by Anna Hackett
They were working as a team.
Where one had a weakness, another had the skill to compensate. When one fell back, another rushed forward to attack. She watched Nero charge in high, working with Lore who was moving his weapon low.
Thorin and Raiden finally managed to pin the man, slamming him against the wall. Galen moved, striking fast. He sank his sword into Catalyst’s shoulder, the blade slicing through mottled skin.
Catalyst screamed, struggling wildly. Electricity arced over his metallic half, knocking the three gladiators back.
Catalyst stepped forward, his face a terrible mask. “I want your humans!”
He turned his head and his glowing gaze settled on Winter. He charged in her direction.
Oh, God. Winter had nowhere to go, and no weapon to fight him with. Using her small knife would be like facing a charging lion with a toothpick.
A big figure rushed in from the sidelines. Nero slammed into Catalyst, and the two of them crashed into the floor.
The two men rolled, straining against each other.
“She is mine,” Nero gritted out.
“Not for much longer, barbarian.”
Catalyst rolled, gripped Nero’s head and slammed it into the floor.
“No!” Winter screamed.
Catalyst leaped to his feet, his lower armor dented in places. He ran to a control panel on the wall and thumped his fists against the controls.
Blinding white light shot through the room.
Pain speared into Winter’s eyes. She threw her hands over her face, dropping to her knees. The explosion of white slowly faded, but the searing pain didn’t. It burned, drilling into her skull.
She heard pained groans, and dropped her hands. She could barely see through the bright light, but she saw the shapes of all the gladiators on the ground, writhing.
Nero was on his knees, his face twisted in a grimace. He was crawling toward Catalyst, tears streaming down his face.
Saff and Blaine were curled around each other. Thorin had his palms pressed to his face, an agonized roar tearing from his throat. Raiden, Galen, Lore and Kace were all struggling.
When she looked at Nero again, Winter saw a bloody tear slide down his cheek.
He’d die for her. She knew deep inside that he would keep after Catalyst, fighting to protect her, no matter what. Her loyal, protective barbarian would give his life for her.
She wouldn’t lose him.
Winter pushed to her feet, locking her knees to fight the dizziness and pain. She’d already lost everything that mattered to her when the Thaxians had destroyed her life. She wouldn’t lose her barbarian as well.
As Nero lunged at Catalyst, tackling the man to the ground, she yanked the knife from her belt. She took a step toward where Nero and Catalyst struggled. The white light was still pulsing through the room.
She knew what she had to do. She reached up and tore her vision device off. In the blessed darkness, she used the sounds of the fight to keep moving toward Catalyst.
“Winter, no!” Nero’s shout. “Stay back.”
She ignored him. She had to protect Nero. She had to protect her friends.
She lifted her knife and, trusting her instincts and her hearing, she leaped at the madman.
“Get off me!” the man yelled.
Her knife sank into flesh and Catalyst screamed.
She jabbed it into him again. She gritted her teeth against his screams, and the slippery blood coating her hands. She felt him toppling over backward, and she fell with him.
“Winter!”
Beneath her, the man’s struggles turned sluggish.
“We will die together, human,” Catalyst said, his voice a gurgle.
“Screw you, asshole.”
She felt his hand moving, groping for something.
She stabbed at him once more, but then a giant, explosive force knocked her off him. Winter felt herself flying, the room a whirl of gray shadows. Then she slammed into something hard and hit the floor.
Pain speared through her chest and as she fought to take a breath, unconsciousness dragged her into darkness.
Chapter Sixteen
Nero fought back the nausea and agony as he crawled toward Winter’s prone body. His vision was blurry after whatever the drak the light weapon was that Catalyst had used.
He ignored the man’s motionless body. He had to get to Winter.
Around him, his friends were starting to get unsteadily to their feet. Galen stood with one hand pressed to the wall, Raiden was shaking his head, and Thorin, who had very acute eyesight, was vomiting in a corner.
Winter. She was collapsed on the floor across the room. Nero got up, stumbling over to her. He dropped down beside her and pulled her into his arms.
She was covered in blood, but he hoped to the stars it wasn’t hers. Her eyes were open and, when he looked into her face, he hissed in a breath. Her eyes were no longer white but glowing a bright silver.
She smiled at him.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” he growled.
“I shouldn’t have saved you?” She reached up, her bloody palm cupping his cheek. “I shouldn’t have saved the barbarian I’ve fallen in love with?”
Nero felt a burst of emotion in his chest. “I… I haven’t ever loved a woman, Winter.”
“I’ve never loved a barbarian gladiator. Believe me, you didn’t make it easy, at first.”
He pressed his hand over hers. “I love you, Winter. For me, you are warmth at the end of the hunt. You hold my heart.”
Her smile widened. “Oh, that sounds so lovely.” But her face went pale, her smile fading. “Be safe, my barbarian.” She slumped in his arms.
“Winter? Winter?” Panic sped through him. He leaned down, pressing his head to her chest. He heard the beat of her heart and the puff of her breath. She was alive.
He scooped her up and got to his feet.
“She okay?” Lore asked.
“I don’t know.” Nero locked his panic down. “I don’t know.”
