to her or the baby… Magnus’ cybernetic hand curled.

Galen pushed away from the wall. “I’ll prep my team and see you when it’s time to depart.”

Magnus watched his friend leave. Time to update Jaxer and his other gladiators.

It was an hour later when he went in search of Ever. He silently slipped inside her lab. She was focused on her work, her dark curls falling around her face. He moved up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her.

She jolted, then her body relaxed a fraction. “Make some noise next time.”

He leaned down, pressing his face to her hair. He still felt tension in her body. “Are the stealth suits ready?”

She nodded. “I’d prefer to have another week or two to perfect them.” She tipped her head back, her green gaze meeting his. “But they’re as ready as they can be.”

“Are you ready?”

The tension drained out of her and she smiled. “Yes. Thank you for letting me come, Magnus.”

“It is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Her eyes flashed and she leaned into him. “I don’t want to go back to the desert, or anywhere near Zaabha, but I want to be a good example for our child. I need to do the right thing, the honorable thing.” She went up on her toes to kiss him.

His woman from Earth had a steel-hard spine, grit, and the heart of a cyborg. She terrified him.

“Then let’s get ready.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

Ever peered through the gloom, straining for any glimpse of the off-worlders.

Nothing. Held tightly in Magnus’ arms as he jogged through the desert sand, all she could see was darkness.

They’d been following the group for hours, and night had fallen some time ago. Their team moved fast and was on high alert. She was well aware that night in the desert brought out dangerous beasts, as well. They hadn’t been able to ride the tarnids that were commonly used for travel in the desert, but she knew the off-worlders were riding the six-legged, scaly-skinned beasts.

She’d managed to jog for the first hour, surrounded by tough gladiators and her cyborg, but when her energy had flagged, strong arms had wrapped around her and lifted her up against a hard chest.

Ever hated the idea of being a burden, but she wouldn’t ever complain about being held in Magnus’ arms.

“Am I too heavy?” she whispered.

“Shh. I can carry you like this for days.”

There. She caught a glimpse of light ahead, and heard the faint sounds of talking and laughter on the warm desert breeze.

Just the thought of these bastards being excited to go to Zaabha made her feel sick. She leaned into Magnus’ warmth and tried to absorb some of his strength and calm.

Her suits were working. She glanced around them and saw no sign of Galen and the others. She sensed they were there, heard their feet shift on the sand, but they were virtually undetectable in the obscurity of the night.

Suddenly, Raiden flickered back into view.

“Stop,” she said.

They crouched and Magnus set her down. She quickly touched the side of Raiden’s suit. It was stretched seamlessly over all his hard muscles. She made the adjustment.

The camouflage flickered back to life.

“Thanks, Ever,” the rugged gladiator murmured.

They kept moving, having to stop a few times for her to adjust for the glitches. But all in all, her stealth suits were working far better than she could ever have imagined.

“Halt,” Galen whispered.

They all hunkered down at the top of a sand dune. Ever had a good view of the off-worlder’s entourage in the depression below.

“They’re making camp,” Magnus said, in the softest of whispers.

Ever watched several men setting up what looked like a fence around the perimeter of their space. Others were opening large, circular tents.

“The fence emits a signal that keeps the night beasts away,” Magnus told her. He lifted his cybernetic arm, and a small device the size of a large marble detached from the metal, and floated silently in the air.

“I haven’t seen a scanner bot that small before,” Galen said.

“New tech my weapons makers have been working on.” Magnus nudged the bot, and it flew off into the night. “It only has a tight range. But it’ll keep an eye on the off-worlders, and we can pull back a little and set up our own camp.”

Down below, the off-worlders had started a fire. There was loud laughter, more raucous than before.

“Pull back.” Magnus gripped Ever’s arm and helped her walk down the other side of the dune.

“Nero, you take first sentry duty,” Galen ordered. “Make sure no one leaves that camp.”

“On it, G,” the big gladiator rumbled.

At the base of the dune, their team moved to make camp. Ever watched the men pull out small devices. With the press of a button, they snapped out into dome-shaped, two-man tents.

“In you go.” Magnus held one tent open for her.

Ever gladly slid inside. She was tired. Inside wasn’t spacious, but she didn’t care. From Magnus’ pack, she pulled out some light blankets. The desert was warm tonight, so they didn’t need much.

“Eat.” Magnus sat down beside her, his big body dominating the space. He dropped a packet of…something…in her lap.

Ever opened it and munched on a mouthful of the tasteless, dried food. “What is this?”

“Protein.”

She wrinkled her nose and took a sip of water from one of the water bladders. Her body felt exhausted, but her mind was wired. She couldn’t forget that they were in the desert, and the Carthagoan deserts weren’t very hospitable.

And Zaabha and the Thraxians weren’t far away.

She felt a tug on her feet and glanced down to see Magnus stripping her boots off.

“Stealth suit, next,” he said.

She nodded and pulled the suit off. It would be too uncomfortable to sleep in. She tilted her head and listened, but didn’t hear any sounds from outside. These warriors certainly knew how to be quiet.

Magnus lay down and grabbed her hand. He urged her down beside him, tucking her close to his body. He was a big, hot, comforting presence behind her.

“We’ll find it, won’t we?” She thought of Sam, and all the others trapped in the floating desert arena.

“Yes. Tomorrow, Zaabha is ours. Our backup teams are prepped, and as soon as we find it, we’ll go in, storm the arena, and find Sam. Then, we’ll destroy the abomination.”

His tone was implacable. Ever nodded, picturing everything he said. He sounded so sure.

They lay there a few minutes longer, and she kept waiting for her muscles to relax. But as Magnus shifted against her, she felt another flame ignite.

Oh, no. The last thing she needed on a dangerous mission was to be feeling turned on again. Not now, hormones. She tried to stay still, but then she rubbed against him. His big hand splayed over her belly, and she rubbed again. She felt something hard prod her ass, and she smiled in the darkness.

Her breathing grew heavy, and she heard his deepen, as well.

“Magnus.”

“Shh.” His hands slid over her clothes, shifting them. He shoved her trousers down, and a hand slid in between her thighs. He started stroking her.

Yes. She made a small, husky moan.

“You have to be quiet, Ever.” His lips were hot at her ear. “Can you do that?”

She nodded. He kept stroking her, and she knew he couldn’t miss the fact that she was embarrassingly wet for him. She bit her lip, trying to control her cries.

She heard a rustle behind her and then Magnus lifted her leg, pulling it over his hip. A second later, his big cock slid into her from behind.

She moaned, biting down on her lip.

“Quiet.” His voice was strained. He thrust inside her, over and over again. His heavy body pressed against her, that thick cock filling her up. She couldn’t stop the tiny noises coming from her throat.

He reached over, pressing his palm against her mouth. She bit down.

With every thrust, his breath was a harsh expulsion in her ear. He kept his hand over her lips, while his other hand moved between her legs and stroked her clit.

Ever came hard. Her cry was muffled by his hand, her body shaking. He shoved into her one last time, his teeth sinking into her shoulder as he poured himself inside her.

When she could think again, she felt him shift, pressing gentle kisses to her skin. They were blanketed in darkness, the desert quiet around them. His big hands slid up her body, cupping her belly, and their growing baby.

Ever closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the feelings inside her. She couldn’t keep lying to herself. She was falling in love with Magnus Rone.

And it felt perfectly right.

He nuzzled into her, and she leaned back into his strength. She was falling in love with a strong, honorable cyborg, and they were having a baby. She’d never found a connection like this with anyone on Earth.

But unease filtered through her. Magnus had never experienced love…and she wasn’t even sure he believed in it.

She turned her face against his skin. It didn’t matter. She’d show him it existed.

But as sleep slowly dragged her under, she knew all they could focus on right now was rescuing Sam and surviving this mission.

MAGNUS WOKE, his internal clock telling him that dawn wasn’t far off. It was still mostly dark outside, only the faintest murky light creeping into the tent.

He took a moment to stay where he was, holding Ever’s sleeping body against him. It felt…so good. It felt right. He blew out a breath. He was relaxed and happy, and happy had never been a goal of his before she came into his life.

He stared down at her face in the faint light. Beautiful. He gently disengaged and watched as she turned farther onto her side. With a smile, he ducked out of the tent.

Galen was already up, crouched at the top of the dune with Raiden. They were staring down at the other side.

Magnus loped up the sand, studying the gladiators’ faces. “Problem?”

“It’s all quiet at the camp,” Raiden said.

Magnus frowned. “The scanner bot detected no one leaving the camp.” He’d checked it numerous times during the night.

Raiden lifted his shoulder, and his red cloak flared in the breeze. “Everything looks fine. No one’s moved since I took over the sentry post. But something feels off. It’s too quiet.”

The three of them knelt at the top of the dune, looking down at the off-worlder camp. Magnus detected no movement. He zoomed in with his cybernetic eye. The tents were all in place, and on one, a loose piece of fabric flapped in the breeze. There were no fresh tracks leading in or out of the camp.

He switched his vision to infrared and cursed. “There are no heat signatures inside the tents.”

“We’ve kept watch all night,” Galen said. “Nobody left.”

“Unless they have some stealth suits, too,” Raiden said with an edge.

“Or they flew.” Galen shifted, shaking his head. “You’re sure the scanner bot didn’t detect anyone leaving?”

“Yes. I don’t know how they did it, but they did.” Magnus’ neck prickled. “It’s a trap.”

Galen cursed. “You think they knew we’d follow them?”

Magnus gave a grim nod. He jogged back down the sand dune and straight to his tent. He lifted the flap. “Ever. You need to get up.”

“What?” She sat up, pushing her tangled hair out of her face. “What’s going on?”

“Somehow the off-worlders snuck out of their camp. We think it’s a trap.”

She scrambled to her feet and yanked on her boots. “Where the hell did they go?”

Suddenly, the howl of several beasts echoed off the dunes around them.

Magnus straightened, backing out of the tent. Around him, the gladiators pulled their swords, and Jaxer yanked out twin laser pistols.

“Stealth suits?” Raiden asked.

“They won’t hide our weapons,” Magnus said. “But everything helps.”

Ever rushed out of the tent, and Magnus pulled her close. Drak, no. His heart hammered in his chest. He didn’t want her in the middle of the fight.

“Ever, get your stealth suit on.”

She nodded and quickly yanked it over her clothes.

They all raced up to the top of the dune, and instantly he saw the beasts loping toward them. Predators of some kind. The desert beasts interbred often, creating new and varied monsters. There were four big, shaggy creatures running with mighty strides, riders sitting atop them.

A screech reverberated through the air and he lifted his gaze. Several giant flying creatures were also moving in, with large flaps of powerful wings. They also carried riders.

“Drak.” Galen kicked the sand.

“Ever,” Magnus said. “You need to stay down—”

“No.” She lifted a laser pistol he’d given her at the start of the mission. “I’m military trained, Magnus, and I’m a good shot.” There was steely determination in her face. “We all have a better chance of surviving if we all fight.”

“They’re getting closer,” Galen said. “They look like fighters from Zaabha.”

Magnus didn’t care who they were. He would protect Ever against anyone or anything that tried to hurt her.

“Here we go,” Raiden yelled, lifting his sword. He activated his camouflage and his body blinked out of view.

The others did the same. Magnus watched Raiden’s and Nero’s swords as the men raced down the dune, sand kicking up behind them. Scenting them, several beasts leaped in their direction.

Swords flashed, and blood sprayed the sand.

Magnus sensed Ever crouch and start firing. There was the whine of a second laser weapon and he knew Jax was firing as well.

Magnus glanced where he knew his second was standing. “Protect her.”

“With my life.”

Magnus grabbed Ever, feeling until he had a good grip…then he kissed her—hard and quick. “Stay safe.” Drak, he wished he could see her face.

Then he rose and turned his head. He scented Galen nearby.

“Let’s do this,” the imperator said.

Magnus broke into a run and the two of them sprinted down the dune.

A fighter leaped off one of the flying creatures, coming at Magnus with a metal staff. He ducked the weapon, turned, and then grabbed the end of it. The fighter tried to yank it free, but Magnus held it. With one squeeze of his cybernetic hand, he crushed the metal to dust. The fighter’s jaw went slack.

