Paladin: Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone #4, page 16
But the Edull swiveled and dived into the sand, burrowing into the ground. Taking Bellamy with him.
“No!” Maxon dropped to his knees, digging into the sand.
All around, the other surviving Edull burrowed into the sand as well, disappearing below the surface.
“Drak!” Maxon roared.
“I’m detecting tunnels beneath us,” Acton said.
“Like the ones the Edull used at the underground sea,” Jax murmured.
“We have to go after them,” Maxon said.
“They’re moving quickly,” Acton said. “They’re almost out of range.”
Maxon kicked the sand and cursed.
“The flyers,” Magnus said. “We can give chase.”
The weapons master cursed again and shook his head. “The engines are almost fried. They won’t get far, and it’ll take me too long to fix them.”
“And Simone needs help now,” Toren added.
He didn’t want to leave Bellamy, and he knew Simone would be devastated to know that the woman was back in Edull hands. But he needed Simone to live.
“Back to the ship,” Magnus ordered. “Bellamy is clearly valuable to the Edull. They’ll keep her alive.”
“Drak,” Maxon spat.
Magnus held up the holo-cube. “Bellamy gave us what we need to rescue her, and to shut down the Edull and their battle arena.”
Maxon looked ready to argue, but he jammed his blaster into its slot in the side of his flyer. “Let’s go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we come back for her.”
Toren touched Simone’s face. “It’s going to be okay. Hold on.”
* * *
Bright lights. Pain.
Simone groaned, fighting through the fog in her head.
“She’s hurting.”
Toren’s voice. Where were they?
“Get her into the regen tank,” an older voice said.
“Help her,” Toren bit out.
“We will. Step back.”
Simone tried to talk, but she couldn’t get anything to work.
“Never,” Toren said. “I will never leave her.”
Simone felt warmth through her pain. Then she was drifting again, and there was nothing.
The next sensation was of floating in warm wetness. She felt surrounded and cocooned.
“She’s healing fine, Toren. She won’t wake for a while.”
“I’m staying,” Toren said.
A pause.
“I need to talk to you.”
“What is it, Avarn?”
“I’ve run some scans. You’ve healed enough for me to re-implant your shoulder weapon.” A longer pause. “And I can also fix your systems, as your nerve pathways have healed very well.”
“Meaning?” Toren asked cautiously.
“Meaning I can dull your emotions again.”
Simone’s heart clenched. No. A machine started beeping.
“Toren?” Avarn’s voice again. “It’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?”
Simone struggled to stay conscious, but it was like a cloud of fog engulfing her. Toren. Toren. She tried to call his name.
She loved him. She didn’t want to lose him. Everything inside her clenched. He’d suffered so much for her, and she loved him enough to let him go, if that was what he wanted. Pain welled up inside—huge and numbing—that had nothing to do with her injuries.
Then there was nothing but darkness again.
Something tickled her nose.
“Grace, stop that.”
Toren’s deep voice.
Simone smiled. She felt refreshed and relaxed. If this was a dream, it was a good one.
“She smiled,” Grace said. “She’s finally waking up.”
Simone’s eyes popped open. She was lying in her bed in the House of Rone. Toren was stretched out beside her, and Grace was sitting on his legs, smiling at Simone.
Her heart started pounding. Was Toren still Toren? Could he still feel? Or was he once again the emotionless cyborg?
She couldn’t make herself look at him.
“Mom!” Grace launched herself at Simone, and Simone hugged her daughter tight. Then over Grace’s dark head, she made herself look at Toren.
Her heart beat like a trapped bird. His face looked the same—handsome and strong. But his expression was unreadable.
She swallowed.
“I…heard the healer talking to you in Medical,” she whispered. “He said that he could fix you.”
Toren stared at her. “Is that what you want?”
“I want you to be happy.” She bit her lip. “No. I love you and I want you. All of you.”
He smiled, and it was blinding and filled with emotion. “I love you, Simone. I would never leave you in any way. I don’t need to be fixed.”
Thank God. With Grace caught between them, she hugged him tight, tears welling in her eyes.
“You were in Medical for-ever,” Grace complained. “But I wasn’t worried. I knew you’d be okay.”
Simone tucked some of Grace’s silky hair behind her ear. “I feel fine.”
“Avarn had you in a regen tank for a bit,” Toren voiced.
She heard the tension in his voice. He’d been worried. She grabbed his hand. “Thanks for getting me home.”
