by Anna Hackett
Mace walked toward the doors. “Unlike your mates, I’ll let you know as soon as she wakes up.”
“Thank you, Mace,” Ever said.
Jax rolled his eyes, but Mace turned away and strode into Medical.
Jayna’s slim form was still on the bunk, still lit up under the bright lights. There was a bandage on the side of her head.
Swallowing, Mace sat on a stool, staring at her. Her thick hair was spread out on the table. Drak, it was gorgeous. Unable to stop himself, he fingered a lock of it, watching it curl around his thumb.
“Wake up.” He willed those brown eyes to open.
Memories from the fight rings—all the people he’d watched fall and never open their eyes again—battered at his head. He should get up and leave. Not let her get under his skin anymore than she already had.
But he stayed and tangled his fingers with hers.
Chapter Five
Mace was slouched in the uncomfortable chair when he finally saw Jayna’s eyelids flutter and her eyes open. Blinking, she looked around, her gaze finding him and locking there.
“What…happened?” Her voice was husky.
“You had a seizure.” He leaned closer, fighting the urge to touch her hair again. “You’re fine now.”
She fingered the bandage on her temple, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled it away. Then she reached up and touched his stubbled cheek. Mace stilled and couldn’t look away from her brown eyes. They were clear and alert.
“The more I look at you, the more handsome I think you are,” she murmured.
He grunted. “I’m not handsome.”
She smiled, then she blinked. She scrambled to sit up. “My head…”
“Slowly.” He slid an arm around her.
She gripped his hand and squeezed. “Mace, my head is clear. I can think without it hurting.”
Avarn appeared, his robes flapping around his body. “I see our patient is awake.”
Jayna managed a tremulous smile. “I feel more awake than I’ve felt in ages.”
“We found a tiny implant the Edull had left in your head,” the healer told her.
She gasped, her nails digging into Mace’s arm. “What?”
“It’s out now,” Mace reassured her.
“It was interfering with your brain function,” Avarn added.
She bit down on her lip, a shudder passing through her. “I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t broken. They made me that way.”
Mace gave her a squeeze.
Then Jayna’s eyes widened. “Sage.”
Mace frowned. “What?”
She straightened and he steadied her before she tumbled off the bed.
She pushed her mass of curls back off her face, and when she went to swing her legs off the bed, he pushed her back down. “Rest.”
A huff of breath. “Are you always this bossy?”
“Yes.”
“Well, when I’m fully recovered, you’ll find I’m not very good at following orders.”
He grunted.
“Sage,” she said again.
He frowned. “Is that a place?”
“No, a person. She’s one of the other captives from the Helios. She was in Bari Batu.”
“You remember her.”
Tears welled in Jayna’s eyes. “Yes. She’s so sweet. She was one of the medical crew. A paramedic. She was really nice and so relentlessly optimistic, even in the face of everything. God—”
Mace saw the worry on Jayna’s face. Worry that the Edull might have crushed this Sage’s spirit.
“I remember that on the ship, everyone liked being around her. She was always smiling. She was in the cell beside mine for a little bit, after Quinn was taken away.”
“Okay, that’s good you’ve remembered.” Cautiously, he watched her, checking for any sign that she might have another seizure. “Do you remember anything else about Bari Batu?”
“I was stuck in a cell, so I didn’t see much.” Then she sucked in a breath. “When they moved me, to sell me to Gaarl—” her chest hitched, but she gritted her teeth and kept going “—I got a glimpse of the sky before they blindfolded me. I remember clouds. A lot of clouds.”
Mace frowned. “There isn’t much water on Carthago, so there aren’t many clouds.”
She bit her lip. “That’s what I remember. God, what if it’s not real? What if thanks to whatever those bastards did to me, my brain is making things up?”
“Calm down.”
She looked at the floor, then stiffened. “Mace, I remember something else. The guards talking. They were talking about an Edull here in Kor Magna.”
