by Anna Hackett
“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 th
e 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.