by Kiersten Fay
His gaze shifted past her. “Ah, after you,” he said, motioning to a transport unit awaiting passengers.
“We’re crossing to the third ring?”
Hands still clasped, Ethan pulled her into the small space. His expression had become teasing again, which lightened her mood a bit. She didn’t like that he continued to subtly pester her over things best left unsaid, but was relieved that he’d let the subject drop without much of an argument.
Oddly, that tactic was wearing her down swifter than a verbal blowout would.
The doors closed them inside, and the craft rumbled as it jetted away. A solid bench with a thin cushion hugged either side of the craft, and a ring of windows offered a stunning view. Ethan took a seat and tugged her down so she was perched on his lap. His eyes went directly to her lips.
“Ethan,” she grumbled out a soft, yet unconvincing, protest.
“You have me all alone, vietta. Is that not what you wanted?” Smugness lifted one sexy corner of his mouth, but she stiffened at the word. What had he said it meant? Rotten female? Then why did he intone it like the sweetest oath?
With his eyelids hooded in that way that made her heart—and other parts—melt, he gazed at her now as if she was his wildest desire…and she loved it.
His tongue darted out to wet his lips, drawing her attention downward. Against her backside, his arousal came to life. Her body responded with a rush of warmth.
The moment he pulled her mouth to his, passion exploded in a frenzy as they drank each other in. With one hand around her waist, he clamped the other on the inseam of her thigh. She mentally urged him to move it a little higher, but he had a secure grip, kneading her soft flesh—which only served to drive her mad! She wiggled her hips, drawing an approving groan from deep inside him. She loved that sound. It meant that he was nearly as lost as she was.
When his palm finally started to inch its way under her skirt, the shuttle came to a stop, making her want to scream with frustration.
“Damn,” he cursed, pulling back. Then he warned in a husky tone, “This isn’t over.”
Not by a long shot!
Disgruntled, she extracted herself from his hold just as the craft’s hatch slid open.
Compared to the previous structure, the third ring looked depressed and stale. It was still clean and brightly lit, but there was no view of space, only a dizzyingly long hallway with a white arched ceiling. Windows were placed every so often on one side across from an endless line of doors.
People who Sonya assumed to be Uli Ring staff marched past, ignoring both her and Ethan.
“Follow me,” Ethan said, striding down the corridor. The fact that his voice was still rough thrilled her, and she had to mask a self-satisfied smirk.
The hall opened to a large curved room that resembled a common area. A set of plush lounging chairs, a couch, and four small tables occupied the center. All along the inner U-shaped wall were several shops and eateries.
She followed Ethan into a place that looked like a mix between a recreation center and an entertainment room, where people were engaged in hologames and exercise contraptions. A group of four individuals were encased in a clear blocked off room smacking anti-gravity balls with rounded clubs. A soft thunk vibrated every time a ball made contact with a solid surface.
Ethan led toward a darkly lit back room. Once inside, her jaw dropped, and she lost her breath.
A grandstand encircled the entire room and led up to the high, domed ceiling filled with multi-colored lights. In the center of the cavernous space was a great circular ring with two massive…mechanical beings…locked in a gritty scrimmage. The sounds of metal smashing against metal hummed in the air, stroking Sonya’s carnal nature.
Why were there only but a few individuals seated in the stands, watching these two towering beasts go at it? And most of them looked…bored! When I would pay just to watch this!
Was that why Ethan had brought her here? Was this his idea of a date? Because if so, nice choice, pirate.
On the sidelines, two small opposing groups grew ravenous over the action. Well, that was more like it.
“What in the world…” Sonya trailed off as the larger of the two mechanical fighters landed a bone shattering hit against the other.
Crunch.
Sonya shrieked with delight, her tail dancing in anticipation for more.
Ethan smiled. “Fights are staged here sometimes, but this is more of a practice area for those who hope to enter the RCFO.”
“RCFO?”
“Robot and Cyborg Fighting Organization. The real stage is back on the center ring.”