“Never, ever get injured so far from home again.”
“I’m sorry I missed most of the action.”
His smile flickered. “Magnus and the others arrived to save us. Even Maxon.”
“Everyone’s okay?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Where’s Bellamy? Is she getting settled?”
Toren cleared his throat, and dread was like a heavy blanket settling on Simone.
“Toren?”
“The Edull grabbed her in the fight. We couldn’t chase them down.”
“No,” she whispered brokenly.
Grace hugged her. “It’s okay, Mom. Everyone is planning to go back and get her.”
God, what if the Edull hurt Bellamy? Punished her for helping them?
“They want her for her skills,” Toren reminded her. “She’ll be okay.”
Simone nodded. Deep inside, she prayed that was true. Be safe, Bellamy. Hold on.
“She gave us the information we need to rescue her,” Toren said. “We’ll get her back.”
Simone dragged in a breath. “I know.”
“Right now, Magnus has sent Jax and Quinn to dismantle Alev’s desert fortress. Any slaves will be freed.”
Warmth filled her. That was something, at least.
He leaned down and kissed Simone. His kiss wasn’t just a promise, but a vow. Simone knew in her bones she could trust this man with anything—her friend, her daughter, her heart.
Grace beamed at them. “So, you guys are in lurve?”
That made Simone pull back and laugh. “Yes.”
Toren nodded. “Yes, I love your mother.” He touched Grace’s nose. “And I believe what I feel for you is love, too. But a little different to what I feel for your mother.”
“Ew, I hope so.” Grace threw her arms around him. “I love you too, Toren.”
The look on his face filled Simone’s heart with joy. It was exactly the look she’d always wanted to see on the face of the man she loved when he looked at her daughter.
“Hey, don’t you have classes?” Simone asked.
Grace bounded off the bed. “Weeeell…”
“What happened?” Simone asked with a groan.
“We had a science class, and there were some chemicals…” Grace smiled. “The damage was minor. I promise.”
“Grace—”
“It was an accident!” Grace made for the door. “I’d better go, because I can tell you want to kiss some more.”
“Yes,” Toren said.
“Ew.” Grace grinned, as she ran out of the room. “Love you, Mom. Love you, Toren.”
Once the door closed, Toren rolled over on top of Simone.
“I hope you want to do more than kiss,” she murmured.
“You just got out of Medical.”
“But I’m all healed.” She pulled his head down for a long, deep kiss. Mmm, he tasted good. “What do you feel?”
“You,” he answered. “Love. Life. And I wouldn’t give up any of it.”
“Be mine forever, Toren?”
“I’m already yours—the man, the cyborg, all of me.”
Simone kissed him again, amazed that she’d found everything she’d been looking for right there in her cyborg’s arms.
* * *
Toren paused for a moment, took a deep breath, then entered Magnus’ office.
All the other cyborgs were there already.
Magnus looked up and smiled. “Toren. How’s Simone?”
“Recovering well.” He’d left her dozing in their sheets after making love to her. He never, ever wanted to see her hurt and dying like what had happened in the desert, and he never wanted to go through the despair that had almost crippled him again.
But he knew now that in order to feel the love he had for Simone and Grace, he had to weather the other emotions as well.
“Avarn told me you turned down his offer to repair your systems and dull your emotions.”
Toren straightened and nodded. “I’m in love with Simone. I won’t give that up.”
Magnus smiled. “We all knew you were falling in love quite some time ago.”
Toren’s brows winged up. “You did?”
Jax snorted. “We’ve all taken the fall, Toren. We recognize the signs.”
Seren crossed her legs. “I am never falling in love. It seems very messy and inefficient.”
Magnus glanced at the female cyborg, the corner of his lips twitching. “The thing about love is that it hits when you least expect it.”
Seren’s nose wrinkled.
The office door suddenly slammed open. Maxon strode in, his usual scowl in place.
“Why is everyone sitting around?” the weapons master demanded. “There’s an Earth woman in danger, and the drakking Edull need to be dealt with.”
Magnus leaned back in his chair. “We’re planning our mission, Maxon.”
Maxon crossed his muscular arms. “Good. I’m already working to increase the capabilities of the flyers.”
“That’s good to hear.” Magnus’ gaze scanned the room, his cybernetic eye glowing neon blue. “Taking down Bari Batu’s battle arena is our priority. We will stop the Edull.”
“Drak yeah,” Jax muttered.