“She saved us all,” his partner said. “Scary brave these women of Earth.”
Nero looked down at Winter’s face. “She has to be okay.”
Galen appeared, Raiden beside him. “We’ll get her back to the healers.”
Nero nodded, ready to leave this horrible place. He looked over and saw that Blue was carrying the still-unconscious Mia.
A static-filled, female voice broke through the room. “…I have…all shut down. No more…or guards.”
Ryan’s voice. Her message was garbled, but from what Nero could make out, the woman had shut down all of Catalyst’s defenses.
Her voice cut off. She was gone.
“Raiden, Thorin, and Kace,” Galen said. “I need you to stay here and protect these victims. Once I reach Kor Magna, I’ll organize a team, including healers, to come back here, and help get these people out of here and back to their homes.”
Raiden nodded. “Consider it done, G.”
“Saff and Blaine, bring Catalyst.”
Nero’s head snapped up. “He’s not dead?”
The small smile that crossed Galen’s face was scary. “I have something better planned for him.”
As Galen led the rest of their group back through Catalyst’s lair, Nero moved on autopilot, carrying Winter carefully. Saff and Blaine dragged a complaining Catalyst between them.
“Shut your mouth,” Blaine snapped. “Or I’ll do it for you…with my fists.”
Saff grinned at him. “My man is so badass.”
Nero knew it wasn’t that long, but it felt like an eternity had passed when they finally reached the tarnids.
Corsair strode forward, his gaze running over them. “Drakking hell.”
“We need to get back to Kor Magna,” Galen said. “Fast.” He looked around. “Are the wraiths still here?”
“I haven’t seen them.”
“We are here.” The female leader sauntered out of the darkness.
“We found sever
al of your people inside,” Galen said. “My gladiators are with them.” He glanced at Catalyst, whose head was hanging to his chest where he sagged between Saff and Blaine. “I do not know if they suffered long-term damage from what he has done to them.”
The desert wraith’s face hardened. “Thank you, Imperator Galen.”
“I have one more thing for you.” Galen nodded at Catalyst.
The wraith’s face sharpened. She nodded and several wraiths appeared from the shadows.
Catalyst lifted his head, his eyes widening. “No! You can’t leave me with them. They are barbaric.”
The woman moved close to Catalyst and her voice lowered. “I will take pleasure in showing you just how barbaric I can be.”
Nero watched impassively as the wraiths dragged the screaming man into the desert.
Soon, he handed Winter’s limp form to Galen and climbed onto his tarnid. Galen handed Winter up to Nero, and he nestled her safely in his lap. The desert night was surprisingly cool, and he pulled out his fur cloak and wrapped it around her.
She had to be okay. He kicked his tarnid into a trot. She had to be.
***
Vek
The group stopped by a small drinking hole to rest and quench their thirst.
Vek’ker stopped as well, avoiding the ugly beasts the gladiators rode. He moved toward the small pool of water, setting his bundle down by the water’s edge.
He needed to drink, but he didn’t want to leave Mia alone. She’d been alone for weeks, lost and stolen.
Vek leaned down, and drew in a deep breath. The scent of her filled him, and he felt an uneasy, edgy part of him settle. No one was looking, so he carefully stroked her cheek. He found the color of her skin fascinating. So pink compared to his blue.
He felt a spear of longing drive through him. With a grunt, he turned to the water and scooped some into his mouth.
For so long, he’d just been a thing, an animal, a weapon. He’d fought on the whim of his captors in the underground fight rings. He’d tried to remember his life before, but the memories refused to come.
He knew people were shocked he’d survived the fight rings.
Sometimes, he was surprised. He’d been tortured, caged, and caught in vicious fights to the death. He’d had nothing to fight for, nothing to survive for.
Until Mia had stepped on the sand.
He reached down and stroked her arm. She was so soft and small. This tiny woman from a distant planet called Earth had woken something in him. Something he didn’t understand.
He touched her hair. It was the color of the sunlight, and he loved it. He’d lived without the sunlight for so very long. Her eyelashes were surprisingly dark against her skin. He willed her to open her eyes.
He looked over and saw the big gladiator, Nero, cradling his own woman. The man’s face was etched in hard lines. His woman was badly injured.
Vek had seen the way the healer had rushed in and risked her life to save them all. He hoped she recovered soon.
He felt Mia stir, and he froze, looking down at her. She opened her eyes.
She blinked a few times, focusing on his face. A small smile emerged on her lips. “Hello.”
There was no fear. She didn’t look at him like he was an animal.
“Hello, Mia.” He knew his voice sounded growly and rough. But it had been so long since he’d spoken.
Her eyes widened. Confused. “Blue? You’re talking.”
“My name is Vek’ker.”
She reached up, her fingers touching his face, and stroking his ragged beard. “Hi, Vek’ker.”
“I am…I was called Vek.”
“Did you rescue me, Vek?”
There was no fear. No disgust. He’d gotten so used to people being afraid of him. “I will come for you, wherever you are.”
“You don’t even know me,” she said quietly.
“I do.” He breathed deeply again, letting her sweet smell surround him.
“Mia?”
She looked around Blue, and he didn’t need to turn to know that Blaine and Saff had arrived, as he had scented them.
