by Anna Hackett
“Vron knows nothing of humans,” the robot answered.
Mace looked around. He knew Jayna was watching everything that was going on, and he could almost sense her. Was Vron watching too?
“The humans were sold to the Edull and kept in Bari Batu,” Jax said.
There was a pause, and it seemed like the robot was computing something. “Vron knows the Edull and their city.”
Mace stiffened. “You have the coordinates of the city?”
“I’m not authorized to give that information.”
A snarl slipped out of Mace. “Stop stalling. Where is Vron?”
Silence.
Anger stormed through Mace and he surged forward. He slammed the robot into the wall, his arm pressed to the bot’s throat.
But the robot pushed back and it was damn strong. They strained against each other.
“Talk, or I’ll break you into tiny pieces,” Mace growled.
“If you pursue this, you will make an enemy of the Edull.”
“Don’t care.”
“If you destroy me, you will also make an enemy of them.”
“They’re already our enemy,” Mace said. “Because they’re crudspawn who keep slaves.”
Magnus stepped into view, his cybernetic eye glowing blue. “You’re the Edulls’ salesperson here in Kor Magna.”
The robot nodded.
“So, who the drak is Vron?” Mace asked.
Magnus held up a hand, tilting his head. “Ever?” Magnus appeared to be listening to his mate. Then his face hardened. “Jayna remembered something.”
Then Jayna’s voice filled Mace’s ear. Magnus had redirected the comm line to all of them.
“I remembered,” Jayna said. “This bot, he is Vron. Vron is an artificial intelligence created by the Edull.”
Mace’s fingers spasmed.
“You’re Vron,” he said to the bot.
The robot’s eyes glowed gold. “Yes, I am.”
“Then you’re coming with us.”
Chapter Ten
Nervous and worried, Jayna paced the entry of the House of Rone.
“They’re all fine,” Ever assured her.
Jayna knew that, but she needed to see Mace to believe it.
The doors swung open, startling her.
Magnus and Jax entered first. Both men looked okay. Quinn was next, then all Jayna saw was Mace.
A tight knot inside her chest loosened. Acton and Toren followed, holding the arms of the robot.
Her stomach curdled. It looked humanoid, and it was definitely Edull construction. It looked eerily similar to some of the bots that had tortured her in the Edull labs.
The bot’s head turned toward her.
“One of the humans,” the bot said in a creepy voice.
It was looking right at her and Jayna fought off a shiver.
Then its gaze turned to Ever. “Another human.”
“Don’t look at them.” Mace jerked his head, and Toren and Acton tugged Vron forward.
“Put it in a cell,” Magnus ordered.
The cyborgs moved down the corridor, and Jayna stepped back to give them room. Suddenly, one of Vron’s arms pulled free of Toren’s hold. His metal fingers brushed Jayna’s arm. She hissed and jerked back.
Mace moved fast. He slammed into Vron’s body, pinning the bot to the wall.
“Do not touch her.”
“You are possessive of her.” It almost sounded like Vron was curious.
“She will never be touched by an Edull again. Or anything created by them.”
“Mace,” Magnus said.
Jax shouldered in. “Mace, see to Jayna.”
Toren and Acton gripped Vron harder, pulling him down the corridor. Mace turned to Jayna.
“I’m fine,” she told him.
But before she finished talking, he yanked her forward. His arms closed around her, and dammit, she liked the solid, secure feel of him way too much. She pressed into him and breathed in his scent.
“That machine will be locked in a cell.”
“I know.” She touched his back.
“I hate that it is even under the same roof as you.”
“I’m fine.” And she realized that she was. She pulled back. “I want to hear what he has to say.”
Mace’s brow creased. “You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do.”
He stared at her for a beat, then linked his hands with hers. “Drak, you women from Earth are too damn brave.”
She smiled at him. They walked together down a set of stairs toward the cells.