“The data cube we got from Bellamy has the coordinates of the city, but very little information on the battle arena. At this stage, any attack we launch would require us going in blind.”
“And they’ll be expecting us,” Toren said.
Magnus nodded. “The Edull have already proven that they’ll do whatever they have to in order to protect their arena and races. We’re talking with all our allies to see if we can get any additional information.” Magnus rose. “But whatever happens, we will not stop until the Edull are finished.”
Toren lifted his chin. “I want to be back on full duty and be a part of the mission. I am a cyborg of the House of Rone, and my new emotions make me even more dedicated to protecting this house, the people in it, my friends, and my woman and her daughter.”
Mace slapped him on the back, Jax was grinning, and even Acton had a smile on his face.
“You’ve already been cleared by Avarn,” Magnus said.
Toren relaxed. “Perhaps you could have told me that first?”
“And miss that awesome speech?” Jax said, smiling.
“Good to have you back, Toren,” his imperator said.
The office door opened again and women poured in.
“Enough war planning.” Ever, with Asha in her arms, strode up to Magnus. “Simone is feeling better and we’re all having a meal together. Calla is busy in the kitchens cooking up a feast even cyborgs will love. Mace and Acton, I need you to carry the tables out into the training arena. Zaden and Seren, you can hang the lights.” Ever continued issuing orders.
Toren looked around and saw that not one of the cyborgs minded having a small Earth woman bossing them around. He spotted Simone in the doorway. Her gaze met his and she smiled.
As she walked toward him, Toren couldn’t think of anything other than the fact that he was the luckiest cyborg in the quadrant.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“Hi.” He pulled her close, drawing in the scent of her, and pressed his lips to hers. “I can’t stop kissing you, wanting you.”
“Good,” she whispered. “I hope you never do.”
“You know half the room has cyborg hearing, right?” Acton said.
Everyone laughed and Simone’s cheeks turned pink.
Toren swept her off her feet and into his arms. “I’m taking my woman someplace where none of you can hear the sounds she makes.”
“Toren.” She slapped his shoulder.
“Don’t forget dinner,” Ever called out.
Toren strode out the door. “We won’t, but we might be late.”
Simone’s laughter filled his heart with love. He, once an emotionless cyborg, would spend the rest of his days ensuring her life was always filled with love and laughter.
* * *
I hope you enjoyed Simone and Toren’s story!
Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone concludes with WEAPONS MASTER, the story of temperamental cyborg Maxon and human survivor Bellamy. Coming in July 2020.
If you’re interested in learning more about the House of Galen gladiators and the strong, smart women from Earth they helped rescue or Magnus and Ever’s story, then check out Galactic Gladiators.
For more action-packed romance, read on for a preview of the first chapter of Edge of Eon, the first book in my best-selling Eon Warriors series.
Don’t miss out! For updates about new releases, free books, and other fun stuff, sign up for my VIP mailing list and get your free box set containing three action-packed romances.
Visit here to get started: www.annahackett.com
Preview: Edge of Eon
She shifted on the chair, causing the chains binding her hands to clank together. Eve Traynor snorted. The wrist and ankle restraints were overkill. She was on a low-orbit prison circling Earth. Where the fuck did they think she was going to go?
Eve shifted her shoulders to try to ease the tension from having her hands tied behind her back. For the millionth time, she studied her surroundings. The medium-sized room was empty, except for her chair. Everything from the floor to the ceiling was dull-gray metal. All of the Citadel Prison was drab and sparse. She’d learned every boring inch of it the last few months.
One wide window provided the only break in the otherwise uniform space. Outside, she caught a tantalizing glimpse of the blue-green orb of Earth below.
Her gut clenched and she drank in the sight of her home. Five months she’d been locked away in this prison. Five months since her life had imploded.
She automatically thought of her sisters. She sucked in a deep breath. She hated everything they’d had to go through because of what had happened. Hell, she thought of her mom as well, even though their last contact had been the day after Eve had been imprisoned. Her mom had left Eve a drunken, scathing message.
The door to the room opened, and Eve lifted her chin and braced.
When she saw the dark-blue Space Corps uniform, she stiffened. When she saw the row of stars on the lapel, she gritted her teeth.
Admiral Linda Barber stepped into the room, accompanied by a female prison guard. The admiral’s hair was its usual sleek bob of highlighted, ash-blonde hair. Her brown eyes were steady.
Eve looked at the guard. “Take me back to my cell.”
