by Anna Hackett
He felt a very unfamiliar sense of helplessness and frowned. He was a man who liked solving problems and Ever’s nausea wasn’t something he could fix. It was even worse that he was the cause of it.
When she was finished, she sagged against him, exhausted. He held her tightly, wanting to make her feel better. His frown deepened. Wanting to make someone feel better had never been a priority for him.
The feel of her was…familiar.
She’d mentioned how they’d met in the desert. His jaw tightened. He’d been ambushed by a former client while he was delivering weapons. He didn’t remember much of the attack or his imprisonment, just a few flashes. The so-called client had sold him out to drakking desert slavers.
Slavers working for the Thraxians, no less. They’d been moving Ever out to the Zaabha desert arena.
His gaze drifted down her body and snagged on the rounded mound of her belly. A child rested there. His child.
Everything in Magnus stilled as he tried to process that thought.
He had been created in a lab and bred in an unforgiving military program. He’d been told that he could never procreate. Yet, somehow, he and this woman from Earth had made a child. It was an idea to which he was still adjusting. His healers still didn’t have any answers for him.
What he hadn’t told them was that somehow, Ever Haynes made his emotional dampeners short circuit. Usually, he could easily block out emotion. It was what had made him the perfect soldier and assassin in the Oronix Military.
He realized that she was watching his face. She watched his face a lot, making him feel like some experiment she was keeping an eye on. He shifted, and his advanced systems detected a spike in her pulse rate.
“Sorry about that.” She shot him a weak smile. “Bet you don’t have too many women vomiting all over you.”
“Feel better?” he asked.
She nodded. “Thirsty.” He lifted her, carrying her out of the bathroom and back into the main hall. He set her on one of the couches lining the wall. “Stay here.”
He moved quickly to the adjoining kitchens, ignoring the shocked looks from his night staff. Magnus took his meals in his room at set times. Food was sustenance for him, nothing else.
“Imperator.” A chef bowed low. “What can we do for you?”
“I need a drink.” What would be best for her? “Something tart and refreshing.”
The chef blinked. “Oh. Would you like some govran juice?”
“It isn’t for me.” He accessed the records on his system. Govran juice was slightly aerated, considered refreshing, and a good source of nutrients. “Govran juice should suffice.”
When he returned to the hall, Ever was still sitting on the couch, her legs tucked up beneath her. He handed her the juice and she took it quickly. She tipped her head back and gulped it down. Magnus watched her throat work as she drank. Her consumption was so urgent, her need clearly overwhelming her.
Something rose in him, hot and hard. He felt it in his cock, where he usually felt little, unless he wanted to. But he recognized desire.
He tried to strengthen his emotional dampeners. All his life, he’d been programmed and trained to suppress his emotions and do his job. Normally, he had no problem utilizing his systems to keep his emotions at a minimal level. He was more effective and efficient that way. It was far easier to save lives and run a gladiatorial house on a dangerous planet without emotions interfering. He’d never had any problem controlling them in the past.
But for some reason, being with this woman cut through his dampeners like an electroblade through metal.
Suddenly, a flash of images flickered in his head. He remembered her drinking water in the darkness of a cell, hungry to relieve her intense thirst.
“Magnus?” She lowered the glass, her perceptive green gaze on him.
“I remembered you drinking. In the desert.”
She blinked, shifting to face him. “Oh. Do you remember anything else?”
He tried, attempting to hold onto the image, but it slipped away. He shook his head.
Disappointment crossed her face.
“You shouldn’t have entered the main hall. Many of my clients are not people I want you around.”
She tilted her head. “So they aren’t the nicest people, yet you sell weapons to them anyway?”
“They employ hard-working people who need protection. Draynor has several mines, and the desert is a dangerous place.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. I was just looking around and I was curious.” She smiled. “Not that Draynor will be bothering me again.”
Magnus felt another strange flash of emotion. Amusement? “You should rest.”
She wrinkled her nose.
“You’re tired. The baby needs rest too.”
“I’d…I’d like to keep talking. I want to get to know you, Magnus.”
Her quiet voice moved through him, leaving sensations that pricked at him like desert fire ants. He strengthened his dampeners. He could not let this woman close.
In his logical mind, he ticked off all his reasons. She affected him in ways he didn’t like. He’d already taken advantage of her and made her situation harder. He knew nothing about relationships. She needed things he wasn’t capable of giving her.
“That is unnecessary.” He pulled her to her feet and ushered her out of the hall.
But he saw a flash of pain on her face, then her face went blank. She pulled away from his hold. “I know the way to my room. Good night, Magnus.”
He took two involuntary steps toward her, before he forced himself to stay still and watch her walk away. Magnus always took the best, most efficient course of action. But for the first time, it felt very wrong.
Chapter Two
“You still have no idea how I could have impregnated her?”
Magnus’ head healer, Avarn, turned away from his desk in Medical. He was old, his hair a long fall of white, but his eyes were a lively green.
“Well, when a man and a woman—”
Magnus scowled.
