by Anna Hackett
Beside her, the women waved and whistled to the incoming gladiators.
Dayna watched the Kor Magna Champion, Raiden, stride out in the lead, his red cloak flaring behind him. By his side was Harper. Dayna couldn’t believe the former space station security officer had become a gladiator. But Harper looked the part in tight fighting leathers and holding two swords.
The rest of the gladiators fanned out behind the couple.
The gladiators waved to the crowd. They seemed relaxed, and Dayna remembered this was an exhibition match against their strongest allies. There’d be no blood and no winner, just good sport.
“Galen,” a deep, cool voice said from nearby.
Intrigued, Dayna turned, looking over her shoulder. She took in the man who’d just joined Rillian and Galen.
She stilled. The man had a powerful build, and short, dark hair. He wore black leathers, and one of his arms was made entirely of silver metal. As he turned his head, she saw another metal implant surrounding one of his eyes, which glowed a neon blue.
Cyborg. This had to be Magnus Rone, Imperator of the House of Rone.
“Now that is one scary dude,” Mia murmured quietly.
Madeline leaned closer. “He met with Galen the other day. Magnus had some possible leads on Zaabha. Apparently, he was dropping a shipment of weapons—”
“Weapons?” Dayna interrupted.
Madeline nodded. “The House of Rone has expert weapons makers. They are renowned for their weapons. Anyway, Magnus went to take a shipment into the desert several weeks back, and ended up captured by desert slavers. He spent a few nights locked in a cage, before his gladiators rescued him.”
“What idiot would capture Magnus Rone?” Mia mused.
“A very stupid one,” Madeline continued. “When they captured him, they damaged his cyborg systems. He says he still hasn’t got all his memories back from those few days. But recently, he remembered some snippets of conversations. About selling Earth women and about Zaabha.”
Dayna straightened. God, maybe it could help them find Zaabha?
“So far, nothing’s helped decode the map, but Galen’s hoping Magnus will remember more,” Madeline finished.
Mia glanced at the cyborg. “He seems so…cold. Like I said, scary dude.”
Dayna bumped the woman with her shoulder. “You mated with one scary dude, remember.”
The blonde smiled. “I sure did.” Her gaze moved to the fighting floor.
Dayna followed her gaze, taking in the muscled, blue-skinned alien warrior. Dayna had first seen the wild fighter in the underground fight rings when she and Mia had been trapped in there. Now, he was Mia’s mate.
The woman’s smile was radiant. “He’s wild and tough on the outside, but on the inside…” Her smile widened, then her gaze flicked back to the men behind them. “But Magnus, though? I’m not entirely sure that guy feels anything on the inside.”
Dayna found her gaze drawn to Rillian. So cool and controlled. He smiled, he clearly enjoyed the best of everything, and his people respected him. But as far as she could see, the man held the world at arm’s length, with the leash very much under his control.
There was another murmur from the crowd, followed by cheers. Dayna turned back to the arena, watching as the House of Rone gladiators stepped onto the sand.
“So, we’re all coming to the Dark Nebula in a few days,” Mia said, changing topics.
“Oh?”
Mia nodded. “Rillian is paying me a stupid amount of money to sing at a party.” Mia frowned. “Although it sort of feels wrong to be partying when I know Ever and Sam are prisoners.”
“We have to live,” Dayna said. “You’ll be great, Mia. Rillian only has the best in his casino.”
A sly look crossed Mia’s face. “Then that must be why he’s looking at you like you’re a particularly rare vintage of wine he wants to savor.”
Again with the looking? Dayna shook her head, fighting not to glance back. “Now that all you guys have fallen in love, you’re trying to pair off everybody else.”
Mia grabbed Dayna’s hand. “I just want you to be happy.”
Dayna squeezed her friend’s fingers. “I’m finding my way there.” Suddenly, a siren sounded.
“Fight’s starting,” Rory said.
