WILLOW AND THE WRAITH

A SCIFI ALIEN ROMANCE (ALIEN ABDUCTION BOOK 23)

HONEY PHILLIPS

Copyright © 2024 by Honey Phillips

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover by Maria Spada Book Cover Design

Edited by Lindsay York at LY Publishing Services

Created with Vellum

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

“There she is!” Freddy yelled excitedly as the battered blue hatchback came into view.

He jumped down off the swing he’d been pushing back and forth disconsolately and raced towards the pick-up lane in front of the school. Willow breathed a sigh of relief and hurried after him. Freddy’s mother was a nice enough woman, but she was completely disorganized and lived her life in a state of constant panic. This wasn’t the first time that she failed to pick up Freddy on time.

Freddy’s mother came rushing around the car as he approached, bending down to give him a big hug. She fastened him into his car seat before turning to Willow. She looked as frazzled as she obviously felt—her T-shirt ripped, her joggers splattered with paint, and her hair falling out of her messy bun—but there was something appealing about her helpless air.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Harper.” She gave Willow an apologetic smile and waved at her pants. “I was trying to freshen up the back porch, and I’m afraid time just got away from me again.”

“I understand,” Willow said quietly. “But Freddy does worry when you’re not here on time.”

“I know he does.” Big eyes filled with tears. “I promise I’ll try and do better. Thank you for not sending him to the office to wait for me.”

Willow really didn’t mind waiting with the boy, but she didn’t want to encourage his mother’s behavior either. She settled for a noncommittal smile.

“I hope the two of you have a good weekend. Bye, Freddy!” she called.

He grinned at her, a cheerful smile now covering his small face, and waved back.

She watched the car drive away, then sighed and returned to the school building. Her friend Martha was locking her classroom as she walked down the now empty corridor, and she rolled her eyes at Willow.

“Let me guess. Freddy’s mother was late again,” Martha said disapprovingly.

Her friend had a kind heart, but she ran a tight ship and didn’t put up with any nonsense. Her opinion of Freddy’s mother was not favorable.

“I’m afraid so.”

“And I suppose you didn’t take him to the office so that she had to go in and pick him up?”

“I didn’t want to leave him there by himself. You know how much he worries.”

“The secretary would be there,” her friend said sternly. “And as long as you keep taking care of him, his mother isn’t going to change. You’re just too nice, Willow.”

“Is there such a thing as too nice?” she asked a little wistfully, and Martha laughed.

“There is if it means you’re being taken advantage of. Are you leaving now? I’ll wait and walk out with you.”

“Not yet. I want to tackle my classroom before I leave. The children are really excited for Halloween, and they’ll be thrilled to come in on Monday and see the room all decorated.”

Martha sighed.

“It’s Friday night. You’re young and pretty. Why aren’t you going out on a date instead of decorating a classroom for a bunch of five-year-olds?”

“Because no one asked me?”

“Only because you discouraged them.” Martha pursed her mouth disapprovingly. “We both know that Tom would leap at the chance to take you out.”

Willow winced, trying to hide her distaste. The new gym teacher had definitely made it obvious that he was interested, but they had absolutely nothing in common. He was a too-hearty former quarterback with a loud voice who saw everything in terms of sports metaphors.

She’d much rather decorate her classroom, then go home alone, pour herself a glass of wine, and pick up one of her favorite books.

“I’m not really interested,” she said apologetically, and Martha’s eyes narrowed.

“Are you waiting for a knight in shining armor to come along? Because I have to tell you, there aren’t many knights out there.”

“I don’t need many. I only need one.”

Her friend snorted, then shook her head.

“Don’t wait too long. Men like Tom won’t wait forever, and once they move on, they’re not likely to look back.”

“That’s fine with me,” she said firmly.

Martha laughed again and told her good night before heading down the corridor. Willow watched her go, then returned to her classroom, thinking about her friend’s words. Was she waiting for a knight in shining armor? Maybe she was. After one too many experiences with a frog who didn’t turn into a prince, she’d decided it was better to wait for the right man to come along.

Although she did occasionally wonder just how long she would have to wait. Given that she was a kindergarten teacher in a small town, she didn’t have a lot of opportunities to meet new men.

Someone will turn up, she assured herself, and started pulling out the boxes of decorations that she’d been working on for the past two weeks, smiling at the friendly ghosts and the cats with the witch’s hats. Her students were going to love them.

Removing everything from the bulletin board, she covered it with orange paper and set to work. By the time she was finished turning her classroom into a Halloween wonderland, several hours had passed and the early fall dusk had already set in. Now that she was no longer moving around she was conscious of the heavy silence surrounding her. Even the janitors tended to leave early on Friday nights. Time to go home.

A chill suddenly crawled down her spine as she gathered up her tote bag, as if a cold breeze had entered the room. Frowning, she turned towards the door and froze. Someone, no, something was standing in front of the closed door. A tall, thin figure—too tall and too thin to be human—with grey skin and large dark eyes above a small pointed chin.

An alien?

Her mouth dropped open in disbelief as she searched desperately for another explanation. She tried to tell herself that it was just someone wearing an early Halloween costume, but the shape of the body was wrong. Unnatural.

“Wh-who are you?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “What do you want?”

The alien didn’t respond, just moved towards her with a fluid, predatory grace, and her heart began to pound. She instinctively backed away from the approaching figure, but then her back hit the wall and she started to panic.

The alien calmly raised some kind of device, and a beam of light shot out, pain spiking through her head. As she started to crumple towards the floor, thin cold arms caught her, and then everything went black.

THE SOUND of voices woke Willow. Two men, arguing. She hated hearing people argue—it brought back too many unpleasant memories—but there was something different about these voices.

Her memory suddenly came rushing back—her classroom, the alien—and her eyes flew open, but her vision was blurry and unfocused. She could tell she was lying on something hard and unyielding, and the air filled with unpleasant, medicinal scent.

Where am I?

She blinked desperately and a white metal ceiling slowly came into focus, illuminated by a harsh white light. She tried to turn her head, to see more of the room, but her body was stiff and unresponsive. When she opened her mouth to try and call for help, all that emerged was a faint whisper.

Panic clawed at her throat as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. She tried frantically to move her head again, and this time she was able to turn it far enough to see more of the room. It reminded her of a doctor’s office, except she didn’t recognize most of the equipment.

There was a monitor on the wall next to her. She thought it had words displayed on it, but they were in no language she’d ever seen before. The lines that scrolled steadily across the screen were more familiar—like the vital signs on a hospital monitor. Have I been sick?

She tried to sit up, and one of the lines spiked at her attempt.

Her arm started to respond to her efforts, then jerked to a halt. To her horror, she realized that both of her arms had been cuffed to the surface of whatever she was lying on. She tried to move her feet and discovered that her ankles were also restrained.

Oh, God, what’s happened to me?

Fighting down a wave of panic, she tried to make out what the men in the other room were arguing about, hoping for some clue. Although it sounded as if they were speaking English, there was something odd about their voices—a subtle undercurrent that made her suddenly suspect they were really speaking another language.

“You should not have woken her,” a voice said, a whispered sibilance beneath his words. “Nor given her the translation implant.”

“Why not?” The second voice was harsher. “I’m bored and tired of waiting. I want to have some fun.”

The way he said fun sent a shiver down her spine.

“You are not paid to have fun,” the first voice said coldly. “You are here for transportation purposes only. My client has very specific requests—which I have fulfilled—and those requests do not include a damaged product.”

Client? Product?

“I’m not going to damage her,” the second male said sulkily. “I just want to play a little.”

“Your idea of play ruined the last female. Fear is one thing—most of our clients enjoy a frightened slave. However, they do not want one who is terrified and too traumatized to react. Not to mention the fact they dislike any sign of previous use.”

Slave? Panic threatened to overwhelm her. This can’t be happening. It has to be a nightmare.

Forcing herself to take slow, deep breaths, she tried to calm her racing heart even as she pulled harder against the restraints. Her body was responding more easily now, but her struggles were useless. The cuffs weren’t painful, but neither did they yield to her efforts.

“It’s not as if she’s a virgin,” the second voice grumbled.

How did he know that? Had they examined her—or done worse? She shuddered at the thought, but thankfully her body felt normal, with no unusual aches or soreness. Hopefully that was a good sign, along with the fact that she was still wearing the colorful skirt and blouse she’d been wearing earlier.

Earlier… How much earlier? How long had she been unconscious? The fact that she didn’t know threatened to bring on another wave of panic.

“Her physical state is irrelevant. Your kind of use leaves marks, and that is not acceptable,” the first male said coldly.

The second one continued to argue, but their voices grew fainter, as if they were moving away from the room where she was being held. She hoped that meant the first male wouldn’t allow the second one access to her. There was a sadistic note in that harsh voice that terrified her.

A faint whirring noise caught her attention and she looked frantically over at the door, but it remained closed. The whirring noise came again, a little louder this time. It seemed to be coming from close to the floor, and she craned her head, trying to look down.

A rolling cart of equipment suddenly began to move silently along the wall, revealing a metal grate covering what appeared to be a ventilation shaft. Then the grate slid to one side and a pair of bright yellow eyes peered out at her from the shadows beyond.

CHAPTER TWO

Willow held her breath, braced for some new horror, as the eyes came closer, but there was nothing frightening about the alien who climbed out of the ventilation shaft—the very small alien. It had scaled green skin beneath a bright yellow jumpsuit, its features oddly appealing despite indications of reptilian ancestry. The figure paused to study her, tilting its head curiously, and she suddenly wondered if it was a child rather than just a small race. The cheerful color of the clothing and the eager curiosity on its face reminded her of her students.

A long, thin tongue flicked out to taste the air, and then the newcomer nodded decisively.

“Who are…” she began, but the small alien quickly put its finger to its lips as it approached her.

“Don’t let them hear you,” it whispered in a quiet, soft voice.

A feminine voice, Willow decided, a young feminine voice, confirming her suspicion that the stranger was a child. But what was she doing here, and why had she been hiding in the ventilation shaft?

“Who are…”

Even though she whispered the question, the little girl hushed her again as she bent over the restraints, unfastening them with quick, nimble fingers. As soon as the last restraint fell away, she held out her hand.

“Come with me. Hurry.”

She hesitated, not sure if she should put her trust in the little girl, but then she looked into those bright eyes again and decided that going with her had to be a better option than anything the two males had planned for her. Her legs trembled as she slid off the bed, but they steadied quickly and she followed the child back over to the opening.

“Hurry!” the little girl repeated, gesturing for her to enter the ventilation shaft.

She looked at the dark, narrow opening and gulped nervously, but the voices were growing louder again so she took a deep breath and obeyed. Fortunately, she was not a large woman and the shaft was larger than it first appeared. The little girl crowded in after her and pulled the rolling cart back in place before sliding the grate across the opening. She secured the grate with a small electronic screwdriver—the source of the whirring noise—before turning to Willow with an unexpectedly sweet smile.

“I’m Sooni,” she whispered. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.”

The idea that this child could protect her seemed ridiculous, but she managed to return the smile.

“Thank you. I’m Willow. Where are we?”

Before Sooni could answer, a piercing alarm sounded from outside the room, loud enough to echo through the confined vent. Sooni flinched, covering her ears.

“What was that?” Willow whispered when it finally stopped.

“I don’t know. I never—”

The door to the room beyond slid open and both of them froze.

“What the fuck?”

It was the harsh second voice, so close she shivered. A small hand crept into hers. She wasn’t sure if Sooni was offering reassurance or seeking it, but she returned the clasp gratefully. Something slammed against the floor in the room beyond and they both jumped.

“What is taking so long?” the cold voice of the first male asked.

“She isn’t here. What the fuck did you do with her?”

“I did not do anything.”

“Oh yeah?” the second male snarled. “Your people are the only ones with the technology to transport into a closed space. If you’re trying to cut me out of this deal—”

“I am not.” The other voice turned even icier. “If you do not wish to lose your hands, I suggest you retract your claws.”

She shivered at the menace in the male’s voice, and apparently the other male recognized it as well, his voice more sulky than threatening when he continued.

“If it wasn’t one of you, then fucking tell me what happened to her.”

“I do not know, but I imagine she is still on the station. Ingenious little creatures, these humans.”

“We have to find her.”

“We don’t have time. You heard the message—we have been compromised. We need to finish erasing the data and leave before the Fleet arrives.”

“But—”

“Don’t worry. She won’t escape me.”

Oh, God. The icy menace in his voice made her skin crawl, and her hand tightened around Sooni’s. The little girl returned her grip and they both listened as the two males started eliminating all traces of their presence. They even returned to the medical lab, smashing most of the equipment as she and Sooni huddled together, and she caught the faint scent of burnt wiring.

Silence eventually fell, but they remained frozen in place for several minutes before Sooni finally gave her a shaky smile.

“I think they’re gone.”

Her voice was still low and cautious and Willow kept her response equally quiet.

“Who are they?”

“I don’t know, but—” the little girl broke off, listening. “We should go.”

Perhaps this wasn’t the best place for explanations. If the two males returned and conducted a more thorough search… She shivered again and didn’t object when Sooni squeezed past her to lead the way.

As they crawled through the maze of ventilation shafts, her thoughts kept returning to the horrifying conversation she’d overheard. Buyer. Slave. Product. The implications made her stomach churn, but she forced herself to keep following Sooni.

After a seemingly endless crawl, the little girl came to a halt in front of another grate, this one in the floor of the shaft. She slid it aside and jumped down as easily as Freddy had jumped off the swing. Willow’s descent was nowhere near as graceful, but fortunately a bed beneath the opening cushioned her landing.

They had dropped into a small dimly-lit bedroom, cluttered with an odd assortment of broken furniture and several carefully arranged collections. Sooni didn’t give her a chance to look around, but grabbed her hand and tugged her through the door to a larger room beyond. An elderly alien with the same scaled green skin was seated at a workbench, tinkering with a piece of equipment.

“Grandfather,” Sooni called softly. “This is Willow. I rescued her from the slavers.”

He looked up and sighed, giving Willow a quick, perceptive look as his tongue flicked out.

“You were supposed to stay hidden, Sooni,” he chided gently. “But I suppose I understand why you couldn’t. Welcome, Willow. I am Malacar.”

“Thank you for helping me,” she said, her voice suddenly threatening to shake as the adrenaline from the escape began to wear off. “I… I don’t understand why I’m here. Did those males really abduct me to sell me?”

Malacar sighed again and set down his tools.

“I’m afraid so. They’re part of a group of slavers who showed up here several months ago. Sooni and I have been hiding from them ever since.”

Slavers. Somehow hearing it said out loud made it even worse, and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to process the horrifying reality.

“Where is here?” she asked, trying to keep her voice calm. “Couldn’t you just leave?”

“This is an old space station, mostly abandoned, but they brought in new equipment and they monitor traffic. If we tried to leave, we would be noticed.” He looked down at the workbench, his face shadowed. “Since they arrived they have destroyed three ships that tried to dock here.”

Her heart sank. She was still trapped, just in a larger place. But then so were Sooni and Malacar. Her heart ached for them as she looked around the cluttered room, taking in the makeshift living quarters and the piles of scavenged equipment. There had to be a way out—for all of them.

“They… they said something about the Fleet coming. Is that good?”

He hesitated, clearly reluctant to answer, then shrugged.

