Chapter Thirteen
The large, flat-topped mountain rose up from the desert floor against the backdrop of the setting suns.
Heat radiated off the sand, and Winter stared at the mesa. Somewhere there, Mia and Dayna were being held.
A group of desert wraiths, led by the woman, ran ahead of their tarnids. They flew across the sand, running with a light, fluid gait. Blue followed behind them, watching them like a guard dog waiting for an attack.
The mountain got closer. It was made of darker rock, and looked as though it had been thrust up out of the sand. Overhead, birds wheeled around on thermals at a dizzying height.
“There.” The desert wraith leader pointed to one end of the mountain.
Galen held up a hand, and they all pulled their tarnids to a halt. Winter scanned the cliff face and finally saw it. A structure clinging to the side of the hill.
Wow. She hated whoever this Catalyst was, but this place was striking.
It was made of shiny metal and glass. There were different shapes attached to the side of the mountain—cubes, spheres, discs, and cylinders. Several were butted up against each other, while others were linked by covered walkways. She saw lights glowing in all the windows.
“Who is this guy?” she murmured.
But more importantly, what had he done with Dayna and Mia?
“I don’t give a drak,” Nero said darkly. “He preys on others, and enslaves them. He will pay for that.”
“What did you encounter when you tried to get in?” Galen asked.
The desert wraith stared at the lair, before looking back at the imperator. “Metal beings, enhanced guards with armor and weapons, glowing lights that burned and cause pain.”
“What does he do with all these people he takes?” Winter asked.
The leader shook her head. “We do not know.”
A shiver skittered down Winter’s spine.
“We’ll know soon,” Galen said. “And it will stop.”
“There’s a path up the hill there.” Raiden pointed, his brow furrowed. “But he’ll see us coming.”
Nero stood quietly, studying the structure and the surroundings. Winter watched his face and could almost feel him thinking, assessing.
“We come up from beneath it,” he said.
The gladiators all turned, studying the cliffs below the structure.
“The climb isn’t too far to the lowest level of the building.” Galen’s tone was considering. “It shouldn’t be too difficult.”
Winter blinked and stared at the cliff face. It looked pretty hard to her.
“Let’s do it,” Thorin said, clapping his big hands together.
Galen spun to face Corsair. “I need you to stay here with the tarnids.”
The caravan master’s face hardened. “I can fight just as well as your gladiators.”
“I know.”
A dangerous look crossed Corsair’s usually relaxed features. “I want to help take this sand sucker down.”
“But I need you here,” Galen said. “To be ready to get us out of here when we return…to raise the alarm if we don’t make it out. You need to contact Harper back at the House of Galen. She’ll know what to do.”
A muscle worked in Corsair’s jaw. He cursed, then gave a curt nod. “Fine.”
Winter turned back to the rock face. It wasn’t completely vertical, thankfully, and there were lots of ledges along it. She drew in a deep breath. She had to do this, for Dayna and Mia.
Nero gripped her shoulder. “You can stay here with Corsair and the tarnids.”
She glared at him.
He smiled. “I knew that would be your response. And…I understand. I’m sorry that I ever made you believe I thought you were weaker. You’re one of the strongest women I know.”
His gruff words sent warmth spreading through her. God, this hard-headed barbarian had gotten under her skin. She grabbed his hands, trying to find some words. No, not just under her skin but into her heart. Oh, God.
His smile widened. “Finally, I’ve rendered you speechless.”
She laughed. Her barbarian gladiator had made another joke. “It won’t last long. Enjoy it.”
“I do want to protect you, Winter,” he said. “You’ve suffered enough.”
“So have Dayna and Mia.”
He gripped her hand. “I’ll be right by your side the entire time.”
As the gladiators grabbed their weapons and supplies, the wraith leader stepped forward. “We cannot climb the mountain. We have already sacrificed too many to Catalyst’s lair.”
“I understand,” Galen said. “Thank you for your help.”
“If you see our people—”
The imperator nodded. “We will free them.”
Winter grabbed her small backpack, her medical supplies, and her knife. Their group moved to the base of the cliff. Raiden and Thorin went first, and started climbing. They moved up the rocks with speed and precision. Blue sped up the rocks, leaping from ledge to ledge with powerful jumps.
“Ready?” Nero asked.
Winter dragged in a deep breath and pressed her palms to the rock. It was close to burning hot under her skin. She pressed her boot into a crack and started up. Nero moved beside her, making it look easy, while she felt clumsy. Blaine and Saff moved past them, looking athletic and like they were having fun.
“Race you to the top, Earth man,” Saff called out.
“You’re on,” Blaine returned.
Winter ignored them and stubbornly continued upward. Just as her muscles started to burn from exertion, they reached the top. Nero reached down and grabbed her arm, pulling her up onto a small plateau. Ahead, was the lowest metal cylinder of Catalyst’s lair.
She looked up, taking in all of the structure looming above them. It looked like a piece of modern art. As she studied the building, she saw a door slide open on the lowermost cylinder.
“Look,” she said.
The gladiators all spun, drawing their swords and weapons. Several large robots stepped out of the doorway. They were all carrying large axes.
Uh-oh. Winter guessed that Catalyst knew they were here.
***
Nero reached up and drew his sword.
He studied the incoming robots. They were fighting robots, like the ones they sometimes faced in the arena. Big, sturdy, with a humanoid shape.
Around him, his friends all held their weapons, ready and waiting.
Nero glanced back at Winter. “Stay back and stay clear of the fight.”
