a shout, the big man staggered and fell.
More Edull and more of their asshole allies were coming. Shit, even with an arsenal, they couldn’t take them all down.
Suddenly, a large body sailed over the railing, and landed on the track in front of her with a bend of powerful legs.
Overlord Rhain Sarkany rose, two wicked, curved swords in his hands.
He charged into the fight, his swords slashing.
Oh, he sure was something.
Rhain leaped and spun in the air with an amazing flip, cutting down several Edull in one blow.
There was a crash of metal, and she spun to see Zaden, flanked by Seren and Jax, sending crumpled metal flying at the Edull. The cyborgs were fighting their way toward them.
Bellamy’s heart leaped. They were still outnumbered, but now they had a chance.
Then she spotted an Edull sneaking up on Maxon.
No way. “Maxon!” She fired on the Edull.
Maxon spun, his energy weapon whirling. He took down the Edull with one hit.
Their gazes met and she smiled. Then she saw another crowd of fighters—including lots of Edull—running down the track.
Dammit. They never stopped.
Then a sharp whistle from above cut across the track, followed by a deep voice.
“For honor and freedom!”
She saw a muscular body leap over the railing, black cloak flapping behind him.
Galen landed and lifted his head, his eye patch over one eye and his mouth set in a flat line.
Gladiators leaped onto the track all around him. She saw Raiden, and another large gladiator holding a giant axe. The elegant Saff grasped a staff and beside her, Blaine raised his sword above his head. Tall Nero hefted a giant sword while Lore crouched, his arm lighting up with flames. Blue-skinned Vek snarled and Kace stood with his staff, his cool gaze scanning their opponents.
A tall, built gladiator with a green cloak landed, his handsome face set in harsh lines. Around him, more green-cloaked gladiators landed. The House of Loden.
Then she saw the cyborgs land one after the other—thud, thud, thud. One had silver skin and it took her a second to realize that it was Mace. Acton and Toren were right behind him. Acton’s cybernetic arms glowed and Toren’s weapon rose up from his shoulder, swiveling to take aim.
Then Magnus landed, hard enough to make the track vibrate.
The imperator rose, his eyes glowing neon blue, and his cybernetic arm lighting up with electricity.
Then the gladiators and cyborgs ran into the fight.
Bellamy smiled. “For honor and freedom!”
Maxon felt a savage satisfaction and pride seeing his fellow cyborgs and gladiators charge into the battle.
Magnus slammed his cybernetic arm into an Edull, lifting the alien off his feet.
The House of Rone had arrived. His family had come. A family that had found and claimed him at his lowest point. That accepted him just as he was.
He looked at Bellamy. She was running toward him, smiling. He still hated her altered hair, because it wasn’t her. He liked Bellamy just the way she was. But that smile on her face—that was all hers—and she was all his.
She’d claimed him from the moment he’d first seen her in the middle of a fight with the Edull.
She didn’t just accept him as he was, she liked him as he was.
Then he saw her gaze shift to the right. Her smile evaporated.
Maxon swiveled, clutching his weapon. Vossol.
Maxon’s chest swelled. The Edull leader dropped through a hole that had been torn in the track and disappeared.
Running like the bug he was.
Maxon saw Bellamy switch directions. She sprinted for the hole.
Drak. Maxon broke into a run after her. “Magnus!”
Even in the middle of the battle, the imperator heard him and looked over.
“Bellamy’s after Vossol. They’re both under the track where the mag-tech is.”
Magnus nodded. “Go. Help her.”
“The prisoners?”
“On their way out now. Quinn’s leading them. Now go.”
“Get the rest of the spectators out.”
“We’ll take care of it.”
Maxon reached the tear and jumped straight down.
It was dark under the track, with only a small amount of light filtering in from above. The back of his neck prickled, and he wondered what was hiding in the shadows.
A mass of metallic support columns made the place feel like a maze. There were rows and rows of them holding up the track.
There was no sign of Bellamy.
He pulled his gun. He moved silently, his senses on high alert.
He circled around several of the columns. Where was she?
He heard a noise and spun. Then he heard Bellamy.
“You fucking asshole!”
Maxon ran.
Bellamy and Vossol came into view. They were fighting. She rammed into the Edull, knocking him