“Perhaps. I’m sure they would be willing to take you away from here, but I’m not sure exactly what would happen to you. The fact that you were stolen from your planet is illegal… but slavery is not,” he added reluctantly. “However, I believe there are sanctuary planets for those in your situation.”

He gave her a sympathetic look as she tried to suppress a sudden surge of despair.

“They wouldn’t take me home?”

“Is your planet part of the Empire?”

Empire? she thought hysterically. It sounded like something out of a space opera, and she shook her head.

“I’m sure we aren’t. Humans haven’t made contact with any other intelligent races.”

“Then you would not be returned,” he said gently.

Never return to Earth? Never see her friends or her students again? A wave of sorrow washed over her and tears pricked her eyes, but she forced them back and took a few deep, calming breaths. He’d said they had sanctuary planets. That sounded… promising. Certainly better than being trapped on this space station.

“What about the two of you? Could they take you home?”

The shadow returned to his face.

“This is our home.”

He clearly didn’t want to discuss it, and she let the subject drop. Since it didn’t seem as if anything would change until this Fleet arrived, she would just have to make the best of the situation.

“What are you working on?” she asked, joining Malacar at his workbench.

He gave her a surprised look, but gestured at the pieces spread across the surface.

“I’m repairing one of the devices left behind by the previous occupants. There was a small amount of traffic here before the slavers arrived, and I traded the repaired equipment for supplies.”

Supplies? And no one had come by in months? Both Malacar and Sooni were painfully thin, and she suddenly wondered if that was natural or the result of deprivation. The fact that they were still willing to help her under the circumstances spoke volumes about their characters.

She looked around the cluttered workspace again, then gave Malacar a quick smile.

“Is there anything I can do to assist you? I don’t have much experience with technology, but I’m a quick learner. I’d be happy to help.”

“It’s not necessary, my child.”

“Please? It would help to have something to do.” Anything to take her mind off the situation.

That perceptive gaze searched her face again, and then he nodded.

“Very well. Please have a seat.”

She did, listening eagerly as Malacar began to explain. From teacher to student, Willow thought, smiling down at Sooni as the little girl came to lean against her. At least she would be able to do something useful.

They worked together for the rest of the day, although her progress was slow. When they took a break for the evening meal, Malacar tried to give her the largest portion of the porridge-like substance he’d prepared. But she’d seen the cabinet from which he’d retrieved the grain was almost empty and insisted that they share it equally.

When she surreptitiously added an extra spoonful to Sooni’s bowl, Malacar noticed. His eyes twinkled as he did the same and she smiled back, the two of them united by their concern for the child. Here she was in a dim room in an abandoned space station in some unknown part of the galaxy, eating dinner with two aliens, and yet she suddenly felt at home in a way she hadn’t in a very long time.

They quickly fell into a routine over the next few days as they waited for the Fleet to arrive. While Sooni played or explored the station, she and Malacar worked on repairing various pieces of equipment. He was a good teacher, calm and patient, and by the third day he’d taught her enough that she could repair a few common problems. During the day it was surprisingly easy to forget her situation, even though the portions of porridge kept growing smaller each day.

But at night, on her small bunk in Sooni’s room, the weight of her unknown future would crash down on her. She missed her home and her students, and the terror of the slavers returning haunted her dreams. Sooni frequently detected one of her panic attacks and would crawl in next to her. Her presence always comforted Willow, but how long would that last? If she left the station with the Fleet and they remained…

The thought of being separated from the little girl made her heart ache, but she did her best to push it aside and concentrate on the present.

On the afternoon of the third day, she grinned with satisfaction as Malacar gave her latest repair an approving nod. Just as he started to say something, a shrill alarm echoed through the room and he rushed over to a nearby monitor, studying the screen.

“A ship has landed in one of the docking bays,” he said, his voice expressionless.

“Is it the Fleet?”

Now that the moment was here, her fears and doubts came rushing back, but he shook his head.

“Too small. A minor trader perhaps. I haven’t been able to repair the cameras in that bay yet.”

“N… not the slavers?”

“I don’t think so. At least they’ve never entered through that part of the station before.” He hummed thoughtfully, then rose to his feet. “It’s probably just one of the traders who used to stop here occasionally. I’ll go and investigate.”

She immediately tried to protest, but he gave her a gentle smile.

“I’ve dealt with a number of different beings since we arrived. I’ll be fine. And if it is a trader, we may be able to obtain more supplies.”

Without waiting for a response, he headed for the door. She’d learned over the past few days that despite his kind heart and gentle nature, once he made up his mind very little would change it, and she gave Sooni a helpless look.

The little girl was biting her lip, her small face thoughtful.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Willow said, trying to sound confident.

“I’m going to go and keep watch. Just in case.”

Before Willow could stop her, the little girl darted into the bedroom and scrambled up into the ventilation shaft.

“Sooni, no!” she cried, racing after her. “It’s too dangerous!”

But Sooni was gone, disappearing into the darkness of the shaft. Damn. Now what? Her instincts demanded that she go after the little girl, but unlike Sooni, she couldn’t find her way through the confusing maze of shafts.

She’s smart and she’s resourceful, she told herself. She won’t do anything foolish.

Despite her attempt to reassure herself, she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that settled in her stomach, and she paced the small room restlessly, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if the slavers had returned after all? What if they hurt Malacar or found Sooni?

The minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. She had to clench her hands together to stop them from trembling as she kept watch on the dark opening of the shaft.

Please, Sooni, come back safe.

Just as she thought she might scream from the tension, a soft scuffling sound came from the main room and she hurried back out, her heart pounding. The door slid to one side to reveal Sooni, her eyes wide and uncertain. But she wasn’t alone.

A tall, muscular male followed Sooni inside and the room suddenly seemed to shrink. It wasn’t just his size—there was a subtle aura of danger surrounding him. Long dark purple hair was confined in a tight knot, accentuating his strong, angular bone structure—not human, but attractive nonetheless. His opalescent skin, subtle colors flickering across it, formed a striking contrast to his severe black clothing. He studied her with gleaming purple eyes, his expression unreadable.

Sooni darted to her side, and Willow immediately stepped in front of her.

“Stay back,” she said, doing her best to sound confident. “I won’t let you hurt her.”

He raised an eyebrow, his expression faintly mocking.

“What a brave little female,” he murmured, his voice equally mocking. The strange undertone beneath his words was a low rumble that vibrated pleasantly down her spine, but then he took a step towards her and her mouth went dry. “But if I meant her harm, how exactly would you stop me?”

CHAPTER THREE

Wraith’s soft boots made no sound as he moved quickly along the decrepit corridors of the ancient space station, as silent as one of the phantoms for which he was named. The stench of rust and decay filled the air, a testament to the station’s age and neglect. Much of the lighting had already burnt out and several of the remaining lights flickered, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls and created a disorienting chiaroscuro effect, but it was of no consequence to him.

He’d been in far too many similar environments to let it distract him, and his enhanced vision had no trouble penetrating the darker areas as he scanned for any indication that his quarry was present. Even though the place appeared to be deserted, he knew better than to let his guard down.

The oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional creak of metal settling or the distant wheeze of the laboring life support system. As he approached a junction in the corridor, he detected an almost imperceptible hum beneath the quiet and a faint shimmer in the air caught his eye. He stopped and studied it for a moment, then picked up a tangled remnant of wire from the floor and tossed it forward. The wire sizzled and disintegrated in midair.

Fuck. An energy barrier. This was no standard security measure for an abandoned station.

He pulled out a small electromagnetic device, calibrated it, and aimed it at the barrier. A pulse of energy shot out, temporarily disrupting the field, and he slipped through, the barrier snapping back into place behind him. Breaking the field was a calculated risk—the interruption had lasted only seconds, but it could have been noticed, and he paused to listen for any sign of an alarm.

When the silence remained unbroken, he continued his journey towards the center of the station. As he turned down another corridor, he encountered a series of laser grids, the dust floating in the air revealing the red beams crisscrossing the passage. Annoying, but not much of a deterrent. He studied the timing for a few minutes, then slipped through them, contorting his body with practiced ease as he navigated the deadly web.

At the far end of the hallway, a heavy blast door blocked his path. That in itself was not unusual, but the control panel next to the door was unusually complex—military grade and far beyond the usual standard on this type of station. He pulled out another device, this one a compact hacking tool, and connected it to the panel.

As the tool cycled, he permitted himself a small smile of satisfaction. The presence of these advanced security measures confirmed the information he’d uncovered. He’d been hired to track down a ring of slavers trafficking in human females, and although his first lead had died before Wraith caught up with him, he’d been able to retrieve a data drive from the slaver’s ship. That data had led him, eventually, to this station and what he hoped was a key hub in the slavers’ operations.

The door slid open with a hydraulic hiss to reveal an ordinary lift. After a careful examination he stepped inside, then paused to study the options. Most stations followed a fairly standardized pattern which meant the control room should be at the top of the station. Bracing himself against the walls in case of a trap, he chose the top floor.

His caution was unnecessary. The lift rose jerkily but uneventfully up the shaft, and he shook his head. Careless of whoever had installed the other security measures to assume that no further precautions were necessary. He would have arranged for the floor to drop out, or perhaps sent a deadly gas through the air vent…

He amused himself by plotting other possible traps until the elevator jerked to a halt and the doors opened. Keeping his body pressed against the side wall, he did a quick survey of the control room beyond.

The pristine area was a stark contrast to the dilapidated corridors he’d traversed previously. The space wasn’t large, but state-of-the-art equipment lined one wall while a small but luxurious seating area occupied the center of the room. Everything he saw confirmed his suspicions—this wasn’t just an ordinary hideout, but a well-funded, sophisticated operation.

He glided silently into the room, his senses on high alert. There was no sign of life, but the indications of recent occupation were everywhere. Two half-empty glasses of wine were abandoned on the low table in front of the sofa, a chair had been pushed back haphazardly, as if its occupant had left in a hurry, and a datapad with a cracked screen was half-hidden on the floor beneath the desk.

Fuck. His quarry had fled. How could they have known he was coming?

He tried the central console, but the system was unresponsive and he caught the acrid smell of burned electronics. Frowning, he tried the datapad instead. The fractured display flickered to life momentarily, revealing a portion of a message:

“…compromised. Leave immediately. Repeat, we are… “

The rest was lost to garbled display of pixels. Compromised? How? The information from the dead slaver’s ship had led him down a cold trail that should have been impossible to detect. Unless… unless it hadn’t been as cold as he thought. What if he were not the only one on their trail?

Still frowning, he tucked the datapad away to study later and continued his search. The drawers in the desk were unlocked, but their contents had been removed. A door on one side of the room opened into a bedroom—small but also clean and expensively furnished.

The door next to it opened into a high-tech medical lab and holding cell. A portable med bed occupied one side of the room, the restraints retracted. One glance at the damaged monitor showed there was no hope of recovering whatever information it had collected about the occupant of the bed.

As he turned to leave, he caught the faint trace of an unfamiliar scent, a lingering sweetness completely out of place amongst both the sterility of the lab and the decay of the surrounding station. He took a deep breath, seeking more of the scent but it remained stubbornly elusive. Had there been a captive here only a short time ago?

Annoyed that he could have come so close without success, he continued his search before finally admitting to himself that the slavers hadn’t left any clues behind. Which meant he was back to combing through the records on the data drive, searching for another lead.

During his search he’d discovered a dimly lit corridor behind a concealed panel. It led away from the hub, and he decided to follow it back to his ship, avoiding the traps he’d previously encountered. As he rounded a corner, a flicker of movement up ahead caught his attention. His hand on his dagger, he pressed himself against the wall, blending into the darkness. A small hunched figure shuffled into view, muttering to himself.

His eyes narrowed. What was a Ssst doing here? They were a notoriously reclusive race and rarely left their home planet. This male was old, his skin wrinkled and his clothing shabby and worn. Harmless enough, if out of place, but Wraith remained cautious. In his line of work, he frequently found that appearances could be deceptive.

He stepped out of the shadows, looming over the elderly male. The creature let out a startled yelp, stumbling backwards and cowering against the opposite wall.

“P-please, sir,” he whimpered, his voice quavering. “Don’t hurt me. I-I’m just the cleaner.”

He studied the trembling figure, not entirely sure he believed the frightened facade, although there was no obvious reason to doubt the male.

“Cleaner?” He cast a skeptical look at the rust streaking the walls surrounding them. “Not a very good one apparently.”

The old male wrung his hands together.

“I’m sorry, sir. There’s no one to help me.”

“You’re alone on the station?”

“Yes, sir.”

“There were others here. Where did they go?”

The Ssst’s eyes darted left and right, as if searching for an escape.

“I-I don’t know anything, sir. They paid me to keep quiet. Said they’d kill me if I talked.”

He took a step closer, his voice low and menacing.

“And what do you think I’ll do if you don’t talk?”

For a fleeting second he thought he saw a defiant look in those faded yellow eyes, but it vanished so quickly he decided he was mistaken. The old male trembled, opening his mouth, then closing it again, caught between two equally terrifying options.

A panicked male was of no use to him, and he decided to soften his approach slightly.

“I won’t kill you if you answer my questions and stay out of my way. But I need information.”

The old male hesitated a moment longer, then nodded quickly.

“They… they left in a hurry. Said something about a safehouse on Ceres Prime. That’s all I know, I swear!”

He considered the information. Ceres Prime was a mining colony on the edge of the system. If he remembered correctly there was little there except the mines, the spaceport, and a few crude towns. He supposed it was as good a place as any to lie low. It wasn’t much, but it was a lead.

He turned his attention back to the trembling male.

“Remember, stay out of my way. If I find out you’ve lied to me…”

The threat hung in the air, unfinished but unmistakable. The old male nodded frantically, then scurried away down the corridor, leaving Wraith alone to decide on his next move. Ceres Prime was a considerable distance away and he didn’t want to make the trip if the old male had been lying. Deciding to check the information against the data drive, he continued back towards the ship.

He’d only gone a short distance when he caught another hint of movement in the shadows. Had the old male lied about being alone? He tensed, ready for any threat, but the figure who emerged from the darkness was far from dangerous. A small Ssst girl, no more than five or six cycles old, hovered just out of reach.

So the old male had lied after all. Under the circumstances, Wraith couldn’t blame him. He wouldn’t have admitted to the presence of a child either. But why hadn’t she remained out of sight? Her wide yellow eyes, luminous in the dim light, were fixed on him with a mixture of fear and… something else. Hope?

For a fleeting moment he felt a strange sensation in his chest. A memory tried to surface, but he shoved it back down, burying it beneath layers of cold professionalism. He couldn’t afford distractions, not now.

“Leave,” he commanded, making his voice as sharp and cold as the blade at his hip. “This is no place for a child.”

The little girl flinched at his tone, but despite her obvious fear she stood her ground. Her tongue flicked out, tasting the air, and then she beckoned to him. When he didn’t move, she gestured again, more urgently this time.

He frowned. His first instinct was to ignore her and continue on his mission, but something in her eyes made him hesitate.

The child glanced over her shoulder, then back at him. She took a step backwards, then another, her hand still outstretched in invitation. Then, without warning, she turned and scurried into the darkness.

He cursed under his breath. He knew he should let her go, focus on finding the slavers, but his feet were already moving, following the small figure as she disappeared around a corner.

He pursued her through the labyrinthine corridors of the station, his footsteps silent despite his haste. The girl was quick, darting through shadows and squeezing through gaps he had to go around. She led him deeper into the bowels of the station, to areas that looked even more abandoned than those he’d passed through previously.

