Redeemed by the Cyborg

Alyse Anders

Alyse Anders

Redeemed by the Cyborg

Copyright 2020 Alyse Anders

ISBN: 978-1-7770382-6-7

All Rights Are Reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this story are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

First edition: August 2020

Cover Art by Amanda @ Razzle Dazzle Designs

Contents

The Prison

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Acknowledgments

About the Author

The Prison

The Prison had no name. Its reputation far surpassed what any label could adequately capture, the reality far harsher. The Grus and aliens who found their way through the thick metal doors and down the transportation tube far beneath the planet’s surface rarely survived long enough to see the end of their sentence.

Life in the prison was brutish, cruel, and often cut short.

Then the Sholle came.

The prison and its wards were abandoned as the Grus fought for their lives. The Sholle took everything they could, stripping the planet bare and murdering anyone who got in their way.

It turned out that the prison was safest place on the planet.

The Grus fought, fell, but rose once more. The Fallen were born and the Sholle were driven back.

After the war, the Fallen took responsibility for the prison – their cybernetics giving them a survival advantage over the Grus who’d once patrolled the corridors. The gang fights stopped, the chaos contained, and order descended on the prison.

But that didn’t mean things became easier.

The prison beneath the surface of the planet held the hardest of criminals.

All wanting to be free.

Chapter One

The moment she woke from stasis, Tara was aware of him. She didn’t know who he was, couldn’t hear his voice or see him, but he had a presence that pressed against the back of her mind. Before she had time to wrap her head around what any of that meant, chaos exploded around her.

Aliens, cyborgs, and not enough power to keep all the stasis tubes with the women from Earth alive became a priority.

“Tara, I know this is a lot to take in. I’m really sorry we had to throw you into the deep end so quickly.” Lena, the captain of the Kraken, the ship Tara had paid for passage on, stood in front of her smiling but obviously exhausted. “Do you have any questions?”

“Let’s see if I understand this. We successfully traveled halfway across the galaxy and ended up being found by an alien race, who turned their dead into cyborg soldiers to fight a war for them. And we’re the mates of some of those cyborgs.”

Lena shrugged, then nodded. “Sounds about right.”

“I have a mate.” Was that whose presence she felt? The pressure in her brain, like a headache that hadn’t yet fully materialized. “What if I don’t want one?”

Lena’s gaze dropped as though she were trying to find the words to say there. “I don’t know. It doesn’t seem that any of us really have a say in the matter.”

“What if he doesn’t want me?” She didn’t know why but asking that question felt more than a little ridiculous. “I’m sure he can’t be keen to become involved with an alien any more than I am.”

“I don’t know. So far, every relationship seems to be something that emerges despite what either party thinks. It’s weird.”

Tara had decided to leave Earth when she realized that there was nothing for her on the planet. She was a loner who worked in one of the many data centers dotted across the planet that kept tabs on every aspect of life of its citizens. At night when she would return to her small apartment, she’d crawl out onto the tiny balcony and spend hours drawing. The tablet she had was old and every time she powered it on, she held her breath and prayed. She’d found it as a child – old and discarded then by someone with more power and influence than she’d ever have – and it quickly became her prized possession. She wouldn’t be able to afford to replace it, and the day that it didn’t turn on would be heartbreaking.

Other than her clothing, it was the only item she’d brought with her on the journey.

“Are you feeling better? That nanobot injection is a bit brutal.” Lena’s pressed her hand to her stomach. “But at least we’re able to understand everyone without having to learn a language.”

“Yes, thank you. The headache went quickly, and I don’t feel as though I’m going to vomit any longer.”

“Good. You shouldn’t have any issues understanding anyone, but if you do just let Aerin know and she’ll fix things for you.” Lena cocked her head to the side, as though she were hearing something Tara couldn’t. “I’m going to leave you alone for a bit. This is your room for now, so let Ina or Aerin know if you need anything.”

“You’re not staying?” Tara’s heartbeat increased.

“No. I’m…my mate needs me to come back with him.” The blush that covered Lena’s face was answer enough as to what her mate wanted. “I’ll see you again soon.”

And nearly as quickly as she’d been dumped into this alien world, Tara was left alone.

Well, almost alone.

That night, her dreams were filled with the sound of a voice that she couldn’t quite hear. It was as though someone were in the next room, speaking on a phone, but she couldn’t make out what was being said. The voice was low, male and had a hint of sarcasm to it that made her smile in her sleep. Tara couldn’t help but enjoy the sound and despite her own reservations, she wanted to get to know the owner.

When she woke up, she tried to draw him.

The next few days were full of her learning about her new life. Learning that the Fallen had been members of the Grus people but had died in a war with a race called the Sholle and had been reborn as cyborgs. This hadn’t been their choice, and many of them were still angry at not having been allowed to die. She’d learned about the prison, a maximum-security facility that housed the worst criminals from across this sector of space, not far from the medical facility she currently resided within.

Tara didn’t know why, but she knew the prison was going to be important. She didn’t want to question that thought too closely, nor did she want to bother the others with her curiosity.

Then Mags was woken, and everything changed.

Tara was told that both their mates were at the prison; Mags was with Zee the warden, and she was with Rennick. He wasn’t an employee, didn’t work for Zee or anyone else. No, Rennick was a killer and was housed in a cell on the bottom floor.

He was that dangerous.

And she was his mate.

The moment they descended the long elevator from the planet’s surface, the voice in Tara’s head grew clearer. She still couldn’t make out his words, but it was more prominent than before, more distracting. The buzzing made it difficult for her to concentrate on anything else, even when Zee was standing there telling her the rules that would keep her safe in this dangerous facility.

Rennick was here in this building, and she couldn’t get to him.

So, she did what any insane person would try to do when faced with an overwhelming need to sate their curiosity – she went looking. Mags came with her and they’d gotten attacked by the guards who thought they were escaping prisoners. Zee went insane and Tara got shot.

She really didn’t like getting shot.

But that act of violence against her gave her the opportunity to do the one thing she’d become fixated on since stepping foot inside the prison – Zee agreed to take her to see Rennick. He carried her wounded body in his arms, into the elevator where she felt his body go tense. When the doors slid open and revealed the long corridor, Zee hesitated. She knew why, knew the history between them and still she wanted nothing else but for him to move forward. Zee let out a small huff and did as she’d willed.

Pain lanced through her body as Zee carried her down the corridor toward Rennick’s cell, but Tara didn’t care. The voice in her head grew louder, more distinct with each consecutive step Zee took. She couldn’t help but stiffen as the pressure of Rennick’s presence began to weigh down on her mind. Zee increased the hold on her body, oddly comforting. “He can’t hurt you. I won’t let him.”

“He wouldn’t.” She knew in her heart that this was the truth.

“I thought that once. He shot me in the head.” Zee turned his face away from her, making it difficult for her to see the cybernetic that comprised a good part of the side of his skull. “I will only allow this meeting to happen for a few minutes. No longer.”

Zee finally took the last step forward and she was finally able to lay eyes on Rennick, standing in the middle of his cell.

Rennick’s glowing gray eyes were wide, locked onto her the moment she came into view. As their gazes met, the voice in her head stopped, leaving her with oppressive silence. She blinked, knowing she only had a few minutes to memorize what he looked like; his shoulder length black hair appeared as though he’d been running his hands through it moments before. Rennick wasn’t as broad as Zee, but just as muscular, though his left arm and part of his chest had cybernetic enhancements.

“You’re hurt.” Rennick’s voice was low, soft like a caress against her cheek. “Why didn’t you take her for help?”

“I asked him to bring me here.” Tara tried to turn in Zee’s arms but lacked the strength to do more than wince. “I know you needed to see me. I’m here.”

The panic Rennick had felt when she’d been shot had been as clear to her as though she’d seen it in a movie. Not knowing what had happened, needing to see with his own eyes that she was going to be okay, was paramount to keeping him calm and sane. If enduring additional discomfort for a short period of time was what it took to keep Rennick in check, then she’d do it.

Rennick cocked his head to the side, his gaze never leaving her body. “If anything happens to her, I’ll tear this place apart.”

Zee’s grip tightened on her. “She’s under my protection.”

“That doesn’t mean much, does it.” Rennick’s gaze flicked up to meet Zee’s. “She’s injured.”

“She’ll be fixed shortly. You’ve seen her. We’re leaving.”

Zee turned without waiting for Rennick’s response. Tara leaned her head against his shoulder, finally relaxing. “Thank you.”

“If anything happens to her, Zee! I’ll fraking blow the other half of your face off!”

Tara couldn’t help but chuckle. “He’s feisty.”

“He’s a psychopath.” Zee waited until the elevator doors closed before speaking again. “You know I’ll never be able to let him out. You’ll never be able to truly be mates.” He sounded sad, as though he truly regretted that unrequited future for them.

“I know.”

And she did.

But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t find a way to change their fate.

* * *

Rennick couldn’t help but laugh.

There were a group of escapees standing in the corridor outside of his cell – his open cell – and they didn’t realize that they had a spy in their midst. Pax was with them, his cyborg eyes covered by a lens and his cybernetics so hidden that others wouldn’t notice. It was only a matter of time before Ingo showed up and put an end to their little escape attempt, but that didn’t mean Rennick couldn’t have fun with them in the meantime.

There was a brief commotion, followed by someone saying, “We found the security chief.”

Right on cue.

“I’ve told him there’s no way out of here.” Zee said in a tone that was more annoyed than angry. “Even if they kill us and make it to the surface, they’d never make it off the planet.”

“We’ll see. Now that we have the head of security, our chances have increased.” Cybol’s arrogance was going to be his undoing. No matter what plan they had laid out for their escape, it wouldn’t work.

Rennick laughed again, this time loud enough the others would hear and remember his presence. “Have you met Ingo? He hardly speaks and you think he’s going to give you security codes? You should give up and go back to your cells if that’s your brilliant fucking plan.”

“I said shut up!” One of the escaped prisoners moved to stand in front of his cell, his blaster pointing inward. “Or I’ll send my guard back in there and he’ll finish what we started.”

Rennick grinned. I can’t believe they’re trying to escape.

The thought pushed out from his head and he knew the moment Tara heard him. They’d engaged in this strange mental connection since her arrival at the prison, something that he’d only ever experienced with other Fallen through their cybernetic link. He had no such link to a matrix with her, and the fact that they were able to hear one another’s thoughts was a mystery that had given him hours of contemplation.

Wrong? Unlike himself, she couldn’t communicate in full sentences, which wasn’t surprising given what little he knew of humans. They weren’t a telepathic race, though these women clearly had some sort of telepathic predisposition, or else they wouldn’t have formed the bond with the Fallen that they had.

Zee, Ingo and Pax are all being held hostage. I can’t wait to see how this turns out. Maybe they’ll try to kill one of us. That would be fun to watch them try.

There was a part of Rennick that would welcome death. He’d long ago realized that there was no way he’d be able to atone for his crimes in the eyes of Zee or the others; no way to redeem his actions from before he was killed by the Sholle. While he would be sad to miss out on getting to know Tara, it would be better for her if he were gone so she could go about her new life here on Zarlan without being bound to a killer.

No. Tara’s voice was clear in his head, as though she were standing beside him speaking.

Perhaps he needed to be more cautious about his thoughts. She wouldn’t understand his desire to die rather than attempt to be saved – there was no coming back from what he’d done.

It’s best for everyone if I let Cybol or his guards kill me. Perhaps I’ll save Zee in the process. That would annoy him, knowing I died saving his life. It was an entertaining thought.

No! She was clearly upset with him.

He wasn’t surprised when Tara and Darby arrived and took control of the event. From what little he’d gotten to see of the humans, they were industrious when it came to fixing problems. Darby pretended to be another escaped prisoner, which gave Tara enough time to get into position to fire on Cybol. Her scream of anger sent Rennick’s heart racing as she shot at the others while racing across the corridor into his open cell.

She was here.

With him.

Rennick got to his feet and stood behind her while she shot at anyone foolish enough to look her way. This was the first time they’d been in physical proximity of one another. The buzzing in the back of his head that had been present since her arrival, increased to a nearly overwhelming state. All he wanted to do was turn her around, press her against the wall and kiss her.

The thought must have reached her because she straightened and turned to face him. Her black hair and brown eyes perfectly suited her round face. She was far shorter than he was, and it would be easy for him to overwhelm her physically. Not that he would.

Rennick knew in his heart that he’d never do that.

“Hello.” Her whisper reached him despite the cacophony outside his cell.

He didn’t waste time with words, leaned in and kissed her hard on the mouth. Everything around him disappeared and all he could focus on was the feel of her mouth under his; the smell and feel of her against him. It was only a brief touch, but Rennick knew it would have to last him a lifetime.

“Tara?” That was Darby calling out, no doubt everyone was now aware that Rennick’s cell was open.

Tara licked her lips, hesitating for only a moment before stepping out into the corridor. “I’m in here.”

He wasn’t going to waste the chance to be outside his cell with her, to walk away from that all too brief physical contact and moved to stand directly behind her. Both Zee and Ingo stiffened as their gazes snapped to him.

“Tara, please come out.” Zee got to his feet and Rennick could tell from his former friend’s stance that he was ready to pounce if given a reason. “Now.”

“I won’t hurt her.” He put a hand on her shoulder and moved his mouth close to the side of her head. “I would never do that.” I’ll die before I let that happen.

Ingo stepped between Darby and the cell. “We’re not worried about her.”

They were so scared of him that they didn’t even question why he’d done what he’d done. The need to kill wasn’t what had driven him all those years ago. He laughed, before placing a kiss to the back of Tara’s head. “Better go before they get impatient.”

He could feel Tara’s reluctance to leave him, but after a moment she stepped out into the corridor. Zee waited until she stepped closer to him before speaking again. “Ingo, can you remove the fraking collar from me.”

Rennick watched as Ingo removed the collar from Zee’s neck and knew his moment of freedom had come to an end. Rather than fight, he stepped back inside his cell and within seconds, the power to the floor came back on, including the cell’s barrier, locking Rennick inside once again.

Go back with the others and get looked after. I’ll be fine down here in my hole.

Tara’s annoyance hit him clearly. Rennick shook his head as he sat down on his bed and closed his eyes. No matter what either of them wanted, they’d never be together. Rennick would continue to pay for his crimes and she’d have to accept that. There’d be no happy ending for them, certainly not for him.

It would take a miracle for that to happen.

Chapter Two

One Month Later…

Tara sat on the floor of the antechamber of the prison with her drawing tablet resting on her lap, her gaze locked onto the doors of the transportation tube door. She’d taken to sitting here most mornings to draw, as it had the most amount of open space in the facility. It was the one place she didn’t feel the press of claustrophobia. The high ceiling gave the impression of vastness, even as it hid deadly weapons that would engage if a prisoner were foolish enough to attempt an escape.

It also gave her a front row seat to the arrival of any visitors who might arrive. Today that was special in that Mags had told her that Aidric, the Grus commander who’d created the cybernetic matrix that turned the dead Grus into cyborgs, was on his way down. This had caught everyone off guard and sent Zee and Ingo into a flurry of activity, ensuring that all safety measures were in place to ensure nothing would happen to Aidric.

Tara hadn’t bothered to ask if there was anything she could do to help; she didn’t have a skillset that was particularly useful at a maximum-security prison. Despite being one of the few humans here, she often found herself on the periphery of most events happening. Her mate wasn’t walking around like Darby or Mags’ were, nor did she have a clear and obvious role to take on here like the women did. She could have left with Sabeen and Pax, spent her time in the city living in a residence and getting to spend time on the surface of her new home. But that would mean leaving Rennick behind and that was something she wasn’t willing to do.

Not yet at any rate.

Zee and Ingo came striding out of his office, their heads dipped as though they were engaged in a silent conversation. They probably were, given that the cyborgs all had the ability to communicate via their cybernetic link. Normally, they had to be within proximity of one another for it to work, but this was yet another area where Rennick differed. The longer she was around him, the farther his reach with the other cyborgs appeared to be. He was also able to project more than his emotions at her, but also complete sentences. This wasn’t something any of the other cyborgs were able to do with their mates, no matter how close their connections were.