As they approached, Jayna’s stomach tightened, but when they reached the bottom, she was grateful to discover that the House of Rone cells were nothing like where the Edull had kept her prisoner.
Here, everything was well-lit and tidy. Not fancy, but each cell had bunks, and a small, attached bathroom, cordoned off with a partition.
They reached the cell where they had Vron strapped to a chair. Magnus’ arms were crossed and he was glaring at the robot.
Jax looked at Mace and Jayna, shook his head. “Vron isn’t talking.”
“I told you, my programming won’t allow it.”
“Then we’ll change your programming,” Magnus said. “Jax, get Maxon.”
Jax groaned. “You want me to get him out of bed?”
“Yes.”
With another groan, Jax strode down the corridor and disappeared.
“Where is Bari Batu?” Magnus asked.
“It is useless to repeat your questions.” Vron looked straight ahead. “My programming won’t allow me to reveal that location.”
“Drak,” Mace muttered under his breath.
There was a noise at the end of the hall and Jayna turned her head. Her eyes widened. A big man, with shaggy hair framing a rugged face and a strong jaw, was stalking down the hallway. His tawny-brown hair was threaded with strands of gold. He made Jayna think of an action-movie star, and somehow, also a big, unhappy lion.
His scowl was impressive, and she realized that she’d finally met someone who was grumpier-looking than Mace.
“This better be worth my time,” the man growled. He had a deep, surprisingly smooth voice.
“Maxon, this is Jayna,” Mace said.
Maxon, the House of Rone’s weapons master, grunted. “Hi.”
She lifted a hand.
Then Maxon looked at Magnus. “What have you got for me?”
Magnus jerked his head toward the cell, and Maxon stopped at the bars, staring at Vron. That was when Jayna noticed that the weapons master was carrying a metal box at his side.
“Hmm.” Maxon nodded at Acton, who opened the cell door. The weapons master stepped inside and set the box down. He opened the lid, revealing an impressive collection of tools.
Maxon lifted out a slender device and turned to Vron. He circled around behind the bot, then started opening up Vron’s head.
“Interesting construction,” Maxon said. “Crude, but effective.” He lifted a metal panel off, exposing half of Vron’s head.
From where she stood, Jayna could see blinking lights and wires. Vron didn’t make a sound.
The weapons maker dug around in Vron’s head, making grunting noises. He lifted a small comp screen from his toolbox, studying something.
Finally, he lowered his tools. “I’m a weapons maker, and this is beyond me. You need an engineer.” He poked in Vron’s head again. “Even then, there’s no guarantee. This might be high-tech, but its drakking shoddy work. A real mess of parts and connections.”
“I am one of the best Edull creations,” Vron said.
“Yeah, but they’re lazy, slapping crap together. No artistry.”
The lights in Vron’s head blinked wildly, like he wasn’t happy with Maxon’s assessment.
“Keep trying,” Magnus said.
Maxon let out a harrumphing sound. His large hands moved again, opening up another part of Vron’s head.
The man was clearly good with his hands. Ja
yna didn’t see any enhancements on Maxon, and she wondered if he was a cyborg or not.
He connected the small comp screen to the inside of Vron’s head, muttering to himself.
Jayna stepped closer, her hands curling around the bars. “Where’s Bari Batu?”
Vron’s gaze zeroed in on her. “I’m not permitted—”
“I remember clouds. I remember screams.” The heavy weight of the memories made her mouth go dry. “I remember labs.”
Vron tilted his head, and she tried to remind herself that he was programmed to mimic those moves. “I cannot reveal the information.”
“Where?” she screamed. Anger churned through her, and she thought of others trapped there.
Mace’s arm circled around her, pulling her back against his hard chest.
“Where’s Sage? Where are my crew members? The other humans?”
Vron just stared at her. Like the Edull’s robots had when they’d invaded her mind and cut into her body. No emotion, no empathy, nothing.
“Come on.” Mace pulled her away from the bars.