The admiral lifted a hand. “Please leave us.”
The guard hesitated. “That’s against protocol, ma’am—”
“It’ll be fine.” The admiral’s stern voice said she was giving an order, not making a request.
The guard hesitated again, then ducked through the door. It clicked closed behind her.
Eve sniffed. “Say what you have to say and leave.”
Admiral Barber sighed, taking a few steps closer. “I know you’re angry. You have a right to be—”
“You think?” Eve sucked back the rush of molten anger. “I got tossed under the fucking starship to save a mama’s boy. A mama’s boy who had no right to be in command of one of Space Corps’ vessels.”
Shit. Eve wanted to pummel something. Preferably the face of Robert J. Hathaway—golden son of Rear-Admiral Elisabeth Hathaway. A man who, because of family connections, was given captaincy of the Orion, even though he lacked the intelligence and experience needed to lead it.
Meanwhile, Eve—a Space Corps veteran—had worked her ass off during her career in the Corps, and had been promised her own ship, only to be denied her chance. Instead, she’d been assigned as Hathaway’s second-in-command. To be a glorified babysitter, and to actually run the ship, just without the title and the pay raise.
She’d swallowed it. Swallowed Hathaway’s incompetence and blowhard bullshit. Until he’d fucked up. Big-time.
“The Haumea Incident was regrettable,” Barber said.
Eve snorted. “Mostly for the people who died. And definitely for me, since I’m the one shackled to a chair in the Citadel. Meanwhile, I assume Bobby Hathaway is still a dedicated Space Corps employee.”
“He’s no longer a captain of a ship. And he never will be again.”
“Right. Mommy got him a cushy desk job back at Space Corps Headquarters.”
The silence was deafening and it made Eve want to kick something.
“I’m sorry, Eve. We all know what happened wasn’t right.”
Eve jerked on her chains and they clanked against the chair. “And you let it happen. All of Space Corps leadership did, to appease Mommy Hathaway. I dedicated my life to the Corps, and you all screwed me over for an admiral’s incompetent son. I got sentenced to prison for his mistakes.” Stomach turning in vicious circles, Eve looked at the floor, sucking in air. She stared at the soft booties on her feet. Damned inmate footwear. She wasn’t even allowed proper fucking shoes.
“No!” Maxon dropped to his knees, digging into the sand.
All around, the other surviving Edull burrowed into the sand as well, disappearing below the surface.
“Drak!” Maxon roared.
“I’m detecting tunnels beneath us,” Acton said.
“Like the ones the Edull used at the underground sea,” Jax murmured.
“We have to go after them,” Maxon said.
“They’re moving quickly,” Acton said. “They’re almost out of range.”
Maxon kicked the sand and cursed.
“The flyers,” Magnus said. “We can give chase.”
The weapons master cursed again and shook his head. “The engines are almost fried. They won’t get far, and it’ll take me too long to fix them.”
“And Simone needs help now,” Toren added.
He didn’t want to leave Bellamy, and he knew Simone would be devastated to know that the woman was back in Edull hands. But he needed Simone to live.
“Back to the ship,” Magnus ordered. “Bellamy is clearly valuable to the Edull. They’ll keep her alive.”
“Drak,” Maxon spat.
Magnus held up the holo-cube. “Bellamy gave us what we need to rescue her, and to shut down the Edull and their battle arena.”
Maxon looked ready to argue, but he jammed his blaster into its slot in the side of his flyer. “Let’s go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we come back for her.”
Toren touched Simone’s face. “It’s going to be okay. Hold on.”
* * *
Bright lights. Pain.
Simone groaned, fighting through the fog in her head.
“She’s hurting.”
Toren’s voice. Where were they?
“Get her into the regen tank,” an older voice said.
“Help her,” Toren bit out.
“We will. Step back.”
Simone tried to talk, but she couldn’t get anything to work.
“Never,” Toren said. “I will never leave her.”
Simone felt warmth through her pain. Then she was drifting again, and there was nothing.
The next sensation was of floating in warm wetness. She felt surrounded and cocooned.
“She’s healing fine, Toren. She won’t wake for a while.”
“I’m staying,” Toren said.
A pause.
“I need to talk to you.”
“What is it, Avarn?”
“I’ve run some scans. You’ve healed enough for me to re-implant your shoulder weapon.” A longer pause. “And I can also fix your systems, as your nerve pathways have healed very well.”
