Cover Reveal: Paladin

“I want you to fix me!”

Sage winced at Toren’s rage-filled roar.

They were standing in the middle of Medical, and she watched as the cyborg grabbed a stool, spun, and tossed it against the wall.

It crashed down, hitting a cart of medical equipment. Items spilled across the floor.

“Toren.” Avarn advanced, hands outstretched, looking resigned.

Toren stood there, his chest heaving, his muscles strained.

“There’s nothing wrong with you, Toren,” Sage said. “Most people feel like you do.”

His hot gaze hit her almost like a physical blow, and she fought the urge to step back.

“All I feel is rage, pain… It’s too much.” He pressed his hands to his head.

“Give it some time,” she said calmly. “It’ll settle down, and you’ll learn to deal with it.”

His head jerked up. “I can’t function like this. I’m not allowed to work.”

Avarn stepped closer. “Once your emotions are in control—”

“I don’t want to feel!” Toren’s hands curled into fists. “I don’t want to be like this.”

“Toren.” Acton’s cool voice cut through the tension.

Sage felt a flood of relief at the sight of her man in the doorway.

“What do you want?” Toren snarled.

“I want you to calm down,” Acton said.

“You still have dampeners,” Toren bit out the words like an accusation.

“Which I don’t use now. If I can do it, you can.”

Toren’s shoulders sagged. He looked broken, beaten.

Then he dropped to his knees and let out a roar of frustration. Sage moved straight to him, wrapping her arms around him.

“You’re not alone,” she told him. His body vibrated with emotion under her touch.

The doors opened behind Acton, and Toren’s head snapped up.

Simone stepped inside.

The woman wore a fitted blue skirt and patterned white shirt. Her glossy, black hair rested over one slim shoulder.

She stared at him, and his face twisted, different emotions crossing his features.

Simone walked over and Sage stepped back, watching.

What was this? She knew that Simone and Grace had been in to visit Toren a few times over the last few days since their return from the desert.

“You’re strong, Toren,” Simone said. “You’re not just your enhancements. Use that strength now.”

They stared at each other—Simone standing, Toren on his knees. Toren made a sound—part pain, part rage—then lunged at Simone.

Acton took a step forward, Sage stiffened, and Avarn moved.

But Toren just wrapped his arms around Simone’s waist and buried his face against her belly.

Simone stroked his blond hair. “It’s going to be okay.”

The damaged cyborg held on like the woman was a lifeline. Sage sensed the storm of emotion in the room ease a little.

Acton took her hand and together, they quietly left Medical.

“He’s hurting so badly,” she said.

“He needs time to heal and adjust.”

“Simone seems to be a calming influence.”

He tugged on Sage’s hair. “I’m beginning to think that you women from Earth are capable of anything. He’ll be fine. We’ll make sure of it.”

That was the House of Rone. They got on with it and did what needed to be done, no matter the obstacles in the way. Just like the way they’d rescued, protected, and helped the Helios survivors.

The House of Rone took care of their own. They’d help Toren. And Sage suspected the cyborg would have a little extra help from a new pair of residents as well.