Ever worked feverishly, one hand writing notes in her notebook, and the other popping a salty snack the kitchen had made for her into her mouth.

She was starving today. She patted her belly, which she was pretty certain looked bigger than yesterday. She wasn’t just hungry because of the peanut. A long, energetic night had left her ravenous. She looked up, smiling at the memory. She’d woken this morning wrapped up in her sexy cyborg. Waking up pressed against Magnus’ warm skin was…she shivered. Glorious.

Then she frowned, her gaze moving back down to her work. Guilt flooded her in an overwhelming wave. Sam was still stuck at Zaabha, and it made Ever feel so guilty for feeling so good.

Reaching out, Ever stroked the fabric of the stealth suit resting on the bench. She was planning to get it operational and show it to Magnus today. It was just what they needed to help them follow the off-worlder to Zaabha without being seen. Without it, she knew there was a huge risk the team would be discovered.

And that would blow their only chance of finding Sam.

There was a knock at the door. “Come in.”

Rory bounded through the doorway, her baby nestled in her arms. A big gladiator followed right behind her.

Ever smiled. Rory Fraser, her husband, Kace, and their new baby boy.

“Hi.” Rory grinned, face glowing. “Thought you might like a visit from a new mommy, a cute baby, and an overprotective, but very sexy, gladiator.”

Ever saw Kace scowl at his woman and she swallowed a smile. “I’d love that.” She didn’t miss the way Kace scanned her lab like enemies might pop out of the shadows at any moment. “This prospective mom, baby bump, and overprotective cyborg who is currently off doing imperator business, would love that.”

As Rory moved closer, Ever made eye contact with the bright-eyed baby looking in her direction. He looked several weeks older than she knew he was.

“Hello there, Finley. Aren’t you looking cute today?”

The baby rewarded Ever with a gummy smile.

Her heart melted into a puddle. God, she could hardly believe she was going to have one of these soon. The healers didn’t know the exact length of her pregnancy, but she knew it was likely she didn’t have long to go. “Can I hold him?”

“Sure. The kid weighs a ton.” Rory handed him over.

Kace frowned. “He’s tiny.”

“Compared to you,” Rory said.

Ever snuggled the baby close and breathed deep. It didn’t matter that he was half alien, and that they were a galaxy away from Earth, he still had that familiar, new-baby smell.

He was a big boy, and when she brushed his cheek with her finger, he latched onto it, gripping hard. He was strong, too. “He’s gorgeous, you guys. Nice job.”

Rory leaned into Kace, and Ever saw the man soften. He pulled Rory close, his gaze resting on his son. It was clear that the military-trained gladiator adored Rory and their child.

A lump formed in Ever’s throat. Could that be her and Magnus? He’d worshipped her body in bed the night before. Could she show him how great they could be together? And what a great father he could be?

“What are you working on?” Rory asked.

Ever pulled Finley up to her chest. “You’ll regret asking me that.”

Rory snorted. “I spend most of my days with Regan. That woman can go on and on about her experiments.”

“I’ll see if I can match her.” Ever launched into an explanation about her stealth suit and research. She saw interest spark in Kace’s eyes.

“That sounds like a very useful piece of technology,” he said.

“I just need to figure out a power system for it. What I’m using right now doesn’t last long enough before it burns out.” She was really hoping she could sort the issue out today. Then Magnus could use it for the mission.

Her gut clenched. Seeing him injured last night had driven home the fact that he wasn’t invincible. He could be hurt…or killed.

“Hmm.” Rory turned Ever’s notebook around and flicked through the pages. Ever had forgotten that the woman was an engineer.

“What about using a carno?” She plucked the energy crystal out of the box of things Ever had on the bench. “They’re common here on Carthago, and we use them to power a lot of smaller devices at the House of Galen.”

“I tried. I couldn’t get the connection stable enough.”

“If you join it up here…”

She picked up one of Ever’s tools and started fiddling with it, connecting the power crystal into the suit. A second later, the suit changed color, matching the silver of the bench. It disappeared completely.

“Oh, wow,” Rory said.

Kace moved closer. “Incredible. I’ve seen some prototype stealth suits before in the military, but none that functioned this well.”

Ever handed Finley over to Kace. She paused to watch the man as he expertly shifted the baby into his brawny arms. God, was there a sight surer to make a woman’s insides gooey than a bare-chested man snuggling a baby?

Leaning over the bench, Ever fiddled with the crystal that Rory had connected. Then she lifted the suit and quickly shimmied into it. The stretchy fabric was extremely adaptable and forgiving, and she flicked the lightweight hood over her face. She stepped away from the others and activated the controls on the side of the suit.

“Oh, my God,” Rory gasped. “You literally just disappeared.”

“It’s working.” Excitement spread through Ever’s veins. She walked around the lab.

“I have no idea where you are,” Rory said, grinning.

Suddenly, the suit flickered. “Crap.”

“Is it the power or the camouflage failing?” Rory asked.

“Power’s fine. It must be the camouflage.” Dammit. “I really need longer to work out all the kinks.” But the mission was tonight. She reached down to the controls, flicking the small panel open. She fixed the problem, causing the suit to flash, and she disappeared again. But it was a temporary fix. She knew it would fail again.

The door opened, and Magnus entered. She watched his gaze sweep the room, and then he tensed.

“Where’s Ever?” His gaze moved over her without stopping.

She grinned. Then his gaze moved back to her location and stopped. Her smile dissolved. Damn, how did he know where she was?

“I can smell you,” he said.

Hmm, she needed a way to have the suit mask scents as well. She made a mental note to add it to her research. She pressed the controls and reappeared.

Magnus blinked. Aha. She’d managed to surprise her cyborg.

She held her arms out. “What do you think?”

He strode up to her, fingering the suit. “Incredible.”