“Meaning?” Toren asked cautiously.
“Meaning I can dull your emotions again.”
Simone’s heart clenched. No. A machine started beeping.
“Toren?” Avarn’s voice again. “It’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?”
Simone struggled to stay conscious, but it was like a cloud of fog engulfing her. Toren. Toren. She tried to call his name.
She loved him. She didn’t want to lose him. Everything inside her clenched. He’d suffered so much for her, and she loved him enough to let him go, if that was what he wanted. Pain welled up inside—huge and numbing—that had nothing to do with her injuries.
Then there was nothing but darkness again.
Something tickled her nose.
“Grace, stop that.”
Toren’s deep voice.
Simone smiled. She felt refreshed and relaxed. If this was a dream, it was a good one.
“She smiled,” Grace said. “She’s finally waking up.”
Simone’s eyes popped open. She was lying in her bed in the House of Rone. Toren was stretched out beside her, and Grace was sitting on his legs, smiling at Simone.
Her heart started pounding. Was Toren still Toren? Could he still feel? Or was he once again the emotionless cyborg?
She couldn’t make herself look at him.
“Mom!” Grace launched herself at Simone, and Simone hugged her daughter tight. Then over Grace’s dark head, she made herself look at Toren.
Her heart beat like a trapped bird. His face looked the same—handsome and strong. But his expression was unreadable.
She swallowed.
“I…heard the healer talking to you in Medical,” she whispered. “He said that he could fix you.”
Toren stared at her. “Is that what you want?”
“I want you to be happy.” She bit her lip. “No. I love you and I want you. All of you.”
He smiled, and it was blinding and filled with emotion. “I love you, Simone. I would never leave you in any way. I don’t need to be fixed.”
Thank God. With Grace caught between them, she hugged him tight, tears welling in her eyes.
“You were in Medical for-ever,” Grace complained. “But I wasn’t worried. I knew you’d be okay.”
Simone tucked some of Grace’s silky hair behind her ear. “I feel fine.”
“Avarn had you in a regen tank for a bit,” Toren voiced.
She heard the tension in his voice. He’d been worried. She grabbed his hand. “Thanks for getting me home.”
“Never, ever get injured so far from home again.”
“I’m sorry I missed most of the action.”
His smile flickered. “Magnus and the others arrived to save us. Even Maxon.”
“Everyone’s okay?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Where’s Bellamy? Is she getting settled?”
Toren cleared his throat, and dread was like a heavy blanket settling on Simone.
“Toren?”
“The Edull grabbed her in the fight. We couldn’t chase them down.”
“No,” she whispered brokenly.
Grace hugged her. “It’s okay, Mom. Everyone is planning to go back and get her.”
God, what if the Edull hurt Bellamy? Punished her for helping them?
“They want her for her skills,” Toren reminded her. “She’ll be okay.”
Simone nodded. Deep inside, she prayed that was true. Be safe, Bellamy. Hold on.
“She gave us the information we need to rescue her,” Toren said. “We’ll get her back.”
Simone dragged in a breath. “I know.”
“Right now, Magnus has sent Jax and Quinn to dismantle Alev’s desert fortress. Any slaves will be freed.”
Warmth filled her. That was something, at least.
He leaned down and kissed Simone. His kiss wasn’t just a promise, but a vow. Simone knew in her bones she could trust this man with anything—her friend, her daughter, her heart.
Grace beamed at them. “So, you guys are in lurve?”
That made Simone pull back and laugh. “Yes.”
Toren nodded. “Yes, I love your mother.” He touched Grace’s nose. “And I believe what I feel for you is love, too. But a little different to what I feel for your mother.”
“Ew, I hope so.” Grace threw her arms around him. “I love you too, Toren.”
The look on his face filled Simone’s heart with joy. It was exactly the look she’d always wanted to see on the face of the man she loved when he looked at her daughter.
“Hey, don’t you have classes?” Simone asked.
Grace bounded off the bed. “Weeeell…”
“What happened?” Simone asked with a groan.
“We had a science class, and there were some chemicals…” Grace smiled. “The damage was minor. I promise.”
“Grace—”
“It was an accident!” Grace made for the door. “I’d better go, because I can tell you want to kiss some more.”
“Yes,” Toren said.
“Ew.” Grace grinned, as she ran out of the room. “Love you, Mom. Love you, Toren.”
Once the door closed, Toren rolled over on top of Simone.