Lucky for her.

The two cyborgs stopped off to the side, their attention not on her at all. She wasn’t even sure they’d seen her sitting with her back to the wall, and she wasn’t about to call attention to herself by getting up to leave. If it was Aidric who was about to come down, then no one would pay her any mind, and they’d quickly head off to the office, security room, or wherever they took a dignitary who they didn’t want to get attacked when they came for an unexpected visit. She’d wait them out and then head back to her room where she wouldn’t be in anyone’s way.

There’s something going on up there? You feel anxious. Rennick’s voice filled her head in a way that she still wasn’t used to. Over the weeks that she’d been living here in the prison with him, his ability to communicate with her had gotten clearer.

Not that she was any better at reciprocating, and instead tried to project a single word to him. Sometimes she was successful, but often she couldn’t reach him. This time she closed her eyes and concentrated on the name. Aidric.

Interesting. What the hell is he doing here? I suspected that he’d not show up again after his last visit and attempt on his life.

Tara had wondered the same thing, but mentally only shrugged. It wasn’t her place to worry about these things, let alone offer any options.

She pulled her attention away from Rennick when the door to the transportation tube opened and Aidric along with Rykal – Lena’s mate – strode out to be greeted by Zee.

“Commander, Rykal. I’m surprised you’re back again. I’ve seen you more in the past three months than I have in the past three decades.”

Rykal shook his head and looked side-eyed at Aidric. “Grus Prime isn’t currently safe for him. I wanted him to be in a contained environment where I knew he’d be safe.”

Tara didn’t know a lot about the relationship between the Grus and the Fallen, but she knew enough to recognize that the relationship between Rykal and Aidric wasn’t exactly normal. There was a closeness in the way they stood beside one another, even if as they seemed annoyed by one another’s presence.

They’re brothers. Rennick piped up, sounding as amused as ever. I don’t know them well, but Rykal was the first of us to become cyborg. Aidric didn’t want to lose his little brother.

There wasn’t much about Rykal that Tara would classify as little.

“Rykal is overreacting to my current situation.” Aidric cocked an eyebrow, and if Tara wasn’t mistaken, he looked slightly embarrassed. “My guards on Grus Prime are more than capable of ensuring I’m not murdered.”

Zee glanced over at Ingo, who nodded. “Ingo has personally vetted a group of guards who’ll act as your security while you’re here. We’ll have them stationed in such a way as they won’t interfere with your movements.”

Aidric opened his mouth to say something when he noticed Tara. Her body went rigid, as her grip increased on her drawing stylus. All three of the cyborgs turned to see what he was looking at, but Aidric didn’t wait for them and instead strode over to where she sat.

“Tara, yes?” There was a softness in his voice that hadn’t been there a moment ago.

Should she get up? She should probably get up. “Yes.”

Tucking her tablet under her arm, she pushed herself to her feet, thankfully accepting the hand of assistance Aidric offered. His grip was firm, warm and exactly what she needed. Despite having a mate, and women who she was beginning to see as friends, Tara had little in the way of physical contact in recent weeks. The women were typically off with their mates, and Rennick wasn’t exactly accessible to her. She missed the simple pleasure of a touch, a hug, things she’d rarely given much thought to in the past.

“I was hoping we’d have the chance to meet.” Aidric smiled at her, though it appeared slightly awkward for him. “When Rykal suggested that he bring me here for my safety, I thought it would also give me the opportunity to right a wrong that I’d enacted many years ago.”

Rennick. She knew without him saying specifically that he was referring to Rennick, and that whatever he had in mind would involve her as well.

Swallowing, Tara took a moment to collect her thoughts and ignore the press of rising anger she felt coming from Rennick at her ignoring him. “I’m not sure exactly what you think you can do. He killed people.”

And that was the crux of her problem. Rennick wasn’t simply misunderstood, or a bad boy. He didn’t have anger issues that she could help him overcome with time, patience, and love.

He was a killer.

He’d killed his best friend.

How the hell could she have any sort of relationship with a man when she might have to fear for her life?

Aidric took her hand in both of his and looked her in the eyes. It was intense being this close to him; he radiated a quiet power and control that others seemed to recognize without saying a word. “I know you might not believe this, but I believe he might not have been in complete control of himself on that day.”

“I was there. He was absolutely himself.” There was no mistaking the hurt and anger in Zee’s voice. “If anyone would have known if he was acting differently, it would be me.”

Tara couldn’t imagine knowing what it was like to have been killed by your best friend, only to both be brought back to life and forced to work together. All things considered, Zee handled himself with more grace than she would have mustered.

Aidric didn’t acknowledge Zee, instead keeping his focus on her. “Rennick’s…situation, has bothered me since I first learned of his condition shortly after his rebirth. I knew someday I would need to right this particular wrong.”

“What are you saying?” Tara’s hope for the future threatened to pique. “You have a way of keeping him from killing again?”

“You also have more important things to concern yourself with.” Rykal moved behind Aidric. “Someone is trying to kill you.”

Rykal wouldn’t have been able to see Aidric’s eyeroll, but Tara did. “Knowing the three of you, I’ll be sequestered in a room with nothing to do. This will at least give me a project to work on and the opportunity to right a wrong.”

Aidric is an arrogant ass. Rennick was clearly annoyed that she wasn’t communicating with him. I never understood why the others put him on high above everyone else. She wasn’t sure exactly how much of what was going on that he was aware of, but the last thing she wanted to do was given him any false hope that his days in that cell might be numbered.

Quiet. She projected the single word back as forcefully as she could, and hoped he’d listen to her for once.

“Are you in communication with him?” Aidric’s eyes widened.

“Not really. A little.” She straightened when the other cyborgs came closer. “He’s able to project his thoughts into my head and he can feel my emotions. I’m able to send the odd word back to him, but it’s much harder.”

“That’s fascinating.” It was obvious to Tara that her revelation sent Aidric’s mind spinning. “Are the other humans able to communicate with their mates this way? Rykal?”

Tara pulled her gaze away from Aidric to look at his brother. It wasn’t obvious that they had the same parents, though there was a similarity about their mouth and chin. Rykal’s skin was smoother, and his muscles larger; and then there were the visible cybernetics.

They looked as though they were from different races.

Rykal’s gaze shifted from Aidric to Tara. “No. I can feel Lena’s emotional state, I’m aware of her presence no matter how far away she is, but we don’t have the ability to share thoughts. What you’re saying sounds similar to our cybernetic link.”

“Can Lena feel your emotions?” Aidric turned to face Rykal.

“She can now, but it wasn’t always that way. As our bond had grown it’s become easier for her to feel me the way I feel her.”

“The same is happening with Mags and I,” Zee added. “The longer I’m with her, the closer our bond appears to grow.”

Ingo nodded. “As are Darby and I. If we asked Pax, I have no doubt he’d say the same.”

“We never were able to determine what it was about your race that allowed you to link with the Fallen.” Aidric turned back to Tara. “We didn’t know that you had telepathy.”

Tara took a step back. “We don’t. That’s not an ability that anyone on Earth possesses.” Not one that anyone took seriously.

“While this is all fascinating,” Zee said as he clapped his hands together, “I don’t like having you out in the open.”

“Zee’s right.” Rykal placed a hand on Aidric’s shoulder. “We can talk more about the humans, Rennick, or anything else once we have you secured. The point of bringing you back to the prison was to figure out who’s trying to kill you.”

“This isn’t the first time someone has attempted a coup.” Aidric cocked his head to the side. “Tara, once these three are satisfied with my safety, would you mind joining me so we can talk without interruption? I believe this connection you have with Rennick might be the element that has been missing in my plan to help him.”

“I’ll…think about it.” She stepped back until she felt the cool wall against her.

They finally moved off in the direction of Zee’s office, and the absence of their presence allowed Tara to finally catch her breath. What the hell was going to happen?

You’re scared. What did they do to you? I’ll fraking kill them if anyone laid a hand on you. Rennick’s voice was louder than before, and she could feel his fear and anger bleed through.

Fine. She knew he wouldn’t believe her, but that was all she was able to manage for now. What she really needed was time to think. If there was a chance she could help Aidric fix Rennick, why wouldn’t she take it? Yes, he’d killed his friend and his patrol, but if Aidric was correct and he hadn’t been in control of his actions, then didn’t she owe it to both of them to do everything in her power to help him get better?

Didn’t she owe it to herself?

She’d come on this journey because she’d been lonely, that she’d hoped she’d find a new life in space that would give her hope. No, discovering that she was to be Rennick’s mate wasn’t what she’d had in mind when she’d first stepped foot on the Kraken, but it was what she’d ended up with. Who better than a man who’d spent the better part of fifty years alone in a cell to understand the isolation she constantly felt?

Tara?

Fine.

Was she? The alternative of Aidric not being able to help Rennick was for Tara to spend the rest of her life on this planet, separated from the man she was apparently destined to spend her days with. She’d forever be on the outside looking in at all the other women, twenty-seven happy relationships, and never be allowed to engage in her own.

And if Aidric failed and Rennick was destined to live the rest of his life in that cell at the bottom of the prison, well, that was a problem she’d deal with if it came to that.

Right now, she needed time to think and process everything that had happened. Holding her tablet tightly, she skirted around the edges of the antechamber and bolted for the haven of her bedroom.

She’d figure out what to do once she’d had time to think.

Chapter Three

Tara had tried to sleep that night but had constantly been woken by dreams of Rennick. They alternated between him scooping her up into his arms to make passionate love to her, and him killing her. She was so exhausted by the time she got up, she knew she wouldn’t be able to function without a stimulant.

Mags had been the one to figure out how to make a drink that served as a coffee substitute, and Tara and the others had quickly taken to it. Ina claimed she was more of a tea drinker, but even she’d requested that more of the blend be sent over to the medical facility.

Tara pulled herself out of bed and had the food processor make her a large mug of the drink. They’d all taken to calling it coffee now, a pleasant reminder of home. When she was tired like this, it was more difficult for her to feel Rennick’s emotions or hear his thoughts in her head. Most days she missed his presence, but after the night she’d had, the quiet was a welcomed change. She still didn’t know exactly how she was going to handle Aidric and whatever it was he had in mind for helping Rennick. She wasn’t certain what she wanted for herself and her life here on Zarlan.

All questions that Tara knew she would eventually need to answer, or else the answers would be forced upon her.

She took her time getting dressed in simple blue pants and a white long-sleeved shirt that was a bit too big on her slight frame. Her hair had a way of going from its normal straight lengths during the day, to standing up in an impressive way when she slept. The longer it got the less likely that would continue, but there was something about the morning chaos that always made her smile. It was as though her body took the night to rebel against carefully constructed daytime order.

The door chimed, announcing that she had a visitor. Tara knew it was Mags without asking the computer to identify the visitor. Since their arrival at the prison together, Mags had taken to checking in with Tara – no doubt aware of her inner turmoil over her relationship with Rennick – ensuring that she was still okay.

She opened the door and smiled softly. “I’m fine.”

“Are you though?” Mags strode in once Tara stepped aside. “Zee didn’t tell me everything, but I know that there’s something going on with Aidric. He has a plan for Rennick?” She flopped onto the chair and crossed her arms as she narrowed her gaze at Tara. “Zee was frustratingly quiet about the whole thing.”

“He probably doesn’t know very much.” Tara joined her friend, sitting opposite her. She closed her eyes and let the chairback support her already exhausted body. “I’m not sure Aidric even knows what he’s doing. But he thinks there might be a way that we can fix Rennick’s murderous tendencies.”

“Whoa. That’s…a lot.” Tara opened her eyes to see Mags staring at her. “Are you okay with that?”

“About my mate being a murderer, or about me possibly being the lynchpin to helping fix him? The answer to both is that I have no idea.” Tara was never a person who was good with emotions, but neither was she someone to turn away from a challenge when it needed to be tackled. Sitting up straighter, she let out a soft huff. “I want to help him.”

“Why do you sound so uncertain when you say that?”

“It’s not that I’m uncertain.” Tara took a moment and tried to find the right words for the conflict churning inside her. “I feel guilty.”

“About what? You haven’t done anything wrong in this entire situation.”

“I like him.” Tara took a breath. “I mean, I hear his voice in my head all the time. He’s sarcastic, and sometimes really funny. He’s angry and lonely and hateful as well. But those times he’s been turning to me and venting. It feels good to be needed by someone that way.”

Mags frowned deeply. “So, what’s the problem then?”

“He murdered eight people, including your mate.”

“Yeah, there’s that.” Mags sat back.

The tiny case of murder was always the thing Tara circled back to when she thought about her relationship with him. “What kind of person does this make me? I’m not exactly in love with him, but I certainly enjoy spending time with him. The few moments we’ve been together, where I’ve been able to see him with my eyes instead of just hearing his words in my head, those have been great. He’s touched me once since our arrival, and that was in the middle of a fight in front of his cell. I still think about how gentle he was with me.”

There was an odd look on Mags’ face, as she gently shook her head.

“What?”

“That’s the most I’ve heard you speak at any one time since we pulled you out of stasis.”

Tara couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’m not normally someone for conversation.”

“No. But this tells me that you’re really passionate about everything that has to do with Rennick.” Mags rubbed her hands across the tops of her thighs. “You should do it.”

“Do what?”

“Whatever it is that Aidric wants you to do. Help Rennick try and get better, if that’s even possible. I think you owe it to both of you to make the attempt.”

“And what does Zee think about all this?” Every time Tara looked at the prison’s warden, she couldn’t help but think about the betrayal he felt. His best friend, someone who’d been closer to him than a brother, shot him in the head. That kind of betrayal isn’t something that a person can easily get over. “I can imagine he’s not too happy about Aidric’s plan.”

“He’s not. But this is something that he needs to deal with as well. He’s been hiding underground in this place for half a century. It’s about time he faces his own fears and confronts what happened.” Mags got to her feet so suddenly that Tara’s head snapped up to follow her. “Don’t worry about Zee. I’ll keep an eye on him. You and Aidric work together and see if you can make things better for Rennick. I think if you don’t at least try you’ll always wonder if it would have helped him. At least this way you’ll know for certain.”

Tara stood and couldn’t help but pull Mags in for a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered and squeezed tighter.

Mags returned the hug. “We’re sisters now. We have to look out for one another.”

Tara laughed again, something she found herself doing more and more in Mags presence. “You don’t look anything like me.”

“No, I’m as far away from Asian features as you can get.” Mags pulled back and shook her blond curls, sending them flying around her face. “But we’re all the same on the inside. We humans need to stick together.”

“I wish more people felt the same as you. And thank you for saying as much.” They might not be on Earth any longer, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t still painfully aware not everyone treated each other with love and respect. It was good to know that wasn’t the case with Mags.

The computer chimed. “Communication incoming from Commander Aidric.”

“I’ll head out so you can have some privacy to speak.” Mags gave her another quick hug before leaving.

Tara waited for the door to close, before taking a deep breath and heading over to the computer. “Put him through.”

Aidric’s face filled the computer screen, his blue eyes somehow just as intense through the monitor as they’d been in person. He nodded and smiled at her in a way that appeared well practiced. “Hello. I hope I haven’t interrupted you.”

“Not at all. I’ve already had company this morning.”

“I was hoping I could meet with you in person so I can go over my intentions when it comes to my plan to help Rennick.” Once again there was that note of regret in his voice as he said Rennick’s name. “Given how important you are to my success with this, I want to ensure you fully understand what’s involved.”

A rush of nervous energy shot through her, but she tried to keep her apprehension at bay. “That sounds fair enough. It’s probably safer if I come to you. Then you won’t have to deal with Zee and Ingo getting upset about you walking the halls of the prison unattended.”

“I’ve already had that argument. You coming to me would be greatly appreciated. Whenever you’re able, I’ll be here.” And with a final nod, he ended the communication.