“Are those cyborgs then?”
“It doesn’t look like it, but it’s hard to say. Some enthusiasts have gone so far as to have almost all their body parts switched out for prosthetic. I knew a fellow who was nothing more than a brain inside an artificial shell. Great fighter though.”
The smaller robot heaved the other into the air and then sent it to the mat in a harrowing crash. When the larger robot failed to get up, Ethan pointed out a cluster of males near the edge of the ring with their arms raised in a victory cheer.
“Those are our guys.”
Sonya looked them over. They all had somewhat short, dark hair and physically fit physiques, though they didn’t appear to be related. The one that seemed to be displaying the most aggression, with chest bumps and congratulatory slaps on the back, wore a sleeveless black shirt. A scruffy jaw full of dark stubble flanked a fat stogie resting between a set of straight teeth. Four other men stood next to him, and from what she could tell, they all sported a similar tattoo high up on their left arms, although two of the male’s arms were concealed by dingy jackets.
Mr. Stogie caught sight of them. “Hey!” He threw his arms out wide, as he crossed the room with long strides, but the gesture was not exactly welcoming. “What’ve we got here? I know that can’t be the Pirate King. Because after skipping out with about ten thousand of my credits, the Pirate King would be a sodding idiot to show his face here.”
Sonya shot Ethan a look.
He was utterly relaxed. “Didn’t I pay you?”
“No.” The male stopped just feet away, his entourage close behind. Sonya balled her fists. After the volatile dragon meeting, and then Ethan’s teasing, she had quite a lot of pent-up aggression to let loose. These men were practically signing up for a beating.
Ethan replied without a shred of concern. “Must have slipped my mind what with that angry mob chasing after us and all. Why was that again? Oh, yes, you got us pinched for cheating at bones.”
“I got us pinched? You were the one fixing the deck.”
Ethan paused, looking thoughtful. “Oh, yeah. Too bad you failed to pocket the credits before you started fleeing in terror. By the way, you scream like a little girl. I’ve been dying to tell you that.”
Stogie narrowed his eyes.
Sonya waited to see who would make the first move. If it was Ethan, she would let him do his thing, but if it was the other male, she would be happy to relieve him of his spleen.
No one moved. For a long while, they stared daggers at each other.
Then the harsh planes in Stogie’s face eased into a smile. “You todger! What are you doing here?” His arms flew out and he forced Ethan into a tight hug, nearly lifting him off the ground.
Instead of answering, Ethan said with a grunt, “Nice fighter you got there. Is it a contender?”
Stogie released Ethan and then stepped back. “Getting there. Only a few more practice rounds like this, and I’ll catch the attention of the RCFO.”
“I wish you luck.”
“So what’s with the unannounced visit?”
“Remember, you still owe me a debt.” Ethan paused, as if letting the weight of that statement sink in as he glanced back at the ring. The defeated robot was being hauled aside with the help of a crane-bot. “What if I had a better deal for you, with a bigger payout?”
Stogie arched a brow. “I’m out of the business,”
he replied cautiously. “No more pirating.”
Sonya ground her teeth. “You said they were mercenaries, not pirates.”
All eyes turned to her.
“Who’s the tail?” one of the men in the back drawled.
“The incarnation of your darkest nightmares,” she shot back at him.
Deep chuckles erupted.
“Girl’s got a mouth on her,” Stogie said, quirking his lips into an appreciative smile. “A pretty mouth.” Then, stupidly, he reached for her.
Ethan swept the barrel of a gun up to rest against the underside of Stogie’s jaw.
Sonya’s eyes flared. “How did you get a gun past security?”
“Oh, we pirates have our ways,” he replied. “Isn’t that right, Ivan?”
It was then that Sonya realized Ivan, too, had a gun…and it was shoved into Ethan’s gut.
The Edge engulfed her before she even realized. Pure fury ate through her veins.
Ethan spoke in a reasonable tone. “Let’s settle down now, boys, or my female is going to rip out your throats.”
