Weapons Master: Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone #6

by Hackett, Anna

  He tore into the remaining security bots. The energy weapon cut through them like the sharpest blade through flesh.

  Heaving in air, Maxon rose. The destroyed security bots littered the ground around him.

  Bellamy.

  He swiveled and ran. He leaped over the railing and into the maintenance area. He sprinted past the wrecked and destroyed bots until he reached her downed bot. He leaped onto its large body and ran along it.

  He reached the cockpit and his gut lurched. It was so badly damaged.

  He tossed the energy weapon aside, then ripped the bot open with his bare hands.

  Then he saw her hand through the torn metal. It was slack and covered in blood.

  “Bellamy.” A broken whisper.

  Maxon heaved metal out of the way and pulled her out. She was so still.

  Clutching her to his chest, he leaped back onto the ground and pulled her into his lap.

  She wasn’t moving. Her eyes were closed.

  A roar welled inside him. He couldn’t detect her heart beating. No. The pain threatened to tear him apart.

  Then he realized something.

  There was no impending sense of dread. No black cloud. It gave him the tiniest shred of hope.

  “Bellamy!”

  He reached out and grabbed the energy weapon. Then steeling himself, he pressed it to her chest.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Bellamy gasped, sucking in air. What the hell had happened?

  She opened her eyes. She felt like she’d been through a meat grinder.

  Maxon’s face came into view—rugged and male. She stilled. There were tears on his cheeks.

  He was holding her tightly to his chest and made a harsh sound, like a wounded animal.

  “Maxon?”

  He froze. His golden gaze latched onto her face.

  “Ace?” She tried to lift her hand, but all she got was an arm twitch. Hmm, her legs wouldn’t move either. Pain was starting to seep in. Ow. A lot of pain.

  “Bellamy.” His voice was harsh, and filled with boiling emotions.

  She gingerly turned her head and saw the destroyed bots. And her bot—which was now a crumpled mess.

  And a lot of blood. All over her.

  “I’m okay,” she said.

  “Drak, you… You…”

  Her big, gruff cyborg. His eyes were filled with such pain.

  This time, she managed to cup his cheek. “I’m okay, Maxon.”

  “But you were…you were dead. Your heart had stopped. I had to jolt you, but I didn’t know if it would work.”

  Oh, her poor man. “Help me sit up. I need to kiss you.”

  He helped her upright and their lips touched.

  “I’m not leaving you, Ace. I plan to make you laugh, maybe yell a bit, and definitely growl, every day for a really long time.” She wiped the tears off his stubbled cheeks. “Don’t cry.”

  “I don’t cry,” he said.

  Her lips twitched. “Oh, right.”

  “Bellamy.” He yanked her close and buried his face in her hair. “I can’t lose you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. Help me to my feet. We have douchebag asshole aliens to bring down.”

  They rose and he handled her carefully. She tested her legs and found them wobbly, but nothing was broken. She’d feel worse later.

  Around them, the arena was in an uproar. She heard shouts, screams and roars.

  Drivers and slaves were running everywhere. She smiled. Go, get out.

  Then she saw a group of Edull guards appear out of a tunnel. They marched down the track.

  Several spectators climbed over the railing, looking amped up and ready to fight. Edull allies, or people whose bloodlust was up.

  Oh, fuck.

  “Have you seen Jax and the others?” she asked.

  Maxon shook his head.

  She hoped they were okay. The Edull were getting closer.

  “Then it’s up to us to teach these guys a lesson.”

  Maxon lifted a weapon that was sitting nearby and it lit up with red electricity.

  Nice.

  Then he pulled a slim wire from the seam of his fighting leathers. It unfurled, and as she watched, it started to knit together, forming a slim gun.

  “Oh, wow.”

  “Stealth design that I’m trialing.”

  “You’re pretty awesome, you know?”

  He shot her a small smile.

  Her fingers closed around the small weapon, and when she looked up, the Edull were closing in. She lifted the gun and fired. It blasted out a thin line of laser.

