Weapons Master Galactic Gladia - Anna Hackett Page 0,44
Edull was smiling behind his mask.
“Guess I’ll have to do the job myself.”
As three Edull guards dragged Maxon across the floor, he held on to his rage.
They’d cuffed him and taken his weapons. Well, at least the ones they could see.
The crowd in the arena roared for the bots on the track. No one was paying attention to the small, track-side platform where the Edull had dragged him and Bellamy.
His chains clanked as they winched him up. His arms were fixed above his head, and he hung there from a metal frame.
Bellamy was shoved in front of him, her chin lifted and her eyes defiant.
The Edull leader stepped in front of her.
“I’m going to kill you,” she spat at him.
Vossol glared. “How many cyborgs are here?”
She glared back.
He backhanded her.
Maxon growled and jerked. His chains rattled.
“Interesting. This cyborg is very protective of you. I thought they were devoid of emotion.” Vossol looked back at her. “How many more are here?”
Bellamy’s shoulders slumped, dejection written in every line of her body.
Maxon’s gut cramped. He’d never seen her look like that before.
“It’s just the three of us,” she said quietly.
“The other cyborg slipped out of our grasp. I assume he abandoned you once he saw that you were both captured.”
Bellamy stared at the floor and Maxon felt something move through his chest. The little actress should be on stage in the District.
“Why did you come back?” the Edull drawled.
She shot him a venomous look. “To take you and your stinking arena down.”
Vossol hit her again.
Maxon jerked and bit his tongue, tasting blood in his mouth. He was going to pound this sandsucker into the ground.
Bellamy shook her head, but didn’t look beaten. “I’m going to destroy the mag-tech.”
There was a rusty sound and Maxon realized Vossol was laughing.
“You wouldn’t have found it.”
“I will find it.”
There was determination in her voice that made the alien hesitate, then he shook his head. “You’re captured. The cyborg is in chains.”
Bellamy glanced at Maxon and their gazes met. He saw worry in her eyes.
Vossol grabbed her hair and yanked her head back. She snarled.
“You’d never have found the mag-tech because it’s hidden in plain sight.”
She stilled. “What?”
Vossol’s eyes glittered. “It’s under the track.”
Maxon saw Bellamy frown, and the Edull gave another rasping laugh.
“It’s built in under the track. I wanted it where no one would think to look for it.”
Maxon sucked in a breath. The Edull had given it away. Now, they just needed to get free.
“You can’t take us down. Not a nobody from a distant, nothing world. The Edull are strong. We keep growing our power and influence. You’re just a speck of sand under my boot.” He flicked a glance at Maxon. “You may have found some allies, but this creation can’t help you. I doubt the House of Rone will risk everything for you.”
Maxon growled. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You’re just machines. I’m going to take you apart for parts.”
Bellamy straightened. “You won’t touch him.”
Maxon’s heart squeezed. Drak, he loved that fierce look in her eyes.
The Edull shrugged a shoulder. “He’s just a cyborg.”
“He’s a talented, gifted man. He’s already suffered assholes who thought the amazing tech that saved him made him less.” Her gaze met Maxon’s. “He’s the most amazing man I’ve ever met. Even when he’s grumpy as hell, he makes me feel safe.”
Drak. Her words ran through him, filling dark spaces.
“Hmm.” The Edull made an annoyed sound and shoved her.
She fell to her knees.
“Leave her alone,” Maxon growled.
Vossol grabbed her hair again. “I’ve decided your fate, slave.”
“Fuck you,” Bellamy bit out. “I’m no one’s slave.”
The Edull leader lowered his voice. “I’m going to make you die right on the tech you wanted to destroy.”
She blinked and Maxon froze.
“What?” Bellamy said.
“I’m going to put you in a bot and make you race.”
“No!” Maxon jerked, trying to get free of the chains.
She shook her head. “Fuck you, I won’t race.”
“But I think you’ll do anything to save him.” Vossol pulled out a dagger and pressed it to Maxon’s gut. “He may be mostly machine, but I bet he still bleeds.”
Bellamy lifted her head, her face twisted.
“No, don’t listen to him, Bellamy,” Maxon said.
“You race, otherwise I’ll make you watch as we cut him open and pull out his parts.”
Drak, no. Maxon felt the fear and horror twist inside him. “Bellamy—”
Vossol dragged the knife over Maxon’s abdomen, and blood welled.
Bellamy’s hands curled into fists. “I’ll race.”
Chapter Seventeen
Bellamy was shoved roughly through the hatch and into the cockpit of the