No one seemed to take his advice.
As Ivan’s men moved in, Ethan called, “Baby, try not to hurt ’em too badly.”
Chapter 27
Ethan wasn’t sure Sonya had heard him, fearing she was beyond reason. Fire had chased away the beautiful violet of her irises, and her small horns burned molten. There was no way she wasn’t fighting someone at this point. If he hadn’t experienced her prowess first hand, he might have been worried for her.
Ivan shot Ethan a curious look coupled with an intrigued smirk, but did not lower his weapon. He wasn’t fooled by Sonya’s small stature, if only because he knew firsthand that Ethan would defend any female who couldn’t handle themselves.
His men, however, weren’t as intuitive. Their expression indicated all they saw was a wisp of a female challenging four large males. Her size gave the impression that she was an easy mark, when in reality, it lent itself to her swiftness. She was faster than even her more physically endowed brothers. However, with Ivan jabbing that piece into his side, it was still four on one.
When Ivan’s crew moved into range, Sonya struck first and with intense speed. Her leg came up high above her head, cracking the closest male on his crown with a downward vertical kick. He went to the ground jaw first. She thrust her fingertips into the jugular of the second male before shoving her other palm hard into his stunned face. The third swung his fist out, missing as Sonya craned her head to the side. She twirled her body, bringing her elbow up to slam it into his temple. He fell. Then she kicked off the ground and jumped toward her final opponent, clamping her thighs around his neck. She threw her torso back, planted her palms on the ground, and hurled the male several feet into the bleachers.
In her crouched position, she turned her lava gaze on Ivan.
Ethan openly gloated as he told Ivan, “You’re going to want to put your piece away.”
He did, slipping it into a holster hidden in one of his many pockets. Ethan stowed his weapon as well before stepping into Sonya’s line of sight. She peered around him, still intent on her target.
“Okay. Come back now,” Ethan cooed, placing his palms on the side of her face. She scanned his features in an animalistic manner, tilting her head to the side. Slowly, the fire drained from her eyes, replaced by that jewel-tone color. She blinked twice as if coming out of a trance.
“Hooey!” Ivan burst out. “That is one wild female you have there.”
With slow movements, his men began pulling themselves off the ground.
Sonya took her gaze off Ethan to glare at Ivan.
Most of the men were laughing off the defeat, rubbing their bruises, all but the one who was gushing blood from his nose. He started limping, as if heading for the door behind Sonya and Ethan, which caught Ethan’s attention. Sonya had done nothing to his leg, and his movements were too deliberate.
“So what’s this big paying job you’re offering?” Ivan coaxed.
Sonya replied, still surly from her trip to the Edge, “At this point, it doesn’t look to me like you or your boys would be of any use.”
Ivan ignored the insult. “We’re known for our stealth work, quick take downs, not hand to hand combat, darlin’.”
Ethan kept the male in his peripheral vision as he maneuvered behind Sonya. In the next moment, malicious intent slammed into him, and he moved without thinking.
Cold steel slipped into his gut. Sonya cried out from behind him. Swifter than Ethan’s pain-filled mind could comprehend, she twisted around him, grabbed the attacker by the head, and wrenched till a resounding pop rang out. The body fell limp.
Then she flipped to face Ethan, snatched his gun from its holster, and pointed it at the other males as she desperately held him against her, their front smashed together, his wound dripping between them. Possessive claws pressed into on his back.
“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” Ivan and the others yelled, putting their palms up.
“I did not sanction that,” Ivan added in a rush, glancing at the dead man without any hint of remorse. “That was a dirty double cross. Ethan, you alright, mate?”
Ethan put his arms around Sonya and pulled her tighter into his chest, partly to obscure the light that accompanied his healing magic, but mostly because of the utter relief he felt to have her there. Though that blade had sliced him high in his stomach, and, to him, the wound was minuscule, it would have gone right through her torso…straight into her heart.
