Guard: Galactic Gladiators: House of Rone #5 Page 2

  A second later, Cat wound through Calla’s feet, almost tripping her. She laughed and caught herself, her arm brushing his. They were standing much closer now.

  This small female made him…uncomfortable. Being around her left him unsettled. Still, he allowed himself to soak up her presence as they walked.

  She peppered him with questions about the training arena and security duty. Then she looked upward. “The moons are so beautiful. Oh, look, a nebula.” She pointed.

  “It’s called the A’Taro Nebula. My homeworld is very close to it.”

  “Oh?” She tilted her head, interest on her face.

  Why had he told her that? He hadn’t thought of his homeworld for a very long time.

  “It’s called Zaldi.”

  “A pretty name.”

  But in reality, the planet of Zaldi was far from pretty.

  “How did you end up here, on Carthago?” she asked.

  “My species is telekinetic. I was too…powerful.” For a second, memories of screams and blood drowned his mind.

  “Zaden?” A brush of fingers on his arm.

  He shook himself. “I needed implants to leash my strength. The ones that my people gave me were not successful, and eventually I was exiled.”

  She gasped. “What?”

  “Exile is a common practice for Zaldi’s criminals, and other people deemed too dangerous.” Like the small percentage of the population whose telekinesis reached exponential and uncontrollable levels.

  “That’s horrible.”

  Calla pressed a hand to his arm, and Zaden looked down at the slender fingers resting on his black shirt.

  “It was a long time ago.”

  Then she pulled back, and he realized they’d reached the bottom of the stairs.

  “You should get back to your bedroom. Please do not fall off the balcony again.”

  Calla smiled. “I’ll try my hardest. Good night, Zaden. Thanks for the catch.” She looked down. “And good night to you, Cat.”

  Zaden watched her run up the stairs. Then he turned and saw that Cat was staring at him with a reproachful look.

  “You are problematic,” he told the animal. “Be careful, or I’ll shut you down and run a full system reboot on you.”

  Cat licked her paw, clearly unconcerned by the threat.

  Chapter Two

  Calla watched the deadly whirl of swords in the training arena and pressed her hands to her belly. Watching Quinn fight with Jax was an incredible display.

  The woman was amazing.

  Calla leaned against one of the stone columns that ringed the arena. The stone radiated warmth from the sun. Correction, suns. Rella had a much more temperate climate, so she still hadn’t adjusted to Carthago’s dry heat.

  She watched the swords clash, sunlight reflecting off the sharp blades. The security chief grinned at the cyborg and he grinned back. So much happiness radiated off the couple.

  Jax showed much more emotion than the other cyborgs. He had a dash of silver metal along one cheekbone, and metal embedded on one shoulder. His right arm was covered in an intricate tattoo she knew he could use as a weapon. But despite the mechanical parts, he was still very much a man.

  Suddenly, he knocked Quinn’s sword aside and moved in close. He grabbed Quinn with his other arm and pulled her in for a quick, passionate kiss.

  Calla’s belly flooded with warmth and she smiled. It was so nice to watch, even though it made her miss sex and being close to someone.

  Yes, Jax definitely felt more emotion. Definitely more than Zaden, that was for sure.

  Her thoughts turned to the cool, remote cyborg who’d saved her life, and saved her from a broken bone or two last night.

  She saw his face in her dreams. She nibbled on her bottom lip. He’d anchored her to life when she’d been bleeding out. She guessed that had forged some bond between them.

  Or, at least it had for her.

  She was grateful he’d saved her, but it was more than that. He made her belly coil and her new heart flutter.

  A part of her had wanted to die out there in the desert, but those silver eyes had held her to life.

  Calla shook her head. It was so silly to have feelings for a man who didn’t feel.

  She’d never been in love. Oh, she’d had a few crushes, some decent lovers, and had her heart dented a few times, but she’d never had what she saw shining brightly between Quinn and Jax.

  She heard footsteps, and turned to see Jayna coming out of one of the arched doorways. Along with Sage, the woman had helped nurse Calla back to health. The entire time, the woman had bombarded them with strange, amazing music from Earth. Mostly what Jayna called rock music.