The gladiators met in a clash of swinging swords and axes. Dayna watched the fast, experienced moves, as the fighters ducked, weaved, and jumped.
Watching Harper leap into the air, Dayna gasped in awe. The woman twirled her twin swords in a deadly display, driving her opponent back. Regan’s mate, Thorin, was all power as he slammed his giant axe down, cleaving off the handle of the axe of a rival gladiator.
All around, the crowd cheered and stomped their feet. Energy and excitement throbbed off the spectators and the fighters. It washed over Dayna.
She stilled, no longer seeing the fight in front of her. Every muscle in her body tightened, and she felt her symbiont stir. No.
The energy from the gladiators below was rich and strong. She watched Blaine, the sole human male survivor, thrusting with dual swords. His blades slammed against the staff of his rival. Sounds bombarded Dayna—the cheers, the hard grunts of the gladiators, heartbeats.
Panic flooded her. She felt her control slipping, drowning her in sensation. The stone in her chest started to burn.
Hungry.
She shot to her feet. She had to get away. She needed Rillian.
“Dayna?” Mia asked curiously.
Dayna looked at her friend. She could hear Mia’s heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Thump. She felt the pure, fresh energy coming off the woman’s small body.
She had to get out. She had to get away. Dayna took a step back.
Mia grabbed her arm and Dayna’s vision turned red. No!
But it was too late.
Hungry. So hungry. Dayna lunged at Mia, knocking the smaller woman down onto the stone seat. She could hear her own voice screaming in her head, but she couldn’t stop herself.
From somewhere down on the arena sand, she heard a wild roar. Shouts and screams echoed around them.
Dayna fought for control, her hands shaking. She stared down into Mia’s startled face.
She’s your friend. Protect her. A sob broke free. God, she couldn’t stop herself. She held out a palm, reaching out to press it against Mia’s chest.
With a roar, a blur of blue vaulted over the railing. Dark, swirling markings covered his skin and he snarled, his golden eyes fixed on Dayna.
Mia’s mate let out a wild snarl and jumped into the air, going for Dayna’s throat.
Suddenly, a black shadow leaped in front of Dayna, moving so fast she could barely track it.
Rillian appeared from nowhere, slamming into Vek, and knocking the alien gladiator back with alarming ease. Rillian turned, yanking Dayna off her feet and into his arms.
“She’ll be fine.” He strode away from the startled group.
Dayna controlled another sob, burying her face in Rillian’s neck. She saw the gold glow of her symbiont stone through her shirt, and she knew her eyes would be glowing the same color.
“I’m not fine.” She struggled against Rillian’s hold.
They were halfway up the stairs and she managed to break free. She didn’t look back at her friends, didn’t want to see the horror on their faces. She ran.
She sprinted up the stairs two at a time and barreled into a tunnel. She had no idea where she was going, she just knew she had to get away from the energy of the crowd and away from the friends she’d failed.
Like she’d failed her sister.
She didn’t want to hurt them.
With every step, she imagined the murderer who’d stolen her sister, Gwendolyn. Dayna was supposed to be watching Gwen. Instead, a monster had taken a young, innocent child and broken her.
Dayna thought of Mia’s frightened face. She was no better than that monster.
She came to a wide corridor that ringed the top of the arena. High, wide arches offered a
stunning view of the city beyond. She ran right to the edge, pressing her toes over the drop and staring down. It would be a long, long fall to the ground below.
There was no sound behind her, but she knew he was there. Something in her sensed him.
“You want to jump?” Rillian drawled. “You want to end it?”
“I’m never going to adjust to this!” She pressed her palm to the burn in her chest.
“You will.”
He stepped closer and she felt the heat of him right behind her.
“I’ve never met someone with such a strong will as yours,” he said quietly.
“I wanted to absorb Mia’s energy.” Dayna squeezed her eyes closed, despair drenching her. “I wanted to drain her dry.”
“It gets easier to control in time.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone!”