“The Edull are hurting them. They’re out there, alone.” Her voice broke. “They don’t even know we’re searching for them.”
Mace held her tight, his lips close to her ear. “Breathe, Jayna. We’ll find them.”
Magnus stepped up to them. “Whatever it takes.” He lifted his cybernetic hand, his mechanical fingers brushing Jayna’s own cybernetic ones.
Something else the Edull had stolen from her.
“Mace is correct,” Magnus continued. “We will find them. The full power of the House of Rone and our allies are behind this.”
There was no doubting what the imperator told her. These cyborgs wouldn’t give up. Jayna sagged against Mace, absorbing his strength.
She just hoped Sage and her fellow crew members could hold on that long.
Mace took Jayna to her room. By the time they got there, she hadn’t cooled down.
She was mad and raging.
“Why would the Edull think they can keep another living being captive?” She stomped into the room. “Why do they think they have the right to hurt and enslave anyone? The assholes! Bastards.” She snatched up a glass trinket off a table and threw it. It hit the wall and smashed.
She froze, a horrified look on her face
Mace pressed his tongue to his teeth. “Don’t stop now.”
He liked seeing her fire. He much preferred it to the hurt and pain he saw far too often in her eyes.
She dragged in a deep breath, put her hands on her hips, and slowly shook her head.
Mace spotted the small music player he’d gotten for her on the table beside her bed. He touched the controls and music filled the room.
Jayna turned and he moved to her, wrapping her in his arms.
She sighed. “Why do you make me feel so safe? Safe from harm, safe to be angry, safe just to be me.”
He started to shift his weight, swaying a little.
“Are you dancing?” she asked incredulously.
“Cyborgs don’t dance.”
That earned him a smile. She leaned into him and started moving her hips.
“Besides, I don’t know how to dance,” he added.
“Just feel the music.”
He frowned into her hair. He didn’t really want to dance, he just wanted to see the shadows on her face fade.
So they swayed together, their bodies brushing. Slowly, he felt her relax, and she began to stroke her hands up and down his back. He let his hands drift down her fascinating body, the one that haunted his dreams. His fingers grazed the sides of her breasts.
“Mace.” Her voice hitched.
Unable to stop himself, he cupped one breast. She made a purring sound and pressed into him. He flicked his thumb over her nipple and felt it harden.
“Do it again,” she murmured, pushing into him.
He flicked her nipple again. So pretty and so soft, this small human. Mace had never had anything soft in his life.
He’d never had something that was just his.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
They quickly pulled apart, Jayna looking dazed. Mace wanted to throw something.
“It might be important,” she said.
With a nod, he yanked the door open. “What?”
Jax raised a brow. “Everything okay?”
“It was.”
A smile flirted on Jax’s mouth. “Sorry.” Then the cyborg’s face turned grim. “There’s been an attack. We’re needed.”
Mace straightened. “Where?”
“In the city. The House of Galen is responding as well.” Jax drew in a breath. “That crudspawn Vron seemed pleased when he heard about it.”
“He knows something,” Mace surmised.
“Yeah, but we’ll have to deal with him later. Let’s move.”
Mace turned and grabbed Jayna’s hand. “I have to go.”
She nodded. “Be careful.”
No one had ever asked that of him. Hit hard. Fight harder. Win. Never be careful. “I will.”
When Mace strode out of the House of Rone with his fellow cyborgs, he forced his mind to focus on the mission. They moved swiftly to the location, and as they got closer, he heard the screams.
They turned a corner, and he took a moment to assess the situation. The building across from them was partially collapsed. On the street, robots were attacking people. They looked similar to the ones they’d seen in Vron’s factory.
The drakking sandsucker.
The House of Galen gladiators were already there, swinging swords and staffs. He watched the tattooed Raiden’s red cloak flare as he sliced his sword into a bot.
A wild roar filled the air, followed by a bellow. Blue-skinned Vek tore into two bots, and right behind followed Thorin. The big gladiator swung his axe with unrestrained power.