  Jayna had survived her own ordeal with the Edull, and was still healing. Usually, the woman’s huge, menacing cyborg wasn’t far away from her. Mace took intimidating to new levels, but there was no doubt that he was completely in love with Jayna.

  “Hi, Jayna.”

  “Calla.” The woman shot her a wide smile. She had a long mass of brown curls that Calla coveted. “How are you?”

  “Great. Oh, I just remembered that I have something for you.”

  “Oh?” Jayna’s eyebrows rose, curiosity on her face.

  Calla reached into the pockets of her loose skirt. “It’s not much.” She held up a small pot. “I got some berries from the kitchen. I heard you say the other day how much you miss your mother’s homemade strawberry jam.” Calla shook the pot, the red jelly inside catching the light. “I made some jam for you. It isn’t strawberry, but Sage assured me the berries I used are the closest thing around here.”

  Jayna gave her a stunned look, her smile wide. “Thank you, Calla. That’s amazing.”

  Calla shrugged a shoulder. “It’s just jam. A small thank you for helping me and making me feel welcome here.”

  The Earth woman pulled her in for a one-armed hug. “You’re doing fine, Calla.”

  Calla smiled, wanting to tell Jayna that she still didn’t fit here. That she felt like an outsider compared to these brave women from Earth who charged ahead and forged a place for themselves. But the clank of metal distracted her, and made her look across the training arena.

  Quinn leaped into the air, her sword striking Jax’s blade. Quinn had found a place here. And Jayna was a scientist, working with Ever in the House of Rone labs. Even Sage was starting to work with the House of Rone healers.

  Calla had no special skills. Unlike these smart, talented women, she was just a burden.

  A big man came out of a door and strode toward them. His shoulders were broad, and his leather-clad legs were like the trunks of the huge franid trees that grew on Rella. His gaze locked on Jayna. Calla stiffened.

  Jayna spotted the man and her face came alive. “Don’t mind him.”

  “He’s just so big,” Calla whispered.

  “But he’s a teddy bear underneath the toughness.”

  Calla knew that baby Asha had a small toy called a teddy bear. There was nothing toy-like about Mace. She shot the gruff-looking cyborg a doubtful look. If Mace was a teddy bear, he was only like that for Jayna.

  Suddenly, the man stopped, turning to talk to someone. Calla saw Zaden appear.

  Oh. He was so handsome. The straight slash of his nose, the strong line of his jaw. Even the metal visible on his neck was sexy. Her hands itched to touch it. Explore him.

  “Mmm.”

  The noise Jayna made had Calla’s head jerking. She wrenched her attention off Zaden. “What?”

  “I saw you looking at him.”

  She fought back a blush. “Mace?”

  “Don’t play coy with me. No, the young, sexy Zaden.”

  Calla shifted on her sandals. “He’s…very cyborg.”

  “They all are, Calla.” Jayna glanced across the training arena where Jax was teasing Quinn. “Magnus, most of all.”

  True, and yet, the imperator loved Ever and their daughter.

  “They’ve never had reason to show their emotion or explore it.” Jayna smiled. “I think they just need the right person to teach them.”

  Calla felt a flutter in her belly and looked at Zaden again. He was striding alongside Mace toward her and Jayna.

  “Jayna.” Mace lowered his head, brushing his lips over his woman’s. “I’m headed to the underground market to get some materials for Maxon.”

  Maxon was the head weapons master for the House of Rone. The House was well known for crafting superior weapons, and Maxon was the best. Calla hadn’t met the man, but once, she’d heard him bellowing down the corridor. His temper was legendary.

  Jayna leaned into her man. “Can you get that new comp screen for the lab? I need it for a project I’m working on.”

  Mace stroked a hand down her hair. “Anything you want. Zaden is coming with me to help bring the goods back.”

  Calla felt something brush her ankles, and looked down to see that Cat had appeared. The animal’s neon eye glowed.

  “Oh, I bet Calla would love to see the markets.” Jayna’s voice was filled with enthusiasm.