She nodded. “Stay safe, barbarian.”
“For freedom and honor,” Galen called out.
Two things that had become vital to Nero since he’d come to Carthago. He raised his voice with his fellow gladiators. “For freedom and honor.”
Nero rushed forward with his friends. The robots stomped toward them.
Going in low, Nero swung his sword, smashing his weapon into the robot’s knees. Lore was beside him, going high. Nearby, Thorin gave a loud roar and crashed his huge axe down into another robot. Raiden leaped high into the air and came down swinging his sword. Kace was rushing forward, his staff spinning, and Galen was one step ahead of him with his sword raised. Saff and Blaine attacked the robot to the far left, working together with deadly accuracy.
A robot swung its giant arms and Nero ducked. His fight partner grabbed something off his belt and threw it in the air. A second later, dark smoke exploded around the robots. They went still, the smoke clearly playing havoc with their systems.
Nero kept fighting, attacking the robot’s knees again. Metal crunched, and one leg went out from under it. It crashed down on one knee, lights blinking. Nero spun and sliced the robot’s head off.
It was just like being in the arena. The only thing missing was the roar of the crowd.
A robot loomed up out of the smoke, raising a giant axe. As the weapon slammed down, Nero rolled to the side.
Boom. The blow sent rock flying up. The robot lifted the axe, and Nero jumped to his feet. A dark figure leaped over Nero and attacked the robot.
Galen fought with power and skill, dodging the robot’s swings. He swung onto the robot’s back and with a hard swipe of his sword, opened up the robot’s head, sparks flying.
If Galen ever went back into the arena, he’d be a force to be reckoned with.
Nero saw another shadow dart past him. Blue. The man leaped onto another robot and tore the machine’s chest open with his bare hands and a chilling roar.
Turning, Nero saw Lore attacking another robot. Nero waded in to help. As Lore attacked from the back, Nero skewered the robot with his sword.
“Nero!” Lore yelled. “Behind you.”
Yanking his sword out, Nero turned. Another robot, far larger than the others, lumbered out of the building. As it walked, the ground vibrated beneath it. It towered over them and lifted two massive arms. Whirling blades were attached to the ends.
Grimly, Nero studied it, looking for weak points.
He saw it zero in on Lore. Nero’s partner bounced on his feet, holding up his sword.
As the blades whirled, Lore danced between them. He slashed at the robot several times. The last time, he wasn’t quite fast enough.
One of the spinning blades caught him, slashing him across the chest. Blood sprayed.
Lore, face twisted in pain, fell to the ground. He reached out a hand, touching the robot’s foot. Flames ignited up Lore’s arm as he used the power he’d been born with. The robot didn’t seem affected, but Nero saw the metal of its foot turning bright orange as it heated up.
Nero leaped over a downed robot and rushed in. He ducked under the sharp blades, and drove his sword against the softened, hot metal of the robot’s foot.
The metal collapsed, and the robot started to fall over, teetering for a second.
Drak. Nero grabbed Lore and dragged him out of the way. “Watch out!”
He saw Saff and Blaine glance up and leap out of the path of the falling robot. The machine slammed into the ground, blades still spinning and kicking up dirt.
Lore stayed sprawled on the ground, his chest bleeding profusely.
“Made a drakking mess of yourself,” Nero growled.
Lore winced. “Madeline is not going to be happy.”
A small figure darted over to them. Nero lifted his sword, then cursed.
Winter.
“I told you to stay back,” he ground out.
“I’ll help him.” She was already opening her backpack.
A mechanical sound, and Nero spun. The robot was trying to drag itself toward them, those dangerous blades still a risk.
“Go,” she told him, already swiping a cloth at Lore’s bloody chest.
Nero turned and attacked the damaged robot. Protect Winter. The words echoed in his head. Like a machine, he tore into the robot, slicing at every weak point.
A moment later, Nero straightened, panting. The blades were slowly stopping, the blinking lights now dark.
He spun. Another smaller robot was advancing on Winter, axe raised.
“Winter!”
At his shout, she turned and saw the robot bearing down on her. Instead of running, she threw herself over Lore’s prone form.
Drak. Nero burst into a run, pushing his body for all the speed he could muster. He leaped at the robot, swinging and slashing.
He wouldn’t let it touch Winter.
He sliced the machine’s arms off. One. Then the other. Its axe fell to the ground. His mind a red haze of rage, he kicked the robot, and it tumbled to the ground. He hacked one of its legs off at the knee, and then jumped onto its chest. He raised his sword, aiming it down, gripping the hilt with both hands. He jammed it into the robot’s chest. He raised his sword and then kept stabbing. Over and over.
“Nero?” Galen’s voice. “Nero?”
He ignored his imperator and kept attacking. He had to destroy it. He had to protect Winter.
“Nero, it’s destroyed.” This time it was Winter’s voice.
He paused and blinked. He stared down at the twisted, mangled metal beneath him. It barely resembled the robot it had once been.
He looked up. Winter stood in front of him, and Lore was beside her. His fight partner was smeared with blood, but a stark, white bandage crossed his chest, and otherwise, he looked fine.
“I think you killed it,” Lore said with a smile.
Nero stepped off the robot, and strode over to Winter. The savage urge inside him needed to know she was okay. The hunter in him needed to feel his woman’s heartbeat and her sweet warmth.
He saw her eyes widen. He slid his sword back into its scabbard, then snatched Winter off her feet. He slammed his mouth down on hers.