A strong arm wrapped around her, and she felt a hand tangle in her hair. He tugged her back against his chest. “I won’t let you.”
She spun in his embrace and leaned into him. Desperate for the feel of him, for his strength. Her hands gripped his shirt. “Hold me.”
“I am.”
She tried to burrow deeper. Then she looked up into liquid-silver eyes. “What if I hurt you?”
“You can’t.” A dark promise.
She held on tight. She leaned on his strength and didn’t ever want to let go. Minutes ticked by, and she was suddenly aware of how close her lips were to his. Only a whisper apart.
The hungry, edgy feeling in her mutated into something else. Something far hotter and needier. Without a second thought, she went up on her toes and kissed him.
He didn’t make a sound, but his arms tightened around her.
For a second, his lips remained motionless. Panic hit her. God, he was going to pull away…
Then his mouth took hers.
Oh. God. Sensation slammed into her. He angled his head, going deeper. It was hot and hard, like a blow crashing into her.
She slid a hand up, sliding it into his silky hair and pressed her body against his. This wasn’t a kiss. This was a dark inferno swallowing her whole.
Suddenly, a discreet beeping noise penetrated the pleasure. Rillian broke the kiss, muttering a curse under his breath. He kept one arm around her as he pulled a small, sleek device from his pocket.
“Rillian,” he answered, his voice was deep, with a husky edge.
“Sorry to bother you, Rillian.”
Chest still heaving like she’d run a race, she recognized Tannon’s deep voice.
“There’s been another murder,” the man said.
Dayna straightened and she felt Rillian stiffen.
“Where?” Rillian demanded.
“A body was left in your office.”
“I’m on my way.” Rillian slid the communicator away. His gaze fell on her. “Dayna.”
His eyes were shuttered, completely unreadable. She swallowed, her belly still churning. She couldn’t quite work out what he was thinking. Was this where he told her that kiss had been a mistake?
She cleared her throat. “I’m feeling better now. We should get to the Dark Nebula.”
Chapter Six
Rillian stormed into his office.
One glance was all he needed to fully take in the long body draped over his desk.
The woman was wearing a blood-red catsuit made of a liquid fabric. Her dark, elaborate curls poured over his desk.
He cursed and then turned, kicking a chair and sent it skidding across his office floor.
“You knew her,” Dayna said quietly.
“Yes.”
She stepped closer and then she sucked in a breath. “God, it’s the singer. The performer from the casino.”
“Yes.” Feeling helpless rage, Rillian stepped forward and gently closed the woman’s eyes. “Her name was Illiana.”
“She was your lover.” Dayna’s voice had gone cool.
“Former.” They’d shared a few hot nights, but his interest had cooled quickly, much to Illiana’s dismay. She’d been ambitious.
She would have been horrified to hear that his kiss with Dayna Caplan was hotter than any of the nights he’d spent in Illiana’s bed. He reached out and gripped Dayna’s chin.
Her gaze met his.
“I haven’t been with a woman for several months now. And the last few weeks, only one woman has been in my veins.”
Emotion flickered in her eyes.
He released a breath, trying to keep a lid on his simmering desire. He let Dayna go. Now was not the time. Turning back to the desk, he shifted the mass of Illiana’s hair.
Dayna made a sound. “You shouldn’t mess with the scene until—”
He picked up the note written on heavy paper.
“What does it say?” she asked.
“Abandon your allies and take care of your own business. More bodies will follow.”
Anger ignited like a torch in Rillian. He turned to the window, staring out at the city below. You have made a very bad mistake. His hand curled, crumpling the note.
“How did they get in?” Dayna mused.
“We don’t know how they got in.” This came from Tannon, standing in the doorway like a sentinel. “Security feed shows the victim arriving, but she was alone. Then the security feed was jammed. It only took a minute.”
“Inside job?” Dayna’s gaze narrowed.
Tannon straightened, his mouth a flat line. “My security team’s been vetted, but we’re checking.”
