“A rock fall must have made this path unusable,” he said. “We’ll have to climb.”

  Simone nodded, wedging a foot into a crack and then reaching up to grip the ledge. “So, we’ll climb.”

  They started climbing up, but it wasn’t long before the good handholds became fewer and fewer. Simone was starting to struggle, and Toren didn’t want her to fall.

  He stopped on a ledge. “Get on my back.”

  “What?” She looked at him wide-eyed.

  He turned and pulled her up on his back. “I’ll carry you.”

  She gasped, holding him tight. “I’m too heavy.”

  He shook his head. “Cyborg strength, remember?”

  Toren looked up and started climbing. Even with his enhanced strength, it was a difficult climb. Gritting his teeth, he resolutely kept moving upward.

  “Toren, put me down.”

  “No.”

  Finally, they reached the top and he pulled them over the edge. He dragged air into his burning lungs and Simone pressed close to him.

  When he lifted his head, he saw a large stone wall ahead of them.

  They both darted forward, moving close to the base of the wall. He heard a noise and pressed a finger to his lips. Simone nodded. He looked up and a guard appeared at the top of the wall, with a gulrag on a leash. The beast looked out into the darkness, snarling and pulling on its tether.

  The guard cursed. “Behave, you overgrown monster.”

  If the gulrag smelled them, they’d be dead.

  After a charged second, the guard and the beast disappeared from view.

  Simone blew out a breath. “What now?” she whispered.

  “Now we go over the wall.” He cocked his head, listening. There was no sound or movement on the other side of the wall.

  “Over the—?”

  Toren scooped her up into his arms, bent his knees, and soared over the wall. He heard her make a squeak and she clung to him. He landed on the other side in a crouch.

  “Wow,” she whispered.

  They stayed in the shadows, scanning ahead. Light poured out of a large building in the center of the yard. It also had several chimneys, with smoke pumping out of them.

  He grabbed Simone’s hand and tugged her closer to the building, keeping them in the darkest shadows.

  “We need to get around to the other side,” he said.

  Several guards stepped into view. Toren and Simone hurried away, steering well clear of them.

  Even with his cyborg vision, the darkness was nearly impenetrable. He moved steadily and carefully.

  Then Simone gasped. “Toren.”

  He turned and saw that she was slowly sinking into the ground.

  What the drak? He hurried closer and saw several darker patches on the ground like where Simone was standing. They were filled with a black, sticky substance.

  “I can’t move,” she said, fighting to free her feet.

  It was some sort of trap.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “I don’t know, but hold still.” He reached an arm out to her.

  Their fingers just barely brushed. He couldn’t grab her without standing in the goo himself.

  “Hold on.” He searched around, and spotted some discarded scraps of metal, in small piles closer to the main workshop. “I’ll be right back.”

  She nodded.

  He hurried over to the metal piles. He saw a long pole and grabbed it, testing its weight.

  He spun to return to Simone, and watched a gulrag slink into view.

  Drak. Toren froze. The beast leaped onto a pile of metal, then sniffed the air. It had a feline look to its powerful body, with a thick, black mane around its head, and a long tail. It had four eyes set above its strong, fang-filled jaws.

  Toren really wished he had his shoulder weapon.

  He needed to get back to Simone. He gripped the metal tightly, and slowly edged to the side, keeping an eye on the beast.

  Simone’s pale face appeared in the darkness.

  “Stay quiet,” he warned. “There’s a gulrag close by.” He held out the pole. “Grab the end.”

  She gripped the metal and Toren pulled. She grunted. “My feet are really stuck.”

  Toren glanced over at the gulrag. It was sniffing around the metal but hadn’t noticed them.

  He used all his strength, pulling back with everything he had. Suddenly, Simone’s body broke free, and she flew toward him. He caught her and she hugged him, panting.

  “Um, my boots didn’t make it,” she said.

  They both watched her boots sink into the black goo and disappear.

  He looked down, frowning. “Are you okay with bare feet?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  Toren glanced back to where he’d seen the gulrag. The beast was gone.

  “Where the drak did the gulrag go?” He scanned their surroundings.

  All of a sudden, a big body launched itself out of the darkness. Toren shoved Simone away from him, and threw his hands up to catch the attacking gulrag.

  He gripped it with both hands, staring into its snapping jaws.

  The beast snarled. Drak, it was strong. Toren fell, the beast on top of him. It snarled again, drool dripping on his face. Its breath was fetid.

  Straining, Toren used all his strength to keep the animal from biting his face.

  It snarled again and struggled, twisting its powerful body.

  Toren’s hands were starting to slip.

  Suddenly, Simone appeared. She rammed her hand against the beast and it yowled.

  She pulled her arm back, and Toren spied a piece of jagged metal in her hand. She stabbed it into the creature once more.

  The gulrag let out an enraged snarl and she stabbed it again, and again.

  Hot blood splashed on Toren’s chest.

  As Simone kept stabbing, the gulrag weakened. Toren reared up, slamming the beast into the sandy dirt. He saw its side was torn open and bleeding.