Magnus stepped forward, punching the man in the head, knocking him aside.

He turned to see one of the shaggy beasts rushing at him, teeth bared. Magnus dodged, then grabbed a fistful of fur. He yanked the beast around and heard it yelp. Then he swung the beast and tossed it into the air.

Its rider fell off with a scream. The beast slammed into one of the flying creatures and together the two crashed to the ground, in a tangle of fur, scales, and claws.

His stealth suit flickered and died. Drak.

“Watch out, Magnus!” Ever screamed.

He spun, ducking into a fighting stance.

A flying beast swooped in low. Magnus tried to dodge, but sharp claws raked his shoulder. His pain dampeners moved quickly to block the burning sensation.

Ahead, he watched as Galen, his suit no longer working, grabbed the wing of a second flying creature as it whizzed past. With a show of strength, the imperator leaped onto the beast’s back. He pulled himself up, knocking the rider out of the saddle.

Nearby, Raiden and Nero were still camouflaged blurs, battling the other fighters and ground beasts. Laser fire pulsed through the air from the top of the dune. Magnus turned his head, tracking the creature that had scratched him. He saw it wheel around, coming back for another attack.

As the beast flew closer, Magnus held up his cybernetic arm. A shadow blocked the morning sun just as claws clamped on his arm. He was yanked off his feet.

Flying into the air, Magnus swung his body in a smooth arc. He jerked free of the claws and climbed on top of the beast. An elbow to the face sent the rider tumbling off. The man screamed, arms flailing, as he fell the long way down to the sand below.

Magnus settled into the leather saddle, the beast letting out a displeased screech. He grabbed the reins, pulling on them gently. It only took a few moves to work out what the animal responded to. He leveled the creature out, air rushing into his face. A moment later, Galen appeared beside him, with a flap of the wings of his own flying beast.

“This should be fun,” the imperator said with a faint smile.

Magnus nodded. All he cared about was getting back to Ever.

Together, he and Galen swooped in over the fight. Magnus directed his beast to a fighter jogging up the dune toward Ever.

The creature snagged the man, and Magnus lifted them back up, high into the air. The fighter fell with a sharp scream.

Magnus wheeled the flying beast around again. As they came in close to the fight, Magnus patted the beast’s neck, then grabbed the rope reins and broke them off with a hard tug. “Fly free.”

He leaped off. When his boots hit the sand, he rolled.

As he stood, he saw he was right by the empty off-worlder camp. Galen stood beside a tent, his creature sitting quietly nearby with its wings tucked back. Raiden stood nearby, the hood of his stealth suit thrown back, smiling darkly. Nero crouched not far away, cleaning blood off his blade.

“Nice flying,” Raiden said.

Magnus nodded, looking back toward the dune where Ever and Jax had been firing from. There was no sign of them. He scanned the sand, ice sliding into his veins. Something was wrong.

Magnus broke into a jog. Maybe they were hiding somewhere, keeping themselves safe.

He reached the base of the dune. “Ever!”

The gladiators were right behind him. They crested the dune, and there was nothing before him, other than more sand. Where was she?

Nero crouched, studying some marks in the sand. Then the man stood and followed some sort of trail that Magnus couldn’t see.

“Drak. Over there.” Nero pointed.

Jax’s body was lying face down in the shadow of the dune. His stealth suit was shredded and a spear pinned his shoulder to the sand.

Panic like he’d never known filled Magnus. He raced forward, quicker than the others, skidding down the dune toward his friend.

“Jaxer.” He dropped to his knees. He gripped the spear and ripped it out, resulting in a faint moan coming from his friend.

Magnus gently rolled the man over. Jax opened pain-filled eyes. The wound on his shoulder was gory, and there was blood all over him.

“Strengthen your pain dampeners,” Magnus said.

Jax managed a wan nod. “Wound…already healing.”

Magnus knew Jax, like him, could direct the blood flow away from the wound, and increase his rate of healing. “Ever?”

Something flickered through Jax’s eyes. “I’m so sorry, Magnus. There were several Thraxians. They came out of the damn sand and attacked me. They took her.”

Magnus looked up, staring blindly at the dunes. Ever. Then he let out a chilling, feral roar.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

As Ever stumbled in the sand, a hard hand jerked her upright. Claws bit through her now-not-operational stealth suit and into her skin.

The Thraxian turned, black eyes zeroing in on her. A horrible rush of nausea rolled through her belly. For a second, she was back on the Fortuna Space Station, screams echoing around her.

She hated the sight of him. She hated the fact that he terrified her.

The Thraxian leaned forward and jabbed his knife against her belly. It made her wince. The thought of something happening to her baby terrified her more than anything else. Hang tight, peanut.

There had been other Thraxians, but they’d peeled off to ambush anyone who followed them. She swallowed. Be okay, Magnus. “You’ve made a big mistake.”

The Thraxian let out a harsh laugh and yanked her forward.

“Do you know Magnus Rone?”

Now, the Thraxian shot her a curious glance. He grunted.

Ever took that as a yes. “He’s coming for you. With Imperator Galen and their gladiators by their sides.”

The alien laughed, but Ever thought she heard a faint tremor in it.

“They are already dead on the desert sand,” the Thraxian said in a guttural voice.

The man’s words made another wave of nausea wash over her. No. She didn’t believe it. Not for a second.

But the thought of Magnus lying lifeless on the sand made her stumble.

This time, when the Thraxian jerked her upright, his claws broke her skin. Blood oozed down her arms.

She knew, deep in her gut, that Magnus wasn’t dead, but she also knew there wasn’t much time. She couldn’t wait for him. She needed to protect their baby.

Ever surreptitiously studied her captor, taking stock of the Thraxian. He was big and strong, with the same dark, cracked skin all his species had. Underneath, the faint golden glow of his veins shone through, and his set of horns were large, sweeping back from his forehead. She was going to take this bastard down. She just had to wait for the right opportunity.

As they moved along, Ever kept stumbling on purpose, trying to slow their pace.

“Please slow down.” She panted, putting on a good show.

The alien growled.

“Why did you take me?” she asked, stalling.

He shot her an ugly smile. “You’re bait.”

God. Her stomach rolled over. To lure Magnus and the others. “I thought you said they were dead.”

He growled. “The Zaabha Fightmaster will reward me very well for bringing in Rone and Galen’s dead bodies.” He pushed her roughly. “He’ll also be happy to see you. Our scientists have been anxiously waiting to get you back. You adapted well to our experimental implants, and helped us perfect them for use on more fighters.” He scowled at her now-healed eye. “If you survive, you’ll go back to the lab.”

Not fucking likely. She spat at him. “Your time is coming. Zaabha will be destroyed.”

“Be quiet.” He jerked her forward and she tripped, slamming into his body. His rough skin snagged on her clothes.

She felt the outline of the laser pistol strapped to his belt. This was her chance. She whipped her hand up, grabbed the hilt of the pistol, and yanked it toward her.

With a shout, he swung a clawed hand at her. She dodged and fell to the sand. She quickly tried to aim and fire, but the burst of laser went wild.

Ever turned, trying to get to her feet in the unstable sand. Suddenly, one of those big hands clamped on her wrist. Pain shot up her arm.

She kicked at his legs, and they both went down, rolling across the sand. The pistol flew out of her grip.

Breaking free of him, Ever scrambled for the weapon. She felt him behind her, a hand sinking into her hair. She jabbed out with her elbow, catching his throat. He let out a roar, and she turned, stabbing her fingers toward his black eyes.

But he still wasn’t down.

He swung at her again, smacking her in the side of the head. Dazed, she staggered and tried to stay conscious. His harsh breathing echoed deafeningly in her ears.

Can’t. Give. Up.

Pushing for more energy, she yanked away from him. Her gaze fell on the pistol in the sand, and she dived for it.

But the Thraxian’s arm was longer. He slammed her out of the way, and his hand closed on the weapon.

He rolled, turning the weapon on her.

Ever froze. She was on her knees, the hot sand burning through her trousers. She tasted acid in her throat.

He lowered the weapon so it pointed at her belly. When he laughed, she fought the urge to launch herself at him.

But she stayed still, instead, and waited for him to pull the trigger.

“Now you die,” he growled. “I’ll use your dead body as bait, instead.”

She lifted her chin, fighting back the wave of helplessness.

There was no sound as a big body barreled out of nowhere.

Ever cried out, falling back as she watched Magnus slam into the Thraxian. There was the sound of grunts and the thud of blows, then the two of them rolled down the giant sand dune, sending up a spray of grit behind them.

MAGNUS WAS LIVING and breathing rage.

Every second of watching Nero follow the faint trail through the desert had worn on Magnus’ nerves. Finding several Thraxians lying in wait for them had left him incandescent with fury. It had taken him seconds to take them all out.

But seeing this sandsucker about to kill Ever…had made the last of his control snap.

He and the Thraxian came to a stop, and Magnus leaped to his feet. With his cybernetic arm, he grabbed the alien by the throat and lifted him. The man’s feet dangled wildly off the ground.

With his other hand, Magnus punched him. Head. Chest. Gut. Over and over.

This crudspawn had taken Ever. He’d hurt her.

Magnus’ programming shut down. All he wanted was to end the Thraxian. He tossed the alien to the ground, and the man hit hard. Magnus called up his electric charge and his cybernetic arm sparked. He welcomed the lash of pain.

He jammed his palm down on the alien’s back. The Thraxian screamed, body shuddering.

Magnus cut off the electric shock, staring dispassionately at the Thraxian slumped on the sand. But all Magnus could see in his head was this man with his weapon trained on Ever. He’d never take her again. He’d never hurt her again.

Magnus advanced once more.

“Magnus.”

He turned and saw Ever sliding down the dune. Scratches streaked down her arms, and one side of her face was scraped and bleeding. His jaw tightened. She clutched a Thraxian pistol in her hand.

Vision red with rage, he turned back to the Thraxian. The alien had found his feet, but was wavering. Magnus’ next blow sent the man crashing sideways into the sand.

“Magnus!” Ever flew at him. He caught her, and she pressed herself against him. He wrapped his arms around her, absorbing the warmth of her.

She was alive. He fired up his scanners, assessing all her vitals. Including the tiny second heartbeat inside her.

She was fine. The baby was fine. They were both alive.

Something eased inside him, and suddenly he could breathe again.

“I knew you’d come.” She lifted her head, her hand stroking his chest.

Magnus pulled her up on her toes and kissed her.

When he finally lifted his head, she looked around. “Where are Galen and the others?”

“Coming. At full speed, I can run much faster than they can.”

A soft look crossed her face, but then guttural laughter echoed around them.

Magnus turned to see the Thraxian on his knees, swaying, but laughing.

Anger surged through Magnus’ dampeners. He felt Ever grab at his arm, her fingers digging into his skin.

The Thraxian spat out blood onto the sand. “You’re a fool, Magnus Rone. Blinded by a woman.”

Magnus stepped closer.

“Don’t let him taunt you,” Ever said.

“You should’ve waited for your allies,” the Thraxian said. “Surely you knew this was a trap? All set in motion by the Fightmaster. He knew you’d questioned a guest of Zaabha. We suspected you’d follow another off-worlder into the desert.” Another laugh.

Magnus frowned, scanning the desert around them. There were no life signs, no signs of any other Thraxians. There were some faint heat signatures behind them, still some distance away, and he knew it was Galen and the others.

“What happened to the off-worlders at the camp?” Magnus demanded.

The Thraxian smiled, his black teeth menacing. “They are already enjoying the entertainments of Zaabha. We have a lovely little invention called the borer. It’s modeled off the norkhoi death borers found in the deserts. We burrowed up right beneath their tents and got them out.” The Thraxian shook his head. “You should never have opposed us. We will never just roll over and give up what is ours.”

“The people at Zaabha are not yours,” Ever shouted. “They are free people you enslaved.”

Magnus remained silent, thinking of the borers. His hand curled into a fist, and he scanned the ground beneath their feet. Drak. He hadn’t thought to scan below the sand.