His senses remained on high alert as he followed her, half-expecting to encounter a trap of some kind, but his concerns were groundless. He followed her without incident until she finally came to a halt in front of what appeared to be a sealed door, glancing back at him with those wide, imploring eyes. He joined her cautiously, scanning for hidden security measures as the door opened with a reluctant groan.

The little girl darted inside. His hand resting on the hilt of his weapon, he followed her into a small cluttered room, then froze.

A human female stood in the center of the room. She was small, with slender curves and warm hazel eyes. Her chestnut hair fell in gentle waves around her face. She was undeniably beautiful, but it was her behavior that arrested his attention.

Despite the fear evident in her trembling hands and wide eyes, she placed herself squarely between Wraith and the Ssst child. Her chin rose defiantly, a protective fire burning in her gaze.

“Stay back,” she warned, her voice surprisingly steady. “I won’t let you hurt her.”

He felt something stir within him, an unfamiliar sensation he couldn’t quite name, but he quickly pushed it aside. She had to have been one of the females targeted by the slavers, yet she hadn’t hesitated to defend a child. Her courage intrigued him, and he had the oddest impulse to reassure her. Annoyed at his reaction to her, he raised a mocking brow.

“What a brave little female. But if I meant her harm, how exactly would you stop me?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, surprising him again with her honesty. “But I’d do the best I could.”

Before he could respond, the little girl tugged on the female’s sleeve.

“He told grandfather he’s looking for the slavers. I think he can help us.”

The female’s eyes narrowed, studying him.

“Are you… are you here to help?”

He hesitated. His job was to track down the slavers, not to come to the assistance of an unknown female. Yet he found himself nodding, unable to look away from those earnest hazel eyes. Only because she could be useful, he told himself quickly.

“Oh, thank you,” she said, her posture relaxing slightly. “I’m Willow, and this is Sooni.”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second before inclining his head slightly.

“You may call me Wraith. What are you—”

The door groaned open again and he whirled around, his hand on his weapon. The elderly Ssst male entered, but he walked briskly, his head upright and his eyes alert. His meek, submissive behavior had completely vanished. The change in his attitude and bearing was so unexpected, and so different, that Wraith almost didn’t recognize him at first.

“What the hell are you doing here?” the older male demanded.

His hand tightened on his weapon, annoyed both by the peremptory tone and the fact that the male had fooled him so successfully, but he simply raised a brow.

“You should ask your granddaughter.”

“He’s going to help us, Grandfather,” Sooni said eagerly, and he realized that she too seemed different—no longer as hesitant and fearful.

“We can’t trust—” the old male began, but the child gave him an earnest look.

“Yes we can. Scent him.”

The Ssst’s tongue flicked out, just as the little girl’s had in the tunnel, and then the male relaxed slightly. What the hell was that about? He was aware that the Ssst carried scent receptacles in their tongues, but it seemed somewhat extreme to trust him based purely on how he smelled. Especially since he did everything possible to disguise his own natural scent.

“Can you get the three of us off the station?” Willow asked hopefully.

While he was prepared to take her along, he wasn’t sure that he was willing to take on any additional passengers. Before he could respond, the old male shook his head.

“No. We’re not leaving.”

“Why not, Malacar?” she asked gently. “You know the supplies are almost gone.”

“No. This is our home.”

The old male clearly wasn’t going to budge, which was fine with him.

“Then we shall leave. Come,” he ordered, but a stubborn little chin went up.

“No. I’m not leaving without Sooni and Malacar.”

“We should go, Grandfather,” the little girl urged, but the old male shook his head again.

“This is our home, child. And we’ll be able to trade for supplies when the Fleet arrives.”

“The Fleet?” he asked sharply. “They are coming here?”

“That’s what we heard them say.” Willow gave him an anxious look. “Is that a problem?”

His business wasn’t exactly illegal, but he’d never been too concerned about staying on the right side of the law either—and he had acquired a certain… reputation over the years. Since he had no desire to explain his activities to some arrogant Kaisarian commander, it was time to leave.

“If you’re coming, come now.”

Both females looked at Malacar, but his stubborn look didn’t change. Fuck. They didn’t have time for this. He pulled a small canister out of his belt and sprayed a quick puff in the old male’s face. Malacar crumpled to the ground.

CHAPTER FOUR

Willow’s heart leaped into her throat when Malacar collapsed. She rushed to his side, Sooni following her anxiously. Her hands trembled as she checked for signs of life, sighing with relief when she felt his pulse beating slowly and steadily.

“What did you do to him?” she demanded.

Wraith regarded her coolly, his eyes devoid of emotion.

“It’s merely a harmless sedative. We don’t have time for this.”

She cradled Malacar’s head, still glaring at him

“We can’t just leave him here!”

“We need to go. Now.”

Wraith’s tone left no room for argument. She carefully laid Malacar down and rose, planting herself between Wraith and the unconscious male.

“Why? What’s the rush?”

“You said the Fleet was on their way.”

“So? I thought they were kind of like cops—law enforcement.”

“They are.” His eyes darted to the door. “But the Royal Fleet is not known for their… understanding.”

She crossed her arms, refusing to budge.

“Explain.”

“If they arrive here expecting to encounter slavers and find an illegally abducted female, their first assumption will be that I was the one who abducted you. They will impound my ship and imprison me—or at least they will try.” He gave her a cold smile. “They will not keep me long, but it would be an… inconvenience.”

“But I can tell them it wasn’t you.”

“I doubt they would listen to a primitive female.”

An outraged gasp escaped.

“What do you mean primitive?”

“The Kaisarians are an arrogant lot. They think everyone is beneath them—but especially anyone from a pre-spaceflight planet.”

“Wait a minute. How do you know that?”

He gave her an impatient look.

“We can discuss it later. The point is that they will not treat you as an equal. If you’re lucky they’ll treat you like a slightly intelligent pet.”

He probably wasn’t wrong, and the thought of becoming a prisoner of the Fleet made her shudder, but she couldn’t bring herself to desert Malacar. Even though he didn’t want to leave the space station, she couldn’t abandon him here alone with only a small amount of food remaining. And she certainly wasn’t leaving without Sooni.

“I’m not going anywhere without Malacar and Sooni,” she said firmly. “Either we all go, or I stay with them.”

His eyes narrowed, a flicker of something—surprise?—crossing his face. For a moment she thought he might argue further—or simply leave. Instead, he gave an annoyed grunt, then bent down and hoisted Malacar effortlessly over his shoulder.

“Fine. You can tell him this was your decision.”

She nodded, relief washing over her. Sooni had been watching anxiously, but she hurried over to join her.

“Now move,” Wraith ordered them.

She glanced down at Sooni, and the little girl nodded, her face pale but her eyes determined.

“It’ll be okay,” she whispered, taking Willow’s hand.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded and they hurried after Wraith. They followed him through the winding corridors of the station, his long strides forcing her into a fast jog in order to keep up. Despite her apprehension, she couldn’t help noticing the way he moved—fluid and purposeful, his big muscular body showing no strain from carrying Malacar’s weight.

For all his coldness, there was a carefulness in how he handled the elderly alien that surprised her, especially given his impatience with the delay.

He paused at an intersection, his eyes glowing slightly as he scanned their surroundings. She used the moment to lean against the wall, still breathless from the rapid pace. He glanced back at her and Sooni, and she expected him to demand they move faster.

“Are you all right?” he asked instead, his voice cold but not unkind.

She nodded, surprised by the unexpected consideration. As they resumed their journey, she found herself studying him more closely. There was something in the set of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders, that made her wonder what drove him. What had shaped him into the male she saw—dangerous and aloof, but still capable of moments of compassion? She was well aware that he could have simply taken her as easily as he’d taken Malacar.

She was still wondering when they emerged in a small docking bay. His ship was waiting, smaller than she’d expected, its sleek lines and polished exterior a striking contrast to the dilapidated surroundings. It looked more like a predatory bird than a spacecraft, elegant yet deadly.

He keyed in a code, and a ramp descended with a soft hiss. He gestured for them to enter, scanning the area one last time before ushering them inside.

The interior was as compact as the exterior suggested, sparse and utilitarian. A narrow corridor ran the length of the ship, and he strode purposefully to one of the two small doors at the rear. Not doors—glass panels. Her stomach dropped as she realized they opened into two holding cells. Small and spartanly furnished, they were clearly designed for function over comfort.

She watched as Wraith carefully lowered Malacar onto a narrow bunk, his care at odds with his earlier brusqueness. As he straightened, his gaze met hers, and for a moment Willow thought she saw a flicker of something—discomfort, regret?—in his eyes.

He cleared his throat, gesturing to the other cell. “You and the child will have to share that one,” he said gruffly.

“You’re locking us in?” she whispered.

“What? No. But my ship is not designed for… visitors. There are no other cabins.”

She noticed a slight hesitation in his voice, as if he were uncomfortable with the arrangement, but his face had resumed its usual cold expression. She glanced down at Sooni, who squeezed her hand reassuringly.

“I’ll be in the cockpit,” he added, already turning away. “We need to get moving.”

As he disappeared down the corridor, she took a deep breath, trying to process how quickly her life had changed once again. The reality of their predicament hit her anew as she looked at the small cell that would be their temporary home. At least it’s clean, she thought, determined to look on the bright side.

She checked Malacar’s pulse, still slow and steady, then perched on the edge of the narrow bunk, waiting for him to awaken. The cell felt cramped with the three of them inside, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave him. Sooni curled up next to her, her small hand resting on her grandfather’s arm.

Time crawled by, marked only by the soft hum of the ship’s engines. The takeoff had been so smooth she hadn’t even registered it until she noticed the slight vibration beneath her feet. Her mind kept replaying the events of the past few hours. Uncertainty still gnawed at her, but perhaps she’d picked up some of Sooni’s assurance, because there was a strange sense of calm beneath her surface worries.

A low groan finally broke the silence as Malacar’s eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding his features.

“Grandfather!” Sooni exclaimed happily. “You’re awake.”

He tried to sit up, his arms shaking, and she assisted him into a sitting position as he gave the cell a dazed look.

“What… where are we?”

“We’re on a ship—Wraith’s ship. He brought us here.”

The old alien scowled at the glass door panel.

“And locked us up? What did that bastard do to me?”

“He didn’t hurt you,” she assured him, though the words felt hollow even to her. “He said it was just to make you sleep because we didn’t have time to argue. And we’re not locked in. He doesn’t have any regular cabins.”

Malacar’s face darkened.

“We need to leave this ship. We cannot trust—”

“It’s okay, Grandfather,” Sooni interrupted, her voice confident. “He’s not a bad male. We’ll be all right.”

Willow glanced at her, surprised by her certainty. Sooni grinned up at her in response, yellow eyes sparkling.

“I’m going to look around,” the little girl announced, slipping off the bunk.

“Sooni, wait—” Malacar called, but she’d already darted out of the cell.

He struggled to stand, then gave up, giving her a worried look.

“I know this isn’t ideal,” she said softly. “And I’m sorry he did that to you. But I think Sooni’s right. I feel like we’re safer with him than we were before.”

The words surprised her as she spoke them, but they felt true. Despite Wraith’s cold demeanor and questionable methods, something about him made her feel protected.

Malacar studied her face, then sighed.

“I hope you’re both right, child. For all our sakes.”

The elderly alien’s shoulders slumped, weariness etched into every line of his face, and her heart ached for him.

“I’m sorry you had to leave your home,” she said softly.

He gave her a surprised look, then nodded.

“It is… difficult. We Ssst form deep attachments to our homes, even if that home is an abandoned space station. It’s not in our nature to wander.”

She nodded, silently encouraging him to continue. He looked down at his hands, then sighed.

“It took something truly drastic to make me leave our planet. After my daughter—Sooni’s mother—died, I discovered her father’s plans for the child. He intended to use her as a pawn in a political alliance. I couldn’t allow it.”

His voice caught, and she instinctively reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. He patted it gently before continuing.

“So I fled with Sooni. We ended up on the space station by accident, but we made a new home there. It wasn’t much, but it was ours. And it wasn’t a bad life until the slavers came. But even then, I… I didn’t want to leave.”

He fell silent for a moment, his gaze distant. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper.

“But I think perhaps it was time. Sooni deserves a better life.”

A lump formed in her throat.

“You’ve sacrificed so much for her,” she said softly.

No one had ever been willing to sacrifice as much for her. She quickly pushed that thought aside as Malacar looked up. The sorrow on his face finally lifted, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

“As any loving grandparent would. And now, it seems, we embark on a new journey.”

“We certainly do. I just hope it leads us somewhere safe. And now I think I’d better check on Sooni.”

“Thank you,” he said, catching her hand as she rose to her feet. “You are very good with her.”

The unexpected praise made her chest ache but she smiled at him.

“She’s a wonderful child. I’ll be back to check on you soon.”

As she left the cell and turned down the narrow corridor, she heard Sooni’s voice, bright and cheerful. Following the sound to the front of the ship, she found herself at the entrance to the cockpit. It was as utilitarian as the rest of the ship with a dizzying array of controls beneath a wide viewscreen.

There were two seats and the little girl was settled in the co-pilot’s seat, chatting cheerfully with an expressionless Wraith. To her surprise, he didn’t seem perturbed by the girl’s presence. Although he remained focused on the controls in front of him, he occasionally nodded or gave a clipped response to Sooni’s excited observations.

As if he sensed her presence, he glanced back over his shoulder at her. There was an intensity in those dark purple eyes that was oddly thrilling. His eyes didn’t glow as they had on the station, and she wondered if he could somehow control it.

“Is the old male awake?” he asked coolly.

“Yes, Malacar is awake.”

She caught a flash of amusement at her correction, but he only nodded.

“Good.”

“Sooni, why don’t you go keep your grandfather company for a bit? You can tell him all about the ship.”

The little girl’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly as she hopped down from her seat and scampered away. Willow hesitated for a moment then entered the cockpit. His eyes flicked towards her briefly before returning to the controls but he didn’t say anything. She settled into the seat Sooni had vacated, her breath catching as she took in the view.

Stars stretched out before them, countless pinpricks of light against the vast darkness of space. It was beautiful, awe-inspiring… and terrifying. The enormity of it all suddenly hit her. She was light-years from Earth, from her students, from everything she knew.

“It’s so overwhelming,” she whispered, more to herself than to Wraith.

He didn’t respond immediately, his hands moving over the controls with practiced ease. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and matter-of-fact.

“You get used to it.”

She turned to study his profile, the sharp angles of his face illuminated by the soft glow of the console. The subtle colors in his skin seemed to shimmer, as if he might suddenly disappear.

“Do you? Get used to it, I mean?”

His expression remained impassive, but something flickered in his eyes.

“I spend a lot of time in space.”

“Why?” she asked. “What do you do?”

She half-expected him to ignore the question, but he shrugged slightly.

“I hunt down criminals and retrieve stolen property.”

“You mean you’re a bounty hunter.” She considered that for a moment. “What do you do with the… what did you call them? The criminals?”

His lip twitched slightly, the tiniest hint of a smile.

“Mostly I turn them over to the proper authorities.”

Mostly? She wanted to ask what he meant, but something about his expression stopped her.

“Who hires you?” she asked instead.

He was silent for so long that she thought he might not answer, but then he shrugged again.

“Anyone who needs help finding something, or someone. Usually wealthy collectors. Sometimes law enforcement. Sometimes private citizens. Whoever can afford me.”