She kept one arm around him with the gun still trained on the men behind him. Her chin could have rested on his shoulder, but she was too stiff in his arms. She was probably back on the Edge, deeper than before. In a confidential voice, he whispered calming words to her, things he would do to her later when he had her alone, all the while breathing her in as his magic went to work on his wound.
After a moment, her body softened, yet her aim stayed true. His wound began the process of knitting together. Once fully healed, he let go of Sonya and turned to the others. “What kind of slime are you recruiting these days, Ivan?”
“He should not have done that. I apologize for his actions and hold no ill will for his death. You’re female did right.”
Ethan felt the honesty in his words and gave a tight nod, noticing a few spectators were now focused on them.
“They’re fine,” Ivan assured, following his gaze. “We’re all friends here. But can you have her lower the weapon?”
Sonya still looked irate, her finger tight on the trigger. Ethan placed his palm on the top of her wrist and applied a gentle pressure. After only a slight resistance, she dropped her arm.
“Koda,” Ivan called to one of his guys. “Get rid of the body, yeah?”
* * *
Sonya willfully disregarded the repeated apologies Ivan offered her, wanting only to get Ethan back to the ship. What was he thinking approaching these low-lives? She mentally cursed herself for not realizing what that reprobate with the fake limping act had been planning. She wished she hadn’t made his death so quick. Her blood still burned for revenge.
How could Ethan have placed himself in harm’s way like that?
Just imagining losing him to men like these had her wanting to seize that weapon back from Ethan to eliminate the bastards.
But there was an ignorant, inebriated crowd around them now. They’d relocated to a small bar area next to the recreation center, and Ivan had bought them a couple rounds. They were well into their third when Ethan began to explain the situation on Evlon to Ivan, as well as the proposition the Faieara king had inscribed into the book. Patches of land, rich with precious stones, were to be bartered to anyone who required compensation for their assistance in defeating the Kayadon.
Now Sonya realized why Ethan had come here. Anyone he was acquainted with would demand a hefty payment for their services.
“Look, Ethan, I feel for the plight of your people. I do,” Ivan said. “But I could either stay here safe and sound, fighting my ro
bot, or I could go with you and potentially get killed. Which would you choose in my position?”
Ethan frowned. “Your skills with a ship are unmatched. Nothing could ever touch you. Tell me you don’t miss the action.”
“Of course I miss it,” Ivan responded with a dismissive wave. “But do you know how long we’ve been working on that machine?”
“With what I offer, you could buy a thousand bots ten times better than that one.”
Ivan sat back in his chair. “But the risk is ten times greater.” He shook his head. “I need another drink.” He stood and made his way to the bar. More likely than not it was an excuse to consult with his three lackeys who were flirting with the buxom server.
Sonya leaned close to Ethan. “Do we really need these guys?”
Ethan nodded. “Ivan has access to fleets—not a fleet—fleets of war ships. He’s the leader of the largest mercenary syndicate I’ve ever seen.”
“So now he’s a mercenary again?”
Ethan grumbled, “We started off together as pirates, yes. That’s not the point. With him, our chances of defeating the Kayadon greatly increase.”
Sonya rolled her eyes, and Ethan glared at her. She pursed her lips, returning the expression, but she could see the determination behind his eyes. She had to admit, a fleet, or rather, fleets, of ships did sound like a pretty great advantage.
She sucked back the last of her drink and then slammed the bottle down on the table. “You want him, fine. I’ll get him.”
Ethan raised a quizzical brow at her before his gift informed him of her plan. “Wait. No, no, no.”
“No what?” Ivan returned with a fresh drink in hand.
Sonya challenged him with her gaze. “What if you didn’t have a robot to fight?”
Chapter 28
Ethan begged Sonya not to do this as Ivan ordered his men, “Tak, Koda, get the bot ready for another battle.”
“Who’s the opponent?” Koda asked blithely.
Ivan responded with a deviant smile.
Ethan shot to his feet. “Ivan, do not do this.”