  The Edull scattered. One crouched and raced closer. Maxon attacked.

  And unleashed hell.

  Oh, her man could fight. And it appeared that after watching her almost die, he was seriously pissed off.

  Then she heard a guttural roar, and turned to see a big alien with horns sprinting at them.

  She fired, but the laser bounced off his tough skin. She aimed more carefully, and fired again.

  This time, the laser hit his eye. With a shout, the big man staggered and fell.

  More Edull and more of their asshole allies were coming. Shit, even with an arsenal, they couldn’t take them all down.

  Suddenly, a large body sailed over the railing, and landed on the track in front of her with a bend of powerful legs.

  Overlord Rhain Sarkany rose, two wicked, curved swords in his hands.

  He charged into the fight, his swords slashing.

  Oh, he sure was something.

  Rhain leaped and spun in the air with an amazing flip, cutting down several Edull in one blow.

  There was a crash of metal, and she spun to see Zaden, flanked by Seren and Jax, sending crumpled metal flying at the Edull. The cyborgs were fighting their way toward them.

  Bellamy’s heart leaped. They were still outnumbered, but now they had a chance.

  Then she spotted an Edull sneaking up on Maxon.

  No way. “Maxon!” She fired on the Edull.

  Maxon spun, his energy weapon whirling. He took down the Edull with one hit.

  Their gazes met and she smiled. Then she saw another crowd of fighters—including lots of Edull—running down the track.

  Dammit. They never stopped.

  Then a sharp whistle from above cut across the track, followed by a deep voice.

  “For honor and freedom!”

  She saw a muscular body leap over the railing, black cloak flapping behind him.

  Galen landed and lifted his head, his eye patch over one eye and his mouth set in a flat line.

  Gladiators leaped onto the track all around him. She saw Raiden, and another large gladiator holding a giant axe. The elegant Saff grasped a staff and beside her, Blaine raised his sword above his head. Tall Nero hefted a giant sword while Lore crouched, his arm lighting up with flames. Blue-skinned Vek snarled and Kace stood with his staff, his cool gaze scanning their opponents.

  A tall, built gladiator with a green cloak landed, his handsome face set in harsh lines. Around him, more green-cloaked gladiators landed. The House of Loden.

  Then she saw the cyborgs land one after the other—thud, thud, thud. One had silver skin and it took her a second to realize that it was Mace. Acton and Toren were right behind him. Acton’s cybernetic arms glowed and Toren’s weapon rose up from his shoulder, swiveling to take aim.

  Then Magnus landed, hard enough to make the track vibrate.

  The imperator rose, his eyes glowing neon blue, and his cybernetic arm lighting up with electricity.

  Then the gladiators and cyborgs ran into the fight.

  Bellamy smiled. “For honor and freedom!”

  * * *

  Maxon felt a savage satisfaction and pride seeing his fellow cyborgs and gladiators charge into the battle.

  Magnus slammed his cybernetic arm into an Edull, lifting the alien off his feet.

  The House of Rone had arrived. His family had come. A family that had found and claimed him at his lowest point. Tha
t accepted him just as he was.

  He looked at Bellamy. She was running toward him, smiling. He still hated her altered hair, because it wasn’t her. He liked Bellamy just the way she was. But that smile on her face—that was all hers—and she was all his.

  She’d claimed him from the moment he’d first seen her in the middle of a fight with the Edull.

  She didn’t just accept him as he was, she liked him as he was.

  Then he saw her gaze shift to the right. Her smile evaporated.

  Maxon swiveled, clutching his weapon. Vossol.

  Maxon’s chest swelled. The Edull leader dropped through a hole that had been torn in the track and disappeared.

  Running like the bug he was.

  Maxon saw Bellamy switch directions. She sprinted for the hole.

  Drak. Maxon broke into a run after her. “Magnus!”

  Even in the middle of the battle, the imperator heard him and looked over.