“Do you ever help people for free?”

“No.”

“Then why are you helping us?”

CHAPTER FIVE

Although Wraith had already locked in their course, he kept his eyes on the control panel as he tried to come up with an answer to her question. He wasn’t even sure he knew why. It had been an impulse, a no doubt foolish impulse, and he wasn’t a male given to such actions. He finally just shrugged.

Even though he wasn’t looking at her, he was aware that her eyes were on his face. He braced himself for more questions, his jaw tightening, but her next question caught him off guard.

“So what’s your story?”

His hand paused mid-motion, hovering over a switch for a second before flicking it. He turned to her, studying her face. There was no condemnation there, just genuine curiosity.

“My story?” The words felt foreign on his tongue.

She nodded, her hazel eyes warm and inviting.

“Yeah, you know. Where you’re from, how you ended up as a bounty hunter, how you ended up… here.”

She gestured vaguely at the ship around them, and he turned back to the controls, buying time. No one had ever asked him that before. Other bounty hunters, his captives, even his employers—they all knew better than to pry. Yet here was this softspoken Earth female, casually inquiring about his past as if they were old friends catching up.

A past I don’t remember.

He opened his mouth to shut her down, to tell her it was none of her business, but something stopped him. Maybe it was the lack of judgment in her voice, or the way she looked at him—not as a ruthless bounty hunter, but as a person.

“I don’t remember my name,” he found himself saying, his voice low and gruff. “Wraith is only what they call me.”

She leaned forward, giving him a curious look. “They?”

His hands tightened on the controls. He’d already said more than he intended.

“Everyone,” he replied curtly, hoping to end the conversation.

But she wasn’t deterred.

“How long have you been doing this? Hunting people, I mean.”

“A long time.”

He waited for her to press further, to demand answers he wasn’t prepared to give, but the questions never came.

Instead, a comfortable silence settled between them. He found himself acutely aware of her presence, the soft sound of her breathing, the rustle of fabric as she shifted in her seat. It was… different. Unsettling, yet not entirely unwelcome.

He stole a glance at her from the corner of his eye. She was gazing out at the stars, her face serene, seemingly content to simply be. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had sat with him like this, without fear or ulterior motives.

The ship’s recycled air carried her scent to him—the sweetness mixed with the lingering traces of her fear. He breathed it in, allowing himself a moment to enjoy the unusual sense of peace he felt in her presence. It also stirred something deep within, a long-forgotten feeling he couldn’t quite place.

He frowned out at the stars. What was he doing? He never allowed anyone in his space like this. Prisoners stayed in their cells. Clients kept their distance. Yet here he was, letting this Earth female sit beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

He should tell her to leave, to go back to the holding cells with the other two. It was safer that way—for both of them. But the words died in his throat. Instead, he found himself relaxing, ever so slightly, into the unfamiliar comfort of companionship.

This wasn’t like him. He didn’t do companionship. He worked alone, kept to himself, focused on the job. So why was he acting so out of character now?

Before he could decide, Sooni’s voice piped up from behind them.

“I’m hungry. Do you have any food?”

He tensed, unexpectedly irritated by the interruption. He turned to find the child smiling at him, her eyes bright and expectant. His first instinct was to send her away. But something else rose up, unbidden—an urge to provide, to care for these unexpected passengers.

He clenched his jaw, fighting against the unfamiliar impulse.

“There are supplies in the galley,” he said, his voice carefully neutral. “You may help yourselves.”

Willow stood, her warmth leaving the co-pilot’s chair.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “Come on, Sooni. Let’s see what we can find.”

As their footsteps faded away, he exhaled slowly. What was wrong with him? Although he provided adequate food and water, he never concerned himself with the comfort of his prisoners. They were cargo, nothing more. Yet here he was, offering these three the free run of his ship, his supplies.

But they’re not prisoners.

He frowned at the controls, annoyed at the variation in his normal process—and his own weakness. He wasn’t some softhearted caretaker. He needed to remember who he was and why he worked alone.

But despite that resolution, he found himself straining to catch the distant sounds of Willow and Sooni in the galley. The clatter of dishes, muffled voices, a soft laugh. It stirred something in him, another long-buried memory just out of reach.

He shook his head sharply, forcing his attention back to the navigation console. He had a job to do. These people were a complication, nothing more. He couldn’t afford to let his guard down, to care.

Yet even as he told himself this, his fingers hovered over the environmental controls, raising the temperature to a more comfortable level for his human and Ssst passengers.

Fuck.

Determined to put things on a business footing, he placed a sound barrier across the entrance to the cockpit, then input a complex encryption sequence. The communication channel crackled to life, and King Conran’s holographic image materialized before him. The king was surprisingly young, with gleaming golden skin and glowing golden eyes, but he was a skillful warrior who’d fought a successful battle to rid Farlain of the tyrannical former king.

“Wraith. Do you have news for me?”

“Not exactly. Unfortunately, the slavers had already fled when I arrived, but I have recovered a human female.” He had to force himself to keep his tone neutral, an unexpected tightness filling his chest.

“Another one? Damn. We have to shut this ring down, Wraith.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“That is why you hired me.”

His original assignment had been to recover and question the now-dead slaver, but Conran had extended his contract to tracking down the source of the slave ring.

“I know. But first I think you’d better bring the female to Farlain. My mate will insist.”

Since Conran’s mate was also human, Wraith had no doubt that was true, but he felt an odd hollowness in his stomach.

“Very well,” he said. “I trust I’ll be compensated for this additional… cargo?”

The words felt wrong as they left his mouth, but he was a professional after all. He’d told Willow truthfully that he didn’t work for free.

“Very well,” Conran replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. “But make sure she doesn’t come to any harm.”

“I never permit my cargo to be damaged,” he said coldly and ended the transmission, leaning back in his seat.

He should feel pleased that he’d established a professional boundary, but somehow he couldn’t muster up any enthusiasm. Willow would be safe enough on Farlain, with the other human female—so why didn’t he feel happier about the solution?

He’d gotten what he wanted—confirmation of payment and orders to continue the hunt. So why did it feel like a hollow victory?

He rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the unease that clung to him. She is just another contract, he reminded himself. A job to be completed, nothing more. He’d delivered countless bounties before without a second thought. This shouldn’t be any different.

But it was.

The memories of her warm smile, that small, soft body, the gentle way she’d spoken to him earlier, kept intruding on his thoughts. He did his best to push them aside, focusing instead on the nav charts before him. He plotted a course for Farlain, his fingers moving with practiced efficiency.

“Just a contract,” he muttered to himself, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.

Why did the thought of handing Willow over to Conran make him so… uncomfortable? He knew Conran wouldn’t hurt her—he was completely besotted with his own mate—but he still didn’t like the idea. He braced his hands against the control panel as he took a few deep breaths, trying to center himself. He was acting out of character, and he knew it. The realization unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

He needed to focus. To remember who he was and what he did. Sentiment had no place in his life. It was a weakness he couldn’t afford.

And yet…

The sound of laughter drifted from the galley again, and something in his chest tightened at the sound. He growled in frustration, angry at himself for his weakness, the sound echoing through the cockpit.

“Is something wrong?”

He spun around to find Willow at the door, a steaming plate in her hands. Fuck. He’d neither heard or scented her approach. Such carelessness would get him killed if he weren’t careful.

He managed to shake his head, and she smiled and held out the plate. The scent of warm food wafted through the cockpit, reminding him how long it had been since he’d eaten. He hesitated, unsure how to respond to this unexpected gesture.

“You should eat something,” she said, her voice soft but insistent. “You’ve been up here for hours.”

He took the plate mechanically, still struggling to process the situation. No one had ever brought him food before. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had shown concern for his wellbeing.

She smiled, a gentle curve of her lips that made something in his chest tighten.

“There’s plenty more if you’re still hungry after that.”

She turned to leave, and before he could stop himself, words tumbled from his mouth.

“Stay.” He cleared his throat, shocked at his own request. “If you want, I mean. To keep me company.”

The words hung in the air between them, and he felt a flash of panic. What was he doing? This wasn’t like him at all. He opened his mouth to take it back, to send her away, but she was already settling into the co-pilot’s chair.

“I’d like that,” she said, smiling at him.

He sat down heavily, his mind reeling.

“Have you eaten?”

“Oh yes. It was wonderful to have something other than porridge.” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t say that. Malacar and Sooni shared their food with me, even though they had very little. They’re very kind.”

And I am not.

He didn’t voice the sentiment. Instead, he picked up the utensil, more out of a need to do something with his hands than actual hunger. The first bite surprised him—it was good, better than the bland nutrient packs he usually subsisted on. Although he always stocked the ship with fresh food, he rarely bothered to cook.

They sat in silence for a few moments, the quiet broken only by the soft hum of the ship’s engines. He found himself stealing glances at Willow, trying to understand why her presence affected him so strongly. She was very attractive, especially when she smiled, and her body was small but perfectly formed. Yet he’d met other females who were just as attractive and never experienced the same reaction.

Her gaze caught his, and he felt an odd sensation in his stomach. He quickly turned away, unnerved by his reaction. This wasn’t him. He was cool, dispassionate, and always in control. And yet here he was, flustered by a simple smile from a female.

The silence stretched on, and he cursed himself for his foolishness. Why had he asked her to stay? What had he hoped to accomplish?

To his relief, she spoke first, her voice low and hesitant.

“Where are we going?”

“To Farlain. The king is mated to a human female. You will be safe there.”

“Is that how you knew about humans?”

“It’s one reason.”

He’d actually encountered another human female previously, but he didn’t think she’d approve of the circumstances. To his relief, she didn’t press him.

“Is Farlain one of those sanctuary planets that Malacar told me about?”

“Not exactly,” he admitted reluctantly. “But the king will protect you.”

She smiled at him, her face warm and soft.

“Thank you.”

I should tell her I’m being paid to take her there. But something stopped him, a strange reluctance to tell her the truth. As if he couldn’t bear to see the look of disappointment on her face.

“I’d better go back and check on the others.”

She rose to her feet, then stopped and put her hand on his arm.

“Thank you for everything you have done for us.”

She leaned over and brushed a quick kiss against his cheek, smiled, and left.

He couldn’t move. No one touched him. Ever. Now his arm and cheek seemed to burn, the memory of her skin against his like a permanent brand. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, his normally iron-clad composure in tatters.

He’d never felt like this before. Hot. Hungry. Confused. Need burning through him.

He didn’t know whether to rage against his own weakness or surrender to it.

No. He would never be weak again.

With a savage snarl, he slammed the door shut on his emotions. He had a job to do. Nothing else mattered.

CHAPTER SIX

Willow forced herself to walk down the corridor, even though her knees felt unexpectedly shaky. Kissing Wraith’s cheek had seemed like such a harmless gesture—she’d done the same to Malacar several times. But kissing Wraith had been entirely different, his skin warm and smooth beneath her lips. His scent had surrounded her, a subtle spicy scent that made her head swim.

And those eyes, staring at her with that dark, heated intensity, purple fire burning in their depths.

She pressed her hands against her hot cheeks as she paused outside the small lounge. But it wasn’t only her cheeks that felt warm—her whole body felt flushed and overheated, an unfamiliar ache deep inside her.

What’s wrong with me? She’d always been the cautious type when it came to dating, waiting until she felt really comfortable with a man before committing to a physical relationship—which hadn’t happened often. It had never been hard to wait, but she’d never felt this rush of need before either. Not even when she had been in a relationship.

Maybe it’s alien pheromones, she told herself, remembering his tantalizing scent. I’ll just have to keep my distance from now on.

A resolution that had proven surprisingly easy to keep, she realized regretfully a few days later as she sat at the small table in the common area with Sooni. The area opened to the galley and consisted of a seating area with an oversized couch, along with the dining area. Like the rest of the ship, it was utilitarian and completely devoid of personality, but it was well equipped and surprisingly comfortable.

Sooni was carefully practicing her letters, her tongue flicking out as she concentrated. Willow was both helping her and learning the language herself since whatever translation device she’d been given didn’t extend to written language, but her mind was on Wraith rather than her lessons.

Given the size of the ship, she’d expected to find it hard to avoid him, but he seemed equally determined to steer clear of her. Despite both their efforts, she was frequently conscious of his presence. She knew he often lingered just out of sight, listening but not participating. The datapad in her hand was a case in point. She’d been talking to Malacar, bemoaning her inability to read and write Galactic, the most common language in the Empire. A few hours later, the datapad had appeared on the table with a learning program already installed.

“There.”

Sooni proudly held up a sheet of the reusable paper that Wraith had also provided, covered with slightly crooked letters.

“Wonderful. You’re doing a great job.” She smiled at the little girl, amused but also pleased that she had once again ended up teaching. “Shall we try—”

A loud clang from the engine room on the lower level interrupted her, followed by a muttered string of not quite audible curses, and the two of them shared a knowing smile.

“Grandfather’s fixing things again.” Sooni’s eyes were bright with amusement.

Malacar was not good at just sitting around, and it hadn’t been long before he’d discovered something to fix. Although Wraith had not been happy with his interference at first, he’d eventually admitted, grudgingly, that the results were an improvement.

As if summoned by her thoughts, Wraith’s tall form appeared in the doorway. The colors in his skin danced under the ship’s lighting, and she felt a familiar flutter in her chest. She firmly ignored it as he nodded curtly.

“How are the lessons progressing?”

“Look! I wrote all these myself.”

Sooni excitedly showed him her work, and Willow hid a smile. The little girl often sought him out, and despite his brusqueness, he was surprisingly patient with her.

“Very good,” he said, and Sooni glowed with pleasure. “Your grandfather wants you,” he added, his eyes gleaming purple as he glanced briefly at Willow before looking away.

The little girl bounced to her feet, lessons forgotten. “Coming!”

She scampered off, leaving the two of them alone.

“Is everything all right?” she asked.

He grunted, a sound she was learning to interpret as grudging approval.

“The old male has a knack for machines.”

“Malacar,” she corrected gently. “His name is Malacar.”

Amusement flashed in Wraith’s eyes before he nodded again and turned to leave.

“Wait,” she said, surprising herself. He paused, his broad shoulders tense. “I was wondering if you could help me with this passage. I’m not sure I’m interpreting the program correctly.”

He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. She expected him to refuse and told herself that it was probably for the best. Instead, he gave an almost imperceptible nod.

As he settled on the banquette next to her, his big frame dwarfing the small seating area, his delicious spicy scent surrounded her, and her traitorous body responded. She did her best to ignore it and tapped the screen, scrolling to the section of the text she didn’t understand.

“The translator doesn’t account for idiomatic phrases,” he explained, his voice low and close to her ear. Her pulse raced as she forced her eyes to focus on the words on the screen.

“What does this mean?” she asked, pointing to a phrase.

She could feel the heat of his body, his scent wrapping around her. It was all she could do to keep her breathing steady and ignore the pounding of her heart.

“It means to destroy something.” He gestured to the screen. “Read the context and it will make sense.”

She started to reply, but the words caught in her throat as he shifted slightly and his knee brushed hers. Heat flared through her, and even though the sensible voice in her head was screaming a warning, she didn’t pull away.

His breath drifted across her neck, the barest hint of contact, and she shuddered, the datapad slipping from her hands. When she reached for it, her movements jerky and awkward, her fingers grazed his thigh. His muscles tightened beneath her touch.