The ground vibrated and he cursed.

“Magnus?” Ever glanced his way, her eyes wide.

Drak. There were heat signatures directly below them.

Sand sprayed up around them. Ever cried out as metal tips pierced the sand right beside her. He dived into her, knocking her aside, as more boring machines popped up out of the ground.

The boring machines opened, and Thraxians began pulling themselves out of the tunnels.

“No,” Ever whispered.

Magnus tightened his hold on her, fighting to lock down his fear. He had to get Ever out of here alive.

One of the Thraxians advanced, and Magnus exploded forward. With a vicious hit and a kick, he took the alien down. But more were coming.

Ever lifted her appropriated laser pistol and fired. His cool, smart woman. He let himself slide into fighting mode. He slammed into several incoming fighters, driving them to the ground.

Magnus fought, relentless. Painful electricity skimmed up his arm and he zapped every Thraxian he touched. Only the need to protect Ever in his mind. He took down Thraxian after Thraxian.

He just had to hold them off long enough for Galen to arrive.

Then Ever screamed.

Magnus spun. She was fighting against a huge Thraxian. The alien tossed her to the ground and pulled a glowing whip off his belt. With a practiced snap, the glowing gold rope curled around Ever, trapping her arms by her sides.

The alien yanked her up to her knees. Her hair was disheveled, her face white.

Ever. Magnus took two steps toward her.

Something slammed into him. He hit the sand and felt several fighters pile on top of him. Heavily booted feet kicked him, pain spearing through his body. He tried to shove them all off, but the next moment, he felt an electric shock race through his body.

His teeth rattled together, burning pain flaring through all his nerves. His systems flickered, his body shuddering.

They’d hit him with a stun weapon.

“Magnus!” Ever yelled.

He turned his head, his gaze colliding with her horrified one. Her terrified face was the last thing he saw before everything went black.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Groggy and hurting, Ever shifted, her palms scraping on the cold, hard stone beneath her. She quickly touched her belly and felt a reassuring kick from the baby.

She sat up and opened her eyes. She was in the dark. Alone. Fear rushed in on her. Around her, screams and moans echoed through the tunnels.

Zaabha. Zaabha. Zaabha.

The terrible word ricocheted in her head. She was back in a cell in Zaabha. She pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to fight back a sob.

Where was Magnus?

She pushed to her feet, circling the dark, dank cell. Nothing. Nothing except stone. Stone walls, stone floor, stone ceiling. She leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. This had been her life for months—at Zaabha and at the holding cells before Zaabha. She’d survived it once, she would survive it again. She crossed the length of her tiny cell, turned, and crossed back. God, what were they doing to Magnus?

The minutes ticked by, and Ever stopped pacing to conserve her energy. She sat down, drawing her knees up to her chest, trying to make herself even a little comfortable.

The metal door rattled.

Her head shot up, fear and anxiety spiking. But only the small slot at the bottom of the door opened, and a plate of food was shoved inside. She heard the guards outside, moving down the tunnel, feeding the rest of the prisoners.

She knew what she’d find on the plate. Her gaze slid to the dented metal, filled with alien food. It stank, and part of it was moving.

She moved to the far corner of her cell, nausea welling. She leaned over and vomited.

Fighting back her tears, she slumped against the wall. Tears didn’t help anything. She needed to be strong, and not let her fear engulf her.

She went back to pacing. She lost track of the time. Zaabha was like that. The cells were always dark, the screams and moans constant. So she wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the door finally opened.

Blinking at the light that speared into her eyes, she watched as a large shape was shoved inside.

She straightened in shock as Magnus’ large form sprawled limply on the floor.

Oh God. She dropped to her knees beside him. All she could see were the blood and bruises. He raised his head, his gaze unfocused. One side of his face was completely swollen. God, they’d ripped his implant off. Her stomach clenched hard. Raw skin and exposed wiring was poking out of the wound.

“Magnus.” She reached out, stroking his short, dark hair. He looked at her, his gaze unfocused and confused.

A Thraxian still stood in the doorway. “You’ll never win against the House of Thrax. We are too powerful. Too strong.”

“Fuck you,” she yelled, defiantly. She was done being afraid. “We all know there is no more House of Thrax. You guys are scurrying around the desert like sand mice.”

The alien stepped inside the cell, menace radiating off him. Magnus pushed to his feet, unsteady, but still managed to rise to his full height. He placed himself in front of her.

“Maybe she is the key to breaking you, cyborg,” the Thraxian murmured thoughtfully. “We want to know Galen’s plans for Zaabha. We want to know the number of gladiators he has coming to attack us.” The Thraxian’s eyes glowed. “Drak knows that you withstood all the pain we dealt you, and you still didn’t share what we wanted to know.”

Magnus remained silent, staring at the Thraxian with eyes that were like ice.

Ever’s heart hurt. What had they done to him? What had he endured? She reached out, touching his bloody back.

The Thraxian’s lips pulled back over his black teeth. He reached up, absently stroking one of his black horns. “Maybe what will break you is knowing that she’s the reason you’re here.”

Ever frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“We programmed her,” the Thraxian continued, never taking his gaze off Magnus. “Right from the beginning, she was made to tempt you and lead you into the desert.” A scowl morphed the alien’s face. “She was supposed to bring you alone, but clearly when you removed her implant, that order was disrupted.”

What? Horror spread through her. She’d been violated? She’d been programmed to hurt Magnus?

Magnus went stiff.

“We knew the baby she was carrying belonged to you.” The Thraxian shrugged. “It was easy to send her out there to seduce you.”

“That’s a lie!” Her feelings for Magnus were real. She didn’t doubt that for one second.

But she saw Magnus’ muscles tense. His body vibrated with tension. God, did he believe it?

“She betrayed you. She’s your downfall, cyborg.”

She sucked in a breath. Did he think she’d betrayed him, just like he’d been betrayed by his military creators? He wouldn’t look at her and her stomach clenched.

The Thraxian laughed, a hollow, dark sound. “You really think she’d feel anything for a freakish cyborg like you, otherwise?” With a laugh, the alien stepped back, slamming the cell door behind him.

“Asshole.” Ever looked at Magnus. “Don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to get to us.”

Magnus didn’t move or speak. Worry bit at her insides. Quickly, she circled around in front of him.

“Magnus?”

He looked down at her. The cool look in his eyes sent ice over her skin. He looked at her like he was looking straight through her.

Panic combined with nausea washed through her. “Magnus.”

HIS SYSTEMS WERE MALFUNCTIONING from the beating he’d taken.

Magnus fought to block the pain, but he couldn’t. And he couldn’t block the emotions, either.

The Thraxian’s words echoed in his head. Ever had been a trap. Whatever she felt for him wasn’t real.

He remembered how it felt when he learned the military had been using him. How he felt when he discovered Jaxer was set to be destroyed. The betrayal he’d felt when he’d left the military. He remembered how he felt being used by them.

Used. Betrayed.

He stared into Ever’s pleading eyes. Had everything between them been a lie?

“Magnus.” She reached a hand toward him.

Without thinking, he stepped back.

Pain flashed in her eyes, her hand dropping to her side. “We met before the Thraxians did anything to me. We connected in a cell much like this one.” She tossed out a hand, anger pumping off her. “I wanted you then. It was hot and fierce and real. Nothing, nothing I feel for you is a lie.”

She spun away, pacing the cell. Then she stilled.

“Did what we share mean so little to you that you doubt it so easily?”

Magnus rubbed a hand over his face, fighting through the pain. His head throbbed where his implant had been damaged, and his body ached. He was too unfamiliar with all the sensory overload.

Right now, he couldn’t focus on any of this. The only thing echoing through his brain was the command to keep Ever safe.

“We need to get out of here.” His voice was deep and raspy. “We need an escape plan.”

She turned, her lips trembling before she firmed them. “Okay.”

It was like a light had been switched off inside her. He stared at her for a second before he turned. He did a lap of the cell, looking for anything useful—potential weapon, escape routes. Of course, there was nothing.

His scanners weren’t working well, either. They were flickering on and off, detecting faint bio signatures, but unable to detail numbers or exact location.

Suddenly, a noise started in the distance. It grew like a wave, like the sound of thunder.

Ever wrapped her arms around herself. “The spectators. They’re in the arena and chanting for the fighters.”

Her voice was flat, but Magnus detected the fear buried in it. He didn’t like hearing her defeat. “Galen will come.”

“What if they moved Zaabha after we were captured? What if we’re nowhere close to the others?” She sagged against the wall, like she couldn’t hold herself up anymore. “Oh.” She wrapped an arm around her belly, a grimace on her face.

“What’s wrong?” He stepped closer, but she turned away from him. That hurt worst of all, a slashing pain to his chest.

“Nothing,” she murmured. “Everything.”

He took another step closer.

She lifted her chin. “I always dreamed of meeting the man I’d fall in love with. A man I’d love like my mother loved my father. I always knew I’d feel it deep inside, in every cell of my body.” She threw her arms out. “That’s you, Magnus. Everything I feel for you is real. Every part of me is yours. And if you believe that damn bastard Thraxian over me…”

He stepped forward. “I don’t.”

Tears shimmered in her eyes but she dashed them away. “Then why did you back away from me?”

“I’m drowning in sensory overload, Ever. Pain, memories of my betrayal, fear for your safety, and a hundred other emotions I can barely process. And because I do wonder how you could feel anything for someone like me.”

She held out a hand. “Someone like you? An honorable, heroic, dedicated, protective imperator.”

“Ever.” He clasped her fingers. Everything else be damned, Ever was his. He needed her to know that. As he reached for her, she lifted that beautiful face, pain swimming in her eyes.

The cell door slammed open.

Magnus swiveled sharply as two Srinar guards entered the cell. The two men had large tumors growing on their faces and grotesque patches of peeling skin. They were holding two sets of chains.

“Ready to fight?” One of them said, a smile distorting his malformed mouth. “The arena is waiting.”

Drak. Magnus stared at the guards. How could he keep her safe? Ever in the Zaabha arena was his own personal nightmare.

She looked up at him. “Before we go out there, you should know that I love you.” Then she lifted her chin and brushed past him. She held her hands out for the chains.

Loved him? Magnus felt a strange flood of emotions—elation, terror, happiness, fear. And something warmer, brighter, that he wasn’t sure he had a name for.

“Ever—” Chains were clamped around his wrists, as well, and he was roughly shoved forward.

“Move it,” the Srinar growled.

Chin stubbornly lifted, Ever walked out of the cell. Drak, she was so strong. He followed, vowing to tell her just how he felt as soon as he could.

As soon as he got her out of this sand-cursed place.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

They were marched into the Zaabha arena.

As the sights and smells of the cheering crowd washed over her, Ever set her shoulders back. She felt tired and sore. More strongly, she felt fear. But she wouldn’t let these bastards see it.

One step ahead of her, she watched Magnus scanning the sand, tense and alert.

The crowd was jeering and throwing things onto the fighting floor. Some sort of alien fruit landed nearby with a rotten splat.

The retractable roof was open and sunlight from both the big suns speared down on them.

She’d fought here before. Her throat tightened. She’d managed to avoid having to kill anyone, but she’d spilled blood.

Her gaze caught on something new. In the center of the arena, several long, wooden poles had been set upright in the sand.

“Move.” One of the Srinar guards shoved her and she stumbled.

Magnus moved, slamming a shoulder into the man. The other guard spun and slammed a staff into Magnus’ back.

Ever pressed her lips together to hold back a cry of fear. They were led over to the poles and the Srinar set to work unceremoniously chaining them to the wood. Her arms were yanked painfully above her head.

“We figured the cyborg needed a bit more of a challenge,” the Srinar said in a grating voice, checking Magnus’ chains. “Can’t have you carving through all our fighters in seconds. Crowd won’t like it.”

She stared across at Magnus, who was chained opposite her, just a few meters of sand separating them. All around them, the bloodthirsty crowd cheered and stomped their feet.

God. She yanked against her bindings. “There’s no way out.”