  Calla jerked. “Oh, I—”

  “Take her,” Jayna insisted. “It’ll do her good to get out.” The woman gave Calla a little shove toward Zaden.

  Both men’s expressions didn’t change, but Calla got the impression that neither of them were thrilled with this development. Dropping her gaze, she saw the tiniest curl of Zaden’s fingers.

  “Perhaps not today—” Calla began.

  Suddenly, Cat wound through her legs and tripped her. She stumbled forward, and face-planted into Zaden’s chest. He grabbed her to stop her from falling.

  The silver in his eyes shimmered. “Do you want to see the market?”

  “I would love to see it, but I don’t want to get in your way.”

  Mace just shrugged, then Zaden gave her one curt nod. “Very well. You may join us.”

  It wasn’t exactly the warmest invitation, but she did want to go. And any chance to spend some time with Zaden was one she wanted to take.

  * * *

  Zaden couldn’t stop staring at Calla’s face as they walked toward the underground markets.

  Pure delight was etched on her features. She absorbed everything, taking in every aspect of the city. Even the dirty sidewalk they were walking along.

  Meanwhile, he didn’t like her being out of the House of Rone. She was exposed.

  He forced himself to regulate the spike of emotion. She wasn’t in any danger. The Edull stuck to the scrap cities in the desert, and as far as the House of Rone could tell, there was no reason for them to come after Calla.

  They’d rescued Calla and Sage from an outpost of the Edull city of Bari Batu. The House of Rone was still busy searching for the main city’s location, but it was proving a difficult mission. The Edull had been hiding for a very long time, and were good at it. Sage and Calla only remembered cell walls, ugly labs, and had been blindfolded when they’d been moved.

  Calla tilted her head back, twirling to look up at the buildings. It made the silky fabric of her green skirt flare around her. She smiled at the people who passed them.

  Zaden wondered how it felt to feel like that. To be free to let any emotion fill you, to be immersed in it all, and enjoy such simple things.

  For him, emotion equaled danger. He required constant discipline to control his power. Joy was something he knew nothing about.

  Calla turned and bumped into him.

  “Sorry, Cat seems to like my feet for some reason.”

  Zaden looked down at the cyborg cat. It was proving to be a nuisance. The animal had wanted to come to the markets, and no matter how he’d tried to keep her back at the House of Rone, the cat had been determined to accompany them.

  Cat was now striding along the sidewalk like she owned the city. Mace was walking ahead of them.

  Soon, they reached the ramp leading down into the market. It spiraled down, cut into the rock walls of a natural sinkhole.

  “Oh, my stars.” Calla’s steps faltered. Her face was alight as they stepped into the markets.

  The cavernous space was filled with stalls and people. A hubbub of noise echoed off the smooth, stone walls. Light filtered in from the sinkholes above, and orange lamps attached to the walls added to the glow.

  But all Zaden could do was watch her face. His gut tightened. What other things would put that look of wonder on her face?

  “Look at all the stalls.” She gravitated to the food stalls, eyeing all the colored fruits and vegetables.

  Mace moved ahead with a nod. Zaden scanned the food items on display. His gaze zeroed in on a purple-colored habith. He thought she might like it. He quickly held up his House of Rone medallion, and the stall owner nodded. Zaden grabbed a habith and held it up to Calla.

  “Take a bite.”

  Smiling, she leaned forward. Her small, white teeth sank into the purple flesh, then she moaned.

  This time, Zaden felt a very confusing flicker of heat in his gut. He frowned at the sensation.

  “Here, you try it.” She snatched the habith from his hand and held it to his lips. The tart juice trickled into his mouth.

  It was sweet, and too bold for his blander palate, but he wanted to make her happy. He took a small bite and his lips brushed Calla’s fingers.

  She gasped, pink filling her cheeks. Then she licked her lips.

  Zaden now realized the growing need in his gut was desire. He quickly stepped away from her.

  She turned, looking at and touching some of the other fruits, asking questions of the stall owners.