  It halfheartedly snapped at them and he lifted it up. He staggered two steps, then tossed the gulrag into the goo trap. The beast yowled, trying to free itself. It fought against the sticky substance, but as it struggled, it sank faster into the muck until it disappeared.

  Toren spun, yanking Simone close.

  “Oh, God, oh, God,” she chanted quietly.

  “We’re okay.”

  A loud, roaring noise echoed from the workshop and they both jolted.

  It was the roar of something big. Very big.

  He took Simone’s hand. “Let’s see what Alev is hiding.”

  * * *

  The beast’s blood was sticky on Simone’s hands. She swiped her palms on her trousers. Her heart was still pumping hard.

  She swallowed and followed Toren toward the building.

  She was fine. Toren was right beside her.

  That horrible roar had chilled her blood, but they had to stop the Edull and Alev. She couldn’t give up now.

  As she moved with Toren, she tried to stay quiet. Shouts and voices rang from inside the giant building, sending shivers down her spine. What the hell was going on in there?

  She heard voices and turned her head. “Toren, guards.”

  He cursed. “Quick. Into that smaller building over there.”

  They ran together and ducked into a smaller outbuilding. Its doors were propped open.

  A sharp stench filled her nostrils and Simone scanned the shelves in the small shed. They were packed with jars and bottles. She recognized some of the fluids, and the scents were familiar.

  “Chemicals,” she whispered. “I use some of these in Ever’s lab.”

  Toren nodded, but he was crouched near the door, staring at the backs of the retreating guards. He pulled her closer. “The guards are going to round the building in three, two, one. Let’s move.”

  They raced out and jogged toward the larger building. He pointed to the wall and she saw that part of the stone wall was a lattice-like structure. He punched his fist into it and cracked open a hole big enough for them to climb inside.

  He ducked in and she followed.

  Inside, the cavernous building was packed full of stuff. It looked like some crazy inventor’s workshop. Gear and crane-like structures hung from the ceiling. All around were benches, large crates overflowing with parts, pieces of equipment she couldn’t even begin to recognize.

  They crept around some huge crates overflowing with all kinds of metal. He pulled her down low, and they peered around the corner.

  Simone swallowed a shocked gasp. There was a large, open space in the center of the building, lit up by bright lights. In the center stood a huge, animal-like robot.

  It had four strong legs and a powerful body. It almost looked like a large cat—a tiger or a lion. Or a giant gulrag. It was made of tightly packed, plated metal, and looked menacing.

  Workers buzzed around the construct, bringing more metal parts. Someone was welding, sending hot sparks flying into the air.

  Alev strode into view. “Work faster, you crudspawn!” He turned and started raging at a man holding a comp screen.

  Her gut curdled. “This is for the battle arena.”

  “Yes,” Toren said.

  Alev would race this, causing death and destruction. And why? For grim amusement. Because he was bored.

  Suddenly, the bot moved and roared. It was deafening, and she clapped her hands over her ears. Toren pulled her closer.

  Alev paused, smiling at the bot, before he turned and shouted more orders. He waved his arms around, then slammed a fist into his palm.

  More parts were carried in, and that’s when Simone saw them.

  She reared up, ready to charge in, but Toren pulled her back.

  Slaves. A line of them shuffled forward. They had glowing chains around their necks and wrists. They were all different species, but each and every one of them had the same dejected look.

  Alev saw them and smiled. He nodded, pointing at the slaves and then to the gigantic bot.

  Simone thought she was going to be sick. She thought of that junkyard dump down below, and all the discarded body parts.

  “No.” She struggled against Toren.

  “We can’t help them now. If you charge out there, we’ll both end up dead, then we’ll be no good to any of them.”

  She was shaking, helplessness a noose around her neck. She’d felt like this every day during her Edull captivity. She watched as the slaves were shuffled through a side door, and her chin dropped to her chest.

  She thought of Bellamy. Was she somewhere, in chains, being forced into the battle arena? What if the poor woman was already dead?

  No. They’d save her. They had to. And they’d shut the Edull’s track down too.

  “Show me.” Alev’s voice echoed across the room.

  He was standing on some crates now, staring up at his bot in awe.

  The bot let out another roar, then flames exploded out of its mouth in a huge fireball.

  Alev clapped like an excited child.

  “Come on,” Toren murmured.

  They pulled back and snuck out of the building.

  Several guards were walking near the fortress’ exterior walls. Toren and Simone hunkered down in the shadows.

  She wanted desperately to get out of there, but forced herself to wait.

  “There are more guards over there,” she whispered.

  Toren turned and looked, a scowl on his face. She bit her lip. They were cut off from the wall. God, if they were caught here…

  “Up.”

  She frowned at him. “What?”

  He grabbed her, yanking her off her feet. Damn, the man loved carrying her around.

  Then before she could catch her breath, he jumped. Straight up. Her heart flew into her throat.

  He landed on the roof.

  “Warn me next time,” she whispered.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” He ran along the roof, gathering speed.

  Simone stared at the large gap between the building and the outer wall. “Toren, it’s too wide to jump across!”

  He leaped into the air and her stomach dropped away.