“I hope you want to do more than kiss,” she murmured.
“You just got out of Medical.”
“But I’m all healed.” She pulled his head down for a long, deep kiss. Mmm, he tasted good. “What do you feel?”
“You,” he answered. “Love. Life. And I wouldn’t give up any of it.”
“Be mine forever, Toren?”
“I’m already yours—the man, the cyborg, all of me.”
Simone kissed him again, amazed that she’d found everything she’d been looking for right there in her cyborg’s arms.
* * *
Toren paused for a moment, took a deep breath, then entered Magnus’ office.
All the other cyborgs were there already.
Magnus looked up and smiled. “Toren. How’s Simone?”
“Recovering well.” He’d left her dozing in their sheets after making love to her. He never, ever wanted to see her hurt and dying like what had happened in the desert, and he never wanted to go through the despair that had almost crippled him again.
But he knew now that in order to feel the love he had for Simone and Grace, he had to weather the other emotions as well.
“Avarn told me you turned down his offer to repair your systems and dull your emotions.”
Toren straightened and nodded. “I’m in love with Simone. I won’t give that up.”
Magnus smiled. “We all knew you were falling in love quite some time ago.”
Toren’s brows winged up. “You did?”
Jax snorted. “We’ve all taken the fall, Toren. We recognize the signs.”
Seren crossed her legs. “I am never falling in love. It seems very messy and inefficient.”
Magnus glanced at the female cyborg, the corner of his lips twitching. “The thing about love is that it hits when you least expect it.”
Seren’s nose wrinkled.
The office door suddenly slammed open. Maxon strode in, his usual scowl in place.
“Why is everyone sitting around?” the weapons master demanded. “There’s an Earth woman in danger, and the drakking Edull need to be dealt with.”
Magnus leaned back in his chair. “We’re planning our mission, Maxon.”
Maxon crossed his muscular arms. “Good. I’m already working to increase the capabilities of the flyers.”
“That’s good to hear.” Magnus’ gaze scanned the room, his cybernetic eye glowing neon blue. “Taking down Bari Batu’s battle arena is our priority. We will stop the Edull.”
“Drak yeah,” Jax muttered.
“The data cube we got from Bellamy has the coordinates of the city, but very little information on the battle arena. At this stage, any attack we launch would require us going in blind.”
“And they’ll be expecting us,” Toren said.
Magnus nodded. “The Edull have already proven that they’ll do whatever they have to in order to protect their arena and races. We’re talking with all our allies to see if we can get any additional information.” Magnus rose. “But whatever happens, we will not stop until the Edull are finished.”
Toren lifted his chin. “I want to be back on full duty and be a part of the mission. I am a cyborg of the House of Rone, and my new emotions make me even more dedicated to protecting this house, the people in it, my friends, and my woman and her daughter.”
Mace slapped him on the back, Jax was grinning, and even Acton had a smile on his face.
“You’ve already been cleared by Avarn,” Magnus said.
Toren relaxed. “Perhaps you could have told me that first?”
“And miss that awesome speech?” Jax said, smiling.
“Good to have you back, Toren,” his imperator said.
The office door opened again and women poured in.
“Enough war planning.” Ever, with Asha in her arms, strode up to Magnus. “Simone is feeling better and we’re all having a meal together. Calla is busy in the kitchens cooking up a feast even cyborgs will love. Mace and Acton, I need you to carry the tables out into the training arena. Zaden and Seren, you can hang the lights.” Ever continued issuing orders.
Toren looked around and saw that not one of the cyborgs minded having a small Earth woman bossing them around. He spotted Simone in the doorway. Her gaze met his and she smiled.
As she walked toward him, Toren couldn’t think of anything other than the fact that he was the luckiest cyborg in the quadrant.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“Hi.” He pulled her close, drawing in the scent of her, and pressed his lips to hers. “I can’t stop kissing you, wanting you.”
“Good,” she whispered. “I hope you never do.”
“You know half the room has cyborg hearing, right?” Acton said.
Everyone laughed and Simone’s cheeks turned pink.
Toren swept her off her feet and into his arms. “I’m taking my woman someplace where none of you can hear the sounds she makes.”
“Toren.” She slapped his shoulder.
“Don’t forget dinner,” Ever called out.
Toren strode out the door. “We won’t, but we might be late.”
Simone’s laughter filled his heart with love. He, once an emotionless cyborg, would spend the rest of his days ensuring her life was always filled with love and laughter.