  “Bellamy’s after Vossol. They’re both under the track where the mag-tech is.”

  Magnus nodded. “Go. Help her.”

  “The prisoners?”

  “On their way out now. Quinn’s leading them. Now go.”

  “Get the rest of the spectators out.”

  “We’ll take care of it.”

  Maxon reached the tear and jumped straight down.

  It was dark under the track, with only a small amount of light filtering in from above. The back of his neck prickled, and he wondered what was hiding in the shadows.

  A mass of metallic support columns made the place feel like a maze. There were rows and rows of them holding up the track.

  There was no sign of Bellamy.

  He pulled his gun. He moved silently, his senses on high alert.

  He circled around several of the columns. Where was she?

  He heard a noise and spun. Then he heard Bellamy.

  “You fucking asshole!”

  Maxon ran.

  Bellamy and Vossol came into view. They were fighting. She rammed into the Edull, knocking him into a column. The impact made a dull clang.

  The man made a raspy sound behind his mask, then shoved her.

  She bounced on her feet, absorbing the blow. She punched the Edull in the gut. Then she followed through with another punch.

  Maxon slowed, keeping his weapon aimed on Vossol. He let Bellamy take what she needed. So feisty and fierce.

  “Not so easy when I’m not chained up.” Punch, jab.

  Vossol doubled over and groaned.

  “You’re not the big man when your flunkies aren’t around helping you.”

  “You won’t…win,” Vossol gasped.

  Bellamy punched him again, and he staggered.

  “I already have. I’m going to finish you, then blow the mag-tech up, and turn this arena into a twisted pile of rubble.”

  Vossol looked up, his eyes glowing. The alien was furious.

  Maxon tensed.

  Vossol charged at Bellamy, lifting her off her feet. They crashed into one of the columns.

  Drak. Maxon rushed forward. He tackled Vossol off her, and they crashed into another column. But this time, Maxon’s strength and weight made the column buckle.

  “Shit, watch out,” Bellamy yelled.

  Part of the track collapsed, raining rubble down on them.

  Maxon leaped on Bellamy, shielding her.

  He rolled them to safety.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah, Ace.” She kissed him, quick and hard.

  They sat up. Several large chunks of rubble pinned his legs.

  Vossol was sitting up as well, coughing behind his mask and shaking dust off himself.

  Bellamy’s face contorted with fury. “Enough. You’ve lost.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Maxon shoved at the debris pinning him. His intuition flared like a supernova. “Bellamy, watch out!” He held up his weapon.

  She was already reaching for it as the Edull pulled a gun out of his robes.

  Bellamy jumped to her feet and fired.

  Vossol fired at the same time.

  Bellamy’s body jerked, but she kept firing, unloading a laser barrage into the Edull.

  With a cry, Vossol fell back, still. Smoke rose from his robes.

  Bellamy spun and helped Maxon clear the rubble off his legs.

  “Where were you hit?” Panic was hot in his veins. He patted her down.

  He saw the graze on her arm, and the tattoo peeking through the now-ruined dermal patches.

  “It’s fine. I barely feel it.” She grabbed his head, yanked him down, and kissed him. “How about we play with some explosives, and blow this place?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Bellamy followed Maxon through the maze of columns.

  He was tracking magnetic field readings. They had to find the exact location of the mag-tech. Shit, she hoped Vossol hadn’t lied.

  Vossol was dead.

  The reminder made her adrenaline spike, and she felt wired and elated. But deep down, she just wanted this done and over with.

  She wanted to be tangled up with her cyborg on his big bed. She wanted the Edull to not dictate her thoughts or life anymore.

  She studied Maxon’s broad back. He’d been with her every step of the way. He hadn’t let her down.

  He wasn’t some romantic hero who’d sweep her off her feet and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. Her lips twitched. He might yank her off her feet and toss her over his shoulder, and grunt and growl at her. She was fine with that. He was hers and he was real.