In the bright sunlight, Magnus looked worse than he had in the shadowed cell. He was covered in bruises and scrapes, and smeared with blood.

His gaze met hers. “I will protect you.”

Ever sighed, her heart hurting. She knew that. This man would protect anyone who wasn’t as strong as him, anyone who needed his help. “I know.”

“I would die for you.”

Tears pricked her eyes. “I’d prefer you didn’t.”

A clanking sound echoed through the arena, and she closed her eyes, recognizing it. The gates were rising, no doubt letting some horror free. Something that would be out for their blood.

Opening her eyes, she turned her head and she watched the first of the animals come out of the shadows.

Oh, God. The first pair of beasts prowled in and made her think of lions. They had powerful bodies and four strong legs, but instead of fur, they had thick scales like a reptile. As they moved closer, she also saw they had powerful, long tails—like a crocodile’s—that dragged on the ground behind them.

She swallowed painfully, and then blinked as something else skittered out of the tunnel.

The next creatures were bigger. They let out wild screeches as they scuttled across the sand.

Each had six legs, and they looked like giant bugs crossed with crabs. They were heavily armored, and their two front legs were tipped with sharp pinchers. Their backs were covered in spikes.

She yanked against the chains again. There had to be a way out. She had to save her baby.

“Ever.” Magnus’ voice was cool and calm.

She glanced his way.

“I never felt much before you,” he said.

She stared at him.

“I controlled what I felt and when I felt it. I…deliberately didn’t let myself care for too many people.” His gaze fell to the sand. “I never had happiness or caring love in my life before. And when my military commanders betrayed me, I realized that feeling too much hurt.” Those tortured eyes moved back to her for a second before he closed them. His chest was rising and falling fast. “I’m not good at this. You…you blindsided me. I like to plan, assess, and win. But I’ve been scrambling to catch up ever since you arrived in my life.”

Her heart melted. Her cyborg loved her, he just didn’t know it. “What are you saying, Magnus?”

His eyes opened, his gaze boring into her. “I never thought someone would love me.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the creatures stalking closer. God, what a time to be having this discussion. Par for the course for her life lately. But as she looked at her strong, handsome cyborg, she knew she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I love you, Magnus. You’re honorable, protective, strong. You’re a good man.”

His eyes flashed. “You see me as a man. Most don’t.”

“I love you, but I’m kind of worried that we’re about to die here.” A sob built in her chest.

“I never thought you betrayed me. I was just trying to process everything. I know now that what I feel for you is love, and I love you so much that sometimes I can’t breathe.”

Warmth filled her and tears welled in her eyes. Her cyborg was a romantic. “I love you, too. All of you.”

“I won’t let you die.” His voice sounded like unyielding steel.

The horrible stink of the animals reached her nostrils now. They were close. The crowd was shrieking, their cheers rising in pitch.

There was a sudden burst of movement behind Ever, and then she felt her pole wobble violently. She looked up.

One of the lion-like creatures was perched on top of the pole. Hungry, gold eyes looked down at her.

It let out a primal roar.

Fear clamped around her chest. “Magnus—” There was so much she wanted to say to him, to do with him, to share with him.

She thought of the tiny life growing inside her, and helplessness rushed into her.

They’d all run out of time.

Suddenly, Magnus let out a wild shout. His muscles flexed, and she watched him straining against the chains. The links started to stretch and her eyes widened.

She’d seen these chains hold the biggest, toughest aliens in place during fights. Surely, he couldn’t—

The chains broke.

Magnus’ dropped his arms to his sides and dashed across the sand toward her.

MAGNUS REACHED EVER and gripped her chains. With one violent jerk, he broke them, careful not to hurt her.

He sensed movement above and looked up. The nathall perched on the pole roared again, and then it dived down at them with a powerful jump.

Magnus shoved Ever down toward his feet, then he lifted his arms. The nathall rushed at him, and at the last second, he grabbed the animal’s strong jaws. It growled, the fetid stench of its breath washing over him, as it tried to slam its jaws closed. He used the creature’s downward momentum to swing it around and slam it against the pole.

But it was a hunter, and as it swung, it twisted its heavy body. Magnus gritted his teeth, holding on to the beast with all his strength. He shifted his focus to the animal’s neck. With a single twist, he broke the creature’s neck. With a heave, he tossed the dead beast aside.

“Jesus.” Ever bounded back up on her feet, her eyes wide.

He grabbed her arm, quickly checking her over. A fierce growl made him look up. The other animals were watching them hungrily, slowly creeping closer.

Magnus walked backward, keeping Ever at his side. He didn’t take his gaze off the animals. His flickering scanners gave him bits and pieces of information—size, strength, weight, weaknesses.

Ever moved lightly on her feet, keeping up with him. He held up his cybernetic arm and touched a certain spot. A slot opened up, and he pulled out a small electroblade.

“Handy,” she said.

He handed the weapon to her. He showed her the control and blue electricity ran over the blade. “I will protect you and our child.”

She gripped his arm. “And I you. Let’s all get out of here alive, Magnus. Promise me.”

He didn’t say anything. It was a promise he couldn’t make. Her life was more important than his.

As if by an unseen signal, the creatures attacked.

Magnus leaped in front of her. He dodged to the side to avoid the incoming ha’ri. Its sharp pincers missed him by a breath. He slid in under the ha’ri’s body. It screeched, its front legs hitting the sand around him as it tried to strike him. He reached up with his cybernetic arm and let loose with an electrical shock.

The creature jerked and shuddered. The crowd roared.

Magnus rolled out from under the dying beast. He leaped to his feet and found himself staring into the face of the second nathall. It roared, baring its wicked fangs. Its powerful tail swung from side to side behind it.

The nathall bounded into the air, aiming for him. Magnus ducked, slamming a punch into its leg. With a pained cry, it hit the sand, its leg broken. Magnus swiveled and raced closer to Ever who was slashing out at a ha’ri with the electroblade. She was dancing out of the way of the creature’s legs. Multiple bloodstains marred the animal’s sides.

His fierce woman. The corners of his lips tipped into a small smile.

A ha’ri moved his way and he circled it. It was wary.

But not wary enough. In a flash, it rushed in at him. Magnus leaped straight up, flying high into the air. When he came down, he landed on the beast’s back, dodging its spikes.

Nestled amongst the protective spikes on its back was a glowing green bump. He fought with his malfunctioning systems for information.

Static filled his heads-up display, but some text flashed up.

There. The bump was a vital organ.

He slammed his cybernetic arm into the green lump. Green goo splattered.

The creature let out a terrible sound and spun. As its body collapsed, Magnus leaped off it, hitting the sand running. He sprinted toward Ever.

She was standing beside the collapsed body of the ha’ri. Her chest was heaving, the electroblade clutched in her hand.

She’d taken the beast down.

“You are amazing.” He yanked her close.

She smiled. “Not so bad yourself, Imperator Rone.”

The crowd’s shouting changed, increasing in volume. Together, he and Ever turned.

A group of fighters was entering the arena.

“Champ-ion. Champ-ion.”

They were calling for Samantha Santos.

Several of the fighters broke into a run, racing across the arena.

Magnus tensed, readying himself. “Stay back.”

Ever lifted her blade and shook her head. “I can’t. If we’re going to survive, we both have to fight.”

Drak. “I love you.” He turned and broke into a sprint. He blurred, rushing into the fighters.

He swung out with his fists, kicking and landing blows. He knocked down several fighters, leaving them groaning on the sand. He spun, and a giant, dark-skinned warrior rushed at him. A hard front kick sent the man flying.

“Champ-ion. Champ-ion.”

Ever sprinted up beside him, panting. “Oh, God, it’s Sam.”

Magnus swiveled. Ahead, the crowd of fighters parted.

Sam Santos strode forward.

She wore fighting boots that reached past her knees. An armored skirt fell over her muscled thighs, and a metal, armored top molded her body. Her sword arm was covered with a metallic arm guard.

She held a large sword that glowed green along its edges.

Magnus’ gut hardened. Poison. He mentally kicked his malfunctioning scanners. Not just any poison, but diseth. The tiniest amount could kill in minutes. It slowly worked into the body, overwhelming the body’s systems until everything shut down and its victim died.

Ever gasped. “Magnus…her face.”

He dragged his gaze off the sword and took in Sam’s face. His jaw hardened.

She now had an implant at her temple. She stared at them coldly, with no sign of recognition.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Sam strode closer, and Ever clutched the electroblade in her hands.

“Sam?” Ever called out. “It’s Ever.”

Nothing. Sam didn’t respond, or even blink. There wasn’t the smallest flicker of recognition on the woman’s face.

With a rush of speed, Sam leaped into the air, swinging her deadly sword.

Magnus pushed Ever back and raced to meet the woman.

He knocked Sam’s blade away with his cybernetic arm, and then kicked her. Ever watched them scuffle, their boots sliding through the sand. The crowd cheered.

God, they were going to kill each other. Magnus spun Sam around and gripped the back of Sam’s fighting leathers. He swung her around, lifted her off her feet, and tossed her into the air.

Sam sailed through the air, but landed safely in a crouch, sliding a few meters through the sand. She lifted her sword, and stared at them with her cool, expressionless face.

She rose and strode back toward them.

“Sam, please,” Ever cried out. “Try to remember. We’re your friends.”

“Ever, stay behind me.” Magnus said.

Ever looked around wildly. The other fighters were hanging back, letting their champion do the dirty work.

“What do we do?” Ever said.

“We need to disable her implant.” His gaze narrowed. “That worked when I rescued you.”

Right. Pin the Champion of Zaabha down and disable her implant. Piece of cake. Ever’s stomach did a slow roll.

“Watch out for the sword,” he warned. “It’s covered in deadly poison.”

Sam attacked again, her long legs devouring the distance across the sand. Magnus rushed to meet her. He used his cybernetic arm like a weapon, crashing it against Sam’s sword. The pair continued to dance their way across the sand with hard, deadly moves. Ever could tell he was holding back from using his full strength.

The poison on Sam’s weapon didn’t appear to affect Magnus’ metallic skin, but if it touched his organic skin…

Disable Sam’s implant. That’s what Ever had to focus on now.

Magnus went down on one knee, slamming a blow into Sam’s thigh. The woman grunted, her leg going out from under her. She hit the ground but rolled instantly. Magnus’ palm hit sand instead of Sam.

Suddenly, a strange noise resonated across the arena. A mechanical, grinding sound.

Ever spun and watched as four creatures burst out of the tunnels.

Her chest hitched. No, not creatures. These were machines. Robots. They looked like spiders, with riders seated in saddles on top. They were some sort of spider-droids.

They made their way toward the fighting, moving across the sand in formation.

Sam stepped back, watching the incoming machines. Her sword lowered. Ever guessed the woman was receiving orders through her implant.

One of the droids rushed at Ever. Magnus flew in, knocking it out of the way. She turned, trying to keep the circling machines in view.

Another one darted in, one leg swinging at her. Magnus grabbed the machine’s leg. The spider-droid halted, the face of the operator twisting as she tried to free her robot from Magnus’ grip.

With a loud snap, he broke half the leg off, then he used it as a stake and stabbed it into the body of the machine. Green electricity arced and the spider-droid skittered backward, lurching.

The other machines moved in together.

“Ever, run!” Magnus yelled, as he leaped onto the closest machine. He knocked the operator off, and, with a scream, the man fell under his spider-droid’s legs.

Ever ducked out through a gap. She spun, seeing one of the machines turn to follow her. The operator was smiling wickedly.

She glanced back toward the tunnels, but that route was blocked. There were fighters all around the arena floor, still holding back, even though some were bouncing on their feet and clutching their weapons. Clearly, some were eager to fight, eager to spill blood.

The clack-clack of an out-of-control spider-droid made her turn again. Magnus was at the controls of one machine, riding it like he was some kind of Earth rodeo star. He rammed his cybernetic arm into the robot’s control panel. Sparks exploded up like a fountain, and the machine stopped. He sat there, focused on the machine, his arm lit up with blue electricity.

Then he leaped off the spider-droid. It was still for a second, before it whirled and raced off.