“So glad to see you awake,” Blaine said, crouching. “How are you feeling?”
“Tired. Groggy.” Mia pushed at her hair. “Like I went a few rounds in a boxing ring.”
“What do you remember?” Blaine asked.
Mia’s brow scrunched. “I remember being abducted from the House of Galen.” Her face turned stricken. “Dayna? Winter? Are they okay?”
Vek fought the urge to wrap himself around her.
“Winter is here. She helped us rescue you.” Blaine’s face hardened.
Mia’s hand grabbed Vek’s. “And Dayna?”
“Still missing.”
Mia closed her eyes. “A man snatched Dayna and me off a desert convoy. I remember screams, weapons fire, then…nothing.”
Vek ran a hand along her back, wanting to soothe her distress.
“The man’s name was Catalyst,” Saff said. “He’s dead.”
“Good.” Mia looked around, and her gaze fell on Winter, lying in Nero’s arms. She stiffened. “Winter?”
“She saved us all,” Vek said. “She was injured.”
“No!”
“She’s hurt but alive,” Blaine said. “We’ll be back in Kor Magna soon. Don’t worry. The healers will help her.”
“Be calm, Mia,” Vek said.
She looked up at him, her eyes a fascinating amber color. She touched his face again. “You need a trim.”
“For you, I will.”
“You’re free now, Vek. Free to go and do whatever you please. To find your family and your home world. I know you feel grateful to me, but—”
He shook his head. Gratitude was one emotion he felt, but there were so many things churning inside him for this woman. All he knew was that he didn’t want to be separated from her.
“Shh.” She gripped his jaw, making him look back at her. “I can see the panic on your face. Whatever happens, you have a home at the House of Galen.”
He nodded. But the only place he wanted to be was with Mia.
She sat up, looking across the desert. He saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes. “Dayna is out there, somewhere. All alone. We have to find her.”
Whatever his Mia wanted, he would get it for her. “I vow that I will find her.”
Suddenly, Mia sagged. “I’m tired.” She pressed her face against his chest and held on to him.
That simple trust broke him. He held her tight, and knew that he would die to deliver on his promise to find her friend.
Chapter Seventeen
Nero stared out the window. He looked down at the training arena without really seeing the gladiators training below.
They’d been back at the House of Galen for two days. Winter hadn’t woken.
He’d stayed by her side in Medical, and now she rested in his bed, in his room. The healers had said there was nothing more they could do, and that it was up to her now.
She was a fighter, his Winter. She would wake. If she didn’t…
He heard the door, and a second later, Galen stepped up beside him.
“You need some rest,” Galen said.
“I’ll rest when she is awake.”
“You’re not eating or sleeping—”
“Lore forces food into me. I nap in the chair.” Nero turned back to look at the bed. She looked so small nestled in it, covered by his furs. So still and so beautiful.
Nero was desolate inside. She’d risked her life to save him and the others. Somehow, this small woman had thawed the cold recesses of his body, his heart, his soul.
If she didn’t wake…
“When I first met her, I told her she was weak.” Nero choked on the words. “I had no idea what real strength was until I met her. She taught me about having the courage to truly risk yourself.” He met Galen’s gaze. “Not your body, but…” He pressed his fists to his chest.
Understanding filled Galen’s eyes.
; “What if she doesn’t wake up?” Nero finally voiced the deepest fear inside him.
Galen reached out and touched his shoulder. “She’s a fighter, Nero. She survived the Thraxians, the Srinar, the fight rings, the desert, Catalyst. She’ll survive this, too. You’ve given her something to fight for.”
“I don’t deserve her.”
Galen snorted. “Probably not. So, are you going to give her up, then?”
“No,” Nero growled.
The tiniest flicker of a smile appeared on Galen’s lips. “All these women of Earth have grit. She’ll wake up.”
“Maybe there is an Earth woman for you,” Nero said.
Galen slapped him again, harder this time. “Hold your tongue, gladiator, or I’ll challenge you. I have enough people to look after without a female causing chaos in my life.”
Nero managed a smile. Galen didn’t know that every second of the chaos was worth it.
“Nero?”
The quiet, weak voice came from the bed. Hearing it made his heart leap. He spun, closing the distance in quick strides.
She was awake and looking at him.
Nero pressed one knee to the bed. “Winter.” He cupped her cheeks.
She blinked lazily. “Hey, barbarian.” She reached out and touched his stubbled jaw. “You need to shave. And your purple eyes are more beautiful than I’d imagined.”
He blinked. He realized she wasn’t wearing her vision device. It was sitting on the bedside table. “You can see?” Now he noticed that while one of her eyes was still milky white, the other was a brilliant blue.
She blinked rapidly. “I…I can see from my right eye.” She squeezed his hand. “I can see you. In color.”
Nero leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers. She kissed him back, responding to him instantly, and he pulled in the taste of her. Of the woman who had been born for him alone.
***
Winter strode out of Medical in a swish of skirts.
She found Nero waiting for her in the hall, leaning against the stone wall. God, she’d never tire of looking at him—bronze skin, dark hair, those intense and so beautiful purple eyes.