* * *
I hope you enjoyed Simone and Toren’s story!
Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone concludes with WEAPONS MASTER, the story of temperamental cyborg Maxon and human survivor Bellamy. Coming in July 2020.
If you’re interested in learning more about the House of Galen gladiators and the strong, smart women from Earth they helped rescue or Magnus and Ever’s story, then check out Galactic Gladiators.
For more action-packed romance, read on for a preview of the first chapter of Edge of Eon, the first book in my best-selling Eon Warriors series.
Don’t miss out! For updates about new releases, free books, and other fun stuff, sign up for my VIP mailing list and get your free box set containing three action-packed romances.
Visit here to get started: www.annahackett.com
Preview: Edge of Eon
She shifted on the chair, causing the chains binding her hands to clank together. Eve Traynor snorted. The wrist and ankle restraints were overkill. She was on a low-orbit prison circling Earth. Where the fuck did they think she was going to go?
Eve shifted her shoulders to try to ease the tension from having her hands tied behind her back. For the millionth time, she studied her surroundings. The medium-sized room was empty, except for her chair. Everything from the floor to the ceiling was dull-gray metal. All of the Citadel Prison was drab and sparse. She’d learned every boring inch of it the last few months.
One wide window provided the only break in the otherwise uniform space. Outside, she caught a tantalizing glimpse of the blue-green orb of Earth below.
Her gut clenched and she drank in the sight of her home. Five months she’d been locked away in this prison. Five months since her life had imploded.
She automatically thought of her sisters. She sucked in a deep breath. She hated everything they’d had to go through because of what had happened. Hell, she thought of her mom as well, even though their last contact had been the day after Eve had been imprisoned. Her mom had left Eve a drunken, scathing message.
The door to the room opened, and Eve lifted her chin and braced.
When she saw the dark-blue Space Corps uniform, she stiffened. When she saw the row of stars on the lapel, she gritted her teeth.
Admiral Linda Barber stepped into the room, accompanied by a female prison guard. The admiral’s hair was its usual sleek bob of highlighted, ash-blonde hair. Her brown eyes were steady.
Eve looked at the guard. “Take me back to my cell.”
The admiral lifted a hand. “Please leave us.”
The guard hesitated. “That’s against protocol, ma’am—”
“It’ll be fine.” The admiral’s stern voice said she was giving an order, not making a request.
The guard hesitated again, then ducked through the door. It clicked closed behind her.
Eve sniffed. “Say what you have to say and leave.”
Admiral Barber sighed, taking a few steps closer. “I know you’re angry. You have a right to be—”
“You think?” Eve sucked back the rush of molten anger. “I got tossed under the fucking starship to save a mama’s boy. A mama’s boy who had no right to be in command of one of Space Corps’ vessels.”
Shit. Eve wanted to pummel something. Preferably the face of Robert J. Hathaway—golden son of Rear-Admiral Elisabeth Hathaway. A man who, because of family connections, was given captaincy of the Orion, even though he lacked the intelligence and experience needed to lead it.
Meanwhile, Eve—a Space Corps veteran—had worked her ass off during her career in the Corps, and had been promised her own ship, only to be denied her chance. Instead, she’d been assigned as Hathaway’s second-in-command. To be a glorified babysitter, and to actually run the ship, just without the title and the pay raise.
She’d swallowed it. Swallowed Hathaway’s incompetence and blowhard bullshit. Until he’d fucked up. Big-time.
“The Haumea Incident was regrettable,” Barber said.
Eve snorted. “Mostly for the people who died. And definitely for me, since I’m the one shackled to a chair in the Citadel. Meanwhile, I assume Bobby Hathaway is still a dedicated Space Corps employee.”
“He’s no longer a captain of a ship. And he never will be again.”
“Right. Mommy got him a cushy desk job back at Space Corps Headquarters.”
The silence was deafening and it made Eve want to kick something.
“I’m sorry, Eve. We all know what happened wasn’t right.”
Eve jerked on her chains and they clanked against the chair. “And you let it happen. All of Space Corps leadership did, to appease Mommy Hathaway. I dedicated my life to the Corps, and you all screwed me over for an admiral’s incompetent son. I got sentenced to prison for his mistakes.” Stomach turning in vicious circles, Eve looked at the floor, sucking in air. She stared at the soft booties on her feet. Damned inmate footwear. She wasn’t even allowed proper fucking shoes.