Maybe everything was going to be okay, and Aidric would be able to fix this so one day she might be able to spend time with Rennick. That she wouldn’t have to fear that someone would try to kill him for his past wrongs, or continue to be paranoid that he’d descend once more into whatever madness had claimed him that day and he’d harm her too.

I’d never hurt you. I’d die first.

Tara gasped at the strength and clarity of Rennick’s voice in her head. She could feel his turmoil, knew that he believed his words to be true, even if he was as worried about their validity as she was. She owed it to them both to do everything in her power to make sure Aidric’s plan worked.

Soon. She hoped he heard her, as she finished getting ready and left her room in search of Aidric.

The guards who were on duty keeping the commander safe weren’t as stealthily positioned as she’d assumed. Two were standing down a small side cubby that the guards normally used as cover in the event of an attack or prison break. The third was harder to spot, but once she saw him down at the end of the corridor, there was no mistaking that he was there to keep an eye on anyone coming down the hallway toward Aidric’s room.

All three sets of eyes were on her as she approached his door, and she stopped to look at them before hitting the door chime. Thankfully, Aidric didn’t leave her waiting for long. The door opened and he waved her in. “Thank you for coming so promptly.”

“Rennick’s been chatting in my head since your arrival. He keeps saying that he wouldn’t hurt me.”

I wouldn’t hurt you. Never.

She gave her head a shake. “I know that he wasn’t exactly in control of his actions. Based on what I’ve heard from Zee and Mags, it sounded as though he had some sort of post-traumatic stress that was made worse by the war.”

Aidric stood still, looking intently at her. “You’re intelligent and like to try and hide that from others. Why is that?”

Tara blinked. “I’m not…I mean, I’m not dumb, but I wouldn’t claim to be a genius or anything. I never even did all that well in school. I’m better at art.”

“The Grus don’t have much in the way of art. We’ve unfortunately had to put too much emphasis on science and defense over the decades to encourage much beyond that. Though science sometimes can be beautiful.”

He turned around and picked up a small black disk that appeared to glow. It had a single filament coming out of the side that was so thin, Tara nearly missed its presence.

“What’s that?” She didn’t know why, but her heart began to pound harder.

“This is a cybernetic matrix. It’s the reason I was able to bring the Fallen back after their deaths.”

It amazed her that something that small had changed the course of not only a war, but the lives of people from two different races. “Is that for Rennick?”

“Not exactly.” He held it out for her to take. “This is for you.”

What’s wrong? I can feel your panic. Rennick sounded as though he were in the room with them. Tara?

Fine.

“I thought these only worked if you were dead?” She didn’t know if that was something she was willing to do – die for Rennick. Did that make her selfish or sane?

“Normally, yes. This one has been modified specifically for you and your human brain. I believe you have latent telepathic capabilities that the matrix will be able to enhance. If that’s true, then I can link your matrix to Rennick’s. It would act as a support bridge for his mind and emotions.”

This tiny little disk might be the cure for everything; not only helping Rennick regain part of his normal life, but also allowing them to finally be together. All she had to do was have faith in a man she didn’t know and a technology she didn’t understand.

No problem.

Whatever they’re doing to you up there, I’ll kill them if they harm you. You’re mine to protect, to keep safe.

No. There was nothing Rennick would ever be able to do for her if he was locked away in his cell in the bottom of the prison. I’ll help you.

Tara? What are you doing?

She held the matrix out for Aidric to take back. “What’s the next step?”

“Are you sure?” He lowered his chin and looked her straight in the eye. “I need you to understand something. Due to how the nanobots will be fusing the matrix to your brain, I won’t be able to remove it after a few days have passed and your matrixes are fully synced. And Given how strong your connection is with him without the matrix, I suspect you won’t be able to block this connection once syned. You’ll be forever linked with him.”

“At least this way maybe we can physically be in the same room.” She smiled at Rennick’s emotional surge of anger and fear.

“I spoke to Zee about this yesterday. He’s not pleased with the idea, but I’ve convinced him to let us proceed. I have a room setup where we’ll insert the matrix into your head. Then we’ll bring Rennick up from his cell. I need you to both be in the same room for an extended time, so your matrixes are able to synchronize.”

Warmth spread through her body at the thought of finally having some time with Rennick, without the threat of blaster fire or the prospect of him being attacked by a guard. “When do we start?”

“Immediately.” Aidric motioned for her to move toward a chair that was hooked up to a computer and several monitors. “While I haven’t worked on a human before, your physiology isn’t too different from that of the Grus. I can implant the matrix within the hour, give you time to rest, and then we can bring Rennick up.”

What are you doing?!

Ignoring Rennick’s panicked plea, Tara sat down in the chair and bent her head forward. “Let’s do this.”

Chapter Four

The pain in Tara’s head was more than she’d bargained for. The procedure to implant the matrix into her head went far smoother than she’d assumed it was going to go, taking a little more than an hour for Aidric to complete. It was once he’d finished and the nanobots set out to repair the damaged area around the matrix that the pain began.

“I’ve modified them as best as I could,” Aidric said as he placed a hand on her shoulder, “but there’s only so much I can do. They need to heal you and that unfortunately causes discomfort in humans.”

“It’s fine.” It really wasn’t, but at this point she couldn’t do a whole hell of a lot about it. “I just need to rest.”

“I’ll give you as much time as I can, but we’ll need to bring Rennick up as soon as we’re able so we can begin the process of synchronizing your matrixes.”

Rennick.

She hadn’t been able to hear his thoughts since the moment Aidric pressed the matrix into her brain. She didn’t know if that was because of the physical trauma, or if their connection would forever be changed by what she’d agreed to do.

Only time would tell.

Aidric gave her water to drink and helped her over to a more comfortable seat while she did her best to force her body to relax. Each wave of pain seemed to recede a bit more from the previous one, until she was finally able to open her eyes and look around without feeling as though she were going to vomit. It was only then that she realized the room appeared slightly different than it had before. The colors appeared sharper and the textures more vibrant. She didn’t dare shake her head to see if the change would disappear, but she did risk rubbing her eyes.

“Did you do something to my vision?”

“No. At least, not intentionally.” Aidric came over and crouched in front of her. He immediately frowned and made a low humming noise. “Interesting.”

“What is?”

“It appears that the nanobots have forged a connection between your optic nerve and the matrix. Your eyes are glowing.”

“What?” Ignoring the wave of nausea that hit her as she got to her feet, Tara strode over to the computer and looked at her reflection on the turned off black screen. There was a slight glow to her brown eyes that hadn’t been their previously. Not as bright as how the cyborgs appeared, but clearly not exactly how a human would appear. “That’s fucked up.”

“It’s something I should have anticipated.” He helped her back to her chair and encouraged her to sit back down. “Your vision will be improved, and you might be able to see things that you wouldn’t have before. Your matrix isn’t designed to process information the way it is for the Fallen, but you will notice enhancements.”

There was a loud commotion from outside in the corridor that immediately drew both their attention. She didn’t need to feel Rennick’s approaching presence to know it was him. “Shit.”

“He’ll be unhappy with me being so close to you.” Aidric stood and stepped back a short distance. “Has he physically been in your presence before?”

“Once for only a few minutes.” Tara remembered each second as though it had been burned into her memory. “Never really alone.”

The door opened and Rennick shook off Zee’s hold on him and strode immediately over to Aidric. “What the frak did you do to her?”

“What needed to be done if either of you wanted any semblance of a life.” Aidric cocked an eyebrow, not looking the least bit intimidated. “She wanted to help you.”

“I never asked for anyone’s help.” He moved as though he were about to shove Aidric but stopped short. “Never.”

Tara’s heart threatened to pound out of her chest as she rose to her feet and placed a hand against the small of Rennick’s back. “Hey.”

She felt his muscles tighten beneath her hand before he turned his head around to look her way. His gray eyes shone bright, even in the well-lit room, as he slowly turned around to face her. She was able to see things so much clearer, able to see the way his eyes widened in surprise a tiny bit, how his pupils widened, and his lips parted ever-so-slightly. “What did you do?”

“I installed a modified cybernetic matrix into her brain.” Aidric answered as he moved to the side so he could see them both. “Tara has untapped telepathic capabilities and paired with a matrix I believe will be enough to help you stabilize your less than ideal impulses.”

Zee let out a low growl. “I still don’t like this.”

“Neither do I.” Rennick turned to look at Aidric, though Tara could feel his attention was still on her. “You could have hurt her. Or worse.”

Aidric waved off Rennick’s concern with a flip of his hand. “I’m not new at this. I’ve learned from my initial mistakes with the cybernetic program and have done nothing but make improvements for anyone who’s asked for them.”

I could snap his neck before he realized that I’ve moved.

Tara blinked as the thought snapped into her head, realizing that it wasn’t hers at all. Rennick’s voice was different than it had been before the matrix implantation – louder, more present – and it was going to take some getting used to. She took a breath and tried to communicate with him. I’d kick your ass if you tried.

Rennick sucked in a breath and spun to face her. “I heard you. Not just a single word either.”

Aidric nodded. “Good, the synchronization is beginning. Rennick, you’ll find that the two of you have your own subnet communication range that’s separate from the one you share with the other Fallen. Tara, I haven’t programmed your matrix with the capability of communicating with anyone other than Rennick, but stranger things have happened. You may find that you’re able to reach out to others occasionally. It’s worth exploring once things have settled with your connection to Rennick.”

Zee had been mostly quiet up to this point, but now he shook his head. “This isn’t going to work. I’m not simply going to let him go, give him the freedom to walk around the prison unguarded.”

“I’m not asking you to.” Aidric’s gaze slipped to the floor for a moment and Tara couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking. When he looked back at Zee, there was no mistaking his determination. “I want you to give them a chance. Lock them in this room until the synchronization is complete and then we can re-evaluate.”

The muscle in Zee’s jaw just below his facial cybernetic jumped. “If anything happens to her, this is on you.”

Aidric crossed his arms. “A responsibility I take seriously.”

“I’d never hurt her!”

Zee stepped so close to Rennick their chests touched. “You once said that about me. And I got a fucking blaster fired at my head.”

I’m so sorry.

Tara wasn’t sure Rennick was even aware of his own thoughts because the next thing he did was shove Zee away. “Back off.”

There was a flurry of activity as guards rushed forward to restrain Rennick and Aidric pulled Tara out of the way. She fought back and went to Rennick’s side, shoving at the guards. “Give him space!”

“Enough!” Aidric’s voice filled the room, and everyone froze. “We’re never going to make any progress if you all continue to fight one another.”

All eyes had snapped to the Grus, and not for the first time Tara was aware of the physical presence of Aidric’s ability to command. She took a breath as she flexed her grip on Rennick’s arm. “If everyone will leave, give us a chance to see if this is going to work, then I’ll absolve everyone of guilt if anything should happen to me.” She squeezed his arm. I know you won’t hurt me.

Her silent reassurance must have been enough to keep him calm as he didn’t say anything in response. Zee stared at her hard before some of the tension visibly eased from his shoulders. “Everyone out. The door will be sealed, guards will be stationed in both the corridor, and the prison’s AI will be set to monitor your actions. If you leave this room without authorization, you’ll be killed instantly. Is that clear?”

Rennick sneered. “Crystal.”

Tara waited as everyone slowly made their way to the door, until only herself, Rennick and Aidric were left. Aidric gave them each a once over before nodding with satisfaction. “It shouldn’t take too long for synchronization to complete. Twenty-two to twenty-six hours. I’ll come back and check on you then.”

And with a final look, Aidric left, the door slid shut and locked them inside.

They were finally alone.

Tara moved away from him, needing a moment to catch her breath after the intensity of the last few minutes. Between having a matrix implanted into her brain and fighting to keep her emotions in check while everyone around her lost their shit, she was exhausted.

“You should sit.”

Rennick scooped her into his arms before she had time to process that he was even beside her. The feel of his warm body against her, the comfort that his strong muscles gave as he supported her, was enough to send a shiver of arousal through her. Rennick’s breath hitched in his chest as he used his cybernetic arm to hold her closer.

Instead of setting her down on the chair, he made his way over to the small bed that had been pushed aside to make room for the medical equipment and laid her down. Tara could feel his thoughts bouncing around, was able to pick up snippets of words and feel the attached emotions. He was enthralled with her, wanted to touch her everywhere, yet was terrified of hurting her. She wanted to do the same, had the same concerns – but together they’d make things work.

Sitting up, she held his gaze as she pulled off her shirt, exposing her breasts to him. She wasn’t as well-endowed as some of the other women from the Kraken, but that didn’t seem to matter to Rennick. His body seemed locked in place, frozen as she continued to strip what little clothing she had on, off. As she bore her naked body to him, his thoughts became clearer in her head, as did the rush of his emotions. If she’d thought their connection before was intense, this was far more so.

Tara turned so her feet were flat on the floor and she opened her legs so he could see every inch of her skin. She enjoyed feeling his shock, the rush of arousal as he kept his gaze locked onto her pussy while he quickly removed his prison clothing. Rather than press her back against the bed, he dropped to his knees and slid his hands up along the inside of her thighs.

You don’t have a rondollo. Everything is so smooth.

She didn’t need the nanobots to translate what that meant, as she was able to see it as Rennick imagined what the rondollo looked like. His curiosity about her body was only slightly greater than his joy at finally being allowed to touch her. He’d been so touch starved from decades of being alone in a prison cell, the realization of what was about to happen was nearly too much for him to process. Tara leaned forward, taking his face in her hands she looked him in the eyes.

“You can touch me anywhere. You can do anything with me. I’m here for you.”

She didn’t need to be connected to his mind to feel his surprise at her words. “This is enough.”

“It isn’t. That’s okay.”

The dam that had been holding back the flood of his emotions broke, sending a wave of desire slamming into them both. Gasping, Tara dropped her hands to the side of the bed to hold on against the rush of want, fear and blinding arousal.

I want to taste you. I want to feel you around my cock. I want to hear you scream my name.

“Yes.”

He pushed against her chest with his cybernetic hand until she fell back, and then lowered his mouth to her stomach. His breath was hot against her skin as he licked a trail around her bellybutton and across the lower swell of her stomach. Tara closed her eyes and did her best to hold back her orgasm.

God, he hadn’t even touched her where she’d wanted most, and she was ready to come.

Where do you want me to touch you? Show me.

She slid her hands up across her breasts as she projected an image of her pussy into his mind. Rennick growled deep, sending pleasant vibrations through her lower body. Reaching up with his cybernetic hand, he cupped her breast and squeezed it hard enough to be pleasurable but not quite painful. Her pussy dampened as she bucked her hips up toward him, desperate to feel his touch there.

He chuckled but didn’t do as she wanted.

I’m going to enjoy being able to hear your thoughts.

Tara groaned. Asshole.

He pinched her nipple as he kissed down her body to the top of her pussy. She didn’t have much in the way of pubic hair, but Rennick didn’t seem to care one way or the other. He licked at the sensitive skin around her clit, before using his nose to part the hair so he could lick the sensitive nub. That single contact was nearly more than Tara could handle. Her hand flew to the top of his head, and she grabbed hold of his hair. God, she didn’t want him to stop and yet she didn’t want it to be over too quickly either. Rennick continued to lick at her clit and pinch her nipple between his fingers.

After months of hardly being touched herself, Tara’s body lit up as her orgasm hit her hard and fast. She was blinded by the intensity of the pleasure that coursed through her, making everything else muted. But as quickly as her body came to life, the orgasm faded, leaving her a gasping mess. Rennick finally pulled back, his satisfaction at bringing her over the edge so quickly was short lived.

“That was far too quick.” His voice washed over her as it echoed in her brain. “I want to hear you scream again.”

She knew he was as impatient to feel her around him as she was, so she wasn’t surprised when he reached down to take each of her calves in his hands. He got onto his knees between her thighs, positioned his cock at her pussy and thrust slowly forward.