  Warmth burst in her belly. Oh, crap. She’d fallen in love with the big, sometimes annoying beast.

  Bellamy almost tripped.

  Maxon glanced back over his shoulder. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” Just finally worked out what love feels like.

  And she realized that he didn’t know anything about love. But that was okay, she’d teach her surly cyborg.

  He made an annoyed sound. “Magnetic readings are low. I can’t find the source.”

  “It must be shielded.” She scanned around. “Except if Vossol was lying. Then I’m going to kill him again.”

  “He said the tech was here under the track.” Maxon glanced up through a hole in the track.

  “And the Edull aren’t very subtle. They’re too arrogant.” She turned, her eyes narrowing. Where the hell was it?

  Maxon closed his eyes and looked like he was concentrating.

  “Maxon?”

  “I’m using my intuitive senses.” He breathed deeply. “The mag-tech is here, Bellamy. All around us.”

  All around them? Then a thought hit her. “Maxon, the support pillars!”

  His eyebrows rose, and he swiveled. Then he jogged back to where they’d collapsed a pillar.

  He picked up a chunk and knocked the coating off it.

  He uncovered wires and a metal core.

  “The mag-tech is in all the columns,” he said.

  Bellamy’s heart leaped. “Let’s do this!”

  He pulled his belt off and when he tipped it over, she watched as he popped small explosive patches off the leather.

  “You had explosives hidden in your belt?” she said.

  “Yes.”

  That was her weapons master.

  He handed her some of the explosives. Then they moved down the rows of columns.

  “Press them to the base of the columns,” he ordered. “And spread out, ensure we get good coverage.”

  They started pressing the explosives to the columns until they had none left.

  “Let’s go.” He held out his hand.

  She took it and they moved to the hole they’d used to get down. She spared Vossol’s body one last glare.

  Maxon wrapped his arms around her, then jumped upward. She clung to his wide shoulders.

  They landed on the track. The arena was completely empty.

  The silence and emptiness were eerie. She looked around at the place that had been her
prison for so long.

  The stands were void of beings, and there were destroyed bots all over the track. Even when there hadn’t been races on, the place had always been filled with prisoners and Edull.

  “No one will die here again,” she whispered.

  “It’s almost over.” Maxon held out a small detonator.

  She took it and nodded.

  They jogged off the track and into a tunnel.

  “This will lead us out,” she said.

  They wound their way upward, and soon, she saw the glow of sunlight at the end of the tunnel ahead.

  “Do it,” Maxon said.

  Bellamy didn’t hesitate. She pressed the button on the detonator.

  They waited a few seconds.

  Nothing.

  “Drak.” Maxon frowned, looking back down the tunnel. “You get out, I’ll check what happened—”

  “Oh, no. That’s not how this works, Ace. We’re a team.”

  He scowled at her. “Drakking Earth women.”

  Bellamy poked her tongue out at him.

  They moved back down the tunnel and into the arena. They came out in the empty stands. The spooky silence made goose bumps pimple her skin.

  She started down the steps. “Let’s—”

  Boom. Boom. Boom.

  The ground shook beneath them.

  Oh, shit. She grabbed Maxon to keep herself upright.

  In the center of the arena, she watched the track explode upward, rubble flying everywhere.

  “Run!” Maxon shouted.

  They sprinted back into the tunnel. There were more violent explosions behind them, and she felt the floor start to sink under their feet.

  “Faster!” he roared.

  “I’m going as fast as I can,” she yelled back.

  He scooped her up, and then he moved.

  As the walls blurred, she looked back over his shoulder. The ceiling was collapsing behind them. She gripped him hard.

  Then, a second later, they burst out into blinding sunlight.

  Maxon sprinted across the large landing pad in front of the arena. Ahead, a crowd milled on the sand. She spotted Magnus and the others.

  Maxon kept running, and then behind them came an earsplitting crash.

  They tumbled to the sand, both of them panting. They turned, and Bellamy watched the Edull’s battle arena collapse inward.