Straight toward the spider-droid closest to Ever.

The two machines crashed into each other, legs waving and slamming into each other. Magnus’ machine smashed the other one to pieces, before it spun, and aimed for the last remaining robot.

The last operator’s eyes widened. The big man dived off the machine and ran for his life.

Magnus reached Ever, his eye glowing bright, neon blue. “I reprogrammed it.”

“Nice work.”

The other spider-droid lay on its side now, its legs all broken. Magnus’ robot turned again, paused, then it headed for the nearest stands.

Ever heard gasps and cries of terror. The machine slammed into the stands with a splinter of wood. Frightened screams rang out. Chaos reigned in the stands as spectators rushed for safety. Several Thraxian and Srinar guards were trying to direct the crowd, but it was a stampede.

“Really nice work.” She squeezed Magnus’ arm.

She felt him tense, and when she looked up, Sam was striding toward them again, moving with purpose.

The former head of security was spinning her sword. The Zaabha fighters moved in behind her.

“Ever.” Magnus gripped her. “Can you fix your stealth suit? If I know you’re safe, I can take down these fighters.”

“How can you take them all?”

“I have some…abilities I haven’t used since I left the military.”

A rock lodged in her throat. Abilities he’d abandoned and never wanted to use again.

“Ever, the suit.”

She watched the fighters coming closer and quickly fiddled with her suit controls. “I don’t think I can—” The camouflage flared to life.

“Good work.” He slid his hand down her arm and found her hand. Squeezed. “I will not let you and our baby die here.”

Her heart clenched. “Magnus.”

“Stay hidden.” He turned and strode toward the fighters.

She saw blue electricity light up his arm and saw his entire body tense. She pressed her palms to her thighs. She knew it hurt him.

Then he let out a roar and his entire body sparked blue-white. No. It had to be agony for him. He charged into the fighters. The agonized screams echoed across the sand.

Ever touched her belly. He was doing this for her, for them. He was embracing the killer he’d once been to protect them.

She watched him fight—tireless, relentless. She had to force herself to stay still.

Then Sam rushed at Magnus, and Ever gasped.

But the woman leaped over Magnus. He reached up, trying to grab her, his fingers brushing the woman’s leather boots.

But she sailed through the air and landed just meters away from Ever. She swung her sword experimentally, her gaze focused.

She knew Ever was there somewhere. Air lodged in Ever’s throat and she took a half step back.

Sam’s gaze fell to the sand, and then she lunged forward. Ever darted to the side. Sam swung again. Her sword just missed Ever, but the woman’s muscled body slammed into Ever.

They went down in a tumble, rolling through the sand. Sam slammed the sword down, but Ever wiggled free and rolled away.

It was only thanks to the suit hiding her, that Sam’s sword missed running straight through Ever’s gut. But her hand stung sharply.

Sam rolled away and Ever tried to move…but her head spun. Her vision blurred. Her suit flickered and the camouflage died.

Magnus let out a roar, tackling Sam. They sprung up, fighting each other with hard blows. But Ever could tell Magnus was still trying not to hurt the woman.

Magnus landed a sharp blow and Sam’s head snapped back. She stumbled backward, wary now and her gaze assessing.

Ever tried to get to her feet, but her body felt too heavy.

“Ever,” Magnus called out, gaze still on Sam.

“I’m okay.” Except for the growing lethargy and pain.

“I detect incoming heat signatures,” he said.

“Yes.” She eyed the fighters nearby. They were starting to get edgy. Any second they’d swarm, caught up in the heat of the fight. “There’s a whole bunch of prisoners around us who want to kill us.”

“No.” A faint smile on Magnus’ face. “I can detect Jaxer.”

Hope flared in Ever. Help was coming.

Sam stepped forward, and she and Magnus stared at each other like gunslingers about to go in for the kill.

The woman swung her sword again, her muscles bunching.

Suddenly, the screech of a bird echoed overhead. Ever turned her head, blinking against the bright sunlight.

Clutching her hand to her chest, she squinted and watched as a dark shadow appeared in the sky. A big body dropped down, directly in front of Sam, with the flap of a black cloak.

Galen.

The imperator rose, his intense gaze trained on Sam.

Dizziness hit Ever like a tidal wave, and she slumped back on the sand. Her head felt like it weighed a ton. “Magnus.” It was barely a whisper.

But he heard her.

He dropped down beside her, pulling her into his arms. “Ever.” He lifted her hand, and his face contorted into an expression of horror.

A thin cut on her finger, tinged with green.

Anguish twisted his features. “Ever, no!”

AGONY TORE THROUGH MAGNUS. He tore the ruined stealth suit off her and stared blindly at the poison on her skin.

Already, his scanners were detecting a stutter in her breathing. Her eyelids fluttered, and every drop of color had drained from her face.

The poison was going to kill her. And there was no cure.

Shouts echoed around them. His reprogrammed spider-droid was still causing chaos in the crowd, adding to the confusion caused by terrified spectators. Overhead, more flying beasts swooped in, dropping more big, powerful bodies onto the sand.

Raiden and Harper. Thorin and Kace. Saff and Blaine. Nero and Lore.

The House of Galen had arrived.

Acton and Mace landed with heavy thuds. Jaxer was the last to land. Magnus didn’t detect any others, which meant Galen hadn’t been able to get all of their backup teams aboard.

“Magnus.” Jax dropped to one knee beside him. “Are you all right?”

“Ever’s been poisoned. Diseth.”

Shock appeared on his friend’s face. “There’s no antidote, Magnus.”

His arms tightened on the woman in his embrace. Her pulse was rapid, her heart working overtime. “I can’t lose her.”

He glanced up, watching the gladiators and his cyborgs rushing toward the line of incoming fighters. In the center of the mêlée, Sam and Galen were fighting. The imperator spun and swung up with his sword.

Sam dodged and charged at him. She matched the man move for move.

Jax pressed his fingers to Ever’s wrist. “She’s weakening. Her pulse is thready. The poison is slowly working into her system.” Jax’s gaze met his, sorrow in his eyes. “You know how diseth works. She’s only feeling the vague effects of it right now. The main clot of poison travels slowly…but it won’t be long before it works its way up her arm and into her vital organs.”

Magnus ground his teeth. He was a man of action, and right now, he had no way to save his woman or their child. A pained roar echoed inside him.

Think. He spun through his databanks, searching for anything he could do. He had to save her.

One idea appeared. His stomach revolted at the possibility.

Jax, his friend for so long, was attuned to his thoughts. The man nodded. “There’s only one option that might have a chance of saving her.”

“No.” The word was ripped from Magnus.

Suddenly, an explosion rocked the arena. Magnus looked up and saw that Lore had tossed something. Sand sprayed up like a fountain.

There was another boom. Blaine and Saff were on the other side of the arena. His sensors detected high-grade explosives.

But as Magnus looked toward the stands, he saw more Thraxian and Srinar guards amassing. The Fightmaster wasn’t giving up Zaabha without a battle.

The ground started to tilt.

Screams rang out. Magnus started to slide sideways through the sand. He gripped Ever to his chest.

“Drak.” Jax pressed his palms to the sand.

The tilting stopped and the giant arena platform righted itself.

“Magnus.” Jax looked at him. “You can do this. You can save her.”

Yes. He dragged in a breath, rubbing a thumb over her pale cheek. He’d vowed to protect her and their child, no matter what. He loved her with everything he had.

For her, he could do this. Thankfully, she was unconscious. He stroked her hair off her face. “I’m sorry, my fierce warrior.”

Carefully, he laid her out on the sand. He pulled her poisoned arm out straight, resting her hand flat on the ground. Her hand was swollen and red, and the veins in her wrist were an angry green. The poison hadn’t gone too far, yet. But there was no more time to waste. He took the electroblade Jax handed him.

“Forgive me, my love, but you have to live.” He raised the blade and then brought it down.

Ripped from unconsciousness, Ever’s scream pierced the air, and drilled like a blade into Magnus’ heart.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Galen

She was good.

Galen’s muscles strained as he fought. Blood pumped through his body.

Sam swung her sword at his head and he jumped back. He spun, and used his speed to come up behind her. With the hilt of his sword, he knocked her forward.

But she didn’t go down like he’d anticipated. She was already spinning to face him. Drak, she was light on her feet.

She twirled, and he saw that deadly, poison-tipped blade coming at his face. He dropped to one knee, then rammed a fist into the toned belly bared by the ridiculous fighting leathers the Thraxians had given her.

As she staggered back, shaking her head, Galen pushed up and raised his sword.

She watched him with blank eyes, her boots moving through the sand to circle him. He matched her moves.

“I promised to come back for you, Captain Santos.”

Nothing flickered in those brown eyes of hers.

“Remember, I told you that I’ve been protecting your people. We agreed to protect them and bring Zaabha down.”

She lunged at him, and their swords crashed together. She drove him back, and he moved his sword to meet her blows.

Galen was aware of his gladiators fighting around him. Another explosion rocked the ground beneath them, and he shifted his weight to keep his balance.

Anger punched through Galen. His backup team was stuck on the ground. If they could find a way to land Zaabha and get their full contingent of fighters aboard, then he could finally destroy this drakking hellish pit.

Sam leaped high, her strong body a thing of beauty. She had bold features and golden skin turned bronze by the sun. Light flashed off the sword that was like an extension of her body.

Galen had learned to not covet things, but he could only think of one word for her. Magnificent.

It was wrong for her to be imprisoned. To be leashed by that drakking implant.

He’d vowed to free her, and if there was one thing Galen always did, it was fulfill his promises.

As she came at him again, he slammed his sword against hers. He used more of his strength this time. Their bodies crashed together, their swords driven up above their heads. His cloak blew around them, trapping them in a private cocoon. Heat pumped off her body.

“Samantha.”

Something shifted in her eyes and she tilted her head. Then she blinked, and it was gone.

He felt her muscles bunch, but before she could strike out, he rammed into her. They tumbled to the sand and rolled.

Galen managed to get on top of her and pinned her beneath him. She bucked her hips, trying to fight him off.

“No,” he growled.

Her eyes narrowed. They were still the same gorgeous brown that had haunted his thoughts since he’d first seen her on this sand. But the fierce intelligence and drive he’d spotted was missing, dulled by the Thraxians’ implant.

Suddenly, her strong legs twined with his, and with a vicious thrust of her body, she managed to knock him off her.

They scuffled in the sand, but Galen had the advantage of height and weight. And he used it.

He pinned her again, and this time, her strong legs were spread, his hips settling into the cradle of her thighs. Awareness rocketed through him.

Drak. Now was not the time. He captured both her wrists with one of his hands. She jerked and fought, but he held her down.

With his other hand, he pulled his dagger off his belt. He lifted the dagger above her head, aiming it downward.

Her eyes widened, her gaze shifting to his.

He stabbed the knife down.

The tip of the blade pierced her implant. There was a sizzling sound, and the light on the implant blinked out.

Her eyes closed, then opened. Awareness filled her gaze.

“You,” she breathed.

“My name is Galen, remember?”

“I remember.” She turned her head, taking in the fighting in the arena in a second. Emotion crossed her face so fast he almost missed it. “You came back.”

“I told you I would. I told you that I would take care of your friends, and that I would come back for you.” The words echoed in him. He’d been born and raised to protect and to honor his vows. “And I promised you that we would destroy this place.”

“Your gladiators are outnumbered.”

“We’ll retreat for now, but we will be back.” Galen pushed off her and stood. He held his hand out to her. “Are you with me, Samantha Santos?”

She stared at his hand for a long second, then she put her hand in his. “Yes.”

They both turned, raising their swords.

Then Sam frowned. “Something’s wrong.”

Galen saw Magnus clutching Ever’s still body to his chest. The cyborg’s face was filled with emotion, ravaged.

No. Galen and Sam broke into a run. A second later, they reached Magnus’ side. Galen saw that one of Ever’s arms was missing a hand. The stump was wrapped in blood-soaked fabric.

“Galen.” Magnus’ eyes were wild. “Poison. She was touched by diseth.”

Sam looked down at her sword and her face spasmed. “This is my fault.”