Anticipation flared. “Go on.”
“I… Damn, my memories are like Swiss cheese. Holes everywhere.”
Avarn made a clucking noise. “I have no reason to think they won’t return. You just need some time.”
“I remember them talking about a shipment of robots being sold here in Kor Magna.”
“Did you hear any names?” Mace asked.
She grimaced. “No. I don’t remember.”
He patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. It’s a start.”
She nodded.
“You did well, Jayna.”
Her expression implied that she doubted his words. “I’ve been here a week, trapped in my own head, my own pain. Meanwhile, Sage and who knows how many of my crew mates are out there.” Her voice broke.
Mace growled. “We’re going to find them.”
Brown eyes met his, misery in their depths. “They’re probably suffering. Being hurt.”
He gripped her chin. “And I bet they’re survivors, just like you.”
“Help me find them, Mace.”
For the first time in his life, Mace found himself helpless. Helpless to resist one small woman from Earth’s plea.
Jayna walked beside Mace as they approached Magnus’s office. Mace had taken her to Ever’s quarters first.
“I promised Ever and Quinn,” he’d told her.
The women had hugged her and she’d told them about Sage.
“We’ll find her,” Quinn had promised.
Mace banged a fist on the door.
“Enter,” a deep voice said.
Jayna swallowed. Magnus sat behind a huge desk, his hands steepled on the polished surface. There was a screen on the desk, and from it, a couple stared back at them.
“I’m glad you’re doing better, Jayna,” the imperator said.
God, the man was scary. She couldn’t read anything from his imposing face. How the hell could Ever be in love with the man?
“Hi, Jayna.” A cute dark-haired woman on the screen waved. Beside her stood a lean man with long, dark hair and nebula-colored eyes. “I’m Ryan.”
Mace had already explained who they were. Zhim and Ryan, the information merchants. Zhim definitely looked alien with his sharp, hawkish face and unique eyes. Ryan, however, was from Earth—a survivor from Fortuna Space Station. Her Japanese heritage showed through in her black hair and eyes.
“Hello,” Jayna said. “Thanks so much for helping.”
“We’ll rescue them all,” Ryan said fervently. “Whatever it takes.”
Zhim touched Ryan’s hair before facing the screen. “I ran some preliminary searches. Nothing relevant for anyone buying Edull tech here in Kor Magna.”
Jayna’s shoulders sagged, and Mace touched a hand to the small of her back. She glanced up at the small, comforting gesture.
Magnus asked some more questions, and Zhim talked about other search options.
“We’ll go deeper,” Ryan said. “Don’t worry Jayna, we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“I like going deeper.” Zhim grinned at his woman and Ryan playfully whacked him.
Jayna couldn’t help but smile. The couple clearly loved each other and enjoyed working together.
“If you remember anything else, Jayna, let us know.” Ryan smiled at her. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“I did want to ask something,” Jayna said.
“I was hoping to contact my parents.”
Ryan smiled and nodded. “I’ll arrange it.”
“Thank you.”
The screen winked off.
Jayna tucked some of her hair back. “I need to focus on my memories. See what else I can—”
“You need to relax.” Mace’s scowl was deep. “If you push yourself too hard, you might have another seizure.”
She turned to him. “The implant is out now, and Sage, and whoever else are stuck out there, they don’t have time. They’re slaves, prisoners…they could be being tortured.” Her pulse sped up.
“Give yourself a break. The memories will come.”
“Mace is correct.” Magnus rose. His broad chest was bare today, just crossed by a simple, leather harness. The look showcased his metal arm and hard muscles. “You’ve pushed yourself today and had surgery, so it’s time to take it easy. You can come to the arena fight.”
“What?” Jayna said.
“The House of Rone is fighting the House of Aviar. The fight starts soon.”
Oh. She hadn’t been to a fight yet and was intrigued. She looked down at the simple trousers and shirt she wore.