“Willow—”

His eyes burned into hers for a moment, and then he was gone. He reached the door of the lounge before she even processed the fact that he’d moved, his face set in its usual cold mask.

“I have work to do.”

She sagged back against the seat as he left the room. Her entire body ached with need, her mind reeling. How did he have this effect on her? She was a grown woman, not some teenage girl consumed with lust. Not that she’d been a lustful teenager either. Her fantasies were safely confined to boy band singers. Nothing about her attraction to Wraith felt safe.

No, that wasn’t entirely true. She knew he was dangerous, and she suspected that the heat between them could consume her if she weren’t careful, but despite that, there was something about him that made her feel as if she could trust him. That made her feel safe.

She sighed, forcing herself to rise and return the datapad to its charging station, uneasily aware of the heat still simmering in her veins. Alien pheromones, she reminded herself. That had to be it.

He didn’t reappear for the rest of the day. Each time she passed through the corridor, she looked up and saw him bent over the console. Was he trying to avoid her by focusing so intently? By the time evening came he’d been in there for hours. She couldn’t stand it anymore and went to join him, hovering uncertainly at the entrance to the cockpit. He didn’t look up, but she was sure he knew she was there.

She followed his gaze to the wide screen in front of him, a twisted maze of dots and lines.

“That looks complicated,” she said quietly.

For a moment she thought he wouldn’t respond, but he eventually answered her.

“I’m overlaying records, trying to locate other possible hubs for the slaving operation.”

His voice was hoarse, his shoulders tense, and she frowned at him.

“You’ve been at this for hours. Wouldn’t you like to take a break?”

He shook his head, not looking up.

“No time. I have a job to do.”

She bit her lip, but didn’t bother trying to argue. Instead, she returned to the galley and made a pot of the tea she’d seen him drinking, pouring it into a thermal mug. She returned to the cockpit with the mug, setting it down next to him.

“Here,” she said gently. “Just in case you get thirsty.”

His eyes flicked to the mug, then back to her face, tilting his head as he studied her.

“Thank you,” he said, sounding strangely hesitant.

A strand of his dark purple hair had fallen across his face, but he didn’t seem to notice. Impulsively she reached out and tucked it behind his ear, the errant lock cool and silky beneath her fingers.

He stiffened at her touch, his head snapping up to look at her, his eyes burning with that purple fire again. Her breath caught in her throat, but she didn’t back away.

“Sorry,” she said softly. “It was in your eyes.”

For a moment he just stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, almost imperceptibly, he nodded and turned back to his research. She turned and left on unexpectedly shaky legs.

He spent the next day tucked away in the cockpit as well. After a long debate with herself, she made him another mug of tea and took it to him. She put it down next to him, then hesitated.

“Mind if I join you?”

He glanced up, his expression unreadable. “If you wish.”

She settled into the co-pilot’s chair, her heart racing at their proximity.

“Why don’t you tell me something about yourself?” she asked gently. “I’d like to know more about you.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” he said flatly.

“I don’t believe that. Everyone has a story.”

His jaw tightened, and she thought she’d pushed him too far, but then he sighed.

“I told you, I don’t remember my past. My first clear memory is waking up in a cell on one of the trading stations where they auction slaves. I was ten—perhaps eleven.”

Ten? She was momentarily speechless, horror washing over her.

“Oh my God,” she finally said. “I don’t even know what to say. That’s… horrible.”

He shrugged, as if it didn’t matter, but she saw his fist clench on the controls.

“That was the start of my education,” he added in a deliberately casual voice. “Learning how to fight, how to survive. By the time I escaped, I was old enough to begin my own trade.”

“And you became a bounty hunter. But if you were a slave, how did you learn to pilot a ship?”

“My last master was a pilot. I paid attention.” He looked at her, his face hard. “I took the ship when I killed him.”

There was a note of defiance in his voice, as if he expected her to criticize him, but she couldn’t find it in her heart to do so.

“Was it… this ship?”

“Gods, no. That was a very long time ago and it wasn’t much of a ship. But it allowed me to track down something that had been stolen—and that was the start.”

“I’m sorry for being nosy. I know it must be painful for you to talk about your past.”

“It doesn’t matter. As I said, it was a long time ago and I don’t remember much anyway.”

“Still,” she murmured. She reached out instinctively, then hesitated before lightly touching his arm. “It must have been hard.”

He stiffened at her touch, but he didn’t pull away. His gaze met hers, and for a moment, Willow thought she saw a flicker of vulnerability in those purple depths.

“It was a long time ago,” he repeated, but her heart ached for him.

She wanted to wrap her arms around him and tell him it would be okay, but she restrained herself. He was a grown male, not one of her students. He didn’t need her comfort. Did he?

“Thank you for telling me.”

They stared at each other for a long moment before he cleared his throat and looked away.

“It’s late. You should get some rest.”

She nodded, unexpectedly disappointed at his dismissal. As she turned to leave, she could have sworn she felt his eyes following her. But when she glanced back, he was focused on the controls, his expression as inscrutable as ever.

She was still remembering their conversation the next evening as she watched Sooni help Malacar prepare their evening meal. He had a contented look on his face, and she suspected he was still enjoying the abundance of food and the variety of ingredients. He was carefully chopping vegetables while Sooni chattered away.

“And then Wraith showed me the navigation system!” Sooni exclaimed, her yellow eyes bright with excitement. “It’s like all the stars all laid on top of each other. You should see it.”

Malacar chuckled. “Perhaps I will, little one. For now, let’s focus on not burning our dinner.”

She smiled at the two of them, warmth spreading through her chest. This felt so natural, so right. If the future weren’t so uncertain, she could be happy with this life. A home of sorts. A family. People she cared about.

Sooni was still chattering happily, giving a somewhat confusing description of the navigation system.

“Wraith’s so smart. He knows everything,” she said, waving an arm enthusiastically.

Willow laughed, quickly removing the bottle of spices Sooni had nearly knocked over.

“I’m sure he is,” she said. “But I think Malacar’s right. Let’s focus on cooking, shall we?”

“Okay. Do you think Wraith will join us?”

As much as she wished he would, she didn’t think it was likely.

“I think he’s busy,” she said gently. “But you can take him a plate later.”

Sooni nodded eagerly.

“Then can we play a game? You promised to teach me one.”

“I don’t see why not,” she said and Malacar agreed, his wrinkled face creasing into a smile.

As they sat down to eat, she caught a glimpse of movement in the doorway. Wraith stood there, watching them with an unreadable expression. She opened her mouth to invite him to join them, but he turned and disappeared before she could speak. She bit back a sigh, glad that at least Sooni hadn’t seen him.

After dinner she let Sooni take him a plate “all on her own” while she pulled out the pack of cards she’d found in one of the ship’s storage compartments. The numbers and symbols were different, of course, as were the number of cards, but there were enough similarities for her to teach Malacar and Sooni how to play a version of Go Fish, laughing at Sooni’s exaggerated pout when she had to draw another card.

As they played, she noticed Wraith again, just a faint outline in the shadows of the corridor. She pretended not to see him, not wanting to scare him off, but her heart ached at his self-imposed isolation.

Sooni’s excited voice drew her attention back to the game. “I have a pair! That means I win, right?”

Willow laughed, shaking her head. “Not quite, sweetie. But you’re getting closer!”

They played several games, and then Malacar told them a story about how one of the constellations in the Ssst sky got its name. Sooni fell asleep in the middle of it and Willow carried her to bed, gently tucking her in. She talked to Malacar for a while longer, then went to bed.

Sleep eluded her and she tossed and turned restlessly in her bunk. She kept replaying the events of the past few days in her head—both this unexpected sense of family and her encounters with Wraith. Wraith… Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of him.

Finally she sighed, giving up on sleep. She slipped out of bed and padded quietly through the darkened ship towards the cockpit, the distant starlight beckoning her.

It wasn’t until she reached the cockpit that she saw Wraith sitting in the dark, only his silhouette visible against the vast expanse of space. He turned towards her, purple eyes glinting in the dim light as they flicked down over her bare legs.

She was suddenly very conscious of the fact that all she was wearing was one of his shirts, even though it was so large that it almost reached her knees. In one of his silent acts of thoughtfulness, he’d left one for both her and Sooni to sleep in. She’d had a hard time preventing Sooni from wearing it all the time, even though it came down to the little girl’s ankles.

“Can’t sleep?”

His deep voice sent a shiver down her spine, but she shook her head, moving to stand beside him.

“Sooni talks in her sleep.” It was true enough, although it wasn’t what had driven her here. She sighed and stared out at the stars. “It’s so beautiful out there.”

“Yes. Perhaps that’s why I feel most… comfortable here.”

The admission surprised her, and she glanced up at him, noting the slight softness in his usually rigid posture.

She stood silently next to him for a long time, watching distant galaxies drift by. The air between them felt charged, alive with possibility, and her skin tingled with awareness of his proximity but neither one of them moved.

Eventually she decided to return to bed. As she turned to leave, a sudden impulse hit her. Before she could think better of it, she leaned in to kiss his cheek as she had before.

He froze and she quickly started to pull away, but then he groaned. His arm circled her waist, and he pulled her onto his lap in one fluid motion as his mouth came down over her, hungry and insistent. An answering hunger raced through her and she melted into the kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck as stars wheeled silently beyond the viewport.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Warning bells sounded in Wraith’s mind but he ignored them, too lost in the kiss. Lost in the sweetness of Willow’s passionate response, in the press of her slender curves against his hardness. It wasn’t until she squirmed eagerly against him, her soft little ass moving tantalizingly against his cock—his fully erect cock—that he came to his senses.

Appalled, he broke the kiss, his breathing unforgivably ragged as he raised his head. Her eyes fluttered open, a soft smile on lips still damp and swollen from his kiss. Fuck, she was beautiful. And tempting. And utterly dangerous.

He had long ago trained his body—had been forced to train his body—not to respond to sexual stimuli unless he wished, to use sex only for information, power, or payment. It had made him stronger, more focused, and once he had earned his reputation he had gladly dismissed it. Until Willow. She had undone all his defenses in a matter of days.

She looked at him, confusion slowly creeping into her gaze as he held himself rigidly in place.

“Is something wrong?”

Instead of responding he lifted her off his lap and set her on her feet.

“Go back to bed,” he ordered, his voice hard.

She gave him an unreadable look, those big hazel eyes focused on his face, but she nodded and left without another word, her bare feet padding quietly down the corridor.

He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to go after her. Emotions he’d long since buried threatened to resurface.

No, not emotions. It’s simply desire, he told himself, but the words rang hollow. There was nothing simple about his reaction to this female.

Before he could stop himself he licked his lips, tasting the lingering sweetness of her mouth, then snarled as his cock pulsed with need. This was completely unacceptable. He tried to focus on the vast expanse of space outside the ship, but for once the familiar void couldn’t calm the storm raging within him.

He closed his eyes, but the memory of her lips on his remained, a ghost of sensation that refused to fade, and he growled low in his throat, frustrated by his own weakness. Her scent lingered in the air as well, taunting him. He growled again and abandoned the cockpit, stalking down the hallway to his training room, determined to regain control of his body through exhaustion if nothing else.

The next morning he strode back down the corridor, his jaw clenched. He needed to find Willow and put an end to whatever had started between them. This desire, this… softness wasn’t him. It was a distraction he couldn’t afford.

He rounded the corner into the lounge and froze. The usually stark space had been transformed. What looked like all of his supplies had been pulled out of the storage cabinets and strewn about, creating a chaotic mess that set his teeth on edge. Willow and Sooni were in the middle of it, working together, their laughter filling the air.

He should demand they stop. Instead, he watched her from the doorway, unnoticed, unable to look away. Her hair fell in soft waves around her pretty face as she sorted through a box of provisions. Her smile, warm and genuine, sparked something in his chest he refused to name even though it was directed at Sooni rather than him.

“Look, Willow!” Sooni held up a length of brightly colored cloth. “Isn’t this pretty?”

“Very pretty. Do you think Wraith secretly longs for a shirt with yellow flowers?”

His mouth tightened when the child giggled. The box of fabric had been a gift from a grateful client. He knew the material was valuable and had decided to keep it in case it came in useful during a future negotiation. Not that he needed to explain his possessions.

He should order them to stop whatever they were doing, to restore his lounge to its usual pristine order, but something stopped him. Despite the chaos the lounge felt different. Warmer. Almost… welcoming.

He shook his head, banishing the thought. This was precisely why he needed to establish boundaries. But how could he tell them to stop without upsetting both females? He clenched his fists, torn between his instinct to maintain control and an unfamiliar reluctance to cause pain.

He knew he needed to be firm, to make it clear that he was in control and last night’s moment of weakness wouldn’t be repeated, but the thought of extinguishing the light in Willow’s eyes made him pause.

The words he’d planned to say died on his lips as he watched the two females laughing together. Instead, an unexpected idea took root and he spoke before he had a chance to second guess himself.

“Willow.”

Both she and Sooni turned, startled by his sudden appearance, and her eyes widened, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

“Good morning, Wraith. I didn’t see you there.”

He ignored the way his pulse quickened at her reaction.

“You need to learn how to defend yourself,” he stated bluntly.

She blinked, clearly caught off guard. “I… what?”

“You need to learn self-defense,” he clarified.

“But why? You said Farlain would be safe.”

“It will be.” He intended to make sure of that. “But unexpected things happen. I will teach you.”

“Me too!” Sooni piped up, her yellow eyes bright with excitement.

He nodded curtly, surprised by his own offer but unwilling to back down.

“Fine. Both of you, follow me.”

He led them to the ship’s training room, a space he usually kept to himself. The plain white walls and padded floor were a stark contrast to the cluttered warmth of the lounge.

“We’ll start with basic stances,” he began, demonstrating a defensive posture.

She bit her lip as she watched him.

“Are you really sure this is necessary?”

“Yes. Now assume this position.”

She sighed, then attempted to mirror his movements, frowning in concentration. He did his best to focus on the lesson, but he found himself distracted by the graceful lines of her body, the way her hair fell across her face as she moved.

Sooni, meanwhile, darted around them, quick and agile. She picked up the movements faster than he expected, but her attention span was short-lived. After a few repetitions, she decided it was boring.

“I’m going to go help Grandfather!”

She scampered out of the room before he could object, and Willow laughed.

“I think she was expecting something more exciting.”

“It’s not meant to be ‘exciting,’ it’s meant to save your life,” he corrected sharply.

She gazed up at him, her expression unreadable, but something in her eyes made his chest tighten.

“All right,” she said. “Teach me how to save my life.”

“Assume the first position.”

She tried, her movements clumsy and unsure, and he felt an unfamiliar twinge in his chest—not impatience at her failure, but something closer to… concern? She was so defenseless. She needed someone to protect her—someone like him…

He immediately pushed the thought aside and focused on the lesson.

“Watch my movements,” he ordered.

He demonstrated a simple defensive sequence, moving as slowly as he could, and she watched him intently.

“Now you.”

She tried again, then wobbled, off balance, and he instinctively moved to steady her.

“Sorry,” she said, a sheepish smile on her face. “I’m not very coordinated.”

“It takes practice.”

“How long have you been practicing?”

“Since I woke up in that cell.”

She gave him a horrified look.

“But you were just a child.”

A defenseless child, which was why he’d thrown himself into learning everything he could about fighting, training himself to become stronger, faster. It hadn’t helped, not at first, but eventually he’d been able to break free from the chains of his slavery.