Avarn laughed. The man had been with him from the first day Magnus had created the House of Rone. Magnus had paid for cybernetic limbs for Avarn’s daughter and the healer had paid him back with bone-deep loyalty. He was one of the few people Magnus allowed to laugh at him.
“You have programming to prevent conception,” Avarn said. “I can only speculate that the damage you sustained when you were attacked short-circuited that programming.”
“But you said my programming seemed fine when you healed me after the desert attack.”
Avarn shrugged. “Then something about Ever, or human physiology didn’t agree with your program. I haven’t been able to pinpoint what exactly.”
Magnus paced across Medical. Morning light filtered through the large arched windows. He wondered if Ever had slept well and if she’d eaten. Frowning, he swiveled and continued his pacing. The space was filled with high-tech devices he spent a fortune on to keep his gladiators in top form. His healers also specialized in cyborg enhancements. He turned again. “And Ever’s health? Her implant? Have you come up with a procedure to remove it?”
“I’ve stabilized that implant for now. Drakking Thraxians. Experimenting on a pregnant woman.” Avarn shook his head. “I think in another day, we’ll have finished our simulations and be sure the procedure to remove it won’t harm her or the baby.”
The baby. A child that was part of him. Magnus dropped into a chair.
Avarn’s hand gripped his shoulder. Most people didn’t touch Magnus, and he rarely initiated contact. But Avarn had always ignored Magnus’ scowls and pointed looks.
“You’re going to be a father. How do you feel about that?”
“I don’t feel anything.”
Avarn snorted. “I know you’ve conned most of Carthago into believing that.” The healer sat across from him. “But I know you are a man, Magnus, under all your metal. You feel, even when you try not to.”
“You’re certain the procedure won’t harm Ever?
”
A smile curled Avarn’s lips. “I will make sure that your woman is perfectly fine.”
“She’s not mine.”
Avarn made a non-committal sound. Magnus curled his hand. “She…affects me.”
The healer’s smile widened. “Good.”
“Not good. I need to be in control of all my systems. You are well aware of what I’m capable of.”
“Oh, pfft.” Avarn waved a wrinkled hand.
“And…she has suffered enough. She needs comfort, companionship, caring.”
Now Avarn stilled. “And you think you can’t give those to her?”
Magnus stood. “I will ensure she is protected.”
“Mm-hmm.” Avarn grabbed something off a shelf. “Well, I do believe Ever requires a vitamin supplement. A half-alien child is taxing on her human body, not to mention that the baby is growing rapidly. I’m told human pregnancies typically last nine Earth months. About eight months here on Carthago. But with the mix of your genetic material and hers, it is impossible to guess the length of her gestation. I’d guess she’ll be lucky to make two or three months.”
Taxing on her body? It was intolerable to think of Ever in pain. “Give me the supplement. I’ll make sure she takes it.”
Avarn smiled. “I thought you might.”
“She is suffering nausea as well.”
“It’s normal.”
But Magnus didn’t like it. “I want you to find a way to help her.”
Avarn handed over a small vial of dark fluid. “I added something to the supplement that should help a little.”
Good. Magnus closed his fingers around the vial. “Update me when you’re ready to remove her implant. I want to be there.”
“Of course. A lot of interest in a woman you don’t care about.”
Avarn had a suspiciously bland look on his face, but Magnus ignored him and his words, and went in search of Ever.
He found her on the wide balcony off her bedroom, picking at the tray of breakfast food he’d ordered for her. Below, the clang of swords echoed up from where his gladiators were training in the arena.
“Good morning,” he said.
She jolted a little, then glanced at him. She had dark circles under her eyes. She straightened her shoulders, then smiled. “Morning.”
He moved closer. “Is the food not to your liking?”
Her nose wrinkled. “Nausea.”
“Avarn sent a vitamin supplement.” He held it out. “It should help with the nausea as well.”
“Oh. Thanks.”
Magnus sat and watched her drink the fluid. He saw an open book on the low table in front of her. “What’s that?”
“Just a notebook. I’m jotting all my thoughts down. On everything that’s happened.”
Silence fell and despite a nagging need to stay, he stood again.
“Do you want something to eat?” she asked.
“No.”
“I know you aren’t interested in getting to know me, Magnus.” Her tone strengthened. “But whether you like it or not, we have a child on the way. This child’s father will not be a stranger, to me or her.”
He blinked. “Her?”
Ever shrugged. “Just a feeling.”
“I have no experience with relationships,” he said baldly.
She rolled her eyes. “You seem like a smart guy. Learn.”
Again, Magnus felt the prickle of emotions hitting him. “If you wish to ask me questions, I will endeavor to answer.”
She sighed. “Fine. I’m sure you have imperator things to do.” She waved a hand at him. “I’ll just…find something to do.”
He studied her. Her hand was idly rubbing the fabric of the couch, but there was something about the set of her shoulders. Magnus was used to judging people’s thoughts by what his scanners detected—elevated heart rates, increased perspiration, minute expressions. For some reason, he had more trouble reading Ever.
“You don’t have sufficient things to entertain you.”