Mace took her hand and tugged her out the door. “You look fine.”
She let him lead her through the corridors. They exited the House of Rone and made their way through the tunnels beneath the arena.
She hadn’t left the House of Rone since she arrived. Anxiety filled her about being outside, away from the safety of the house.
“Mace—”
His fingers squeezed hers. “I’ll be by your side the entire time.”
Her own cyborg protector. She tried to relax, but then felt a spurt of anger. Before her abduction, she wouldn’t have been terrified at the thought of going anywhere. She’d been easygoing, confident.
You still are. Give yourself a break.
Mace led her up a sloping tunnel and through a doorway.
She tensed. The sound and energy washed over her, and she blinked at the sudden, bright sunlight. The arena was amazing, and far bigger than she’d imagined. It felt like stepping into a professional sports stadium.
Mace tugged her down some steps. The tiered seating was packed with a multitude of different beings of varying species. The sand-covered arena floor lay in the center of the structure. It made her think of Rome’s famous coliseum.
A moment later, she spotted Quinn, Ever, Jax, Acton, and Toren near the railing.
Before she knew it, she found herself seated right against the railing. The women called out hellos, Jax smiled, Toren nodded, and Acton looked at her coolly. Mace shoved a bag of something into her hand.
“Eat.”
Always making her eat. She sniffed the contents, then lifted a small kernel of the food. It tasted like popcorn.
He was watching her. “It’s called mahiz.”
“It’s good.”
The crowd was filled with anticipation, and soon a mournful wail broke out across the arena.
“The fight’s about to start.” Mace sat down beside her, his big body crowding hers.
The House of Rone gladiators stepped out of the tunnel entrance on the far side of the arena, and the crowd roared its approval.
“That’s Xias,” Mace told her.
She eyed the dark-skinned muscled gladiator walking ahead of the others. He raised a fist in the air and shook it at the crowd. The crowd cheered.
“He’s our champion. Good fighter.”
She saw the other gladiators fan out around Xias and her eyes widened. “You have female gladiators?”
“Of course.”
There were two tall, athletic women standing on the sand, swords in hand.
“And female cyborgs?” Jayna asked.
“Yes. We have some in the lower ranks. Strong and tough. I believe Magnus is about to promote one, her name is Seren, to the elite group. Now that both Magnus and Jax are mated, they need help running house business.”
Suddenly, light shimmered overhead, and Jayna glanced up to watch an electronic net appear, covering the top of the arena. She frowned, and a second later, a wild screech split the air.
“The House of Aviar,” Mace said.
Giant birds flew out a tunnel, arrowing into the sky. She gasped, watching them circle the arena. The crowd went wild.
“They’re incredible.” They had glossy black feathers and huge wingspans.
The Aviar gladiators stepped onto the sand, waving to the crowd. They were big and muscled, and wore heavy gauntlets. They also wore helmets topped with black feathers.
The two groups of gladiators lined up, facing each other across the sand. A horn sounded, and the fight began.
The gladiators broke into a run, sprinting across the arena, weapons held high.
Swords clashed with a deafening clang, and then the fighters were dipping, whirling, and slashing. Jayna’s heart hit her ribs. She thought she’d find it brutal, but it was almost like watching a football game. Her father had made her sit through plenty, and while she couldn’t care less about the finer points of the game, she’d enjoyed watching the fit athletes move.
A shadow moved over her, and she watched a large bird swoop down. It dived at Xias. The big gladiator dodged, then grabbed a handful of feathers. He swung up onto the bird’s back.
The crowd clapped. Wow. He was pure power and skill.
“You like it?” Mace asked.
She nodded, shoving more of the snack food into her mouth. “It’s incredible.”
She turned her attention to a female Rone gladiator in a wild fight with an Aviar male. The woman was winning.
“None of your gladiators are cyborgs?” Jayna asked.