“Which is why I’ve had a lot of practice,” he said evenly, keeping his voice neutral.

He moved into a series of quick fluid kicks, not his fastest but fast enough to get the point across. He spun around to see Willow staring at him, her eyes wide. Had he frightened her? Then he noticed the flush on her face and the stiff little peaks of her nipples pressing against her shirt. Definitely not afraid.

He felt his own body tighten in response and mentally cursed. He needed to focus. This was supposed to be a teaching session, not a repeat of the previous night. But his gaze seemed to be drawn to those small tempting mounds. Fuck.

“Again,” he ordered, his voice harsh.

She gave him a startled look but obeyed—or rather, she tried to obey. As soon as she attempted the move, her foot caught on the edge of a mat and she stumbled, falling backwards with a startled yelp.

He was at her side immediately, and she gave him a shocked look. Then, to his astonishment, she burst into laughter.

“Well, that was graceful—but I did warn you I wasn’t very coordinated,” she chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Can we try again?”

Her determination caught him off guard, and an unwilling smile twisted his lips.

“It is the only way to get better.”

He automatically extended his hand to help her up, but the moment their fingers touched, memories of the previous night flooded him—the taste of her lips, the feel of her body against his. Desire surged through him, hot and urgent. Instead of pulling her up he wanted to join her on the mat, to strip away her clothes and explore every inch of that small tempting body.

Gritting his teeth he forced his body under control and helped her up, doing his best to ignore the way her small hand fit so perfectly in his, soft and warm against his callused palm. She smiled up at him. He could see the echo of desire in her face as well, but there was something else—a trust that stirred something deep within him, a fierce protectiveness he’d never experienced before.

Or had he? A forgotten memory threatened to surface, accompanied by a spike of pain through his head.

“Is something wrong?” she asked quietly, moving closer to him, her face warm and concerned.

He desperately wanted to accept the comfort she offered but he couldn’t give in to his weakness—to her.

He forced himself to drop her hand and step back. The sudden loss of contact left him feeling oddly bereft, which only added to his frustration. He’d never felt so off balance, so utterly at war with himself.

“No,” he snapped.

Her eyes searched his face, and he was acutely conscious of how close they were still standing, but she didn’t move away. Instead, her hand brushed his again, and he went rigid. The scent of her arousal wrapped around him, enticing and intoxicating. It would be so easy to give in, to lose himself in the sensual promise of her body and the tenderness of her touch.

He never hesitated. Never lost control. Until now.

He needed to step away, to bring this ridiculous session to an end. He needed to maintain his control, to push aside the yearning to hold her in his arms, to touch and taste and—

“Am I interrupting?” Malacar asked as he walked into the room.

Wraith released her hand immediately, putting several paces between them as the old male took in the scene. The only signs of the elder’s amusement were the slightly quirked brow and the amused glint in his eye.

“No,” he snapped. “What do you want?”

“Just to tell you that the flux capacitor is back online.” A smile creased Malacar’s wrinkled face as he waved an airy hand. “You can go back to whatever you were doing.”

“We were training.”

But it was too late. The old male had already left and they were alone again. What had he been thinking, offering to train her? He’d let his guard down, allowed emotions to cloud his judgment. Emotions he couldn’t even name. He was a hunter, a predator. Not some softhearted fool swayed by a gentle smile and warm eyes.

The weight of his past pressed down on him, urging him to retreat into the familiar comfort of isolation. He would harden his resolve, rebuild the walls she’d somehow managed to breach. It was the only way.

“This was a bad idea.”

“Was it?” she asked quietly.

“Yes. I am no teacher. And you require too much training.”

He knew the words were unfair, but he couldn’t help himself. They hung between them for a heartbeat. Two. Her expression crumbled, her shoulders slumping, and he felt like the worst sort of bastard.

“I see.”

He wanted to apologize, to take the words back, but old habits died hard. So instead he nodded brusquely and strode out of the training room, trying to ignore the way his chest ached at the look on her face.

Going straight to the cockpit, he buried himself in work, scanning the data he’d gathered and carefully plotting the course he would take after he had delivered Willow to Farlain. Malacar had admitted that Ceres Prime had been nothing but a ruse so he’d returned to analyzing the data drive.

He ignored the hollow feeling in his chest at the thought of leaving her behind, refused to think about the way her lips had felt against his, the way her small body had molded to his.

It was several hours before he finally had the course plotted. He knew he should get up, should check on the ship, but he remained in his seat, staring out into the vast emptiness of space. He’d never felt so alone.

The sensation wasn’t new, but the bitter ache that came with it was.

“Wraith?”

He started at the sound of his name, annoyed that he’d been too distracted to notice her approach. The cockpit was in darkness, her small figure silhouetted against the corridor lights.

“Yes?”

He sat up a little straighter as she approached, but he didn’t rise. He didn’t trust his body.

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

“I think I owe you an apology. I shouldn’t have kissed you last night. It was… inappropriate. And I’ve obviously made you uncomfortable.”

She thought she’d made him uncomfortable? She wasn’t wrong, but it was hardly her fault.

“I believe I was the one who kissed you,” he said stiffly.

“Only because I was leaning in to kiss you,” she argued, then gave a soft laugh. “I suppose it doesn’t really matter. I just hope we can put it behind us.”

Perversely annoyed that she was trying to do the same thing he’d been trying to do all day, he raised a mocking brow.

“Is that really what you want, little human? To put it behind us? No more kissing? No more touching?”

He knew he was being an idiot but he couldn’t stop himself, his voice a soft, provocative purr.

To his surprise, she stiffened at his words.

“What I want is none of your business. But since you keep pushing me away, it seems like a good idea.”

“Is that why you came here? To tell me that?”

He should feel relieved, not disappointed. He knew it was for the best, but he hated the idea that he had hurt her feelings.

“Well, yes. And to see if you wanted to join us for the evening meal. Just to be friendly,” she added quickly.

To share in the warmth he’d witnessed from outside the room? The thought was surprisingly tempting, but if he had any hope of keeping his barriers in place, it was impossible.

“No. Thank you.”

She seemed resigned, rather than disappointed, accepting his refusal without argument.

“If you change your mind, you’re always welcome.”

She left without another word and he watched her walk away, her slender body moving gracefully down the hallway. The urge to go after her threatened to overwhelm him, but instead he turned back to the vast emptiness of space.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The following evening Willow absently stirred a bubbling pot as her thoughts kept drifting back to Wraith. He’d returned to his self-imposed isolation and she hadn’t seen him all day. Well, aside from bringing him his usual mug of tea, but she’d simply deposited it and left without talking to him. She didn’t want to test the boundaries he was so clearly trying to establish, even though she didn’t think it would be good for him to continue to isolate himself.

She kept remembering the hint of vulnerability he’d shown when he’d given her a glimpse of his past—and the passionate way he’d kissed her. Her toes curled at the memory, and she was honest enough to admit that she wanted more of those kisses. Perhaps even more than kisses. She probed cautiously at that thought, a little surprised at how right it seemed.

No, it didn’t bother her to contemplate making love with him, despite her limited experience. She’d spoken the truth when she told Malacar that she felt safe with Wraith, and that extended to trusting him with her body—although she was not as sure about her heart. She’d been hurt by the way he’d backed away from their training session, even though she’d quickly realized it was because he’d felt vulnerable.

“Are these small enough?” Malacar asked, recalling her from her wandering thoughts.

He’d been quietly chopping the last of the fresh vegetables next to her. The supply of fresh food was beginning to run low, although there were plenty of packaged supplies. Wraith wasn’t expecting to share his food with three additional people, she thought guiltily, even though he’d told them to make use of whatever they wanted.

“They’re perfect.”

She smiled at him and added them to the pot. She was attempting to make a version of chicken and rice, one of her favorite comfort foods. None of the ingredients were the same, of course, but when she took a cautious spoonful she was pleased with the result.

“Do you think he ever eats with anyone?” she asked softly.

The question popped out before she thought about it, and Malacar gave her a quick, perceptive look before he shook his head.

“I doubt it, my dear. But perhaps that might change.”

She wanted to ask if he was implying that she might be the one to bring on the change, but she didn’t quite have the courage. He would be gentle, but he would be truthful, and she didn’t want him to dash her hopes if he thought it was hopeless.

The simmering pot filled the common area with a delicious odor, a stark contrast to the sterile air in the rest of the ship. It wasn’t quite right, but it was close enough to remind her of home—a home that already seemed to be far in the past. Perhaps it was because she had something here she hadn’t had on Earth. A family, she thought, looking from Malacar washing the cutting board to Sooni bent over a small mechanical device.

The hair on the back of her neck suddenly prickled and she looked up to see Wraith standing there, his tall frame filling the doorway. Her heart skipped a beat, and she couldn’t look away from that unreadable purple gaze. They looked at each other for a long moment, and then she smiled and gestured at the table, silently inviting him to join them.

He hesitated, then to her utter shock he entered, sitting down next to Sooni on the banquette. The little girl beamed up at him and held out the gadget she’d been working on. He took it, the tiny device looking even smaller in his big hand, and examined it solemnly. He carefully manipulated the intricate parts, his touch surprisingly delicate, and her breath caught. Would he touch her with the same exquisite care?

A rush of heat surged through her at the thought and he suddenly raised his head, looking at her as if he knew what she’d been thinking. Their eyes met for a brief moment, sparks of purple fire burning in his gaze, before he turned his attention back to the gadget.

“Like this,” he murmured to Sooni, demonstrating how to realign a tiny gear.

As the little girl watched eagerly, Willow decided to take advantage of the moment. She quickly dished up a bowl of food and placed it in front of him, not waiting for him to say anything before returning to fill the other bowls.

He was still staring at the bowl when she and Malacar joined them.

“You need to eat,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

His eyes met hers again, unreadable once more. She held her breath, afraid he was going to reject the offer, but then he slowly picked up his utensil.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face as he took the first bite, and she could have sworn she saw the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. That tiny reaction sent a wave of warmth through her, but she deliberately turned her attention to the other two.

Sooni started asking him questions about some of the other equipment on the ship, and he answered her patiently. She caught Malacar’s approving look, and she ducked her head, sure that she was blushing.

When Wraith finished, he stood abruptly, nodding once before striding out of the room. She didn’t mind—at least not too much. The simple act of him sharing a meal with them felt like a victory, like the first crack in the walls he’d built around himself. She would just have to be patient.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, she thought, or torn down in one either. It wouldn’t surprise her if he were even more restrained tomorrow, although she hoped he wouldn’t retreat as far next time.

The next morning she stifled a yawn as she entered the common area. She hadn’t slept well, partially because Sooni had been more than usually verbose in her sleep, and partially because she kept thinking about Wraith. She came to an abrupt halt as she saw he was already there, pulling a length of colorful fabric out of the box he’d placed on the table.

It was the same material Sooni had been admiring yesterday, running her small fingers over the intricate design with wide-eyed wonder. He looked over at her and she raised an eyebrow, silently questioning.

“Do you know how to sew?” he asked.

“I know the basics. Why?”

“Make the child a new outfit,” he said gruffly. “And… you can help yourself to any of the fabric as well.”

Delighted at his thoughtfulness, she opened her mouth to thank him, but he was already striding away, his back rigid.

Sooni was equally delighted when she stumbled sleepily into the room a short time later. She immediately started conjuring up elaborate plans for her dress, and Willow gave her a regretful smile.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m not that good a seamstress. It will have to be a simple dress.”

“That’s all right.” The little girl gave her a sunny smile and stroked the fabric reverently. “It’s still going to be beautiful.”

They hurried through the morning meal, then set to work. She showed Sooni how to measure and cut the fabric, then sew the pieces together using the sewing kit that Wraith had left for her. Thankfully, it contained a small machine that created a neat seam when two pieces of fabric were fed through it. Without it, she was sure the results would have been a lot more haphazard.

After she finished Sooni’s dress, she searched through the box for some fabric to make her own dress, finally settling on a length of bronze silk. There was nothing extravagant about it, but the color appealed to her and it was cool and silky against her skin.

As the ship’s artificial day cycle dimmed to evening, Sooni twirled in her new outfit, her scales shimmering under the soft lights. She spotted Wraith in the corridor and went dancing over to him.

“Look what Willow made me! Isn’t it pretty?”

He paused, his face unusually soft as he looked down at the happy child.

“It suits you,” he said.

Sooni preened under the praise, then gave Willow a mischievous look before turning back to him.

“What about Willow’s new dress?” she demanded. “Doesn’t she look beautiful?”

Her cheeks heated as his gaze swept over her. The dress wasn’t anything fancy—just a simple sheath that took advantage of the soft flowing fabric—but under his intense scrutiny, she felt exposed in a way that had nothing to do with the cut of the dress. Her nipples tightened beneath the silky fabric, and his eyes lingered there for a second before returning to her face.

Her breath caught at the heat in his eyes, her pulse racing, but then he looked away.

“She always looks beautiful,” he said, his voice low and rough. Then he turned on his heel and strode away, leaving her staring after him.

Much later that night she returned to the common area. Once again she’d been unable to sleep, and she’d finally given up and decided to see if a hot drink would help. She hesitated when she saw Wraith sitting in the darkened room. She’d assumed he would be in his bed, or in the cockpit as usual.

He was sitting on the couch with his eyes closed and she considered retreating, but something in his posture tugged at her heart.

Taking a deep breath, she approached him.

“Can’t sleep either?” she asked softly.

His eyes opened, gleaming purple in the dim light. He looked at her for a long moment, then shrugged.

“I don’t sleep much.”

She was tempted to sit down next to him, but decided the nearby chair was safer. She curled up in it, tucking her bare legs under her as the silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable exactly, but… expectant.

“I didn’t sleep well when I was a child,” she finally said softly.

His gaze sharpened, focusing intently on her face, and her heart skipped a beat at the intensity in that dark gaze.

“Why not?”

She had to look away, staring down at her hands instead.

“My parents didn’t want me,” she said, the familiar ache still present. “I was a… mistake, one they did their best to ignore. I always had this fear that one day they would just leave me. That I would wake up and find them gone. So I didn’t want to go to sleep. Just in case.”

He leaned towards her, his expression still unreadable, but his eyes never left her face.

“They didn’t leave me, not physically anyway, but I never stopped dreading it.”

She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling exposed.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m telling you this,” she said with a weak laugh.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly unsure of what to say. The old embarrassment crept over her and she was about to get up when he spoke.

“I understand being afraid that bad things will happen if you fall asleep.”

There was a heaviness in his voice and she was suddenly quite sure that in his case, bad things had happened. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and assure him it would be all right, but she wasn’t sure how he would react.

“Is that why you can’t sleep?” she asked gently. “Because you’re afraid of what might happen?”

It seemed ridiculous to ask such a powerful, deadly male if he was afraid, but he didn’t immediately reject her assumption.

“Perhaps,” he said finally. “Or perhaps I simply got used to remaining on guard at all times.”

“Even now?”

“Even now.” He gave a reluctant shrug. “It’s part of me now.”

“I suppose we could have worse problems than not being able to sleep,” she said lightly.

To her relief, the corner of his mouth twitched. “I suppose.”

“Maybe we should find something to help you sleep,” she suggested.

“Such as?”

He raised an eyebrow and ideas about all the ways she could help him sleep raced through her mind. She was sure she was blushing again, but she gave him a determined smile.

“How about a story? I always read one to my kindergartners at nap time.”

