by Anna Hackett
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.