  When she stretched up onto her toes, trying to reach a fat etten at the back of the display, he used his telekinesis to lift the melon and bring it to her. Her hand closed around it and she spun to look at him.

  “You can levitate things?”

  “Telekinesis. I told you, my species has that ability.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  No one had ever called it that—it had been a curse, abomination, weapon, but never amazing. It certainly hadn’t been amazing when he’d killed his mother and brother. All his life, his power was a monster to be contained.

  “Zaden?” Calla touched a hand to his chest.

  He pulled in a ragged breath. “My implants… I have them to control my power. I’m dangerous, Calla.”

  She looked him directly in the eyes. “I’ve seen dangerous, Zaden. I’ve seen dangerous and cruel, up close and personal. That’s not you.”

  Suddenly, a hawker’s cry split the air, announcing a sale. Calla spun, and then made a beeline toward a stall selling baked goods. Zaden followed her.

  Smiling, she eyed everything. “What tastes best?”

  “I’ve never tried any of these.”

  “What?” She looked horrified. “Well, we’ll have to change that.” She looked back at the store owner. “We’ll take one of those, and one of those.” She pointed out the items.

  “Calla, I have nutritionally balanced meals at the House of Rone—”

  “There’s more to food than just nutrition.”

  He drew his brows together. “There is?”

  She nodded. “Did you know that I’m a chef? I make food for a living. It’s my thing.” She lifted a tiny slice of something that had a wobbly, yellow substance on the top. She bit into it and moaned. Some of the yellow cream coated her top lip. Her plump, pink lip.

  Again, her moan elicited something inside him that he couldn’t quite process.

  A demanding meow filled the air. Zaden blinked. He’d forgotten about the cat. With a laugh, Calla dropped down and fed a bit of the sweet treat to the animal. Cat wasted no time lapping it up, and Calla laughed again.

  When she rose, she turned back to Zaden. She went up on her toes and pressed a piece of the treat to his mouth.

  “Try it.”

  Resigned, he took a bite. A delicious taste exploded into his mouth, the flavor more muted than the tart fruit.

  “Better? I could tell you didn’t really like the fruit.”

  He stiffened. How could she read him like that? He knew his face hadn’t changed and given away any of his thoughts.

  His lips touched her fingers again and their gazes locked. Her fingers were coated in cream and powder.

  He could hear her heartbeat. It sped up, beating fast. Before he could stop himself, he reached out and gripped her wrist. Gently, he pulled her hand closer. Then, he licked the cream off her fingers.

  A sweet, spicy scent burst into the air, and he realized what it was—her arousal. For him. He barely suppressed his shudder.

  “Zaden.” Her voice was breathy.

  He clenched his other hand into a tight fist. “This is not advisable. I wasn’t lying when I told you that I’m dangerous.”

  But still, he drew her closer.

  “You aren’t dangerous to me,” she said.

  But Zaden wasn’t so certain of his control, and he never wanted to hurt her. She’d been hurt enough.

  “Have you…kissed someone before?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “No.”

  Her lips parted.

  “I’ve never wanted to,” he told her.

  “And now?”

  He was caught in the moment, in the pull of her. “Now, I do. Will you show me?”

  She nodded and he lowered his head. She pressed her hands to his shoulders and rose up on her toes.

  Their lips met, hers moved over his. Then her tongue slid between his lips, stroking. His blood thundered through his veins. He mimicked the move.

  As they continued to kiss, the world melted away. As she deepened the kiss, it felt like the ground tilted beneath his feet.

  He was sinking into her, into all the sensations and feels, when he felt the prick of claws on his leg. Cat let out an annoyed cry.

  Zaden jolted and Calla pulled back, laughing.

  “I think Cat might be jealous,” she said.

  Zaden looked down at the animal. The creature was a menace. “We’d better find Mace.”

  Zaden was supposed to be helping the more senior cyborg, not standing in the market kissing an alien survivor.

  They found Mace, and he’d already collected the parts for Maxon. Mace hefted one crate, while Zaden took the other. Calla walked ahead of them, Cat prancing beside her.