He gave her an incredulous look. “A… story?”

“Sure.” She settled back in the chair, doing her best to hide her amusement at his obvious skepticism. “Don’t you like stories?”

He hesitated, then shrugged. “I don’t remember any.”

“Then let me tell you one.”

She thought for a moment, then started telling him one of the stories her students loved. She felt a little self-conscious at first, but she fell into the rhythm of the story, the way she would have with her students. Despite his skepticism, he listened intently. Too intently—he was still wide awake when she finished.

“You are an excellent storyteller.”

“Thank you. I have a lot of practice reading to my students.” An unexpected pang of homesickness washed over her. “I miss them, although I think I would miss them even more if I didn’t have Sooni.”

“Tell me about your life on Earth.”

He seemed genuinely interested, paying close attention to what she said, and she spent most of the next hour telling him about her students and her small town before she finally yawned and gave him a sheepish smile.

“I think I’m putting myself to sleep. Maybe that will be enough to overcome a chatty child and a rock-hard bunk.”

“The bed is not comfortable?”

“Wraith, it’s a metal bunk with a wafer-thin pad. Of course it isn’t comfortable—but then I don’t suppose you felt obligated to pamper your prisoners. And it hasn’t permanently ruined my back. Yet,” she added, giving him a teasing smile.

He didn’t return it, frowning at her. Had she insulted him by criticizing their accommodation? She started to assure him that it was fine, but he interrupted her.

“You should sleep in my cabin.”

Her heart skipped a beat at the unexpected offer. She searched his face, trying to decipher his intentions, but his expression remained as inscrutable as ever.

“I… That’s very kind of you,” she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I wouldn’t want to impose.”

He gave a half-shrug.

“It’s not an imposition. The cabin’s just sitting empty most of the time anyway.”

Damn. Every time he did something thoughtful, her heart melted a little bit more.

“Well, if you’re sure…” she began, then paused. “But where will you sleep?”

“The cockpit,” he replied calmly. “I spend most nights there anyway.”

She frowned at him.

“That can’t be comfortable. Even if you don’t sleep a lot, you need a proper rest when you do.”

A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.

“I’ve slept in worse places.”

“I’m sure you have. But still…”

She trailed off, suddenly aware that they had both leaned forward and their faces were only inches apart. Her breath caught as his eyes met hers, intense and unreadable. Her pulse started to race as she waited expectantly, but he only rose and nodded towards his cabin.

“It’s late,” he said softly. “You should get some rest.”

She wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or relieved, but she simply rose and followed him across the corridor to his cabin. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a space that was as elegant and austere as the rest of the ship. And as impersonal. There wasn’t a single item that indicated this was Wraith’s room, aside from a faint trace of his tantalizing, spicy scent.

The bed dominated the space, far larger than she’d anticipated. Large even for someone of his size and she couldn’t help wondering if anyone had ever shared it with him. She decided she didn’t like that idea one bit, and she quickly pushed it aside. The present was what mattered, not the past. He’d remained in the doorway, watching her, his face as unreadable as ever.

Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage.

“You know,” she said softly, “we both might sleep better if we’re together.”

CHAPTER NINE

Wraith’s eyes snapped open, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He bolted upright, muscles tensed for a fight that wasn’t there. The echo of screams and the acrid smell of burning flesh still filled his head, even though the details were already fading into a shadowy mist, and he shuddered. The nightmare had felt so real, and yet he couldn’t connect it with any actual events. One of his missing memories perhaps?

He’d instinctively reached for a weapon that wasn’t there before finally realizing he was in the familiar confines of his cabin. The soft hum of the engines slowly grounded him back in reality as he willed his heart rate to slow. The nightmares had plagued him for as long as he could remember, the details always just out of reach. Sometimes they would vanish for months at a time, but they always returned, leaving him with a gnawing emptiness, a sense that crucial pieces of himself were missing.

The one thing that lingered was a woman with familiar violet eyes reaching for him. Who was she? As always, trying to remember sent pain spiking through his skull, and he shuddered again as his pulse finally steadied. He took a few long, deep breaths, trying to chase away the lingering shadows of his nightmare, and a familiar sweetness reminded him that he wasn’t alone.

He glanced down at Willow sleeping beside him, her chestnut hair spilling across the pillow and her face peaceful. He wanted to touch her, to caress her soft cheek and run his fingers through those silky strands. Even in sleep, she drew him in.

As she had last night. He hadn’t intended to give in to his weakness and take her up on her offer to share his bed. He’d initially refused, retreating to the cockpit as usual. But the thought of her in his bed had haunted him, eventually drawing him back to his cabin.

When he’d returned, she was already asleep, a slight smile curving her lips. He’d never had a female in his bed before, and yet this small human female already looked as if she belonged there. A soft light burned in the corner, left on for him. Even though his enhanced night vision made the gesture unnecessary, it had touched something deep within him, a shadowy memory that hovered just out of reach.

He’d stood watching her for a long time before giving into temptation. He’d stripped off his weapons and his boots and climbed in next to her, careful not to disturb her, but she rolled over in her sleep, tucking herself against his side. The warmth of her body against his felt surprisingly natural, as if she belonged there.

He did his best to steel himself against that feeling, reminding himself that attachments were dangerous, a weakness he couldn’t afford. He lay awake for a long time listening to the soft sounds of her breathing and wrestling with his emotions, but eventually, despite the conflict raging within him, sleep had crept over him, lulled by the unexpected peace of having her beside him.

A peace that had been destroyed by his nightmare. He should never have returned to the cabin.

He started to climb out of bed, tensing when her hand touched his arm. He looked over and saw she was awake, her eyes worried.

“What’s wrong?”

Her soft voice cut through the last remnants of his nightmare, but he fought the urge to pull away, his body rigid with conflicting instincts.

“Nothing. I’m fine,” he grunted, his voice rougher than he intended, but he didn’t move. Didn’t climb out of bed or push her hand away.

The warmth of her hand seeped into his skin, those small soft fingers chasing away the cold terror of his dreams.

He’d spent his entire life locking himself away, shutting off his emotions, keeping his distance. But right now he didn’t want to be distant. He wanted… he wanted to lean into the comfort she offered.

No. He’d spent years building walls around himself, perfecting the art of emotional detachment. And once again she was threatening to send those walls crashing down.

He looked over and found her watching him, her eyes warm and concerned. No one had ever looked at him like that, had tried to offer him comfort since… Another fragment of memory flickered through his mind, then disappeared again.

He opened his mouth to deny that there was anything wrong, but instead he found himself saying, “It was just a bad dream.”

He immediately regretted the admission. He never spoke of his nightmares, never acknowledged weakness.

Her thumb gently stroked his arm, the touch oddly soothing.

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked quietly.

No. Yes. The offer was more tempting than he cared to admit. But it was the wrong decision. It would be foolish to rely on her for comfort. For support.

He shook his head, but he still didn’t pull away.

“It was nothing.”

She gave him a searching look, but didn’t challenge him, continuing those slow, comforting strokes.

“It’s… it’s just fragments.” The words came out unbidden, his voice hoarse.

“Fragments of memory? From the time you can’t remember?”

“I don’t know.”

He remembered waking up in that cell, remembered the auction, and the horror of the years that followed, even though he’d done his best to lock them away. But before that there was nothing, nothing except the smell of burning and those haunting violet eyes. And the brief fragments of his nightmares.

“Not even your name?”

He shook his head, the memory of his first consciousness a dull ache in the back of his head.

“No.”

She squeezed his arm and he didn’t resist when she snuggled closer, didn’t pull away from her, and allowed her to press a kiss to his shoulder.

“Do you get glimpses of people? A family maybe?” she asked gently.

“Only eyes. Violet eyes.”

She put her hand on his face, turning it towards her.

“Eyes like yours.”

It wasn’t a question, but he found himself nodding anyway.

“I think… perhaps… my mother.”

The word struck him like a physical blow, a fragment of his nightmare rushing back as pain lanced through his head. Harsh voices echoed in his mind, accompanied by the acrid smell of smoke and the metallic tang of blood. His fists clenched involuntarily, knuckles turning white as he fought both the physical pain and the pain of that piece of his past.

“I can’t do this,” he growled, his voice rough.

The words tasted bitter on his tongue, a mixture of regret and self-preservation.

“You don’t have to do anything.”

Her voice was low and soothing, but he needed to do something. He wanted to lose himself in her warmth and softness, to block out those shadowy memories that threatened to destroy him.

He acted without thinking, bending down to claim her mouth, needing her to soothe the hollow ache in his chest. He was almost surprised when she parted her lips willingly, allowing his tongue inside to brush against hers. Her sweetness flooded his mouth and her scent replaced the phantom smells from his dream.

He kissed her harder, the darkness receding, and she welcomed him. He lost himself in the sensation of her soft mouth and the taste of her tongue as it tangled with his, but it wasn’t enough. He needed more of her.

He pulled away slightly, studying her face. She looked back at him, her eyes heavy-lidded with desire but still understanding, her expression still soft and welcoming.

His gaze moved slowly to her kiss-swollen lips and the small, tempting swell of her breasts rising above the covers. He wanted to trace her curves with his tongue, to memorize every inch of her skin with his hands. He wanted to make her his.

“I need you.”

He hadn’t meant to say that, but he heard the truth in his words.

“I’m here for you,” she whispered. “Whatever you need.”

Another piece of his past surged to the surface as if he’d been waiting for her to say those words. He blinked, trying to grasp the flash of memory, but it faded, replaced by the sight of her looking up at him with her beautiful eyes.

“Willow…”

He hesitated, unsure what he wanted to say. He felt exposed, the walls around him crumbling, and he was utterly at war with himself.

She drew him back down into a kiss and he was lost.

He captured her face between his hands, cupping it as gently as he could as he explored her mouth, trying to take his time. He was rewarded when she pressed closer, her soft body rubbing against him as her hands crept up to tangle in his hair, releasing its usual tight knot. He could feel the hardened peaks of her nipples brushing against his chest through the thin fabric of their clothes, an irresistible temptation.

He lowered his mouth to her neck, and she arched up with a soft gasp as he kissed a line from her ear to her collarbone.

“You like that,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble.

She moaned, and he did it again, running his tongue across the delicate curve of her throat and then nipping her sharply, marking her as his. The need to claim her, to make her his in every way, surged through him and he felt a moment of panic before he forced it away. He fumbled with the hem of her shirt, wanting to feel her skin against his.

“I like everything you do,” she breathed, and he could feel her heart pounding under his hand as he trailed his fingers up her body.

The soft fabric of her shirt bunched under her arms, exposing the soft swell of her stomach and the pale pink tips of her nipples. He captured one between his lips, sucking gently as he cupped the silken curve with his hand, before moving to the other one. She gasped and arched into his mouth, her breath coming in shallow pants that only spurred him on.

He tugged impatiently at her shirt, not wanting anything between them, and she lifted her arms to help him strip it off, then reached for the waistband of his trousers.

“No.” He took her hand, trapping it against his thigh as he continued to explore the sensitive underside of her breast. “Let me discover you first.”

He needed to take his time, to savor this. To sear her into his memory, to replace that blank piece of his past with her image.

He kissed the underside of her breast, then moved his mouth to her ribs, trailing his tongue down to the gentle curve of her belly. The slight bump of her navel made him smile, and he darted his tongue inside, eliciting another little whimper of pleasure from her.

Her fingers slid through his hair, tugging gently, urging him lower.

“Please,” she whispered, and he shifted so that his erection rubbed against the small ridge of her hip bone. She shifted her body against him, rubbing back, and his control nearly broke.

“So impatient,” he rumbled, moving his hand to stroke the soft curls between her legs.

He’d meant to tease her a little more, to torture her with gentle touches, but the wetness he found there was too much to resist. He’d never touched a human female before, but most females had a place… His finger brushed against a small swollen nub at the apex of her slit and she cried out. Ah.

“Does this please you?” he asked, tracing a slow circle around the little bundle of nerves.

“Yesssss,” she hissed, rocking into his hand. “More.”

He increased the pressure, making slow circles around the responsive little point and then sliding a thick finger into her core. She was impossibly tight, her body clenching around his finger, and he groaned at the thought of burying his aching cock into her heat.

Her body responded to his touch, growing even wetter and her breath coming in panting gasps. She writhed against him, and he could feel his control slipping away, her soft moans and the tightness of her body too much for him to bear. He withdrew his finger, and she cried out in frustration, but he quickly ripped the rest of his clothes off and rose over her, pushing her legs wider apart so he could settle between them.

He gripped her thighs, spreading her wider still.

“Look at me,” he ordered, his voice harsh as he took his straining length in his hand.

She looked up, her eyes dazed with arousal but clear.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I want you, Wraith. All of you.”

He pressed against her small entrance, doing his best to be gentle. She was so small, so delicate. Her body resisted at first, but then the head of his cock slipped inside and he shuddered as her tight, welcoming heat surrounded him, his frills pulsating.

She gave a small moan, and he immediately froze, trying to still the need that surged through his body.

“Am I hurting you?” he ground out, willing himself not to thrust into her, to let her adjust to his size.

“No.” She wiggled slightly and he clenched his jaw, sweat beading on his forehead. “More, please.”

“Stop moving,” he growled.

If she kept wriggling beneath him like that, it would all be over. She gave a breathless laugh and went still, raising a hand to cup his cheek, her fingers gently stroking his face.

“It’s all right,” she whispered, her voice tender. “Give me more, I can take it.”

He wasn’t sure whether it was her words, her touch, or her unwavering acceptance, but something inside him cracked. He thrust into her in one long hard stroke and she cried out, her sweet little cunt fluttering wildly around him, hot and wet and so incredibly tight.

He growled, his hands gripping her hips hard enough to leave bruises, but he couldn’t stop the savage thrust of his hips as he buried himself deeper. The sensations were too much, overwhelming him with pleasure, and he was going to explode.

He took a deep shuddering breath, trying to slow down, trying to make the moment last, but then she raised her hips to meet him, her legs wrapping around his hips. Electricity spiked through him and his balls tightened, the need to release overwhelming him. With one last frantic thrust, he let go, emptying himself inside her with a roar as she shuddered beneath him.

An unfamiliar contentment filled him as he collapsed on top of her. He was afraid he was crushing her, but she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly as his mind gradually started working again.

“Did I hurt you?” he mumbled, unable to look up at her, afraid of what he might see.

“No, not at all.”

The absolute certainty in her voice sent a rush of gratitude through him, and he raised his head to look at her. Her eyes were suspiciously bright but her face was soft, loving…

He froze at the thought, fear worse than anything he’d ever experienced rushing through him, and he panicked. He scrambled quickly out of the bed, his movements jerky and awkward. The force of his reaction shocked him, but he couldn’t prevent it. He was fumbling for his clothes, his blood pounding in his ears, when she sat up in bed and gave him a confused look.

“Wraith?”

He saw the hurt and confusion in her face, but he couldn’t stop.

“I… I can’t do this,” he managed, his voice thick.

The words tasted bitter on his lips, and the expression on her face was even worse. She swallowed and nodded.

“All right.”

She started to slide out of bed, but he held out his hand to stop her.

“Stay here,” he managed, trying to keep his voice level. “You should sleep in a real bed.”

“But—”

“I have things to do. I’ll be in the cockpit.”

He left her sitting in bed, staring after him, but he couldn’t let himself pause, couldn’t let himself consider the hurt in her eyes. Couldn’t wonder if he might be walking away from the only thing that mattered.