Tara couldn’t have imagined what it would be like being able to feel someone’s pleasure as it was happening. Overwhelming, sure, but there was something nearly addicting to knowing exactly how good it felt for him to have her pussy squeeze around his shaft. Know that he wasn’t thinking about anything or anyone other than her. That she was the center of his galaxy and in this moment, nothing or no one would distract him from her.

Rennick’s thrust quickly became sharp, unrelenting as her arousal spiked once again. She became vaguely aware that he was surprised at how good this felt, that he shouldn’t be allowed or able to feel pleasure since his rebirth. She reached out for him mentally and pressed her arousal outward toward him. There was a rush of heat through him that was nearly an orgasm, but not quite.

Pre-orgasm. My rondella is full.

If that were how intense things were for him, she couldn’t imagine what the real thing would be like. Tara reached between her legs as he thrust and rubbed the top of her clit, hoping to encourage a second orgasm from her body before he came. She was nearly there, when he shoved her hand aside and leaned forward to capture her nipple in his mouth. The flick of his tongue against the hard nub was exactly what she needed to push her over the edge once more.

The explosion of her orgasm this time was far more intense, especially now that the rush of Rennick’s rapidly approaching release was nearly upon them. She became aware of his intense need to claim her as his, to mark her so no other man in the galaxy would dare touch her. The moment before his mouth pulled away from her breast to move up to the juncture of her shoulder and neck, she knew he was going to bite her.

The press of his teeth against her skin coincided with her second orgasm. Tara screamed, clinging to his shoulders as he thrust wildly into her body, his cries of pleasure barely muffled by her body as he came inside her. It was so intense, her orgasm continued far longer than it ever had before, renewed by the feeling of Rennick’s release.

Finally, mercifully, both their pleasures receded, and they fell together into an incoherent heap. Tara did her best to hide the pain in her shoulder, not wanting to alarm Rennick. The fact he didn’t notice told her that they hadn’t finished synchronizing. He slid to her side and pulled her into his arms so her back was to his chest. Cocooned together, the tug of sleep was insistent, and Tara felt herself drifting off. The last thing she was aware of before darkness claimed her was a single word, though she couldn’t be certain if it came from herself or Rennick.

Mine.

Chapter Five

Rennick had a problem, one that he didn’t know how to solve.

He’d tucked Tara in with a blanket on the bed, letting her get some rest after the frantic sex they’d shared. He knew the moment she was sleeping, because the whispering that had emerged in his brain when they’d first bought him up from his cell and into the room with her finally quieted. Whatever Aidric had done with the modifications to the matrix he’d implanted into Tara’s brain was clearly doing something. Which brought him back around to the problem he didn’t know how to solve.

This was the first time in nearly fifty years that he’d been out of his cell and alone with someone who wasn’t a guard or Zee.

The sound of Tara’s even breathing was soothing, even as it felt unnatural for him to hear. He’d gotten used to being able to connect with her, feel her emotions and the occasional word through their connection, but he’d forgotten what it was like to be physically close to another person when their guard was down.

Everyone was tense around him. Always.

The story of what he’d done to Zee and the others in this patrol was known by everyone in the prison, guards and prisoners alike. On the rare occasion when he’d been allowed out of his cell to walk around and stretch his legs, he’d feel that tension build whenever he’d enter a sector of the prison where others were. The wide-eyed looks shot his way, as each of them knew he was a cyborg and that if he broke free from the restraints Zee always ensured he was bound with, Rennick had the capability to kill them all.

There was a time when that was a fantasy of his, a way to pass the hours as he sat alone in his cell.

But over the decades those feelings began to subside, as his matrix slowly began to direct the nanobots in his system to make repairs to his brain. When the negative thoughts would arrive, he found himself mentally recoiling from them. Memories of what he’d done to Zee had always been hazy at best, even with the addition of the matrix. When he’d have a flash of what had happened that day on the battlefield, it never seemed real to him.

Then Tara came into his life and everything changed again.

Rennick looked over at her sleeping, amazed that she was actually, physically here with him. The urge to touch her was nearly overwhelming, and he had to mentally force himself not to make that move. The first time he’d seen her, cradled in Zee’s arms after she’d been attacked by a guard, Rennick had been struck by how small she was. Initially, he’d simply assumed it was due to how Zee had been holding her, how furious he’d gotten at the sight of someone other than himself holding his mate.

When she’d arrived in his cell during the events of the attempted prison break, he’d finally been able to touch her, was once again taken aback at her slight frame and delicate features. How was someone as large, as aggressive as he knew he could be, supposed to love and protect a woman like her?

The primal urges that had coursed through him during sex were nearly more than he could handle. Not that Tara seemed to care, matching his passions beat for beat. That alone had been surprising, but the growing connection with their matrixes was making their bond far stronger than Rennick thought possible.

Tara moaned, before yawning and blinking her eyes open. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“You needed your rest.” You haven’t been sleeping well recently.

Yes, I have. She pushed herself into a sitting position, pulling the sheet from the bed up to cover her breasts. “It’s just my dreams have been problematic.”

Rennick couldn’t help but smile. You didn’t speak some of those words aloud. I was able to hear you.

Tara’s eyes widened for a moment before she appeared to collect herself. “I guess that means that our matrixes are starting to sync up. Are you feeling any different?”

He was, but Rennick wasn’t entirely certain that those differences had to do with their growing connection, or if it was simply finally being able to be with her. “I’m still my same arrogant self.”

His chest tightened as her disappointment washed over him. “Well, I guess it takes time for these things to happen.”

“Sitting around waiting for a change won’t do us good. I’m an expert at sitting in cages waiting for my situation to become something different.”

He’d become so familiar with the four walls of his cell, Rennick didn’t need his matrix to be able to recall every inch of it in perfect detail. Over the decades he’d gone from hating the space, to appreciating its consistency and the security it provided. If he was in that cell, he couldn’t hurt anyone else, intentionally or otherwise.

Rennick took a moment and looked about the room that he was now locked in with Tara. It was much larger than his cell, but it lacked most of the comforts that he’d collected over the years. The bed here wasn’t as comfortable, didn’t have the grooves his body had carved into it from use. Though the air felt somehow lighter in this place, it was warmer than he’d gotten used to, being so deep below the surface.

“Are you okay?” Tara’s hand lightly brushed against his arm, sending a jolt through Rennick. “I can feel your…anxiety? I’m not sure if that’s right. Are you anxious?”

Was he? Rennick could hardly put a label on his emotions for his own benefit, let alone be able to express them to another person. “No.”

“Are you sure? Because it feels like it.” She moved closer to him, swinging her legs over the side of the bed so they were now pressed against his. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for you being out and around and not stuck in a cell.”

“I get out occasionally. Zee might be worried that I’m going to go on a mass murdering spree, but he’s not cruel. He knows how to look after his prisoners, even if this is the strictest prison in this sector of space.”

Zee.

Every time Rennick thought of his one-time best friend, a small part of his heart cracked. They’d been inseparable as children, had joined the military to defend Zarlan against the Sholle invasion, even served in the same unit. Rennick had always admired Zee and tried his best to be more like him.

But there’d always been a darkness in Rennick’s mind that Zee never had to fight.

The war had served to amplify Rennick’s dark thoughts, making them too loud for his reason to fight against. The press of hopelessness and despair became so much, all he wanted to do was escape into the death where everything would be quiet. Zee had been with him for so long, the thought of his friend not coming with him didn’t seem fathomable.

Renick took the shot and both their lives changed forever.

Once he’d been reborn and the matrix had been implanted in his head, his control had slowly come back to him. But Rennick would never fully trust himself not to hurt others again – especially Tara.

She was still giving him an odd look, which meant she still couldn’t fully access his emotional state. With luck, their connection would be the same as his was with the other cyborgs, and he had control over which thoughts she was able to hear. He couldn’t imagine how she’d react to some of the thoughts that flashed through his mind.

Tara got to her feet and methodically got dressed. “We should go for a walk.”

“Zee has us locked in here and won’t allow that.” The idea of going anywhere didn’t seem realistic to him.

“A walk on the planet’s surface would be ideal. I haven’t been up there in quite some time and could use some fresh air.”

“Are you mad? Zee won’t let me walk in the corridors, let alone on the surface.” Rennick hadn’t been on the surface since the day they’d led him to the prison’s transportation tube that led him down to his new home. “Don’t fool yourself into thinking Aidric’s plan will change Zee’s mind about me.”

Tara walked over to the wash basin and splashed water on her face, before running her hands through her hair. “I’ll reach out to Aidric and he can make the arrangements.”

“Did you not hear what I said?” Rennick got to his feet, forcing himself to take a deep breath. “We haven’t been together the full synchronization time. Zee will never allow this.”

“I think he will.” Tara turned to face him, her hands on her hips. “Unless there’s a reason you don’t want to go outside, one that doesn’t involve Zee, then I’m going to send Aidric a message to make this happen.”

Oh, Rennick had more than one reason not to go, but he was curious to see if this feisty human could make the impossible manifest. “Impress me then.”

Tara strode over to the computer and stared at the buttons for a moment before pressing the communication com. “I’d like to speak with Aidric.”

There was a brief pause before the commander’s face appeared. “Is there a problem?”

“I want to take Rennick to the surface for a walk.” Tara crossed her arms and lowered her chin. “I’ll agree to any conditions Zee wants to put on us, but this needs to happen.”

“Absolutely not!” Zee shouted from somewhere off camera. “If he thinks for a moment – ”

“Please hold.” Aidric smiled and paused the communication.

Rennick couldn’t help but laugh. “I told you there was no way. Aidric has always been arrogant and believed the Fallen would listen to him whenever he barked a command. He doesn’t realize that he no longer holds that sway over us.”

Tara shrugged, but didn’t say anything, instead keeping her gaze on the screen. He could feel her optimism fade with each second the no-doubt argument on the other end of the communication line went on.

So, when Aidric’s smug expression reemerged from the blackness, Rennick couldn’t suppress his shock. “Arrangements are being made. We need thirty minutes to enact the measures Zee has agreed to and then a guard will come by to escort you out. You’ll have fifteen minutes on the surface. If everything goes well, we can see about trying this again with additional time.”

The burst of excitement from Tara felt like a physical rush through Rennick’s system. “Thank you, Commander. I know Rennick appreciates the opportunity to go out and won’t do anything to betray your trust. Right?”

It took Rennick a moment to process that she was speaking to him. “I won’t do anything that will put Tara in danger.”

Zee’s face appeared beside Aidric’s on the screen. “That’s the only reason why I’m allowing this at all. Don’t frak this up.” Then the screen went black.

“There we go.” Tara’s smile made her glowing eyes brighter. “I hope you’ll enjoy yourself, even if it isn’t for very long.”

“I’m sure it will be pleasant.”

Rennick couldn’t help but feel slightly unnerved by the idea of going out on the planet’s surface. He couldn’t remember what the sky looked like, or what unprocessed air smelled like; the thought of a wide-open space was foreign to him at this point. “In my life, I’ve spent more time beneath the surface than on top.”

Tara blinked rapidly. “Seriously?”

“Zee and I weren’t old when we enlisted to fight the Sholle.” They’d not been much older when they’d died either.

“We can take it slow. Fifteen minutes isn’t long, but it might feel like it for you if you experience some sort of reaction.” Tara took a tentative step closer to him. “Or we can call it off. I don’t want to pressure you into anything you’re not comfortable doing.”

“No. I wouldn’t want to give Zee the satisfaction of thinking he won something over us. We’ll go and enjoy our fifteen minutes. I promise to be on my best behavior.” He pressed his cybernetic hand to his chest and bowed deeply at his waist. “I swear this to my mate.”

Tara giggled, a sound he’d never heard from her. “You better get dressed then. Unless you plan to go out naked.”

“Don’t you think the others would enjoy the show?” He’d never been a modest person, but it was clearly something that mattered to Tara. “Don’t people enjoy being naked on Earth?”

“Sure. But we’re not really allowed in public.”

“That’s strange. Why would such a rule be necessary?”

“History and control over people that became ingrained in us over the centuries.” Her face was flushed, and he could feel her embarrassment. “Just get dressed, please.”

Rennick had to admit, there was something pleasant about being able to tease her in this manner. She knew that he didn’t mean harm by his words, and he could feel her pleasure at the rapport they were developing. It had been far too long since he’d engaged with another the way he was with her. The closest person who’d come to being friendly with him was Pax, and that was born out of the time they both had spent in the bowls of the prison.

But Pax was now gone, having officially retired as a spy for Zee and Ingo, and now off living with his mate. Zee rarely spoke with Rennick and when he did, it was mostly to order him about. That left Tara as the only person who wanted to spend any time with him whatsoever.

She was someone to cherish and protect.

And apparently someone who could get him fifteen minutes on the planet’s surface.

Rennick got dressed and waited for her to put all her clothing on and smooth down her hair. She was surprised by its length. I need a haircut.

I like it long. It looks like black waves around your face. He reached out and ran his fingers through the soft strands, feeling her full-body shiver as he did. You’re stunning.

Tara turned and stepped back, her gaze locked somewhere past his shoulder. “We should see if they’re ready for us.”

“They’re not.” But he understood that she needed some space. “If I know Zee at all, he’ll show up in person to make certain I don’t murder everyone during our little adventure.”

They waited until the precise moment Zee had agreed to, and the door unlock and opened, revealing Zee and a compliment of guards just as Rennick had predicted.

“You get fifteen minutes and not a second longer.” Zee looked between them, frowning for a moment.

“Then what are we waiting for.” Tara lifted her chin and took a step forward. “Let’s go.”

She didn’t wait for anyone, an air of defiance followed her as she went. Zee cocked an eyebrow and his gaze met Rennick’s in a way that they hadn’t shared since before the war. Your mate has spirit.

She’d rule the planet if given half a chance.

I can see that. These Earth women are a force.

Rennick chuckled and for the briefest of moments, everything felt strangely normal. Until the guards stepped forward and lifted their blasters, keeping them leveled on Rennick’s chest.

Ah yes, he was still a murderer.

“We best not keep her waiting.” Rennick ignored Zee and continued out into the corridor behind Tara.

The transportation tube felt tight with Rennick, Tara and Zee inside it, but Rennick was sure that had to do with the tension that currently filled the small space rather than their physical size. The closer they got to the surface, the more difficult Rennick found it to take slow, even breaths. Tara reached out and took his hand in hers, giving him a small squeeze of reassurance.

Then the door slid open and Rennick found himself stepping back against the wall of the transportation tube. “It’s bright.”

Zee exited the tube and stood in the small waiting area, looking back at him. “The clock’s ticking.”

Come on. Tara gave his hand a small tug. I’ll be with you the whole time.

Why had he thought this was a good idea? He let Tara drag him outside. The blast of cool Zarlan wind was a shock against his face. Rennick took a few steps out from the safety of the building and quickly became overwhelmed. His matrix began to work overtime to keep his body’s response to suddenly being outside from shutting down his mind.

It was all so much.

“Are you okay?” Tara’s voice barely seemed to penetrate through the rushing sound of blood in his ears. Her concern mixed with the press of his fear and overwhelming inability to take a breath.

He needed to go back inside.

Rennick stumbled away from Tara, needing some space from her. He closed his eyes as he stumbled, suddenly finding himself on his hands and knees on the ground in the dirt.

“Rennick?” Her hand on his shoulder, that gentle touch was too much for him to handle.

He opened his eyes, snapped his head up, and glared at her. “Get away from me!”

He wanted to run but knew if he moved the guards would kill him. Zee would kill him. Maybe he should be dead, then Tara would be free to find someone normal, someone better to love. He closed his eyes again, and pressed his forehead to the ground, hoping it would keep the world from spinning around him.

“Tara go back inside. I’ll deal with him.”

“There’s something wrong – ”

“I understand that. Please go inside.” Zee’s voice was firm and there was no arguing with him when he got like this.

Rennick heard and felt Tara’s hesitation, before she turned and did as Zee asked, leaving him alone.

He should be alone. He didn’t deserve someone. He’d yelled at her, felt the rage surge through his body once again. If he treated her like this after she’d done what she had, getting him a brief moment of freedom and fresh air after decades below the ground, then he was exactly the monster Zee always told him he was.