“House of Rone,” Magnus called out. “Let’s stop these bots.”
Mace threw his arms out, letting his silver skin flow over his body.
Then with a cry, he charged into the fight. He grabbed one of the bots and tossed it. It flew into the side of the building. He turned, grabbing another one. They wrestled, and his muscles strained. This one didn’t have pistons on its arms, but it was strong.
Mace threw the bot on the ground and stomped on it until metal crunched beneath his feet.
Then, a high-pitched scream pierced the chaos. He swiveled. A mother was clutching a child to her side, cowering as a robot closed in on them.
Mace broke into a run. He leaped high and landed on the robot’s back. It spun, and shook him loose. Mace hit the ground and rolled. The robot charged him, and Mace watched the woman snatch up her child and run.
The robot swung its metal arms and he dodged. Mace pulled out his sword, felt it heat up. Once the blade was glowing red, he attacked. He swung and thrust. He ran the sword into the robot’s gut. The hot blade cut through the metal, and he worked it in, sparks flying everywhere. The bot collapsed.
Mace was lost in the haze of the fight. With a roar, he turned and launched himself at the next bot. He kept fighting, taking down any enemy that got in his way.
“They’re all down,” a deep voice finally called out.
Mace turned, chest heaving, and saw a muscled man with a black cloak, and black eye-patch over one eye. Imperator Galen.
Looking around, Mace watched the House of Galen gladiators helping survivors from the wreckage of the building, and tending to the injured. Some survivors were clutching at each other, others were sobbing.
“We need the healers,” a tall, dark-skinned female gladiator called out.
“They’re coming, Saff,” Galen replied.
Mace saw the body of a woman lying face down in the street. She was a little taller than Jayna, but her hair was a similar color.
He crouched down beside her and turned her over. The woman’s vacant gaze stared upward. Dead.
Drak.
“These bots are Edull,” Magnus
said.
Sandsuckers. “Vron organized this.”
Magnus nodded. “A warning or a taunt.”
Mace rose. “I’m going to rip every Edull into tiny bits.”
“Galen,” Magnus called out. “Do you have anyone who can tear open a robotic mind?”
“Maybe,” the other imperator replied. “Why don’t you let Rory have a try?”
The Earth engineer. Mace scanned the crowd again, this time, spotting Harper. She was working alongside Raiden to help the victims. A woman who could fight tirelessly, and then have a gentle hand for a child who needed it. He knew that these woman from Earth would do anything to help and save the others.
Drak. They’d risk their lives to save any innocents, regardless of species.
Jayna would never give up until they found Sage and the others. He needed to be prepared to help, all the way.
“We’ll do whatever it takes,” Magnus said.
Mace nodded. Whatever it took.
Chapter Eleven
When the doors to the House of Rone opened, Jayna was hovering in the corridor. The cyborgs filed in, each one of them sweaty and dirty.
Mace’s jaw was clenched in a hard line, and she knew that the fight hadn’t been a good one.
“Mace.”
He just pulled her close, his cheek pressed to her hair. She held on. For this big, tough cyborg to touch her like that, for his comfort, not hers, she knew it was her turn to take care of him for a change.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the bedrooms.
She led him into his room. “It was bad?”
He nodded.
“Take a shower. Get clean.”
He moved like a robot. While he was in the bathroom, she sat on the bed and nervously plucked at the covers. When he came out of the bathroom, his chest was bare, his skin damp, and he had a drying cloth wrapped around his hips.
God, don’t notice how big and cut he is right now, Jayna. She rose, and urged him to sit down on the bed.
“Talk to me,” she said quietly.
“It was an Edull attack. My guess is that Vron planned it. It was more robots similar to the ones in the factory.”
Her belly clenched. “Oh, God.”
“Seven dead. All women.”
Jayna pressed a hand to her mouth. “It was a message.”