  Then he raised his left wrist. He had a leather gauntlet wrapped around his forearm, and suddenly, a wire exploded out of it. The end whizzed out and slammed into the wall. Using the wire, Toren swung them across the gap and Simone swallowed a scream.

  With expert agility, Toren landed on the top of the wall. The wire retracted and he set Simone on her feet. Then he jumped down.

  As he landed outside Alev’s fortress, Simone let out a breath and looked down at him. He held up his arms up to her.

  She realized that she trusted him without question. Trusted this cyborg who’d risked it all for her.

  She jumped and he caught her.

  Then he set her on her feet, grabbed her hand, and they headed back down the rocky slope. Rocks pricked at her bare feet, but there was no way she was going to complain. She wanted out of there. The moons were high in the night sky, illuminating their way.

  The climb back down the cliff wasn’t as bad as the climb up. She was relieved when she saw the morlochs appear in the darkness. Her animal nudged her, clearly happy to see her.

  It was a quiet ride back to Rillian’s villa. As the gates closed behind them, she let out a breath of relief.

  “I need to report back to Magnus,” Toren said.

  She nodded, her skin chilled. “Then what?”

  “We keep watching Alev until the time is right.”

  “Those poor people,” she whispered.

  Toren gripped the back of her neck and squeezed. “We won’t give up.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The twin suns were just starting to rise as Toren stepped out to the edge of the patio. The oasis water was still and calm, and the morning sunlight turned the desert sands in the distance bright gold.

  He opened his palm and the small, round beacon rose up into the sky. He pulled out a small screen, his fingers moving quickly over it.

  “Toren.” Magnus’ face appeared. The transmission wasn’t great, and the image wavered. Minerals in the desert sands interfered with most technology.

  “Magnus, we made contact with Alev. He’s creating a large bot to race in the Edull battle arena. We also saw slaves. Live ones.”

  The imperator cursed. “No doubt destined for the graveyard you found.”

  “I wanted to update you.” Toren’s gaze moved down to the pool where Simone came into view, swimming laps. She’d been out there a while.

  He knew she hadn’t slept well, twisting in the sheets beside him.

  “How’s Simone?” Magnus asked.

  “She’s okay. She’s not happy with being unable to help the slaves.”

  “We’ll free them as soon as we can. Tell her Grace is well and happy.”

  Toren nodded. That would help soothe Simone. “For now, we’ll continue watching Alev until he gives us the location of Bari Batu and the battle arena.”

  “Good.” Magnus paused. “There have been some other Edull attacks.”

  Toren’s gut clenched. “Casualties?”

  “No members of the House of Rone, but some innocent bystanders were killed.” Magnus’ image distorted. “We have…end this…Toren.”

  The sound was cutting out, but Toren nodded. “I’ll be in contact again soon.”

  The screen blinked off and the beacon lowered down, landing on his palm.

  Simone was still doing relentless laps through the water. He sat in one of the chairs and lifted the binocs, looking at Alev’s fortress. Everything was quiet this morning.

  Were the slaves still alive? His hands tightened on the binocs.

  He heard the sound of water splashing, and turned his head to see Simone coming up the steps. Her body was sleek and wet, covered in a brief, black swimming suit. Her hair was slicked back from her face.

  A stark, hungry look was etched on her features, and his gut went tight.

  She walked toward him and pushed the strap of her swimming suit off one shoulder.

  His chest hitched.

  She slid off the other strap, and with a shimmy, the wet suit dropped, leaving her naked.

  Her high breasts captured his gaze. Her nipples were hard. He let his gaze run down her—over her flat belly, to the dark hair between her long legs.

  His. That word echoed in his head. She made everything make sense. She made the storm of emotions inside him worth it.

  She straddled him in his chair.

  “Hello,” he murmured.

  Her response was a kiss—a little rough, fierce. He clamped his hands on her ass. She bit his lip.

  He growled, his heart thundering.

  “I need you,” she said.

  He tilted her head back. “You’re upset.”

  Her eyes flashed. “I feel cold, numb. Make me feel warm and alive, Toren.”

  He’d give her anything she needed. He kissed her—hard and deep. Her head tilted back under the pressure. Her hands dropped, fumbling with his trousers. His cock sprang free.

  He shifted her, then she drove down on his cock, and he was engulfed by her tight warmth.

  “Yes,” she hissed.

  He groaned her name. “Simone.”

  He urged her to move. Her hips rose and fell, and she gripped the back of the chair behind him for leverage, moving faster.

  “You make me feel alive, wanted,” she murmured.

  “All of that.” His voice was guttural. “You’re a queen, Simone. Gorgeous, composed.” He thrust his hips up and she cried out. “Except when you take my cock. Then you’re beautiful and wild, and I can’t get enough of you.”

  Her eyes went wide, her breaths nothing but fast pants.

  “Come for me,” he growled.

  She was almost sobbing. He reached between their straining bodies and thumbed her clit.

  “Yes.” Her head fell back, exposing the graceful length of her neck.

  “Come, Simone,” he ordered.

  Their gazes locked, and he watched her lips part. She let out a husky cry as her orgasm ripped through her.

  The tight contractions of her body triggered his own release. Toren bucked his hips up and slammed her down. He groaned her name and emptied himself inside her.