Pets in Space 4 and House of Rone Cover Reveal: Centurion

Excerpt from Defender (House of Rone #2) featuring Acton and Sage

“You’ll love the arena,” Jayna said. “The fights are amazing.”

Sage McAlister smiled. “Awesome.”

They were hurrying through the House of Rone on their way to the arena. She glanced around, taking in the smooth, stone walls and beautiful wall hangings, mostly done in rich, royal blue.

Her new home.

Her mouth felt dry and she swallowed. She’d been rescued and she was free. Even if she could never go back to Earth, at least she was surrounded by friends.

What she hadn’t told anyone was that she felt cold inside. Numb. Unsettled. She forced her smile up another fraction. She’d never tell Jayna or the others. They’d all risked so much to save her, and she didn’t want them to think she was ungrateful. Or to continue to worry about her.

“Calla’s in her own room now?” Jayna asked.

Sage nodded. “She’s doing so much better. I think she’ll be back up on her feet in just a few days.”

Sage was thrilled that her new alien friend was healed and doing better. It would take some time for Calla to adjust to her new, cybernetic heart, but she was alive, and that’s what counted.

Mace was waiting for them at the entrance of the House of Rone. Sage took in the massive cyborg and mentally shook her head. He looked so intimidating. She watched Jayna smile and throw herself into the man’s brawny, tattooed arms.

As the couple kissed, Sage felt a punch of envy.

She’d had a boyfriend back on Earth. She and Daniel had never been as passionate as these two, but they’d been comfortable and happy together.

Sage had already taken advantage of the amazing wormhole communication system in place and sent a message to Earth. A lump lodged in her throat. Her mother, never the most maternal woman on a good day, had been mildly pleased to hear Sage was alive.

Daniel, meanwhile, had assumed she’d died. He was now engaged to someone else, with a baby on the way.

So Sage was truly alone. She shivered. She guessed she should feel more upset about it all, but she felt nothing more than cold numbness.

Jayna turned back and Sage smiled at her.

“Let’s get to the arena,” the brunette said.

Sage nodded. She enjoyed the distraction of people watching as they maneuvered through the tunnels toward the main arena. There were so many different alien species. As a paramedic, Sage had always been interested in the human body and how it worked. Now, she had a bunch of alien bodies she could learn about.

If she wanted to. She tugged on her earlobe. She wasn’t really sure what she wanted.

Early days, Sage. Give yourself a break.

When Mace and Jayna led her out of the tunnel and into the arena stands, Sage looked around, her mouth widening. This was unbelievable.

A punch of sound hit her. The vibration of stomping feet rattled beneath her.

This was just the distraction she needed.

She looked with interest at the sea of colorful spectators—so many species of beings. Her gaze moved down to the arena floor. It was covered in a layer of sand, and the gladiators were already out there, swinging their weapons and performing for the crowd before the fight began.

It would take time to get used to her new home, but she could do it. She was no longer a prisoner or a lab guinea pig. The Edull couldn’t hurt her anymore.

She pulled in a breath. Besides, she really didn’t have much of a choice.

Her stomach curdled, and she quickly moved to the House of Rone seats near the railing. Jayna waved her in and Sage sat down next to Acton.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hello.”

His voice was as cool as ice, his face as emotionless as glass.

This was the man who’d saved her from the Edull lab and carried her out of her nightmare. Her memories of her rescue were a little muddy and disjointed, but she did remember the coolness of his cybernetic arms.

“You enjoy watching the fights?” she asked.

“I don’t feel joy. But the fights are interesting displays of skill.”

She tilted her head, taking in the metal half of his face. He was really quite handsome. His smooth skin contrasted with the even smoother, silver metal. “You don’t feel anything?”

He hesitated. “Very little.”

Very little was more than nothing. Unable to stop herself, Sage reached out and stroked his cybernetic arm. “Do you feel that?”

“Yes.” His brows drew together. “I have pressure sensors embedded in my metallic skin.”

She reached up and touched his organic cheek. His skin was warm. “That?”

“Yes, of course, but I have no emotional reaction to the stimulus.”

Sage stroked his skin again. The man had ridiculously high cheekbones.

Acton cocked his head. “You don’t find my appearance…repugnant?”

She blinked. “No. Why would I?”

“Many people find my metal enhancements unsettling.”

“You’re unique, and I’ve always liked unique.”

He was silent for a moment. “If you’re looking for some sort of physical comfort from me, I’m the wrong choice.”

Sage bit the inside of her cheek to refrain from laughing. Apparently, several women from Earth shacking up with his fellow cyborgs had disturbed this man who claimed he didn’t feel.

She smiled, and it felt like the first real smile she’d done in ages. “How about we be friends?”

Acton blinked slowly. “Friends?”

“I know you have friends, Acton. People to talk with. Who look out for each other.”

A pause. “That would be acceptable.”

She bumped her shoulder against his. “You can teach me about Carthago and the House of Rone.”

“Yes. And you can explain perplexing emotional reactions to me.” He glanced over at where Ever, Quinn, and Jayna were laughing with Mace, Jax, and Magnus. “I believe I will need additional understanding as our House fills with more humans.”

She laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Suddenly, she noticed that Acton was looking intently at her lips. His gaze moved back to hers, those cool, icy-blue eyes on her.

“It’s a deal, Sage McAlister.”

Sage leaned into him. There was something comforting about Acton. She felt no pressure to prove that she was happy and cheerful with him. She could just be herself. “Deal.”

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