“Cyborgs are banned from the arena. The fights are to showcase skill and athletic prowess. Cyborgs have an unfair advantage.”
She suddenly realized the container in her hand was empty. She’d eaten all of the mahiz.
“I’m going to get some more of this.” She glanced over, and spotted a vendor standing nearby. The man was walking up and down the stands, selling snacks and drinks.
“I’ll get it.” Mace started to rise.
“No.” She touched his arm. “I want to stretch my legs.” And she wanted to prove she could do it.
He held up a small medallion. It was a shiny bronze metal, and was stamped with the House of Rone logo—a gladiator helmet over crossed swords.
Ever leaned forward. “Carthago’s answer to a credit card.”
Taking it, Jayna headed toward the vendor, getting in line behind the others waiting.
“I’m in a rush,” a big man called out. He shoved past Jayna.
She frowned. Once, he’d probably had muscle, but he’d gone soft. He elbowed past another man with green skin.
The green-skinned alien spun with a snarl. “Wait your turn.”
The first man snapped something back in an alien language that Jayna’s lingual implant didn’t recognize.
And then in the blink of an eye, the two men were scuffling.
Oh, no.
Suddenly, they started throwing punches. But before she could do more than take one step back, the big man raised his arm. As he moved to punch the other man, his elbow hit Jayna in the face.
Ow. Pain exploded and she fell backward with a cry. She hit the ground and her head cracked on the stone steps.
Chapter Six
The sound of angry male voices made Mace jump to his feet. He turned, saw the altercation, and watched Jayna fall.
No. He charged in with a growl, anger boiling through his veins.
He grabbed one of the men and tossed him. He tumbled down the steps.
The green-skinned man froze.
“Move and I’ll tear your head off,” Mace snarled.
The man nodded, eyes wide.
Mace crouched beside Jayna, grateful to see she was conscious and trying to sit up. He wrapped an arm around her.
“Is she okay?” Quinn’s voice.
“I’m all right,�
� Jayna said.
“Your head’s bleeding,” he said.
“It’s not bad. I’ve had worse, thanks to the Edull.”
The words made him grit his teeth. He wanted to hunt down every Edull and make them pay. Painfully.
“Hey, calm down.” She touched his cheek.
Mace wanted to shake his head. Jayna was comforting him, when she was the one who was hurt. He pulled in a deep breath, fighting for some control.
“Are you okay, Jayna?” Ever appeared beside Quinn.
Quinn was scowling at the bystanders. “Everyone step back.”
“It was just a bump on the head,” Jayna insisted. “Help me up.”
Mace gently tugged her to her feet, checking that she was steady. She shot him a smile…just before she staggered.
“Jayna.” He caught her. “I’m taking you to the healer.”
“I… More memories.” She closed her eyes, breathing fast. “I remember a name. I remember the guards talking about someone in Kor Magna. Someone called Vron.”
Mace’s pulse spiked. They had a name.
“Is he Edull?” Jax asked.
“I’m not sure.” Jayna’s brow creased. “Maybe. Or maybe he was a customer?”
“Enough.” Mace shifted her higher. “I’m taking her to see Avarn.”
Jax nodded. “I’ll pass the name onto Zhim and Ryan.”
“We’ll come with you to Medical,” Ever said.
“No, stay.” Jayna waved a hand. “I’ll be fine. No point in everyone missing the fight.”
Mace had already turned, heading up the steps three at a time.
“I can walk, Mace.”
“You’re in pain.”
She sighed, the breath stirring one of her curls. “Am I that transparent?”
No. He’d just gotten used to watching her closely. This small woman from Earth who looked so fragile, but wasn’t.
With his ground-eating strides, it didn’t take them long to return to the House of Rone. Avarn was puttering around Medical when they entered.
“Back again, young lady.” The healer frowned. “Another seizure?”
“No, just some idiot who knocked me over.”
“She bumped her head. It’s bleeding.” Mace set her down.