Can you stand? There was no concern in Zee’s voice. Rennick was thankful for that because he didn’t know how if he could handle a compassionate Zee.

Yes. It took him longer than he would have liked, needing to move in small stages to get from his hands and knees, then slowly to his feet. He couldn’t look up to the sky, even as the lightning streaked across it above him. He’d always loved storms.

Zee stood there waiting for him to finally get to a point where he was able to move. The guards had all gone, leaving Rennick alone with Zee. Trust me not to run? He tried to inject humor into his thoughts, but he wasn’t certain he’d succeeded.

Never. Zee pointed toward the transportation tube. Now move.

That simple order helped right Rennick’s mind and got him thankfully moving toward the safety of the tube. The moment he stepped inside, and the panic began to subside, he knew that his life would no longer be above the surface. He’d transformed while he’d been here, and this was now his everything.

It would be Tara’s as well if she stayed with him. She’d slowly change over time to fear the outside, to become uncomfortable around others. She’d change and not for the better.

That was something he wouldn’t let happen.

Chapter Six

Rennick decided on the short trip down the transportation tube that he somehow needed to break away from Tara so she could be free to live her life on the surface. Clearly, he wasn’t going to be able to offer her any sort of life, even if someday he could leave this place. She’d be happier if she walked away from him now and moved on without him.

The door to the transportation tube opened to reveal the guards, Tara and Rykal standing there waiting. Rykal looked between Zee and Rennick for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. “We have a problem.”

Rennick was surprised that Rykal had spoken out loud rather than use the cybernetic link to speak directly with Zee. “I’m sure the guards can walk me back to my cell without Zee’s supervision.”

“Actually, Aidric is going to run another test on you. He wanted me to have you return to the room for additional scans.” There was an edge to Rykal’s voice that Rennick didn’t remember being there before. Not that he knew the cyborg well, but even he could pick up on the tension in the man.

Curious as to what was going on, Rennick shrugged. “Fine. Lead the way.”

Rykal and Zee flanked Rennick, while Tara fell into step behind him. He didn’t need to be linked to her through their matrixes to know that she was upset with him and his actions on the surface. He wanted to comfort her, but that would only serve to strengthen their emotional bond at a time when he knew he had to let her go.

He really didn’t want to let her go.

It only took a few moments for them to end up back in the room where he and Tara had spent the evening having sex. His cock stiffened even as the hackles on the back of his neck raised, at the sight of her being in the room with him and the three other men. Thankfully, they’d already had sex, had forged a psychological bond over the weeks that she’d been here in the prison, otherwise Rennick didn’t think he’d be able to hold back from doing something to the others that would solidify his murderous reputation.

“Rennick, get in the chair.” Zee pointed at the seat and stayed close enough to ensure he had no choice but to comply. “Aidric, something happened to him out on the surface. You need to look at him.”

Aidric cocked an eyebrow, shifting his full attention to Rennick. “What happened?”

“I believe he had a panic attack.” Tara’s voice was far softer than everyone else’s, but it commanded the room. “He might be agoraphobic.”

Aidric frowned. “That word didn’t translate for me.”

“He’s spent so much time inside that the outside is too big for his mind to process. His body is reacting with a flight response.” She sat down on the chair on the opposite side of the room from him, as far away as she could manage. “I’ve seen a few people with that back on Earth.”

“Fascinating.” Aidric picked up a scanner and pressed it to the back of Rennick’s head. “Have you ever experienced something like this before?”

“Never.” He’d never spent fifty years inside before either.

“While I know this is important,” Rykal pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, “we have a larger problem.”

“It can wait until Rennick is back in his cell.” Zee crossed his arms, staring at Rennick. “I think we’ve had enough tests for now.”

“No.” Aidric glanced over his shoulder at Zee. “I’m not done with my test. If anything, he needs to spend more time with Tara. The changes that are occurring to his matrix are incredible.”

“Brother, we don’t have time for your curiosity.”

Rennick blinked. There was a note of concern in Rykal’s voice Rennick had never heard before. “What does the High Council want him to do?” The others all looked at him, so he shrugged. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. You’re acting like someone just shoved a blaster up your ass.”

Aidric smirked. “It’s nice to not be the one accused of that.”

“The High Council is demanding that he return to Grus Prime.” Rykal’s anger and concern was clear. “We can’t keep you safe if you go back, but we also have no reason to keep you here.”

“They’ll see it as an act of aggression against the Grus by the Fallen.” Zee nodded. “This isn’t a straightforward decision.”

“Of course, it is.” Aidric leaned in to take a closer look at the readings. “I’d assumed it would take weeks or longer to see your neuropathways begin to rewrite themselves. You’re already well past that point and it’s only been one night.”

Rykal moved beside Aidric. “What do you mean, of course it is?”

“I’ll finish with Rennick and Tara and then return.” He stood up straight, forcing Rykal to take a step backward. “I won’t be the reason the Fallen are bombed from outer space.”

Rennick cocked his head to the side and really looked hard at Aidric. “You know they’ll kill you.”

“Perhaps.” Aidric’s gaze locked onto Rennick’s and for the first time Rennick could see the full weight of the guilt the commander carried inside him – it was a look Rennick was painfully familiar with. “I don’t believe the High Council wants to start a war with the Fallen either. I’m willing to take the risk.”

“Enough of this.” Rykal pulled on Aidric’s shoulder, forcing him away from his tests. “Zee’s office. Now.”

The muscle in Aidric’s jaw jumped, but he didn’t say anything as he put the scanner down. Rennick watched as the brothers shared a looked before Aidric simply left the room. Rykal let out a growl before following him. Zee crossed his arms and glanced between Rennick and Tara. “I’m locking you in here for now. Stay put. Tara, if you need to leave simply let the guard outside know and they’ll open the door for you.”

“Thank you.” Her voice was so soft, Rennick barely heard her.

He stayed seated in his chair long after Zee left, and the security measures went back into place on the door. Being alone again, there was no way he could avoid talking to her, discussing what he’d said and done on the planet’s surface. That was a conversation he didn’t want to have with her.

How are you feeling? Her voice was soft in his brain, like a soothing balm against a wound. Did you need anything?

No. Whatever happened up there is over. He took a breath and closed his eyes, attempting to soothe himself. You didn’t deserve what I did and said to you on the surface.

No, I didn’t. She got up from her seat and walked over closer to him. I should have realized that you might have difficulty out there after having spent nearly half a century underground. For that, I’m sorry.

Rennick got to his feet and pulled her close to his body. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I was the one who reacted that way. You did nothing wrong.”

He couldn’t stop from leaning down to kiss her; the feel of his mouth on hers instantly had his cock stiffen and his rondella fill with blood. No matter how much he wanted to keep his distance from her, Rennick knew it was going to be challenging. Everything about Tara pulled at him – her smell, the softness of her hair and skin, the soft sound she made in the back of her throat when he cupped her ass and pulled her closer to him.

Touching her, oh how wonderful to have the luxury of touching another person. The sensation was a drug and he was the first one in line to become addicted. Rennick hadn’t realized how touch starved he’d become until this moment. Not even their earlier sexual encounter had managed to penetrate the numbness his body had succumbed to after years of living in a cell.

Going to the planet’s surface, feeling the cold wind on his face and the hard ground against his hands and knees had finally broken through the haze. Now he wanted more, wanted everything, needed to feel Tara’s body against his as he heard her thoughts in his brain.

She was the light he needed to blast away the darkness that had threatened to consume him since that moment on the battlefield decades earlier.

If he could keep the darkness at bay, everything would be okay.

If he had Tara, things would be better.

The sound of her moans centered him, helped him to focus on what was happening here and now. With his eyes closed, he began to remove her clothing, revealing inch after inch of her soft skin to his fingers. He was sure to use his non-cybernetic arm, not wanting to give her any additional reminders of his previous life and death. Rennick knew little of the man he was now, not daring to explore the recesses of his own being for fear that he wouldn’t like what he saw. So, he hid from himself, and had to trust that he’d know how to treat her the way she deserved.

To start, he lowered his mouth to the side of her neck where he’d bit her earlier. Rennick licked at the tender spot, pleased at knowing that he’d done that, marked her in a way so that no one else would dare approach her, that everyone who laid eyes on her would know that she was his. He nipped at her again, and she stiffened in response, bracing for him to bite once again.

Rennick didn’t, instead sucking and licking the spot as he reached over and cupped her now naked breast in his hand. That had Tara relax once again, soft and pliable in his arms, to do with her what he wanted.

More. Rennick, please.

There wasn’t a better sound to him than to hear her beg for him. No one had ever wanted him the way she did; that realization was a powerful drug and one that he was terrified would consume him in a way that no other ever had.

He moved his mouth from her shoulder to her breast, latching onto her nipple to suck hard. Tara gasped as her hands grabbed the back of his head, squeezing his hair. Everything about her was small, delicate in a way he knew she really wasn’t. There was a strength to her that he knew not everyone saw.

But he did.

Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her over to the bed and laid her down. He dropped her onto the mattress a bit harder than he would have liked, but his body was beginning to shake from want. If she’d noticed, she hadn’t given him any indication. Instead, she opened her legs and reached up to pinch her nipples.

“I need you.”

Those had to be the best three words in all her language to hear.

Pushing her legs wide apart, he was still fascinated with the bare spot where her rondollo should have been. He lowered his mouth to that spot and nipped at it as well. The urge to mark her was back once again, roaring through his body with purpose and power, nearly too strong for him to withstand. Rennick gave in and bit once again, not as hard as on her shoulder, but enough that there’d be a mark. Tara gasped and he both felt and heard her surprise echo in his mind.

He tried to stop, tried to hold himself back not wanting to scare her any more than he had already. Taking a deep breath, he shifted his mouth to her pussy and sucked on her clit, the one spot on her body he knew would give her pleasure. It was so easy to lose himself in her, to hear the whispers of her thoughts in his head as he licked and touched her body.

Yes, there.

Please more.

Rennick, yes. I need…yes!

He pushed a finger into her body, moving it until she sucked in a gasp and he knew he’d hit the right spot. Warmth spread out from her lower body, and he could feel it mirrored in his own. The ripples of rising pleasure and the promise of its release drove him forward. He needed her to know that he would do anything for her, would take her to whatever heights she needed to ascend, and would be there to catch her when she fell.

Moving his hand to fuck her with his finger brought her to the brink of her orgasm. He felt her on the edge but didn’t want her to fall quite yet. He slowed his pace, did everything in his power to draw her pleasure out for as long as he could.

“Don’t you dare.” Her voice was far lower, grittier than he’d ever heard. She pushed his face down against her pussy. Finish what you started, asshole.

Rennick chuckled. I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else.

He licked a slow circle around her clit without touching it.

Tara growled once again.

Rennick might be one of the most feared prisoners here, but even he wasn’t foolish enough to taunt a woman on the brink of orgasm for too long. Latching onto the spot he knew she wanted his mouth, he sucked hard as he fucked her pussy with his finger, curling it and turning it until he felt her wetness coat his hand. The blast of her release roared through her body and mind, which then flowed across him. His cock was rock hard and his rondollo was full, but he had to tamp down his own pleasure, not daring to lose control.

Waves of pleasure rolled across his body, though the fact it wasn’t his orgasm was mind-blowing. Rennick waited until the last possible moment to pull his mouth away and move up so he could thrust his cock into her body.

They simultaneously gasped, their eyes opening and gazes mutually locking on each other. Rennick pushed out with his mind as he thrust forward, wanting her to feel the same thing he had a moment earlier. He felt the snap of their connection solidify, knew the moment their matrixes were in perfect synchronization and the last remaining barriers he’d had in place, fall away.

Tara’s eyes widened enough that he knew she’d felt the shift. Rennick alternated holding his breath and thrusting into her, trying to hold out as long as he could without losing grip of the last few tenuous handholds he had on his control. But as his pleasure continued to rise, as Tara’s connection to him deepened, Rennick knew there wasn’t anything he’d be able to do to hold back.

The aggression that he’d worked to keep hidden, the animal who’d always lived in the back of his mind reared up its head and a loud roar escaped from him. It threatened to take charge, to claim Tara as its own, to leave Rennick a pile of broken skin, bones, and cybernetics in its wake.

He gasped, closed his eyes in a vain attempt to hide it from Tara, not wanting her to see the darkness that lived there, but it was too late. He knew she saw, could feel her recoil a nanosecond before his orgasm slammed into them both. Waves of pleasure were far stronger than he’d ever experienced in his life or re-birth. It short-circuited his mind and chased away the darkness once again.

Finally, everything stopped. Rennick slumped forward, sweat dripping from his face to land on Tara’s shoulder. He felt her confusion, her mentally taking a step back from him and what she’d seen in his mind.

Of course, she was afraid of him. Only a fool wouldn’t be.

Carefully, he slipped from her body and got to his feet. Once again, he couldn’t help but worry that despite wanting to keep her safe, he was too broken, too far gone to be able to do that.

“Rennick?”

He couldn’t look at her. “One day I won’t be able to stop.”

“Stop what? You won’t hurt me.”

“You don’t know that.” That’s what Zee thought.

He cringed when he knew she heard his thoughts. And like his cell below, he had nowhere to run and hide. He was trapped within four walls, left with his darkness and fear. Only this time Tara was trapped in here with him.

You should leave. The thought came without him realizing, but he knew she’d heard him.

Instead of protesting the way he’d anticipated, Tara quietly got up and dressed. She didn’t look at him as she moved, her thoughts were blank. It took all his effort not to beg her to stay, to forgive him for what he’d done to her, how he’d scared her. He didn’t because he didn’t deserve forgiveness. Not from her or anyone else.

He watched as she slipped on her shoes, ran her fingers through her hair and walk over to the computer. “Guards, I’d like to leave.”

The door slid open, but Rennick didn’t move as she looked at him once more before leaving. He didn’t flinch even as the guards held their blasters steady on him, ready to fire if he made even the slightest attempt to escape. He didn’t, wouldn’t. He belonged in this hole in the ground where he was safely kept away from the rest of the world.

He deserved to be alone.

Chapter Seven

Tara wasn’t simply confused about what had happened between herself and Rennick, she was heartbroken. Somehow, they’d gone from having some of the best sex of her life – physical pleasure wrapped around an emotional connection she’d never previously experienced – to realizing that her relationship with Rennick might be forever doomed.

It didn’t seem to matter that her feelings for him were growing deeper with each interaction they had, or that her hesitation to give her heart over to another person was melting away every time she saw him smile. There was something dark inside him that would continue to get in the way until it was dealt with.

She’s never felt she deserved love, and had been rejected as being not emotional enough by her previous lovers. But she was practically an emotional open book compared to Rennick.

The moment she stepped out into the corridor, she felt him put a wall back up between their matrixes, blocking her from being able to communicate with him. He was pushing her away, and she didn’t need to read his thoughts to know that he was scared he’d do something that would hurt her, or worse. He was terrified that he wouldn’t be able to control himself and kill her the way he’d done to Zee.

The guards were still flanking the entrance to the room, both pointedly not looking at her, no doubt hoping the tiny human would go away and not make them do anything. Not that she needed their help to fix this problem. She needed Aidric and that brain of his to see if there was a way they could keep Rennick from tipping over the edge into madness once again. Because the alternative was that she’d have to live her life without him, which was something she currently wasn’t willing to accept.

She couldn’t be certain where Zee had stashed the commander, but there were only so many places they’d put him. Tara might not have an official position at the prison, but she’d lived here long enough to know her way around. She was able to move without most people noticing, giving her access to places others wouldn’t normally think she’d go.

Given what was going on with Aidric and the fact that someone was trying to harm him, Zee would ensure that he had the best protection possible, in the most secure location that Aidric would agree to go. So, nothing deep in the prison, but nothing too close to the main entrance in case someone attempted to come down and take him.