“I only hire good people,” Rillian added.
Dayna looked at him. “You know people, Rillian. You know desperation. Even the best, most-loyal person can be forced down a path they don’t want to follow…if the incentive is right.” Her gaze dropped to the dead woman. “Someone knows what they’re doing.”
“Maybe.” Rillian blew out a breath, trying to find some measure of calm. If one of his own had betrayed him…
“My team is sending through the footage,” Tannon said.
Rillian waved to the wall of screens, and Tannon murmured into his communicator. While they waited, Dayna peppered Tannon with a few pointed questions about entries, exits, and Illiana’s location before the murder.
She knew what she was doing. Rillian watched her face come alive, and knew that this sort of work was in her blood. Something she’d clearly been missing. As his security head answered her questions, he saw the grudging respect grow on Tannon’s face. Dayna was smart. Efficient.
Such a clever mind.
Funny that Rillian desired that mind as much as her strong, sexy body.
“So she was in her dressing room?” Dayna said.
“Yes,” Tannon replied. “Watch.” His dark gaze met Rillian’s.
Seconds later, several screens flared to life. One showed Illiana in her dressing room, primping at the mirror. There was a knock at the door, and a delivery woman carried in an enormous bouquet of rare alien flowers.
“Someone had flowers delivered to her,” Tannon said, turning to Rillian. “From you.”
“They were not from me,” Rillian said.
“There was a note.” A female security member was on the far screen. “Asking her to meet you in your office.”
They watched Illiana’s progress as she walked through the casino, smiling at people who stopped to shower her in praise. She took one of the elevators and the screen changed, showing her nodding at a security guard before entering Rillian’s office.
The screen switched to the sole camera in his office. He saw Illiana do a sweep of the room, a private smile on her face.
Then the screen went blank.
His jaw clenched and he looked at the expensive timepiece on his wrist. Exactly a minute later, the screen blinked back to life, showing Illiana draped over his desk. Dead.
“She was poisoned,” Tannon said. “Report from the initial scans just came in.”
“How the drak did the killer get into my office?” Rillian’s tone was ice-cold, but his symbiont stirred, r
eacting to his anger. He hired the best, for drak’s sake.
Dayna stood, and circled the room, much as Illiana had. But instead of a pleased smile and a calculating look, Dayna’s face was set in lines of concentration.
She walked past the glass, and then turned and walked past it again. She swiveled, and did it a third time. It almost looked like she was pacing. Then she stopped and crouched.
She touched the glass with a long finger. “Here.”
He moved in beside her and saw the neatly mended hole in the glass.
“God,” she said. “Someone got into the tower from the outside.”
“They flew,” Rillian said grimly.
“All of this to get you to back off?” she said.
He gave her a single nod, heat spiking through his anger. “The Thraxians are running scared. They aren’t thinking rationally anymore.” His mouth flattened. “They miscalculated.”
Rillian watched as Dayna studied the glass again, before she turned and crouched beside the body.
His anger was like a growing sandstorm. He hadn’t lost control of his symbiont for years. Control was vital to him and his symbiont was far too dangerous. His hands curled into fists. He had to keep his control.
If not, he’d be the most dangerous, unstoppable predator that Kor Magna had ever seen.
His gaze fell on Dayna. He found himself fascinated by the look on her face. He had no trouble remembering the feel of her, the taste of her.
Rillian’s anger receded. He took some deep breaths.
He wanted her taste in his mouth again. He wanted to taste more of her. He wanted to sink his teeth into her and devour her.
No. Turning, he stared out the window and ground his teeth together.
She was fighting her symbiont every step of the way. She still had a way to go before she was even close to accepting her new reality. Dayna Caplan was stubborn and strong. Fiercely intelligent, and not easy at all.
As he turned back to the murdered woman on his desk, it was the image of Dayna burned into his brain…and the knowledge that it wasn’t just the murders stroking his symbiont to lose control.
It was his reaction to Dayna.