Galen shook his head. “No, it’s the Thraxians’ fault.”

“I…I had no other choice.” Magnus stared at Ever’s face. “I had to remove the source of the poison.”

“We’ll get her to the healers,” Galen said. They weren’t losing the woman or her child.

Shouts and screams echoed over the sand, and Galen lifted his head. A fresh wave of Zaabha fighters was rushing across the arena.

“We need to go,” Galen ordered. “We need a way out of here.”

All around them, his gladiators were drawing back, protecting them.

“The flying creatures?” Magnus asked.

“Gone.” Galen scanned the stands. “Are there ships or shuttles anywhere?”

“Not that I’ve seen.” Sam tossed her honey-brown braid over her shoulder. “But there is an emergency exit.”

“Where?” Galen demanded.

“Near the northern stands. I’m not sure exactly. It’s heavily guarded, and I’ve only overheard the guards talking about it. It’s some sort of wire ladder that will reach down to the surface.”

Galen nodded. “Let’s move.”

He took the lead. With Sam beside him, and his gladiators at his back, they fought through the Zaabha fighters.

“There.” Sam pointed with her sword.

He saw a tight group of Thraxian guards huddled in the stands.

Galen leaped over the railing. Almost all the spectators had scattered, leaving the stands nearly empty.

Guards rushed at them. As he thrust his sword at the first attacker, Sam moved in beside him, taking on another.

“For honor and freedom,” Galen yelled.

“For honor and freedom,” Galen’s gladiators roared.

Galen cut down the guard, pulling his sword back. His gaze met Sam’s.

“For honor and freedom,” she murmured.

Galen felt a flood of energy and he nodded.

“We have more fighters incoming,” Raiden yelled, bringing Galen back to the present.

Galen turned and saw the wild crowd of fighters leaping into the stands. Nearby, he saw Magnus was holding Ever carefully, Jax and his other cyborgs protecting them.

They needed to get Ever out of here. Now.

Galen ripped into the fighters. He ran along the seats, swinging his sword and taking down fighter after fighter. He focused solely on the battle, nothing else. Blood splattered on the seats, and for a second, he was on another planet, watching red blood splatter on stone.

No. Stay in the present. He scanned the desert arena. This place was an abomination, and it had to end.

“Galen.”

Sam’s warning had him spinning.

A huge Thraxian swung a giant axe at him. He leaped backward, the blade missing him by a thread.

Sam jumped over a row of seats, driving her sword through the alien’s gut. She stepped back, and shoulder-to-shoulder, they fought the incoming fighters. They fought together like they’d been fighting together for years. Galen forced the shocking feeling of awe away.

Sam glanced his way and smiled. Galen inclined his head, marveling that she could look so beautiful, even with blood staining one smooth cheek.

A horn sounded out across the arena. More gates clanked open below them.

Sam’s face hardened. “They’re throwing everything at us.” She dragged in a breath. “There are too many. We won’t make it.”

“We will.” Galen lifted his sword.

She arched a brow. “Do you always just say something and it happens?”

“Yes. I’m good at giving orders.”

Sam snorted. “What a surprise.” Then her gaze moved to the arena floor. It was packed with fighters, Thraxians, and beasts. “Get your people out of here, Galen. Get Ever out and help her. I’ll hold the fighters off.”

Not again. He grabbed Sam’s arm. “No.”

“You might give your orders, imperator, but I’m unlikely to follow them.”

With that, she broke free of him. She leaped down the seating, racing to meet the oncoming fighters. Then she jumped, flying through the air, sword swinging.

Drak. Courageous fool.

“Galen!”

He swiveled and saw Raiden waving at him from higher in the stands. A trapdoor was open, and he watched as Magnus disappeared down the hole, carrying Ever. The others were quickly following them.

A muscle ticked in Galen’s jaw. They’d be overrun before they got far enough down the ladder, even with Sam holding some of the fighters back.

“Get Ever out,” Galen yelled at his best friend. Raiden was his closest friend, his brother.

Raiden’s eyes widened. He shook his head angrily.

“Get them all out safely, Raiden. That’s an order.”

With that, Galen turned and followed one stubborn, intriguing Earth woman into the fighting mob.

THE LIGHTS of Kor Magna appeared on the horizon, and the tiniest sense of relief filled Magnus. But with Ever’s body held in his arms, her life signs so faint he could barely monitor them, he couldn’t relax.

The scaly tarnid they were riding snorted, like it was also relieved to be almost back in the city. Its six legs moved in a rhythmic gait.

Their group had managed the perilous climb down the wire ladder from Zaabha. Galen’s gladiators had been radiating rage at leaving their imperator behind. Magnus knew that without Galen and Sam’s help, they would never have made it out.

Ever would have died at Zaabha.

But she was still alive. She still had a chance.

They’d run through the desert, watching as the Zaabha arena had flown overhead, and then disappeared into the distance.

After several hours, they’d come across a trading outpost. They’d stolen some tarnids and headed straight for Kor Magna.

“He drakking gave himself up.” Raiden cursed viciously from his beast at the front of their group. “So we could escape.”

“And so Sam wouldn’t be alone,” Magnus said. “Galen is tough. Tougher than anyone I’ve ever met. He’ll wait for us to get back.” Magnus looked down at the precious bundle in his arms. Ever hadn’t stirred for hours. Every now and then, a shiver wracked her body. His gaze fell to the stump of her arm wrapped in the blood-soaked fabric. So much blood.

Pain pierced him. He wrapped his arms more snugly around her, and he felt the baby kick against his hand. He closed his eyes. They were both alive, and he would sell his soul to keep it that way.

“The Thraxians will torture Galen.” Thorin’s booming voice vibrated with anger. “They hate him.”

Magnus stared at the big gladiator. “He’ll hold.”

“We have to make a plan,” Raiden’s voice was as hard as stone. “We have to get back there as fast as we can. Then we can grind the Thraxians to dust.”

“For honor and freedom,” Lore called out.

“For honor and freedom.” All the gladiators raised their voices together.

“I’ll join you once Ever is well,” Magnus promised. “You will have the House of Rone at your side.”

“Thank you, Magnus.” Raiden nodded, his somber gaze on Ever. “You take care of your woman.”

When they reached the edge of the city, urgency rode Magnus. He wanted to get Ever to the healers. At the entrance of the arena, Magnus left Galen’s gladiators with a nod of his head. With Jax, Acton, and Mace flanking him, they rushed through the tunnels toward the House of Rone.

Jax slammed his hands against the doors to the House, and Magnus shouldered in behind him.

“Avarn!” Magnus bellowed, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

The healer came sprinting down the hallway, along with several other members of the Medical team.

“Imperator.” When he saw Ever, his eyes widened. “Quickly. To Medical. We need to put her straight in a regen tank.”

“Save her,” Magnus pleaded.

Traveling through the desert, time had seemed to have slowed to a crawl. Now, it was as though the opposite was occurring. Everything was happening at a dizzying rate. The healers pulled Ever away from him, and Magnus dropped into a chair. They stripped her, attaching sensors to her skin, and then lowered her into the large tank filled with blue gel. Only her head stayed above the fluid, her naked body floating.

He felt hollow. She was so still, and Ever was never still. Please Ever, don’t leave me.

“She was scratched with diseth.”

The healer hissed out a breath. “But she’s still alive, so there’s hope.”

“I had to amputate her hand.” Saying the words carved something out of him.

Avarn’s hand gripped his shoulder. “Then you saved her life, Magnus. You’re a hero.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ever rolled over in the bed, patting the sheets beside her. Empty. No hard, muscled cyborg beside her.

Sitting up, she pushed her hair from her face, then crawled out of the bed and pulled on her robe.

Five days since they’d returned from Zaabha. Three days since she’d woken in Medical to see her exhausted, grief-ravaged cyborg watching over her.

He still wasn’t sleeping well. Every night, they went to sleep wrapped in each other’s arms, and every morning, she woke alone.

She lifted her hand and flexed her new cybernetic fingers. She thought they looked pretty cool, even though she was still adjusting to her new hand. She’d already gotten back into her lab. Her stealth suits had worked pretty darn well in the field, and helped save her life. She had big plans to get them working perfectly and upgrade them. Even the House of Rone’s temperamental head weapons maker had asked for a demonstration.

Flexing her fingers again, she smiled. She liked that she was a cyborg now, too, just like the man she loved. The man who’d risked it all to save her. She patted her baby bump. “You don’t mind if your mommy has some metal fingers, do you, peanut?”

Her belly was getting bigger every day, and her back was killing her. She pressed her hands to the small of her back. Today, the ache was especially bad. She’d been having practice contractions as well. Avarn told her she probably only had a couple more weeks before she delivered.

And then she’d be a mommy and Magnus a daddy.

Knowing exactly where she’d find her cyborg, she moved toward the balcony. As she opened the door, she saw his strong, muscled form leaning against the railing.

Magnus was looking out over the quiet arena below. He was washed in morning sunlight, and it gleamed off his metal arm.

She moved up close to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

“Ever,” he murmured.

“You’re thinking of Galen and Sam.”

His muscles flexed. “Yes.”

“Have Raiden and the others had any luck tracking Zaabha?”

“Not yet.”

He was so tense. She slipped around in front of him, leaning in close for a hug. “We’ll find it again.” She reached up and cupped his cheek, her cybernetic fingers stroking his skin. “We won’t give up.”

He nodded, his face still somber.

Leaning up, she nipped at his lips. “Now, how about you show your cyborg woman how much you love her?”

He gripped her new hand, turning it over so he could press a kiss to her palm. His lips moved over the soft metallic skin of her fingers, nibbling gently. She felt each touch, the sensation different, but just as strong.

“I’m so sorry, Ever.”

She shook her head. “I’m not. You saved my life, Magnus. I don’t know how many different ways I can say that. I’m grateful for everything you did out there.”

He stared at her for a moment, then he moved to her organic hand, his tongue tracing over her fingers and licking in between them. She sucked in a breath, heat arrowing between her thighs.

“Hormones again?” He smiled now. A full, honest-to-God smile.

He was so handsome. She pressed against him, cupping the growing bulge in his trousers. “Yes.” But something told her that she’d feel exactly the same, even when her pregnancy hormones were gone. “Are you going to take care of that for me?” He hadn’t made love to her since they’d returned. He kept telling her that she needed time to recover.

Pfft. She needed sex. She needed him.

“We have a meeting at the House of Galen shortly.”

She groaned. “How long have we got?”

“Thirty minutes.”

She smiled. “Luckily, my cyborg knows how to be very efficient.” She stroked his lips. “I need you, Magnus.”

He backed her toward the doorway. “I do live for efficiency, and I live to please you.”

In minutes, Ever found herself bent over the bed, her clothes gone, and one warm and one cool hand holding her thighs apart. Magnus’ mouth was between her legs, his tongue stabbing into her.

“Yes. Harder.”

But just as her orgasm was threatening, he pulled that clever, efficient mouth away.

“What? No!” She reared up.

A firm hand pushed her back against the bed. “So impatient and hungry.”

A second later, she felt the brush of a thick cock between her legs. Heat turned molten in her belly. She pushed back against him.

Magnus entered her with one solid thrust. Ever groaned. God, he filled her up. All the empty spaces.

He started a firm, punishing rhythm. “You will not get hurt again,” he ground out.

She made a choked sound, her hands clenching on the bed.

“You will not die, Ever. Never.”

“Magnus—”

“Everything I am is yours. Without you, I’m empty, with no heart or soul.”

God. Her orgasm pulled her under and shattered her. She cried out his name, and then held on as his thrusts increased. A moment later, his hands gripped her hair as he groaned in her ear. His release was warm inside her.

Ever felt like liquid. She nuzzled her cheek against the bed, enjoying the feel of Magnus’ big, strong body pressed against her, still inside her.

“I love you,” she said.

He pressed a kiss to the back of her neck. “You taught me what love is.” He was silent a moment. “I hope you’ll help me love our child, and show him what he means to me.”

She looked over her shoulder. “Him?”

Magnus smiled. “Just a guess.”