She quickly pulled it off and handed it to him. He rubbed the fabric between his fingers, and the small crystals embedded on the fabric shimmered in the light.

“I can outfit six people with these suits for the mission.”

He raised his brows. “Really?”

She nodded, then licked her lips. “But they aren’t in perfect working order. They still have glitches.”

He frowned. “Glitches?”

“The camouflage fails and needs a quick adjustment. Really, I need more time to find a permanent solution to the problem.”

“We don’t have more time.”

“I know, but I have a workable, temporary solution for the mission.” She glanced at Rory, who gave her an encouraging thumbs-up. “I come on the mission, and ensure the suits stay operational.”

“No.”

“Magnus—”

“No.” His tone was hard. “I’m not taking you into the desert. I’m not taking you back there.”

She swallowed. She didn’t want to step foot in Zaabha ever again, and she didn’t want her baby anywhere near there. But more than anything, she wanted Sam found and Zaabha destroyed.

“Without the suits, we both know the chance of following the off-worlder without being discovered is next to nothing. If they spot you, Zaabha will be gone, and so will Sam. It could take months to find it again.”

“You’re pregnant.”

“But I’m not an invalid. I’m healthy, and I’ll have protection. I’m also not stupid. Once we reach Zaabha, I won’t enter it. I’ll hide in the desert until you get Sam.”

Magnus’ hands curled into fists and a muscle ticked in his jaw.

“Earth women.” There was a dose of commiseration in Kace’s tone. “They won’t let you lock them safely away, and they don’t follow orders.”

Rory elbowed him.

“And they are more courageous than the fiercest gladiator,” Kace added.

“I don’t want you to go out there.” Magnus’ voice was a growl.

“I’m not particularly happy about it, either, but I need to help save Sam.” Ever patted her belly. “I have to be a good role model for our child.”

Magnus spun, resting his hands on the back of his neck.

“I can’t stay here, locked behind these walls, when I know I can help Sam. The risk is low, Magnus.”

He moved suddenly, swiping an arm across her bench, knocking bottles to the floor.

She winced.

He turned and shot her one furious glare, then he stalked out of the room.

With her heart hurting, she looked at the broken glass on the floor. She shot a tight smile at Kace and Rory. “Well, that went well.”

* * *

Magnus paced his office. He didn’t look up when Galen stepped inside.

“You don’t look ready for the mission,” Galen said, voice dry.

Magnus spun around. “Life was easier when I could shut off my emotions.”

Leaning against the wall, Galen crossed his arms. “And you can’t now?”

“No.” Magnus shoved a hand through his hair. “Not with Ever. She short-circuits everything.”

“Apparently women have a way of doing that.”

“They never have before.” Magnus dropped into his chair and it creaked under his weight.

“Ever updated me on the stealth suits,” Galen said.

Magnus struggled against the combination of annoyance and pride. “Her work is amazing.”

“Yes.” Galen pushed away from the wall. “And the suits would give this mission a huge chance of succeeding.”

Magnus looked up. “Did she also explain that she needs to come?”

“Yes.” Galen sighed. “We’ll protect her.”

“Things go wrong on missions, Galen, you know that.” In his head, he saw images of Ever hurt, or worse. They taunted him. “I know she wants Sam back safely.”

Galen leaned against Magnus’ desk. “It’s not just that. She wants you back safely, too.”

Magnus raised his head, an unfamiliar feeling spreading through him. She was doing this for him, too? “How do I let her go into danger?”

“If you don’t let her help, if you don’t trust her, you’ll…damage something inside her.”

Magnus groaned. “I know. And she’s drakking well aware that I can’t say no to her.”

A faint smile crossed Galen’s face. “I am so glad that I haven’t lost my mind.”

“Your turn will come, Galen.”

“I’m too old and too smart for that, my friend.” An inexplicable look crossed Galen’s face before he smoothed it away.

Magnus sighed. “I’ll talk to Ever about the mission and prepare the team.”

“She’s in her lab, working on the other suits.”

Of course she was. She wouldn’t be napping or resting. “You’ll bring two gladiators?”

Galen nodded. “Raiden and Nero. Nero is my best tracker, and we might need his tracking skills. And I’ll have my backup team join yours.”

Magnus leaned back in his chair. “The backup team will stay out of range. Once we find Zaabha, we’ll signal them to come in to help us take it down.”

“So the initial scouting party is me, you, Raiden, Nero…”

“Ever and Jaxer.” Saying her name made his heart hurt. He trusted Jaxer with his life, so he was the only one Magnus trusted enough to help keep Ever safe.

“We’ll make sure no harm comes to her,” Galen said.

They would. Because if anything happened to her or the baby… Magnus’ cybernetic hand curled.

Galen pushed away from the wall. “I’ll prep my team and see you when it’s time to depart.”

Magnus watched his friend leave. Time to update Jaxer and his other gladiators.

It was an hour later when he went in search of Ever. He silently slipped inside her lab. She was focused on her work, her dark curls falling around her face. He moved up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her.

She jolted, then her body relaxed a fraction. “Make some noise next time.”

He leaned down, pressing his face to her hair. He still felt tension in her body. “Are the stealth suits ready?”

She nodded. “I’d prefer to have another week or two to perfect them.” She tipped her head back, her green gaze meeting his. “But they’re as ready as they can be.”

“Are you ready?”

The tension drained out of her and she smiled. “Yes. Thank you for letting me come, Magnus.”

“It is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Her eyes flashed and she leaned into him. “I don’t want to go back to the desert, or anywhere near Zaabha, but I want to be a good example for our child. I need to do the right thing, the honorable thing.” She went up on her toes to kiss him.

His woman from Earth had a steel-hard spine, grit, and the heart of a cyborg. She terrified him.

“Then let’s get ready.”