That left the corridor with the living quarters for the guards and humans. The room itself was easy enough to spot, given the amount of guards posted in much the same strategic locations that they’d been for watching her and Rennick. Lifting her chin and straightening her shoulders, Tara strode past them all, ignoring their curious glances. No one tried to stop her when she pressed the coms unit and waited.

“Yes?” Aidric’s voice came through. “Ah Tara. I’m surprised to see you so soon. Come in.”

The door slid open revealing the commander standing in the middle of the room. He was alone and for a moment Tara caught a glimpse of the man behind the role he wore like a second skin. There were dark circles beneath his eyes, and she had to wonder when the last time was he’d had a decent night’s sleep. “Am I bothering you?”

“Not at all. I was reviewing some communications from Grus Prime. They can wait.”

Tara came in and let the door close behind her before she said anything else. “There’s a problem with Rennick.”

Aidric nodded. “I believe there has been for quite some time.” He motioned for her to take a seat. “Can I get you something? I believe it’s custom with your people to offer a beverage.”

“No thank you.” What she wanted was a stiff drink, but alcohol or its equivalent didn’t seem to be something that the Grus enjoyed. “I thought you said putting a matrix in my head would help him? He doesn’t seem to trust himself to not hurt me.”

Tara sat down hard on the chair and tried to fight back the sudden well of tears that threatened to spill down her face. She was surprised when Aidric came and knelt in front of her, taking her hand in his. The compassion in that simple touch was a salve on the pain inflicted on her heart by Rennick’s rejection. She squeezed his hand, which he returned.

“Why don’t you tell me what happened, and I’ll see if there’s anything that I can do to help.”

The words fell from her, what they’d shared and how she’d had a front row seat to every thought and feeling that Rennick had experienced before he’d slammed the walls up between them. The guilt and fear were eating him alive, not just about what he’d done to her on the planet’s surface, but how he’d betrayed and harmed his friends before his death.

“He’s been alone with his guilt and shame for so long, it’s like it’s become a part of him. I’m not sure if there’s anything I can do to help him.”

Aidric frowned. “I’ve often wondered if there’d been a defect in his brain that had caused him to go mad on the battlefield, or if the Sholle had somehow found a way to influence his mind and that was the reason for his betrayal.”

“I don’t know about that, but he definitely feels he’s the one to blame.”

“He very well might be. Though after speaking with Zee, I’m not certain. In all the years he’s been in prison here he’s never attempted to kill anyone else. Though Zee has kept him segregated from the rest of the population, so I doubt he’s had many opportunities.”

That was something Tara had often wondered about. Zee didn’t need to keep Rennick away from everyone. The prison was known for their prisoners being the worst of the worst. If anything, Rennick being put into the general population would ensure that something would happen that would force him to kill, which would mean he’d immediately be decommissioned, permanent death for a cyborg. If Zee were that determined to see the end of Rennick, why wouldn’t he have done that decades ago?

“Do you know much about Rennick’s relationship with Zee?”

“They were as close as brothers.” Aidric got to his feet and moved a second chair over beside her to sit on. “Closer if my relationship with Rykal is anything to go by. They grew up together, enlisted in the Grus military together, were assigned to the same squadron. When I’d heard the story after their death, I’d assumed that they’d not only be perfect candidates for the cyborg program, but that they’d appreciate being re-born together.” He let out a soft sigh. “I was mistaken.”

Not for the first time, Tara wondered what it must have been like for Aidric to have that level of power, choosing who lived and who remained dead during a war that they were on the losing end of. Was it easy for him to look at a body and simply say yes or no before moving on to the next one? Did he see their faces and wonder what their lives had been like before they’d been snatched away during war?

Did he care at all?

No, he cared. The way the lines around his eyes had deepened from worry spoke volumes. The fact he’d done what he had for Rennick when he was under no obligation was proof enough. He carried the weight of responsibility for their lives and re-births inside him, even if he never shared it with anyone else.

Tara related in so many ways. “No wonder Zee’s still mad at him. He was betrayed by the one person he should have been safe with.” That also explained why Rennick was so worried about hurting her. If he could kill Zee, then he could be capable of just about anything.

“I think there’s a part of Zee who hasn’t given up hope that someday Rennick will be better. I’m not sure what that looks like, but I know it involves you.” Aidric smiled, and his blue eyes sparkled. “The arrival of the Kraken and you women has been a light in the darkness for the Fallen. You brought hope where they’d had none. I’ve seen them change from cold killers, back into a semblance of who they’d been before their deaths. I genuinely believe that you are the only person capable of saving Rennick.”

“That’s important to you, someone saving him?” It was strange that Aidric cared so much. “Why?”

His gaze slipped to a spot on the wall behind her and for a moment she wasn’t certain that he was going to answer. His shoulders dropped as he sat back, rubbing the tops of his thighs with his hands. “Someone on the Grus high command wants me dead. I’m not certain why, though I have several theories, and it’s only going to be a matter of time before it happens.”

“Shit.”

“My hope is that I’ll know that the Fallen who have mates are safe and settled before that happens. I’ve done everything in my power to ensure you’ve all been allowed to find and bond with your mates, even putting measures in place to stop the high command from preventing the rest of the humans from waking up.”

Tara had no idea things were quite that bad up on the space station. “Do the others know?”

“I’ve spoken with Rykal and Zee, and now you, but that’s all. The others won’t be able to do anything and the last thing I want is to incite a war between our people.”

“There has to be something that can be done to stop that from happening?”

“My choices seem to be return and face a possible assassination attempt, which would send the station’s AI into a psychotic rage. Or I could remain in exile here, which will no doubt get turned around by the command and used as a reason to attack. Either option isn’t appealing.”

“Wait, the AI will kill everyone?”

“She has a bit of a crush on me.” He shook his head, as though amused by the prospect. “I’ve been meaning to reset her for years now, but it simply doesn’t feel right. Nor is that the crux of the problem. I don’t know why the council has decided that I’m suddenly a threat. I’ve overseen the daily operations of Grus Prime for decades now without a hitch. It doesn’t make sense.”

To that, Tara didn’t have an answer. “Rennick would probably know. He has a way of seeing the dark side to any situation.”

“That’s the positive aspect of his condition. Something that if he chose to use it for the right reasons could be incredibly helpful to both the Fallen and the Grus. If someone could convince him to look at the situation, it might help.”

Tara knew he meant for her to go and speak with him, as she was no doubt the only person would potentially be able to get him on board. “Right now, he’s not speaking with me. He’s put a barrier up between us and I can’t seem to reach him through the cybernetic link.”

Aidric nodded. “Then we’re back where we started, and I have a decision to make. Stay here forever or go and potentially die. Something to ponder.”

She too had a decision to make – try to convince Rennick that they could find a way to be together, that he wouldn’t harm her and they could finally be happy, or to cut ties with him forever, move to the city and live with the other humans away from him. “It seems we both have some thinking to do.”

“It’s not too late to reverse the procedure with your matrix. You have another few days before the nanobots complete the integration process. Let me know if you wish for me to remove it.” Aidric got to his feet. “Being forever linked to someone like Rennick isn’t an easy thing to do. No one would fault you if you choose your freedom over the alternative.”

Tara stood and impulsively gave him a hug. Aidric stiffened, gently patting her back after a moment. She didn’t look him in the eyes but nodded before turning to leave. “Thank you.”

When she stepped out into the corridor, Tara didn’t immediately see the guards who’d been there when she’d entered. Instead, Zee was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and his head cybernetic glowing brightly. “What did Rennick do?”

The hackles on the back of Tara’s neck immediately went up on end. “What do you mean?” She didn’t wait for him to answer, instead heading back down the corridor toward the transportation tube that would lead her to her quarters.

Zee fell into step beside her, his hands clasped behind his back. “You left and immediately went to speak with Aidric. That tells me Rennick did something and you’re trying to get out of your bonding with him.”

“He didn’t do anything.” Except possibly break her heart. “I was trying to see if Aidric had any other ideas on how we can fix him.”

“Rennick can’t be fixed.” Unlike the other times they’d spoken, there wasn’t the anger and bitterness in Zee’s voice as he spoke about his former friend. “His mind was broken long before you came.”

Tara stopped dead and turned to face Zee. “What was he like before the war? You can’t tell me he’d always had that murderous streak because I know you’d never have been friends with him if that was true.”

Zee opened his mouth to speak, but instead let out a sigh and looked away. She could see the turmoil inside him as he stood there. His shoulders slumped forward slightly as a small smile crossed his lips. “He used to play a liallia, I don’t know if your people have an equivalent musical instrument. I never had talent for those things, but Rennick could pick a melody out of the air and play it for hours. He put the liallia down the day we joined the military and I don’t think he ever picked it up again. I don’t know what happened to my friend, but I miss him.”

For the second time in an hour, Tara impulsively hugged someone. But unlike with Aidric, Zee returned it and she knew he understood the pain and frustration that came with loving Rennick. “I can help him.” She spoke the words against his chest, before giving him a squeeze and stepping away. “I think I have an idea how.”

Zee appeared to hesitate before nodding. “Whatever you need it is yours. I hope that you are the person who can finally break through his barrier and reach the man I once knew as my friend. If you can’t…then I don’t believe it can be done.”

“I think I can.” She hoped she wasn’t lying to him. “I just need some time.”

“Then you better go. With everything that’s been going on with Aidric, I get the impression that we might be short on time soon.”

She didn’t wait to say anything else, her mind already working on her next steps. Turning quickly, she bolted for the transportation tube and her quarters. If this was going to work, she needed a few things from there. And a whole lot of luck.

Chapter Eight

The rage that had been so long his companion, reared up inside Rennick until all he could do was scream. The blast that came from deep within his body tore at his vocal cords until his throat was raw and his chest ached.

He didn’t stop.

Screaming through his rage was the only thing that prevented him from tearing the room apart, ripping the mattress to shreds, smashing the equipment until there was nothing left but circuits and torn wires.

Screaming was what saved his sanity in the bowls of the prison. Shouting into the void in the hopes that someone out there knew he was still alive, that there was still a small flickering light deep inside his soul that was in danger of being snuffed out forever.

Tara had rekindled the flame, brought a spark that ignited the life, the hope inside him. The way she smiled at him, how she couldn’t help but be amused by his snide remarks that he projected into her brain, the way her body responded when he was finally able to touch her, each moment gave him life.

But it wasn’t going to be enough.

The monster still lived there as well, and it was waiting for its moment to lash out and take her from him. Rennick knew he’d never be able to let his guard down, that he’d constantly be a threat to her life and inevitably something would happen. It would be like that day on the battlefield with Zee all over again.

He’d never do that to another person again.

Never.

Time had lost meaning to him, so he didn’t know how long he’d been at it, but his voice finally gave out. Falling to the floor where he stood, he let exhaustion wash over him, giving him a moment of peace. The nanobots were already working to repair the damage and it wouldn’t be long before he’d once again be able to rage against the darkness. For now, he conceded defeat.

He was alone.

Rennick didn’t know how long he’d sat there when the door to the room slid open and Tara tentatively stepped inside. She was clutching a device to her chest that she must have brought with her from Earth. He hadn’t been aware of her arrival, the barrier he’d erected between their cybernetic links still holding firm. Several snappish remarks flitted through his mind, but all he could manage was to point at the spot on the floor beside him.

Thankfully, she understood him well enough not to question why he was sitting where he was, and simply joined him. She shifted so she was pressed against his side, even as she held the device cradled in her arms against her chest. He turned his head to look at her, but she didn’t look up to meet his gaze.

“I love to draw. I’m not professional or anything, but it was something that has always brought me joy.” She licked her lips and slowly brought the device to her lap. “This is my drawing tablet. It’s old and probably won’t last much longer, but it’s what I use. I’ve…never shown anyone these. Not once in my entire life.” With some hesitation, she handed the tablet to him.

Rennick looked down at the device, overwhelmed by the gesture and trust she presented to him. “Why?” His voice was still raw, and it hurt to speak but he needed to know.

“Because this is a part of who I am. A secret part that I never felt I could share with anyone. Our world was falling apart, people were suffering and the environment was being held together with luck and a lot of hard work. This? It felt trivial, unimportant in the grand scheme of things.”

He pressed the button and was confronted with an image of himself. It was in black and white, and his cybernetic eyes were drawn in glorious detail. He pressed the button again and saw Zee looking back at him. Then Aidric. The medical facility with Hallam and Aerin working side-by-side. Face after face captured in perfection.

“This…why would you hide this? Our people’s art isn’t done in this fashion. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

She didn’t answer but got to her feet and went to the door. She didn’t say anything, but someone handed her something Rennick hadn’t seen in a lifetime – a liallia. All the pain and rage that was pressing against the edges of his mind melted away at the sight of the instrument he’d once loved to hold. She walked toward him, holding the liallia by its long wooden neck.

“I heard you were really good with this.”

Rennick stared at the instrument for several long moments before he looked away. He hadn’t even thought about playing anything since the day he’d enlisted in the military to fight the Sholle. Music was for someone who had the privilege of safety, leisure, and whose very existence wasn’t being threatened by an outside force wanting to strip the planet of every scrap of natural resources.

“Rennick?”

He could feel her mind pressing up against the mental barrier, and knew it was only a matter of time before she’d be able to start to pull it down. Tara had a way of slipping past every defense he’d erected over the years, using her kindness and quiet insight as a weapon against him.

Steadying himself, he held out his hand and waited until he felt the cool wood press against his skin. Only then did he look at it, not sure how he felt about his living memory. “I’m not sure I can play it any longer.”

“Why not?” She sat back down, this time across from him.

He held up his cybernetic hand. “I had two real ones of these last time. It takes an awareness of the subtle fluctuations in the harmonic vibrations to be able to play this well.”

With care, he moved the liallia into the correct position, ignoring how odd it felt and played a few notes. They were off key, but it only took a little adjustment of his grip to get the sound to come out correctly. There’d been a song he used to play for his mother back before she died – before he’d died – an old Grus love song. The melody came back to him in slow methodical sections as his matrix plucked the long-buried notes from his mind. It was clumsy, halting, his fingers too big for the tiny strings and his cybernetics feeling foreign to him in this new position.

When he finished, he looked up, surprised to see Tara sitting there with tear tracks wetting her face.

“What’s wrong?” He set the liallia down and pulled her awkwardly into his arm. “Are you well?” Despite everything, she was still his mate and he couldn’t stand to see her hurting. “Did I hurt you?”

“No.” She pressed her face to his chest, wiping her tears on his clothing. “That was beautiful.”

“It was awful. The cadence wasn’t right, and I missed a section of the opening.”

Tara chuckled. “Spoken like a true artist.”

“I’m no artist.”

“Yes, you are. That’s the part you need to remember. It will help keep the rest of the darkness inside you at bay.” She sat back, reached up and cupped his face. “You did a horrible thing. You killed people who trusted you. Something inside you was broken, but I believe we can fix it together. Will you ever be able to say that the darkness inside you will be gone forever? I don’t know. But if you don’t try, if you don’t let others help you, then you’ll never move beyond the person you were on the battlefield that day. Let us help you.”

Rennick never cried. Most emotions had been taken from him with his death and rebirth, Aidric needing to remove them to prevent the Fallen from going insane. But holding Tara in his arms, seeing the look of intense longing on her face, and hearing the passion in her plea, the first well of tears prickled his eyes and threatened to spill over.

He swallowed hard. “I’ll try.”

Tara kissed him then, soft yet intently. “I’ll talk to Aidric again, see if there’s something else he thinks he might be able to do to adjust your matrix.”

“Aidric is going to have his hands full with the high council soon if they don’t sort that mess out.” He adjusted her in his arms, so she now sat on his lap. “They’re going to kill him.”

Tara stiffened. “What? How could you know that?”

“They’re scared the balance of power on Grus Prime will shift to him. The council has been ruling our people since before the Sholle, and they fight or kill off anything that’s seen as a threat to their power. Aidric rose to a position that he normally wouldn’t have because of his actions in the war. They don’t like that.”