She winced. “I’m not looking for entertainment, Magnus. I’m used to being busy and productive. God, I hated being locked in that Thraxian cell for hours on end, with nothing to do. I missed my work, my experiments back on Fortuna Station. I miss using my brain for something and having a purpose.”
Magnus studied her a little longer. He felt a forceful need to give her the things she wanted, to please her. “Come on.”
She got to her feet. “What?”
“Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“I have something I think you’ll enjoy.”
She smiled at him, and then slipped her hand into his non-enhanced one. He barely controlled his start of surprise.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m holding your hand.” Her lips twitched. “It’s quite common for people to do that, especially if one is leading the other one somewhere.”
Magnus had never held hands with anyone before, but he didn’t pull away. He tightened his hold on her and pulled her down the corridor.
Ever followed Magnus into a room.
He paused, and she managed to drag her gaze off his muscled back—the man had a lot of sleek muscles—and turned to take in the airy space.
The room they were in was almost empty, but one stone wall held a built-in bookcase. It was filled with several books, as well as some small carved boxes, and devices that she guessed could be puzzles or games.
“What is this place?”
Magnus clasped his hands behind his back. “Nothing important. I use it for storage.”
She glanced at the only pieces of furniture in the room—two large chairs and a small table. The chairs were huge and covered in some sort of animal hide. One in particular looked well-used. The table had some sort of game board built into the surface of it.
“You can make this your space, Ever. Do whatever you’d like here.”
Warmth flooded her. “Thank you.” She eyed the room again. A place of her own, after so long with nothing but fear. “I’d actually like to work.”
He tilted his head. His eyes were a deep, fathomless blue.
“I’m a member of this house now and I want to find my place.” She straightened her shoulders. “I know you specialize in weapons. My work was for the Earth military. I researched armor improvements for soldiers.”
“Useful work. Talk to Jaxer. Whatever you need, he’ll get it for you.”
She grinned. “I’ll talk to Regan about some of the work she’s doing, and see if I can get some equipment from her.”
Regan had been a scientist on Fortuna, as well. She’d been rescued by the gladiators of the House of Galen, and was now happily mated to the big, wild gladiator Thorin. She had a small lab and had told Ever that she loved the work she was doing here in Kor Magna.
“Anything you want, Jaxer will authorize the purchases. I want you to be comfortable.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
But a thought pricked through her happiness. Was he doing this out of guilt? Because of the baby? He’d made it clear he didn’t want to get involved with her. She could practically feel the wall he was keeping between them.
Magnus gave her a small nod and moved over to the chairs. He sat, and then reached for the small, carved box on the table. He flipped it open.
“You might enjoy this game. It’s called darnalli. It’s a game of strategy.”
She sat down in the other chair, absently rubbing her belly. The nausea had passed, thankfully.
“Will you show me how to play?” Even though it was crazy, she wanted to keep him around a bit longer. She felt so drawn to him, to the power that radiated off him. To that blank, emotionless face that she was sure hid so much more.
Maybe it was her own wishful thinking.
“Here are the basic rules.” Magnus ran through the rules, setting small, glowing stones out on the patterned surface of the table.
Ever took it all in and thought she had it worked out.
It was a little bit like chess. “You go first.”
He moved his piece, and before she knew it, Ever was completely sucked into the game. She was fairly competitive, but her sister had been ultra-competitive growing up. Ever had learned quickly how to hold her own.
When he made another quick move, Ever laughed. “God, you remind me of Neve. You’re so aggressive!”
He tilted his head. “Yes. It was how I was trained. And my programming enhances it.”
Her gaze slipped over his implant. “You aren’t using your uber-fancy systems to cheat, are you?”
“No. I would never do that.”
She already knew that Magnus Rone didn’t need to cheat at anything. “How did you become a cyborg?”
“I was born and bred for the military. As you know, I was created from genetic material from several species. Each species was selected for their various strengths. As I got older, enhancements were added.” He lifted his cybernetic arm. “The enhancements depended on the specialization of the soldier or agent.”
He spoke so clinically. She swallowed, hungry to know more, but hurting for the young boy bred to be a soldier, and unsure whether or not to dig further.
Magnus looked back at the game. “It’s your move.”
She moved her piece, waiting as he puzzled over his next step. He was controlled and composed, but she hadn’t imagined the night together in the desert. He’d been more open, so demanding. He’d wanted her, like he’d been starving for the taste of her all his life.
“Magnus?”
“Yes?”
She swallowed. “How much do you…feel?”
His cybernetic eye glowed. “Not much. Emotions are inefficient. I have emotional dampeners that keep my emotions in check.”
His bland words were like a punch to the sternum. He’d mentioned his dampeners before. “You care about your House and the people here.”
“The House of Rone is my purpose. Protecting my people, growing the House, and making it a success are my top priorities.”
Her throat was suddenly dry as dust. He wasn’t talking about love and caring. She forced herself to make another move on the board. “How is the search for Zaabha going?” She tried not to think about the horrible, vicious place, but there was still another human woman imprisoned there.