“Not very exact for a cyborg. And it’s a girl.”

Magnus grunted and rose.

Ever glanced at the timepiece beside the bed and squeaked. “Looks like I’m teaching you some bad habits, as well. Like being late.”

He followed her gaze and cursed. “Get dressed, my sweet cyborg.”

As it turned out, they were ten minutes late reaching the House of Galen. Ever fought not to feel guilty about enjoying being alive and in love. Galen and Sam were trapped at Zaabha, and she hated to think what they might be suffering.

As they entered the long corridor lined with beautiful wall hangings woven in red and silver, Ever hoped the glow on her face didn’t scream “I just had several orgasms.”

They turned a corner, and the sound of footsteps reached her. Several women were hurrying in their direction.

“Ever!” Rory called out.

She found herself engulfed in warm hugs, and with gentle pats on her belly. Then Magnus got a few hugs as well, which left him looking stiff and perplexed.

“Oh, wow.” Rory grabbed Ever’s new hand. “I’m sorry it had to happen to you, Ever, but I would love something like this.”

“What matters is you’re safe,” Harper said. “And for that, we are very glad.”

“Thanks.” Ever tugged Magnus with her, as the women ushered them toward the meeting room. But her happiness didn’t last long.

When they entered the living area of the high-level gladiators, she saw the tense, grim faces of the gladiators sitting around the table. The rest of the House of Galen allies were there, as well. Rillian beside Dayna, Ryan sitting in a chair with Zhim standing behind her. Corsair and Neve were near the end of the table.

When her sister saw her, Neve strode over. Ever met her halfway, and they wrapped their arms around each other.

“You’re okay?” Neve hugged her hard, not letting go.

“I’m fine. The baby’s fine. No need to kill my cyborg.”

Neve had been to see Ever every day since they’d returned from the desert. Her sister’s gaze dropping to Ever’s hand. “How’s the new appendage?”

Ever flexed her fingers. “I like it. I’m getting used to it.”

She’d expected Neve to lose her mind about Magnus amputating Ever’s hand. But strangely, her sister had looked at Magnus with grudging respect. She’d even stopped calling him “the cyborg.”

Raiden rose, clearing his throat. He stood near the head of the table, beside Galen’s empty chair. The room quieted.

“Galen dedicated his life to me.” Raiden’s direct gaze moved over all of them. “As my royal bodyguard, my friend, my mentor, and my imperator. Everything he’s done has always been to better my life.” Raiden blew out a harsh breath, and Harper shifted to stand close beside him. “He is the best man I know, and I will do the same for him.”

Murmurs of agreement and assent echoed around the room.

“And Sam Santos is a good woman,” Harper added. “She’s been through enough.”

Raiden straightened. “Whatever it takes, we bring Galen and Sam home.”

“Yes,” Thorin’s voice boomed.

“My desert informants are working overtime,” Corsair said. “If they find out anything about Zaabha, they’ll let me know immediately.”

“Ryan and I have search bugs out everywhere in the system,” Zhim said. “Any mention of Zaabha, and we’ll know in an instant.”

Rillian gave a nod, his arm wrapped tight around Dayna. “If any of my contacts come through with information, I’ll call straight away.”

Harper slipped her hand into Raiden’s. He slid an arm around her, pulling her close, like he needed the support.

“We are all a part of this,” Harper said. “The Thraxians ripped us away from our home, and Galen took us in. He gave us a new home.”

All around the room, the people from Earth leaned into their loved ones.

“And we will fight to protect our home,” Harper said. “And our new family.”

“For honor and freedom,” Raiden said.

“For love,” Harper added.

Magnus twined his arms around Ever, his big palms resting over her swollen belly. “For love.”

She smiled at him. Her home and family were right here. And Harper was right, she would fight to protect them. She would stand with the cyborg who’d captured her heart.

She traded a glance with her sister, and Neve nodded, before turning into the arms of her own man.

“We’ll meet again tomorrow.” Raiden gripped the back of the empty chair at the head of the table. “Daily war meetings until Galen is back in this chair. Whatever it takes.”

Ever knew that no one in this room would give up.

“Let’s go, my love,” Magnus murmured. “I’ve been analyzing your hormone levels, and I believe you’ll be needing my help in about ten minutes.”

His voice carried, and from nearby, Zhim snorted.

Ever slapped Magnus’ shoulder. “You just told everyone we’re going home to have sex.”

His gaze dropped to her belly. “Something tells me they are aware that we have sex.”

Suddenly, her stomach contracted, like a hard band was squeezing her. She gasped and felt Magnus go rigid. A gush of fluid rushed between her legs.

“Ever?” His hands gripped her shoulders.

She raised her head to look into panicked blue eyes. “Um, I think I’m in labor.”

MAGNUS PACED the corridor outside of Medical in the House of Galen.

He’d been ejected from the room a few minutes before. It had taken Jax, Acton, and Mace to pull him out. He’d already tossed Thorin into a wall and knocked Raiden into a bed.

Everything had happened so fast. Ever’s labor had moved at lightspeed and they hadn’t even had time to get back to the House of Rone. Avarn had arrived to aid Galen’s Hermia healers. But Ever had been screaming. The baby was too big for her small body.

He’d gone crazy and they’d dragged him out.

He should never have touched her. He raked his hands over his head. If something happened to her…

Sensing a presence at his side, he looked down and saw Neve. Ever’s sister was standing there, staring at the doors like she could will them to open.

Without a word, she slipped her hand into his. He closed his eyes and held on tight.

“She always wanted kids,” Neve said. “We lost our family when we were so young. She always dreamed of making a new one.” Green eyes flicked up to him. “She always dreamed of a man by her side who loved her completely. I’m glad she found you.”

He felt like she was carving out his insides. “I love her more than anything.”

“I know.”

The doors opened and Avarn stepped out. His face was sheened with sweat but he was smiling. “Imperator Rone, congratulations on becoming a father.”

Magnus felt like his legs were going to go out from under him. He pushed toward the doors. “She’s okay?”

“Both your females are perfectly fine,” Avarn said.

Magnus’ breath caught. Ever was propped up in a bed, cradling a tiny bundle to her chest. He reached her, grabbing her hand.

“Magnus.” She beamed at him. “We have a little baby girl.”

He dropped his mouth to hers before looking at the baby. His daughter had a shock of dark hair and was fast asleep. He drank her in. A miracle. She had tiny, perfectly formed lips.

“I love you, Ever.”

She smiled. “I know. And this little beauty will share our love. We made this perfect little being.” She held the baby up to him.

Drak, she was so tiny. Avarn appeared, helping Magnus settle the baby in his arms. Emotion like he’d never felt engulfed him and he welcomed it. He had a new addition to his House. No, to his family.

There was commotion as all their friends pushed into Medical, ignoring the Hermia healers’ complaints. Neve rushed to her sister and Magnus found himself surrounded. There were oohs, ahhs, and pats of congratulations.

Jax slapped Magnus’ back. “Well done, my friend. You deserve this.”

Magnus looked at his sleeping baby. He had so much more than he’d ever dreamed of having in his life. Once, he thought of himself as empty, just a flesh and metal shell created in a lab. But now he was filled to bursting.

He looked around the room. They’d all made something special and meaningful here. His daughter was a symbol of that. They’d made a life, a home, a family here on Carthago. And every person in this room would give their lives for it, and that included bringing Galen and Sam home.

He caught Ever’s shining gaze. She watched him holding their child, love on her face, and she smiled.

Magnus knew she’d fight with everything she had to protect all of this, just as all these humans would. Just as he and the gladiators would.

The Thraxians had no clue what was coming at them.

I hope you enjoyed Magnus and Ever’s story!

Galactic Gladiators will continue with IMPERATOR, the story of the imperator of the House of Galen, Galen, and champion of the Zaabha arena, Sam. Coming in mid 2018.

But wait! Does that mean Galactic Gladiators is coming to an end? Well, let’s just say that we haven’t seen the last of the desert world of Carthago yet.

For more action-packed romance, read on for a preview of the first chapter of Marcus, the first book in my best-selling Hell Squad series.

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PREVIEW - HELL SQUAD: MARCUS

Her team was under attack.

Elle Milton pressed her fingers to her small earpiece. “Squad Six, you have seven more raptors inbound from the east.” Her other hand gripped the edge of her comp screen, showing the enhanced drone feed.

She watched, her belly tight, as seven glowing red dots converged on the blue ones huddled together in the burned-out ruin of an office building in downtown Sydney. Each blue dot was a squad member and one of them was their leader.

“Marcus? Do you copy?” Elle fought to keep her voice calm. No way she’d let them hear her alarm.

“Roger that, Elle.” Marcus’ gravelly voice filled her ear. Along with the roar of laser fire. “We see them.”

She sagged back in her chair. This was the worst part. Just sitting there knowing that Marcus and the others were fighting for their lives. In the six months she’d been comms officer for the squad, she’d worked hard to learn the ropes. But there were days she wished she was out there, aiming a gun and taking out as many alien raptors as she could.

You’re not a soldier, Ellianna. No, she was a useless party-girl-turned-survivor. She watched as a red dot disappeared off the screen, then another, and another. She finally drew a breath. Marcus and his team were the experienced soldiers. She’d just be a big fat liability in the field.

But she was a damn good comms officer.

Just then, a new cluster of red dots appeared near the team. She tapped the screen, took a measurement. “Marcus! More raptors are en route. They’re about one kilometer away. North.” God, would these invading aliens ever leave them alone?

“Shit,” Marcus bit out. Then he went silent.

She didn’t know if he was thinking or fighting. She pictured his rugged, scarred face creased in thought as he formulated a plan.

Then his deep, rasping voice was back. “Elle, we need an escape route and an evac now. Shaw’s been hit in the leg, Cruz is carrying him. We can’t engage more raptors.”

She tapped the screen rapidly, pulling up drone images and archived maps. Escape route, escape route. Her mind clicked through the options. She knew Shaw was taller and heavier than Cruz, but the armor they wore had slim-line exoskeletons built into them allowing the soldiers to lift heavier loads and run faster and longer than normal. She tapped the screen again. Come on. She needed somewhere safe for a Hawk quadcopter to set down and pick them up.

“Elle? We need it now!”

Just then her comp beeped. She looked at the image and saw a hazy patch of red appear in the broken shell of a nearby building. The heat sensor had detected something else down there. Something big.

Right next to the team.

She touched her ear. “Rex! Marcus, a rex has just woken up in the building beside you.”

“Fuck! Get us out of here. Now.”

Oh, God. Elle swallowed back bile. Images of rexes, with their huge, dinosaur-like bodies and mouths full of teeth, flashed in her head.

More laser fire ripped through her earpiece and she heard the wild roar of the awakening beast.

Block it out. She focused on the screen. Marcus needed her. The team needed her.

“Run past the rex.” One hand curled into a tight fist, her nails cutting into her skin. “Go through its hiding place.”

“Through its nest?” Marcus’ voice was incredulous. “You know how territorial they are.”

“It’s the best way out. On the other side you’ll find a railway tunnel. Head south along it about eight hundred meters, and you’ll find an emergency exit ladder that you can take to the surface. I’ll have a Hawk pick you up there.”

A harsh expulsion of breath. “Okay, Elle. You’ve gotten us out of too many tight spots for me to doubt you now.”

His words had heat creeping into her cheeks. His praise…it left her giddy. In her life BAI—before alien invasion—no one had valued her opinions. Her father, her mother, even her almost-fiancé, they’d all thought her nothing more than a pretty ornament. Hell, she had been a silly, pretty party girl.

And because she’d been inept, her parents were dead. Elle swallowed. A year had passed since that horrible night during the first wave of the alien attack, when their giant ships had appeared in the skies. Her parents had died that night, along with most of the world.

“Hell Squad, ready to go to hell?” Marcus called out.

“Hell, yeah!” the team responded. “The devil needs an ass-kicking!”

“Woo-hoo!” Another voice blasted through her headset, pulling her from the past. “Ellie, baby, this dirty alien’s nest stinks like Cruz’s socks. You should be here.”