Rennick had always used the time he had on his hands to work out the motivations of others. He’d hear snippets of conversations from guards, had the occasional talk with Pax when he was moved close to him while he’d been undercover. Given he had little else to do, it helped keep his mind occupied. Long ago he’d worked out the inevitable clash that was coming between Aidric and the council, and knew the Fallen would be impacted by the outcome.

Not that he’d bothered to tell anyone.

Who would have listened?

“Why haven’t you said anything?” Tara pulled away from him and got to her feet. “We can’t afford to lose Aidric. He’s the main support that we humans have here.”

“How would I have communicated with anyone? I’m a prisoner in a maximum-security facility.”

“Zee would have listened.”

“Zee doesn’t trust me and would simply see anything I say as a plot to break free or go on a murderous rampage.”

Unlike the previous times he’d spoken about Zee, this time there was a stronger ache of remorse, a longing to make things right with his former friend. Rennick didn’t have a clue how to go about making reparations for murder, and he doubted Zee would accept them.

“I don’t think you give Zee enough credit. Who do you think gave me the liallia?” Tara looked around the room, as though she were trying to work something out. “I’m going to go find him. I’m going to tell him what you think is going on and see if that helps them.”

Excitement clutched his chest and he took a step forward. “Tell him that the council fears Aidric’s power because the Fallen are on his side. They know if Aidric wanted to seize power we would all side with him against the Grus.” He took a breath and let his mental barrier drop.

Tara smiled brightly as their connection reformed. Thank you for trusting me with this. She then bolted from the room, her excitement leaving his mind buzzing.

Rennick stood there and waited for her to run away, terrified that she’d somehow catch a glimpse of the rush of emotions swelling inside him. This was all so new, so overwhelming that he didn’t know how to process what he felt. Even though he knew what the emotion was, it had been decades since he’d experienced it.

He was falling in love.

* * *

Tara did her best not to run, but equal parts excitement and fear fueled her and made that difficult. She could feel the changes start to deepen inside Rennick, knew without a doubt that he genuinely wanted to make things right not only with her, but with Zee. If he was right about Aidric and what the high council was planning to do to him, then it would go a long way to start him on the path to retribution.

She was about to head to Zee’s office when she spotted Rykal talking to Ingo in the distance. “Wait!”

The two cyborgs snapped around to look at her and while she couldn’t hear what they were saying through their cybernetic link, she was able to pick up on their sudden concern for her emotional state. Ingo stepped forward as she got closer. “What’s wrong?”

“Rennick – ”

“What did that psychopath do now?” Ingo’s entire body had tensed, and he appeared ready to bolt. “Is he still secure?”

Ah, it’s good to know some things never change. Rennick’s quip caught Tara off-guard.

Behave. “What the hell does that mean?” She shouldn’t snap at the head of security, but she was getting tired of these constant attacks and assumptions. “Of course, he’s secure. He thinks he knows what the high council is planning to do to Aidric.”

Rykal moved to stand beside Ingo. “What? I’ll take any information he might have.”

“Rennick couldn’t possibly know anything. He’s either been in his cell or locked in that room for decades.” Ingo held up his hand, halting the blast Tara was about to unleash on him. “I know he’s your mate and you see a side of him that we don’t, but you have to understand the history we have with him. It’s not so easy to trust a man who murdered your own.”

That was the cold-water Tara needed to calm down. Rennick retreated slightly in her mind. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Rykal reached out and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Tell me what Rennick thinks is happening.”

She went through his theory as succinctly as possible, adding in bits from Rennick when he spoke to her. “They’re concerned that he’s going to use his connection with the Fallen to seize control of power.”

Rykal shook his head. “You’d think after decades of service they’d know him by now. He doesn’t want power, never did.”

“But sometimes the reluctant leader holds the most power.” Ingo sighed. “You should speak with him. There may be more to this than we realize.”

“I will.”

Rykal turned to leave, but Tara wasn’t about to be left behind. “I’m coming with you.”

“While I appreciate your passion for the situation, I doubt there’s anything you can do.”

“I can bring Rennick.” She tapped her temple. “He’s communicating with me now, and this way he can offer his perspective on the situation, go to some of those darker places that the rest of you either can’t or won’t. He can help.”

“Rykal – ”

He waved Ingo’s concerns away. “Come on. I think my brother has taken a bit of a liking to you and would appreciate seeing you if nothing else.”

He better not lay a finger on you.

Tara couldn’t help but smile. You’re jealous.

You’re out somewhere I can’t be. I’m not jealous, simply…envious.

She wasn’t about to argue semantics with him, not when she had to practically jog to keep up with Rykal’s long strides. They entered the room she knew to be Aidric’s without waiting for him to acknowledge their arrival. That was most likely why they caught him washing his face, his shirt off, bent over the small basin.

Tara blinked hard, surprised by the muscular body that Aidric hid so well beneath his uniform. If it weren’t for Rennick’s mental growl, she would have continued to stare when she shouldn’t.

If Rykal had any regret for interrupting his brother’s moment of solitude, he didn’t show it. “They’re going to kill you.”

Aidric started, spun around, and looked at them shocked for half a second before schooling his face back into its mask. “They’ve been trying to kill me for years.” He slipped his shirt back on and silently did the buttons while he moved into the center of the room.

“What’s changed? They’ve never been so overt with their aggression toward you.” Rykal crossed his arms and lowered his chin. “What did you do?”

Aidric shifted his gaze to Tara. “How are things with you and Rennick?”

He’s stalling. Rennick chuckled. He has quite the spine for someone who could be killed easily.

“Rennick’s fine and says you’re stalling.”

That pulled a small smile from Aidric. “He’s insightful.”

Ingo cocked his head to the side, as though he were listening. “Zee says he’s received a communication from Grus Prime. They want to send a small delegation down to discuss Aidric’s proposal.”

The trio looked at the commander, who straightened. “I’ve suggested that the council needs to relax some of the rules around keeping the Grus and the Fallen separated.”

“You what?” Rykal moved to stand in front of Aidric. “Are you mad?”

Rennick made a soft whistling sound. They’ll never allow it.

Why not?

Granting the Fallen unlimited access to the station potentially means Aidric could use us as an army to seize control.

Aidric shook his head. “It’s time our two people became one again. The presence of the humans proves that the Fallen aren’t the mindless automatons that the Grus assumed. You’re capable of loving more deeply than others. You’re loyal, protective, you died to save us, and we threw you away.” There was a hitch in his voice that he had to clear away. “It’s time.”

They stared at one another for so long, Tara nearly believed that they too shared a mental link. The muscle in Rykal’s jaw jumped. “We’ve only recently reformed our relationship. I don’t want to lose you now.”

“You won’t.” Aidric looked past him to Ingo. “Tell Zee we’ll need all cyborgs here in the prison to be present. That will deter anyone from doing anything.”

That’s smart. The Grus guards will be terrified with that many of them in the room.

“There’s only the three of us now. Pax has moved to the city.” Ingo shook his head. “I don’t think we can get him back, though maybe Hallam can come from the medical facility.”

“Rennick can come.”

What are you doing?

The men turned to face her. Rykal shook her head as Ingo spoke. “Absolutely not.”

“Aidric just said he wants every available cyborg present. Rennick is a cyborg and he’s present.”

“He’s also uncontrollable.” Ingo crossed his arms. “As head of security, I can’t allow this.”

He’s not wrong.

Tara ignored Rennick. “When Cybol instigated the attempted prison escape, Rennick’s cell was open. He could have easy justified joining them, killing them, killing you and Zee when you were incapacitated. And after being left to rot in a cell for nearly fifty years, I wouldn’t have blamed him. Do you remember what he did?” Her voice was close to shouting levels, far louder than ever in her life. “Nothing! He stayed there and did nothing. Do you know why? Because his entire life has been reduced to those four tiny walls. The thought of leaving never occurred to him. And when we took him to the surface he couldn’t be out there for more than a few minutes. So yes, he will be a part of this. You need him to see the dark side of the situation, and he needs to regain a small measure of his soul. It’s an even trade.”

In her fit of anger, she hadn’t noticed that Zee had entered the room until she felt his hand gently touch her back. She looked back at him, surprised to see admiration in his eyes. “She’s right. He can come.”

Silence filled the room, but she knew the decision had been made and there was no going back now. “Thank you.”

What have you done? Rennick’s panic washed through her.

I’ve given you a chance to show them that you’re not the monster they think you are.

What if I am?

You’re not.

But what if I can’t control myself?

Tara closed her eyes and pushed out all the love and respect she felt for him. You can.

The silence stretched on for a while and she wasn’t certain he was going to agree. It wasn’t until she felt a tiny trickle of resignation, wrapped up with tentative acceptance.

If I do anything stupid, they’ll never forgive you.

Then don’t do anything stupid. She smiled. “He’s agreed.”

“Well then,” Aidric ran his hand through his hair. “We better come up with a plan.”

Chapter Nine

Rennick stayed in the room while the others worked out the details of their plan to keep Aidric safe. He learned the information initially through Tara, until Zee reached out to him through the cybernetic connection. In the past, it had always been Rennick who’d initiated the communication between the others, usually without them realizing he had a much wider range than they did. He took perverse pleasure in their surprise before they cut him off. Apart from Pax, when the spy was bored or lonely while undercover in the prison, the others never reached out.

If they’re going to kill him, how do you think they’ll try?

Hearing Zee’s voice sent a chill of fear and unworthiness through him. Not only was his one-time friend speaking to him, but he wanted Rennick’s input. Zee asking was perverse in a way, knowing how Rennick came by his knowledge of murder, but strangely comforting at the same time. Maybe there was a chance that someday Zee might forgive him.

He closed his eyes so he could better visualize the room. There will be too many of us present for them to make an overt attempt on him. Unless the guards are willing to sacrifice themselves, they must know that we’ll kill them the moment they do anything to Aidric. They’ll try and separate him from us. Suggest they go back to Grus Prime to continue the discussion.

If that happens, Rykal will go with him.

They’ll fight it.

He won’t give them a choice. Then there was silence.

For the first time in years, Rennick couldn’t sit still. He knew they would come for him sooner or later, that he’d have to not only go outside the room but ensure that he kept impulsive anger at bay. While he appreciated Tara’s faith in his ability to not go on a murderous rampage, he had decidedly less confidence. That day on the battlefield all those years ago, he hadn’t pulled the trigger with a sense of purpose, but rather with an overwhelming darkness that their lives were forfeit and it was better for him to make it quick for them all, rather than suffer at the hands of the Sholle.

So, he paced.

Moving helped calm his mind, made his rising panic manageable while he waited for someone to arrive. Time ticked off in his head – first one hour, then a second – and added to his growing impatience. He hadn’t heard from anyone for so long, he couldn’t help but wonder if they’d lied to Tara and chose to leave him behind after all. When the door finally slid open and Tara stepped in, he was so amped up he couldn’t stop himself from bolting to scoop her in his arms and kiss her hard. “You were gone too long. Don’t do that again.”

She sighed against his lips as he kissed her once again. “We have to go. The Grus are on their way down.”

He cupped her face in his hands, rubbing his thumbs across the soft skin just below her eyes. “Are the others ready?”

“We are.”

Rennick should have known Zee would be here as well. He let Tara go and turned to face his one-time friend. “Any special rules I need to be aware of? I don’t want to get shot for not putting my hands in my pockets.”

Zee stood in the doorway, his arms stiff by his sides. “We decided it would be suspicious if you were being treated any differently than the rest of us, and might give them a reason to take Aidric to another location. For now, you’re free.”

That…wasn’t what he was expecting.

Somehow knowing that there wasn’t a contingency of guards hovering around waiting to kill him at a moment’s notice, made the entire situation even more unnerving. Suspicion was like a second skin to him, but trust? No, that wasn’t something he easily accepted.

He was grateful for Tara silently slipping her hand into his. “We should probably get going.”

“Yes.” Zee moved into the corridor. “The council representatives will be here soon.”

As they made their way toward the meeting room, Rennick went through every mental calming exercise he’d ever been exposed to in his life. The last thing anyone needed was for him to lose control of himself and make this situation worse.

Don’t forget, you’re not alone in this. I’m here with you. Tara squeezed his hand hard. Do what you’re good at. Look for the plot to kill Aidric.

Her faith in him helped Rennick relax. They won’t have come all this way without a plan. They’re smart and won’t risk not being able to get another face-to-face meeting.

The room Zee had chosen for the meeting was the one typically used on the rare occasion a diplomatic envoy needed to meet with a prisoner. The black polished metal walls were lined with sensors that detected weapons, ensuring that an assassination plot wasn’t seen to fruition. The white floor was so polished, it acted as a mirror of sorts, allowing Zee and the other cyborgs to detect if anyone was carrying a weapon that the sensors couldn’t detect. Trust only took you so far in the world of criminals.

Aidric and Rykal were at the far end of a long black table, their heads bent in conversation. They looked up as Zee drew closer, and Aidric nodded at them. “Rennick, Tara, thank you again for agreeing to do this.”

“Whatever we can do to help.” Tara spoke before Rennick could.

“We’ll have to pretend that you’re a cyborg. There’s no way we can hide your eyes now that they’re glowing, and I’d rather not go into details about what I’ve done for you and Rennick.”

Rennick tightened his grip on her hand. “They’d never approve.”

“No, they wouldn’t.” Aidric sighed. “The two of you should stand apart as well. No sense in giving them something to be suspicious about.”

“Ingo just contacted me. He’s bringing the representatives here now.”

“Good.” Aidric stood. “Let’s get this over with.”

Tara dropped Rennick’s hand and moved to stand across the room from him, beside Zee. He hated her not being close to him, but he knew Zee would never allow anything bad to happen to her either. He understood the bond that they had, lived it with his own mate, and understood what would happen if anything were to befall Tara.

Rennick would go insane.

And no one wanted that.

The doors opened and three Grus men walked inside, all shorter in stature than the cyborgs in the room, but all carrying themselves with an air of command. The leader was the tallest, his black hair slicked back to reveal a long scar along the left side of his face. Rennick didn’t know him personally, but everyone had heard stories of Garith. He’d been one of the few to survive a direct assault from the Sholle during the war.

Garith looked around the room, his gaze pausing on Tara briefly, before he turned his attention fully to Aidric. “Commander. I’m pleased to see that you’re in good health.”

“Garith.” Aidric inclined his head in a show of respect. “I hope you haven’t come all this way simply to enquire about the state of my health?”

“No.” Garith sat down at the table without being welcomed to do so and set a data pad in front of him. “The council is tired of this situation and have directed me to bring your request to them in an official capacity.”

Aidric sat smoothly and was about to speak when Garith pulled out a small box and set it beside the data pad. “What’s that?”

“It has a technical name, but I don’t remember it. We’ll call it a cybernetic blocker.” He pressed the button and Rennick’s brain ached.

The other Fallen all grabbed their heads before looking at one another. Tara winced, but clearly didn’t feel whatever happened the way they did. Aidric clenched his hands. “What did you do?”

“For our own safety, we’re temporarily preventing the cyborgs from being able to communicate with one another. If anyone has anything to say, they can do so verbally.”

“As the leader of the Fallen,” Rykal said, his voice dripping with menace, “I formally protest these actions.”

“Noted.” Garith turned on his data pad. “Let’s begin.”

Rennick tried to reach out to Zee, then Rykal and Ingo, but there was nothing but soft static in return. Panic and anger threatened to rear up when he caught Tara’s gaze. She held it for only a second before he heard her voice. I’m here.

Relief washed through him. Aidric set our matrixes to a different frequency so we could communicate privately. They didn’t know about it.

What do we do?

Nothing yet. But if they’d brought a blocker, Rennick knew there was a bigger plan at play. Watch them and be ready to react if I tell you to.

“You’re not on Grus Prime and the rumors about you starting a cyborg revolution are getting tiresome.” Garith sat back and stared at him. “What do you want, Aidric?”

“The time for segregation of our two people needs to come to an end.” Aidric laced his hands on the table and leaned in. “It’s not doing either of us any good.”

