Page 89 of On a Rogue Planet
She gripped his arm. “Jesus, Xander. What do you think?—?”
The man saw the robot and screamed. He turned and ran.
The robot gave chase, pumping its metal arms with precise movements.
The man rounded a corner and found himself at a junction with three paths heading in different directions. He stepped toward one, then back. When the clank of the pursing robot got louder, he hurtled down the middle path.
The next instant, a giant claw swooped down from above. Xander’s hands curled into fists and Malin gasped. The man ducked with a wild scream and somehow avoided the claw. He kept running, his garish shirt flaring out behind him. He looked back over his shoulder and fell into a hidden pool of water.
The slick sides of the water trap made it impossible for the man to climb out. He flailed in the water, trying to climb up the smooth metal, only to slide back down.
The robot reached him.
The machine’s arm extended and hooked the man at the back of his shirt. As the man rose out, he kicked his legs violently.
Holding the man aloft, the robot lifted its other arm and slammed its claw hand around the man’s neck.
A quick twist and the sound of the man’s neck breaking echoed through the hidden speakers in the ballroom.
Then there was only a horrified silence.
“Well.” Forge dusted his hands together then gestured to the band. “Maestro, please play something…upbeat. Everyone, let’s dance!”
No one moved or said a word.
Forge's smile froze, his eyes narrowed. “I said, let’s dance.”
There was a rush of movement as a small group of people hurried onto the dance floor. Smooth music flared and the party was back on.
But there was no missing the dark undertone. Xander’s sensors detected several people with elevated heartbeats and adrenaline levels.
“Stars, Xander, what do we do now?”
“I need to get you somewhere safe where you can hide until it’s time for the teletransportation back to theInfinitas. Then I want you off this planet.” He wanted her off now, but Forge had made it so he had all his guests’ undivided attention. It left them with no option for escape.
“And what are you going to do?” Her gaze moved over his face, then she hissed in a breath. “You’re going into the maze!”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Mal fought back her panic.
Xander’s face held its now-familiar mask of calm. But she knew exactly what he was planning.
She gripped his shirt. “You saw what happened to that man. The place is a death trap, and I’m certain Forge only showed us the tip of what’s down there. No one can survive it, not even you.”
“Malin, I’m a CenSec. If anyone can make it, it’s me.”
The lump in her throat was so huge, she could barely breathe. “I’m coming with you.”
He shook his head, and she finally got a reaction, a flash of something hot and dangerous in his eyes. “No. I’ve got a better chance of getting through alone. If I have to watch out for you, we’ll both get killed.”
Dammit, he was right. “I don’t want to lose you.” Not when I just found you.
He cupped her face. “You won’t. I plan on coming back. There are still many things on my list we have yet to try.”
She felt tears sting her eyes. She never cried. “Well then, you have some good incentive.” She went up on her toes and kissed him. His kiss was rougher than usual, and she returned it witheverything she had. She delved into his mouth, trying to get inside him.
Because a part of her knew that when he went in that maze, he’d be lost to her. If he died in there, a part of her would die too. If he made it out with the Antikythera, he’d leave her and go back to his planet.