A smile tugged at Elle’s lips. Shaw Baird always knew how to ease the tension of a life-or-death situation.

“Oh, yeah, Hell Squad gets the best missions,” Shaw added.

Elle watched the screen, her smile slipping. Everyone called Squad Six the Hell Squad. She was never quite sure if it was because they were hellions, or because they got sent into hell to do the toughest, dirtiest missions.

There was no doubt they were a bunch of rebels. Marcus had a rep for not following orders. Just the previous week, he’d led the squad in to destroy a raptor outpost but had detoured to rescue survivors huddled in an abandoned hospital that was under attack. At the debrief, the general’s yelling had echoed through the entire base. Marcus, as always, had been silent.

“Shut up, Shaw, you moron.” The deep female voice carried an edge.

Elle had decided there were two words that best described the only female soldier on Hell Squad—loner and tough. Claudia Frost was everything Elle wasn’t. Elle cleared her throat. “Just get yourselves back to base.”

As she listened to the team fight their way through the rex nest, she tapped in the command for one of the Hawk quadcopters to pick them up.

The line crackled. “Okay, Elle, we’re through. Heading to the evac point.”

Marcus’ deep voice flowed over her and the tense muscles in her shoulders relaxed a fraction. They’d be back soon. They were okay. He was okay.

She pressed a finger to the blue dot leading the team. “The bird’s en route, Marcus.”

“Thanks. See you soon.”

She watched on the screen as the large, black shadow of the Hawk hovered above the ground and the team boarded. The rex was headed in their direction, but they were already in the air.

Elle stood and ran her hands down her trousers. She shot a wry smile at the camouflage fabric. It felt like a dream to think that she’d ever owned a very expensive, designer wardrobe. And heels—God, how long had it been since she’d worn heels? These days, fatigues were all that hung in her closet. Well-worn ones, at that.

As she headed through the tunnels of the underground base toward the landing pads, she forced herself not to run. She’d see him—them—soon enough. She rounded a corner and almost collided with someone.

“General. Sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“No problem, Elle.” General Adam Holmes had a military-straight bearing he’d developed in the United Coalition Army and a head of dark hair with a brush of distinguished gray at his temples. He was classically handsome, and his eyes were a piercing blue. He was the top man in this last little outpost of humanity. “Squad Six on their way back?”

“Yes, sir.” They fell into step.

“And they secured the map?”

God, Elle had almost forgotten about the map. “Ah, yes. They got images of it just before they came under attack by raptors.”

“Well, let’s go welcome them home. That map might just be the key to the fate of mankind.”

They stepped into the landing areas. Staff in various military uniforms and civilian clothes raced around. After the raptors had attacked, bringing all manner of vicious creatures with them to take over the Earth, what was left of mankind had banded together.

Whoever had survived now lived here in an underground base in the Blue Mountains, just west of Sydney, or in the other, similar outposts scattered across the planet. All arms of the United Coalition’s military had been decimated. In the early days, many of the surviving soldiers had fought amongst themselves, trying to work out who outranked whom. But it didn’t take long before General Holmes had unified everyone against the aliens. Most squads were a mix of ranks and experience, but the teams eventually worked themselves out. Most didn’t even bother with titles and rank anymore.

Sirens blared, followed by the clang of metal. Huge doors overhead retracted into the roof.

A Hawk filled the opening, with its sleek gray body and four spinning rotors. It was near-silent, running on a small thermonuclear engine. It turned slowly as it descended to the landing pad.

Her team was home.

She threaded her hands together, her heart beating a little faster.

Marcus was home.

Marcus Steele wanted a shower and a beer.

Hot, sweaty and covered in raptor blood, he leaped down from the Hawk and waved at his team to follow. He kept a sharp eye on the medical team who raced out to tend to Shaw. Dr. Emerson Green was leading them, her white lab coat snapping around her curvy body. The blonde doctor caught his gaze and tossed him a salute.

Shaw was cursing and waving them off, but one look from Marcus and the lanky Australian sniper shut his mouth.

Marcus swung his laser carbine over his shoulder and scraped a hand down his face. Man, he’d kill for a hot shower. Of course, he’d have to settle for a cold one since they only allowed hot water for two hours in the morning in order to conserve energy. But maybe after that beer he’d feel human again.

“Well done, Squad Six.” Holmes stepped forward. “Steele, I hear you got images of the map.”

Holmes might piss Marcus off sometimes, but at least the guy always got straight to the point. He was a general to the bone and always looked spit and polish. Everything about him screamed money and a fancy education, so not surprisingly, he tended to rub the troops the wrong way.

Marcus pulled the small, clear comp chip from his pocket. “We got it.”

Then he spotted her.

Shit. It was always a small kick in his chest. His gaze traveled up Elle Milton’s slim figure, coming to rest on a face he could stare at all day. She wasn’t very tall, but that didn’t matter. Something about her high cheekbones, pale-blue eyes, full lips, and rain of chocolate-brown hair…it all worked for him. Perfectly. She was beautiful, kind, and far too good to be stuck in this crappy underground maze of tunnels, dressed in hand-me-down fatigues.

She raised a slim hand. Marcus shot her a small nod.

“Hey, Ellie-girl. Gonna give me a kiss?”

Shaw passed on an iono-stretcher hovering off the ground and Marcus gritted his teeth. The tall, blond sniper with his lazy charm and Aussie drawl was popular with the ladies. Shaw flashed his killer smile at Elle.

She smiled back, her blue eyes twinkling and Marcus’ gut cramped.

Then she put one hand on her hip and gave the sniper a head-to-toe look. She shook her head. “I think you get enough kisses.”

Marcus released the breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

“See you later, Sarge.” Zeke Jackson slapped Marcus on the back and strolled past. His usually-silent twin, Gabe, was beside him. The twins, both former Coalition Army Special Forces soldiers, were deadly in the field. Marcus was damned happy to have them on his squad.

“Howdy, Princess.” Claudia shot Elle a smirk as she passed.

Elle rolled her eyes. “Claudia.”

Cruz, Marcus’ second-in-command and best friend from their days as Coalition Marines, stepped up beside Marcus and crossed his arms over his chest. He’d already pulled some of his lightweight body armor off, and the ink on his arms was on display.

The general nodded at Cruz before looking back at Marcus. “We need Shaw back up and running ASAP. If the raptor prisoner we interrogated is correct, that map shows one of the main raptor communications hubs.” There was a blaze of excitement in the usually-stoic general’s voice. “It links all their operations together.”

Yeah, Marcus knew it was big. Destroy the hub, send the raptor operations into disarray.

The general continued. “As soon as the tech team can break the encryption on the chip and give us a location for the raptor comms hub—” his piercing gaze leveled on Marcus “—I want your team back out there to plant the bomb.”

Marcus nodded. He knew if they destroyed the raptors’ communications it gave humanity a fighting chance. A chance they desperately needed.

He traded a look with Cruz. Looked like they were going out to wade through raptor gore again sooner than anticipated.

Man, he really wanted that beer.

Then Marcus’ gaze landed on Elle again. He didn’t keep going out there for himself, or Holmes. He went so people like Elle and the other civilian survivors had a chance. A chance to do more than simply survive.

“Shaw’s wound is minor. Doc Emerson should have him good as new in an hour or so.” Since the advent of the nano-meds, simple wounds could be healed in hours, rather than days and weeks. They carried a dose of the microscopic medical machines on every mission, but only for dire emergencies. The nano-meds had to be administered and monitored by professionals or they were just as likely to kill you from the inside than heal you.

General Holmes nodded. “Good.”

Elle cleared her throat. “There’s no telling how long it will take to break the encryption. I’ve been working with the tech team and even if they break it, we may not be able to translate it all. We’re getting better at learning the raptor language but there are still huge amounts of it we don’t yet understand.”

Marcus’ jaw tightened. There was always something. He knew Noah Kim—their resident genius computer specialist—and his geeks were good, but if they couldn’t read the damn raptor language…

Holmes turned. “Steele, let your team have some downtime and be ready the minute Noah has anything.”

“Yes, sir.” As the general left, Marcus turned to Cruz. “Go get yourself a beer, Ramos.”

“Don’t need to tell me more than once, amigo. I would kill for some of my dad’s tamales to go with it.” Something sad flashed across a face all the women in the base mooned over, then he grimaced and a bone-deep weariness colored his words. “Need to wash the raptor off me, first.” He tossed Marcus a casual salute, Elle a smile, and strode out.

Marcus frowned after his friend and absently started loosening his body armor.

Elle moved up beside him. “I can take the comp chip to Noah.”

“Sure.” He handed it to her. When her fingers brushed his he felt the warmth all the way through him. Hell, he had it bad. Thankfully, he still had his armor on or she’d see his cock tenting his pants.

“I’ll come find you as soon as we have something.” She glanced up at him. Smiled. “Are you going to rec night tonight? I hear Cruz might even play guitar for us.”

The Friday-night gathering was a chance for everyone to blow off a bit of steam and drink too much homebrewed beer. And Cruz had an unreal talent with a guitar, although lately Marcus hadn’t seen the man play too much.

Marcus usually made an appearance at these parties, then left early to head back to his room to study raptor movements or plan the squad’s next missions. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Great.” She smiled. “I’ll see you there, then.” She hurried out clutching the chip.

He stared at the tunnel where she’d exited for a long while after she disappeared, and finally ripped his chest armor off. Ah, on second thought, maybe going to the rec night wasn’t a great idea. Watching her pretty face and captivating smile would drive him crazy. He cursed under his breath. He really needed that cold shower.

As he left the landing pads, he reminded himself he should be thinking of the mission. Destroy the hub and kill more aliens. Rinse and repeat. Death and killing, that was about all he knew.

He breathed in and caught a faint trace of Elle’s floral scent. She was clean and fresh and good. She always worried about them, always had a smile, and she was damned good at providing their comms and intel.

She was why he fought through the muck every day. So she could live and the goodness in her would survive. She deserved more than blood and death and killing.

And she sure as hell deserved more than a battled-scarred, bloodstained soldier.

Hell Squad

Marcus

Cruz

Gabe

Reed

Roth

Noah

Shaw

Holmes

Niko

Finn

Theron

Hemi

Ash

Levi

Also Available as Audiobooks!

PREVIEW - AMONG GALACTIC RUINS

When astro-archeologist and museum curator Dr. Lexa Carter discovers a secret map to a lost old Earth treasure—a priceless Fabergé egg—she’s excited at the prospect of a treasure hunt to the dangerous desert planet of Zerzura. What she’s not so happy about is being saddled with a bodyguard—the museum’s mysterious new head of security, Damon Malik.

After many dangerous years as a galactic spy, Damon Malik just wanted a quiet job where no one tried to kill him. Instead of easy work in a museum full of artifacts, he finds himself on a backwater planet babysitting the most infuriating woman he’s ever met.

She thinks he’s arrogant. He thinks she’s a trouble-magnet. But among the desert sands and ruins, adventure led by a young, brash treasure hunter named Dathan Phoenix, takes a deadly turn. As it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want them to find the treasure, Lexa and Damon will have to trust each other just to survive.

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

ALSO BY ANNA HACKETT

Treasure Hunter Security

Undiscovered

Uncharted

Unexplored

Unfathomed

Untraveled

Unmapped

Galactic Gladiators

Gladiator

Warrior

Hero

Protector

Champion

Barbarian

Beast

Rogue

Guardian

Also Available as Audiobooks!

Hell Squad

Marcus

Cruz

Gabe

Reed

Roth

Noah

Shaw

Holmes

Niko

Finn

Theron

Hemi

Ash

Levi

Also Available as Audiobooks!

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 AnnaHackettBooks.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m a USA Today bestselling author and I’m passionate about action romance. I love stories that combine the thrill of falling in love with the excitement of action, danger and adventure. I’m a sucker for that moment when the team is walking in slow motion, shoulder-to-shoulder heading off into battle. I write 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.

My books are mixture of action, adventure and sexy romance and they’re recommended for anyone who enjoys fast-paced stories where the boy wins the girl at the end (or sometimes the girl wins the boy!)

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Website: www.annahackettbooks.com