Garith snorted. “Are you mad? One of them could destroy our home. One. And you want us to treat them the same as us?”

“They are us. They were born Grus, fought and died for us. Then came back and fought again. We not only owe them our lives, but our respect.”

Every eye in the room was on Aidric, could hear the barely restrained passion in his voice, and knew that he would never back down from this. That small bit of hate that all Fallen carried inside them for Aidric pulling them back to life against their will faded away from Rennick. Aidric might not have known what he’d done initially with the creation of the matrix, and he clearly carried guilt with him for his actions, but he was a man of honor and would do right by the Fallen.

Garith shook his head. “They’ll never agree.”

“They will.” Aidric sat back, mirroring his pose. “I propose an exchange. Free movement between Zarlan and Grus Prime. With the rising population on the station dangerously reaching capacity, The Fallen have agreed to allow any who wish to relocate to the planet a home. If they don’t want to live in Cimacha with the Fallen and the humans, then they can have a city of their own. Everyone wins and our two people can finally become one again.”

“And the Fallen agree to this?” Garith looked up at Rykal.

“We do. You gain room, a chance to reclaim a part of our homeland. And we are finally able to reunite with our families.”

Garith held his gaze for a long moment before nodding, making note of the proposal on the data pad. “I’ll take this to the council, and they’ll respond to you once it’s been considered.”

“Thank you.”

Rennick was surprised when the two members of the envoy tensed instead of relaxed now that the negotiations were over. One of them reached into a bag that hung heavy at his side and retrieved a large bottle. Garith took it, easily uncorking it and placing it on the table between them. “Let’s seal the proposal in the traditional fashion.”

There’s something wrong. Rennick breathed through the swell of sudden anger.

What? Is this not something they do? Tara shifted uneasily beside Zee, who glanced down at her.

I…I’m not sure. He narrowed his gaze on the bottle, on how Garith carefully slid it across the table toward Aidric. It was tradition that the party who made the proposal drink first, followed by the accepting side. A tradition of trust. Garith would be drinking the liquid, Rennick couldn’t imagine he’d put his life in jeopardy. But the other envoys, they were still tense, watching both men with intention.

The drink was poisoned. The high council was willing to sacrifice both men to prevent this from happening.

Poison!

“Don’t!” Rennick rushed the table to knock the bottle away, but he was too far.

Tara jumped at the same time, and shoved the bottle from Aidric, sending it crashing to the floor. “It’s poison!”

Everyone in the room gawked at them, even as the envoy guards pulled hidden blasters from their belts and leveled them at Tara. Rennick didn’t have time to process how they’d brought weapons in, not when they were about to kill the woman he loved.

No!!

Zee saw what was happening, grabbed Tara, and turned around so his back was exposed, but she was protected. The guards hesitated before shifting their aim at Zee’s head cybernetics. Time slowed for Rennick and he knew he had one chance to save his friend. Without a thought for himself, he jumped as the envoys fired, and took the full force of the blaster fire to his chest.

Ingo moved to disarm the envoys as chaos exploded. Rykal shielded Aidric, while Zee and Tara shouted, moving quickly to Rennick’s side.

He blinked but the world around him seemed to fade in and out, making it difficult to focus. Tara was above his face, crying as she shouted, her words echoing in his head as well.

Don’t you die on me. I’ll never fucking forgive you.

“Rennick? Stay with us.” Zee pulled him up into his arms.

“It’s good. A life for a life, right?”

Blackness overtook him.

Chapter Ten

Wake up.

Wake up now.

Listen asshole, I didn’t come halfway across the galaxy to find you, only for you to die on me.

Wake.

Up.

Rennick’s eyes flew open, locking immediately onto Tara who was sitting in a chair beside his bed. She was dozing, close to sleep, but the moment she realized he was finally awake she sat straight up. “Hallam!”

The next few moments made his matrix spin from the sudden flurry of activity. Tara was by his side holding his hand, only to be gently moved aside by Hallam and Aerin. They said nothing immediately to him, and instead ran a series of scans. Rennick’s chest ached, as did the side of his head and left shoulder. The nanobots should have done what they’d needed to by now.

Wait, how long had he been unconscious?

“If you keep moving, I’m going to sedate you again.” Hallam pressed him back down against the bed and pulled back the sheet. “I had to implant a new chest cybernetic. You’re going to be out of commission for a few days while the nanobots finish their work, but it appears as though you’re through the worst of things.”

“Oh, thank God.” Tara had come around to Rennick’s other side and placed a kiss to his forehead. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again.”

“Be heroic?”

“Get shot! You scared the shit out of me.” Tears had welled up in her eyes and Rennick’s heart ached that he’d caused her so much pain.

“I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.” He reached up and brushed the tear streak from her cheek. “I’m not worth your tears.”

“Everyone. Out.”

Rennick looked over to see Zee standing at the foot of the bed. He was flanked by Aidric and Rykal, both of whom appeared more than a little relieved. Why they were concerned for him was a mystery. He was still a killer, still deserved to be locked in the bottom of the prison for the rest of his natural days.

Rykal nodded at Rennick before leaving behind Hallam and Aerin. Aidric stood there for a moment longer before giving him a small smile. “Thank you. You saved my life.”

Rennick swallowed past the unexpected lump in his throat. “How did they bring in the weapons?”

“It appears that the guard Pax had seen speaking to Cybol with last month had modified our systems, allowing them to sneak the weapons past our sensors.” Zee’s voice was low, angry. “It’s been corrected.”

Aidric laced his hands behind his back. “The high council had planned to murder both myself and Garith, then blame the Fallen. Garith is now on our side, giving us an ally in our negotiations. With luck, we’ll be able to come to an arrangement that opens Grus Prime and Zarlan to both our peoples. All because you were willing to sacrifice yourself. Well done.” Aidric’s smile widened, then he too left.

Only Tara and Zee remained, and he knew no matter what Zee said to her, Tara wasn’t about to leave Rennick’s side. “Now that you’ve terrified the others into leaving, what can I do for you?”

Zee stared at him hard, the light in his eyes somehow glowing brighter than ever. “You’re a fraking fool.”

“That’s not something you’ve accused me of being before. I’m moving up in the world.”

“Rennick.” Tara’s soft plea was enough to mute his need to taunt others.

Looking over at her, he knew this was something serious, something that he needed to pay attention to and fight against his darker impulses to ignore and belittle. “You’re right. Sorry.”

Zee was still staring at him, but there was something different about him and the way he was looking at Rennick; there was a softness that Zee wasn’t known for, a look that Rennick hadn’t seen since before the war with the Sholle.

“You’ve changed.” Those few words came from Zee in a rushed breathy voice, as though he were trying to keep his emotions in check. “The Rennick I’ve known wouldn’t have put his life on the line for another person. Not the reborn Rennick at any rate. He was hateful, cruel, didn’t care about anyone but himself. But you’re different. You saved my life.”

“I took your life.” The pain of knowing what he’d done to his best friend, his brother in all but biology, still stabbed deep. Letting go of Tara’s hand, Rennick forced himself into a sitting position. “That’s something I can never give back to you.”

“You’re right. You did a horrendous thing that can never be undone. You took my life, the lives of the rest of our patrol. But you’ve paid for your crimes. You’ve shown that you’ve been…I’m not foolish enough to say reformed, but remorseful. I don’t know if this is completely due to Tara’s arrival, but I know from personal experience that being with Mags changed me for the better. I have to believe that the same has happened with you.”

“What are you saying?” Tara leaned against Rennick’s shoulder, her hand pressed against the small of his back.

“That once Hallam has given you the medical all-clear, you won’t be required to return to the prison or your cell. I’m officially noting that your sentence has been served in full.”

“Oh…” Tara turned and hugged him hard. “That means we can be together.”

He should be excited. He wouldn’t have to spend another day trapped between the four walls that had been his home for so long. He wouldn’t have to long to be closer to Tara, to have only their mental connection to sustain him through the long nights.

So why wasn’t he?

“I’ll leave the two of you alone.” Zee tapped the end of Rennick’s bed with his finger. “Let me know when you’re ready to discuss next steps.”

Rennick could only nod, no longer certain his voice would work. The pain in his chest from the nanobots working their magic was starting to lessen, but he used it as a distraction from the panic that threatened to consume him. The moment Zee left and the door slid closed behind him, Rennick let his body fall back against the bed. He closed his eyes as the weight of his new reality pressed down against him.

“What’s wrong?” Tara trailed kisses along his cheek. “You’re free. We can do anything, go anywhere together.”

Memories of his short journey to the planet’s surface a few days earlier came rushing back. “That’s not the blessing you might think it would be.”

He tried to keep his thoughts in check, but it was proving far more difficult the longer their matrixes were connected. The flash of panic at the thought of being outside the prison, having to face the giant sky and all the open space wasn’t something he could suppress.

The glow in her eyes intensified. “Oh.”

Rennick rolled onto his side, ignoring the pain as he moved. “You don’t have to stay. I know Zee will find me a room down there and I’ll be left alone. Maybe I can convince him to give me a job, something minor that doesn’t require any security clearance to keep me occupied. You can come visit whenever you want. That way you’re not trapped someplace you shouldn’t be.”

He’d enjoyed cybernetic connections with others over the years since his rebirth, but he’d never experienced such an intensity as he did with Tara. It wasn’t simple conversation, but the mix of emotions, words and images all imprinting themselves on him. He knew there was no way she’d ever leave him alone, understood that she’d stay with him, work with him until he was comfortable spending time on the planet’s surface. Felt the love she had for him and her steadfast determination to help him make a new life for himself.

The last remnant of his barrier, the small remaining piece of wall that held back his softer emotions fell, leaving the tender parts of his heart exposed. Rennick swallowed hard, trying to find the strength to say the words he never thought he’d say to another living creature, but he couldn’t make his mouth move.

So, he closed his eyes and did the next best thing.

I love you.

Tara hugged him hard, breathing against the side of his neck. I love you too. You’ll never be alone ever again.

He clung to her tighter, before turning to capture her mouth in his. The kiss was unlike any they’d shared before. It was slower, more measured, as though they both realized they finally had all the time in the world to explore this connection between them. Their minds had synchronized, as each of their thoughts mixed until he wasn’t certain where his started and hers ended.

I want you. That was definitely him, wanting to feel her naked body pressed against his.

You’re hurt. Hers. Always worried about him being hurt. She was the only one who’d ever shared those concerns.

Don’t care. Need you.

Tara moaned when he cupped her ass and pulled her hard against him. People will hear.

It only took a moment for him to blast out a warning not to enter over the other cybernetic link. No one will come.

Well, with luck you and I will. Tara chuckled against his mouth.

It became obvious the moment she stood up that his body was still not fully healed, despite him wanting to be with her. His cock was hard and his rondella was full, but his chest still ached, and he didn’t know if he would be able to move his body to do what they both wanted. Tara cocked her head to the side before placing a hand on his chest. I have an idea.

She moved halfway down the table before pulling his pants down and off. He was now fully naked, his cock jutting outward. Tara smiled for a moment before leaning down and taking his full length into her mouth, sucking hard as she worked her way back up his shaft. Rennick closed his eyes, and let the sensations roll through him, enjoying the way her tongue teased the sensitive parts. She could feel whenever she did something he responded to and would pause to work the sensations until it was more than he could handle, before moving on.

Having sex with someone he was connected to in every way possible would be the death of him.

Tara reached down and cupped his rondella, giving it a squeeze that nearly pushed him over the edge. Frak!

Tara moved her hand away, this time wrapping it around his cock while she settled into a steady rhythm of sucking and licking. Rennick knew his body wasn’t ready for much more, knew he wouldn’t be able to hold himself back and draw things out, worship Tara’s body the way that he wanted. Instead, he pushed mental images of what he’d do to her once he was healed, teasing her the only way he could in the moment. The pleasure feedback loop they settled in was more than he could withstand.

The first spurts of come exploded from him, as he reached for her head to hold her in place while he fucked into her mouth. His shouts filled the room, mixing with the moans of pleasure coming from Tara. He could feel her arousal and knew it wouldn’t take much to push her over the edge either. The moment the last of his orgasm subsided, he pushed her back and forced himself to sit up.

“What are you doing?” Her words came out in a breathy gasp.

“Come closer.” He barely gave her time to move, tugging her close by her waistband.

Sliding his hand inside, he slipped a finger into her wet pussy while pressing his thumb against her clit. Tara gasped, before pressing her head to his shoulder and widening her stance as far as her clothing allowed. He fucked her with his hand as hard as the restrictive fabric let him, soaking in her moans and sighs as he felt her orgasm begin to build. Her wetness coated his hand as her body began to shake from the intensity of what they were doing.

The closer she got to her orgasm, the stronger their connection grew. He felt her love for him mix with his love for her. Flashes of their future together melded in his mind, and for the first time Rennick knew there was more life waiting for him to live. He wasn’t alone, he’d never be alone as long as Tara lived.

Come for me. He shifted and pressed his mouth to her shoulder, biting gently down on the juncture of her neck. Tara, come for me. I want to hear you.

Her body stiffened as her orgasm washed through her. He felt her body shake even as he experienced her release second-hand through their connection. It was everything. She was everything.

Finally, her pleasure subsided, and he removed his hand. They stood there, clinging to one another, both afraid to let go. Rennick turned his head and kissed the side of her throat. “Next time we do this in a bed.”

“Naked.” We can stay naked for a week.

I like the sound of that. He ran his hand through her hair. “Maybe we can work on me going outside after that.”

She pulled back, her eyes glowing as brightly as any cyborg. “Really? You want to try that again?”

“As long as you’re with me, I know I’ll eventually be okay.”

He might not ever be redeemed in quite the way he’d wanted, but this was a start. He would learn to coexist with the darkness, use it for the betterment of others, rather than let it control him and his actions. Tara was the one who showed him that it was possible, showed him that he could do more, be more than the deadly killer locked away in the basement.

He smiled and her heart felt lighter. I love you. You make me a better man.

“I love you too.” Tara looked around. “Think we’ll be able to get out of here soon?”

“I’m sure Hallam will want to run a few more of his tests to ensure I’m not going to die, but yes. Soon. Why?”

“Because I’ve come halfway across the galaxy to be with you. It would be nice to have some time alone. Plus, we’ll need to talk to Zee about getting a larger room. There’s no way my little apartment will be big enough for both of us.”

“It will be fine. As long as I’m with you, everything will always be fine.”

He pulled her closer once again and knew that despite how dark his life had started, his future was suddenly, finally bright.

Acknowledgments

Thank you everyone for reading, REDEEMED BY THE CYBORG! This book ends The Prison miniseries set in the Cyborg Protectors universe. It took Rennick some time to get here and I hope you’ve enjoyed the cyborgs who live and work at The Prison. Want to read the book that started it all? CONSUMED BY THE CYBORG is available now from Amazon and KU!

Cyborg Protectors – Prison

Chained to the Cyborg

Freed by the Cyborg

Exposed by the Cyborg

Redeemed by the Cyborg

Mistress Rules

Christine d’Abo

When Faris steps into his friend and mentor's inner sanctum, he doesn't expect to find Stella, a leather-clad Dominatrix. He can only watch as Ulric, the most powerful man in the sector, drops to his knees and throws himself at Stella's mercy.

Ulric knows Faris holds himself responsible for the devastating attack on the colony outpost. If Faris doesn't learn how to forgive himself, the young man will be on the road to emotional disaster. His only hope is to convince Stella to bring Faris into their lives as another submissive. Ulric must now put his feelings for Stella on the line while holding tight to the man he desperately wants beneath him.

Releasing September 1, 2020

Available on Amazon and KU!

*This title is a re-release of a 2010 novel*

About the Author

Alyse Anders is the author of the Cyborg Protector series of erotic sci-fi novellas. When she’s not sitting in front of her computer with her imagination stuck in a far away nebula, she’s at home with her husband and two dogs, usually eating far too much chocolate for her own good. Check out more of Alyse’s books on Amazon and KU or visit her website www.alyseanders.com.

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