CHAPTER TEN

Willow bit her lip as the door slid shut behind Wraith, tears threatening to escape. She couldn’t deny that she was hurt by his rapid departure, but neither was she entirely surprised. She’d felt the emotional impact of their connection and she suspected it was even harder for him.

The warmth of his kiss still lingered on her lips, a stark contrast to the cold emptiness that now filled the room. Part of her longed to follow him, to reassure him—and perhaps herself as well—but she knew she had to give him time. He was like a wounded animal, lashing out when cornered by his own emotions. This level of intimacy, of vulnerability, was clearly foreign territory for him.

And for me.

Seeing them in Wraith had made her realize that she had her own barriers as well. She had a number of friends, but no one she was really close to. No wonder her few relationships had never lasted. Her parents’ behavior had scarred her even more deeply than she’d realized.

She rolled onto her back, staring at the metallic ceiling above. The bed felt too large now, too empty without his big body next to hers. She replayed their conversation in her mind, remembering the pain in his eyes as he’d battled with his nightmares. He’d opened up to her, if only for a moment.

“Oh, Wraith,” she whispered to the empty room, her voice barely audible. “What happened to you?”

She hated to think of him alone, struggling with those flashes of memory, but as much as she wanted to go to him, she was afraid that pushing him now might only drive him further away. He needed time and space, and she had to give it to him.

Instead, she hugged his pillow close, breathing in his spicy scent as she remembered the intensity of his kiss, the gentleness of his hands. Despite his abrupt departure, she couldn’t bring herself to regret what had happened between them. Her body still hummed with the lingering pleasure of their joining, her nipples tightening as she remembered him rising over her, the soft light catching little sparks of color in his skin.

His hair had come loose, the long dark purple strands softening his face and caressing her skin when he bent to kiss her. His need had been obvious in every touch, every caress, and it wasn’t just physical desire she’d felt from him, but a deep-seated emotional hunger that resonated with her own longing for connection.

But the physical desire had been there for her as well, his mouth and hands creating a level of arousal, of excitement, she’d never felt before. Even when he’d stripped off his clothes and she’d seen his massive cock for the first time—his definitely not human cock—she’d found the sight thrilling rather than intimidating.

And when he’d entered her, the frilled edges of his cock stroking places inside her she hadn’t even known existed, she’d come so hard she’d seen stars. He’d kept moving, urgent, demanding, and she’d climaxed again as hot liquid flooded her, the unfamiliar sensation both erotic and oddly satisfying.

A wave of exhaustion washed over her, and she smiled as she let it carry her off to sleep.

She woke to find Sooni staring at her, her arms crossed and her expression accusatory.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks as she quickly pulled the covers up to her neck.

“I’m sorry if you were worried, but—”

“Wraith said you’d be sleeping here from now on,” the little girl interrupted, giving her a suspicious look.

Her heart skipped a beat. He still wanted her to stay in his cabin? Of course that didn’t mean he would join her again, but it still gave her hope.

“I… Yes, I suppose I am,” she managed, trying to keep her voice steady. “Did you need something, sweetie?”

“It’s breakfast time. You always make breakfast.”

“I guess I overslept.” She sat up carefully, keeping the covers clasped against her. “I’ll be there in just a minute to make breakfast, okay? Why don’t you go see if your grandfather is awake?”

As soon as Sooni scampered off, Willow ducked into the small sanitary facility to wash. She almost didn’t recognize herself—her eyes bright, her mouth still pink and swollen. Her nipples were slightly swollen as well, and the smooth silk of her dress sliding over them sent a shiver of desire down her spine. The small lingering ache between her legs was another reminder of the previous night, and by the time she was finished dressing her cheeks were flushed.

Where was Wraith, she wondered as she hurried to the galley. Was he going to keep avoiding her?

Both Malacar and Sooni were waiting for her, and the heat in her cheeks increased when Malacar gave her a speculative look. To her relief he didn’t comment, and they settled into their usual routine. She did her best to keep busy, trying to stop herself from thinking about Wraith.

She spent the morning with Sooni, working on some basic math.

“Now, if you have three apples and I give you two more, how many do you have?” she asked.

“What’s an apple?”

She laughed. “It’s a type of fruit. How many pieces of fruit would you have?”

Sooni’s tongue flicked out as she concentrated.

“Five!” she exclaimed after a moment.

“That’s right.”

Willow smiled at the little girl, running an affectionate hand over the smooth scales covering her scalp, and Sooni beamed. She was a pleasure to teach—eager to learn and responsive to praise.

Disappointingly, but not surprisingly, Wraith didn’t join them for lunch. Sooni went off to play and Willow found Malacar tinkering with an air filtration unit.

“Need a hand?” she offered.

He nodded and gave her a quick smile.

“Could you pass me that hydrospanner?”

He explained what he was doing as he worked, but her usual interest was replaced by worrying about Wraith. She hated to think of him brooding alone in the cockpit. After Malacar finished, she decided to take Wraith a mug of tea, just as she usually did. While she didn’t want to intrude, she wanted him to know that she still… cared.

Her heart raced as she approached the cockpit and she had to take a steadying breath before she entered. She set the mug down in its usual place and turned to leave without looking at him.

As she started to pass him, he reached out and gripped her arm. Her breath caught as she turned back to face him. His long hair was pulled back in its usual tight knot, his face a mask of stoic control. But his eyes… his eyes told a different story.

Emotions swirled in those purple depths—confusion, longing, and something that looked almost like fear. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but no words came out.

Her heart ached for him, but he had to work through this on his own. All she could do was let him know she was there. She smiled and placed her hand over his where it rested on her arm.

“Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight?” she asked softly, giving his hand a reassuring pat. “We’d love to have you.”

Without waiting for a response, she slipped out of his grasp and left the cockpit, her heart pounding. She hoped he would come, but even if he didn’t, at least she’d made it clear that he was welcome.

By the time the evening meal rolled around she was a nervous wreck, her eyes darting to the empty doorway every few seconds. The aroma of the meal she’d prepared filled the air, but her appetite had vanished. Sooni chattered away, oblivious to Willow’s distraction, while Malacar watched her with knowing eyes.

“He’ll come when he’s ready, child,” he said softly, his scaled hand patting hers. “Some hearts take longer to thaw.”

She nodded, forcing a smile. “You’re right, of course. I just—”

The words died on her lips as Wraith appeared in the doorway, and her heart skipped a beat as she tried not to let him see her delight.

He took his seat without a word, his face an unreadable mask. Sooni immediately launched into a story about her day’s adventures, and he listened with his usual patience, offering the occasional nod or word of acknowledgment.

Despite his silence, she caught him watching her several times. Each time, her breath hitched, and she quickly looked away, heat rising to her cheeks.

As they finished eating, Malacar cleared his throat.

“I’m afraid we’re running low on fresh provisions. We can switch to the packaged supplies or…”

Wraith nodded curtly.

“We’re close to Radlin. We’ll stop there tomorrow to restock.”

Without another word, he stood and left the room, leaving her staring after him, her heart a confusing tangle of hope and disappointment. One brick at a time, she reminded herself.

They played another round of cards and then she tucked Sooni into bed, smiling as the little girl’s lips started moving as soon as her eyes fluttered closed. When she returned to the common area, it was empty. Malacar must have gone to bed as well. She picked up the datapad and tried to concentrate on her lessons, but her eyes kept drifting to the door. Minutes ticked by, stretching into hours, but Wraith didn’t appear.

She finally sighed and admitted defeat. No doubt he was back in the cockpit, but she wasn’t going after him again tonight. She’d try again tomorrow.

As she prepared for bed, she kept thinking about the previous night, a low pulse of arousal humming through her body. She hesitated before climbing into bed, then switched on the small light she’d left on for him the night before. Its soft glow cast comforting shadows across the room. She lay there, wide awake, hoping that he would join her.

Her heart leaped as the door hissed open and he entered, but instead of joining her, he remained by the door. His posture was rigid, his face set in hard lines, but he couldn’t hide the vulnerability in his eyes.

“There’s no future for us,” he said, his voice low and strained. “I’m collecting a bounty for taking you to Farlain.”

“I see,” she said quietly, studying his face.

No matter how much he tried to hide it, she could see the conflict raging behind his stoic facade. Without a word, she held out her hand.

He looked so shocked she almost laughed.

“Come to bed, Wraith.”

His fists clenched.

“I… I am not sleepy.”

“Neither am I.” She sat up and let the covers fall to her waist, revealing her naked breasts. He immediately focused on them, the purple fire burning in his eyes, but he remained by the door. He looked so hesitant that her heart ached for him. “Come to bed,” she repeated softly.

He remained by the door a moment longer, then he crossed the room in the blink of an eye, snatching her into his arms and kissing her with the same frantic urgency as the night before. Her arms wrapped around his neck, clinging to him as his mouth slanted across hers, their tongues twining together.

When they finally broke apart, she was breathless, but she smiled up at him as he lowered her back against the bed.

“I can’t fight this any longer,” he said hoarsely, his fingers tangling in her hair. “I want you. I want to feel you beneath me.”

She kissed him again, her tongue slipping past his lips to tangle with his.

“I’m right here,” she murmured, her voice low and husky. “And I want you just as much.”

A low growl rumbled in his throat as his head descended, his mouth ravaging hers as his hands moved frantically over her body, leaving a trail of fire behind. Her head spun as his fingers moved to her breasts, rolling and teasing her nipples into aching peaks.

When she could hardly stand the sweet torment of his mouth and hands, she pulled away, reaching for the fastening of his clothing.

He watched her, his eyes burning, as she quickly removed his utility belt, then unfastened his tunic, pushing it over his shoulders to reveal the broad expanse of his chest, the subtle colors in his skin gleaming in the soft light. She ran her fingers over the powerful muscles, delighting in the way his skin quivered beneath her touch.

When she finally reached his waistband, she freed his erection, her mouth going dry as his cock sprang free, thick and heavy and glistening. It was the same mix of shades as his skin, but the frills that lined it—five of them, equidistant apart—were a rich, dark purple. She ran a tentative finger down one of them and he shuddered. They glistened as well, silky beneath her fingers. She leaned forward, touching the edge of one with her tongue. He tasted as delicious and spicy as his scent.

He groaned as her mouth touched him, and then he pushed her back.

“Not like this,” he growled.

He stripped off the rest of his clothes with that astonishing speed, and then he was looming over her, his massive body dwarfing hers, but she was far from afraid. Arousal surged through her, leaving her feeling dizzy and intoxicated as she watched him.

His cock throbbed, the frills fluttering wildly, but instead of thrusting into her, he dropped to the floor next to the bed, grabbed her hips, and buried his head between her legs. His tongue found the swollen nub of her clit and she cried out, her hips arching against him, and he growled again, a deep rumbling sound that vibrated through her and made her entire body quiver.

He licked and sucked, his tongue thrusting inside her as she squirmed and panted beneath him, her fingers tangling in his hair as pleasure flooded her. She was almost embarrassed at her enthusiastic responsiveness, but when he finally raised his head to look at her, his eyes blazed with triumphant satisfaction.

He slid her back on the bed and rose over her, watching her face. She parted her legs in silent invitation, and he thrust into her in one long, hard stroke, filling her so completely she could barely breathe.

His frills stroked her inner walls, the combination of soft and hard pushing her over the edge in an explosion of ecstasy, and then he was roaring and his hot seed flooded her once more, the sensation carrying her higher, her body pulsing around him as he jerked and shuddered against her.

Afterwards he pulled her into his arms and held her, his fingers gently stroking her hair. He didn’t speak, but neither did she, content to enjoy this moment and not worry about the future. His heart beat steadily beneath her face, and she let the soothing rhythm carry her into sleep.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Wraith woke as the ship’s lights began to brighten, signifying a new day on board. He was so unused to waking in his own bed that it took him a moment to realize where he was. Even more unusual was the warm presence beside him.

Willow.

He tensed, memories of the previous night flooding back. He’d told her the truth about Farlain, about the bounty. He’d expected her to order him to leave. Instead, she’d invited him into her arms, accepting him not only then but again when he’d woken her during the night, driven by his urgent need for her.

With a start he realized that he’d slept through the rest of the night, deeply and dreamlessly. The constant tension that usually coiled in his muscles had eased somewhat. He felt… rested.

Willow stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open. A soft smile curved her lips as she met his gaze.

“Morning,” she murmured, voice still husky with sleep.

He swallowed hard, fighting the urge to pull her closer.

“Why?” he asked, his voice rough. “Why did you want me to stay? I told you I’d be paid for taking you to Farlain.”

She propped herself up on one elbow, regarding him with those warm hazel eyes.

“Did you tell me the truth about Farlain? That I would be safe there?”

“Of course.”

She shrugged, the movement causing the sheet to slip down far enough to reveal one pretty white breast—a breast reddened by his mouth. His frills stirred, but he forced himself to concentrate on her words rather than the tempting sight.

“Then why shouldn’t you be paid?” she asked.

He blinked, caught off guard by her pragmatism. He’d expected anger, betrayal, not this calm acceptance.

“I don’t understand,” he admitted, the words feeling foreign on his tongue.

“Wraith, you’re not carting me off to jail or turning me over to some sadistic slave owner. You’re taking me to a place where I’ll be safe and protected. You said there’s even another human woman there. You’ve transported me and cared for me. It’s only fair that you should be compensated.”

“I can’t just… just turn you in.”

Even the idea left a hollow feeling in his chest.

She shook her head, a look of frustration on her face.

“This isn’t turning me in, it’s more like… dropping me off.” A fleeting shadow crossed her face and he wondered if the thought of their upcoming separation bothered her as much as it bothered him. But then she gave him a gentle smile. “It’s not the same thing at all.”

He couldn’t resist any longer. He leaned down and kissed her. He’d intended it as gratitude for her understanding, but it rapidly turned passionate. Her stiff little nipples pressed against his chest as her hands began to explore his body, tracing the contours of his chest and shoulders and sending sparks of pleasure through him.

He cupped her breast, toying with a tempting little nipple until she began to squirm beneath him. He was about to replace his hand with his mouth when the cabin door slid open with a soft hiss and he quickly covered her with his body.

“I’m hungry,” Sooni announced, giving them a puzzled look.

Frustrated and embarrassed, he barely managed to restrain a growl. Willow stiffened but managed to keep her voice remarkably calm.

“I’ll be there in a minute, sweetie. Why don’t you go wait in the common area?”

Sooni gave an exaggerated sigh, but she obeyed. The door closed behind her, and he let out a long breath.

“I’ll have to remember to lock the door next time,” he grumbled, then froze as he realized the implication of his words.

Willow simply nodded, and smiled up at him.

“Probably a good idea,” she agreed, then slipped out of bed to get dressed.

He watched her, stunned by her easy acceptance of the idea that not only would they continue to share a bed, but that their physical relationship would continue as well. He was still processing that when she smiled at him and left.

He finally climbed out of bed and pulled on his clothes and utility belt, moving with his usual efficiency despite his inner turmoil. He paused as he stepped out of the cabin. The idea of joining the others for breakfast felt foreign, almost uncomfortable. Yet, the memory of her warmth lingered, and he found himself stepping across the corridor and into the common area.

The galley hummed with activity as he entered. Sooni’s cheerful chatter mixed with the clinking of utensils and the sizzle of something cooking on the small stove. Willow turned, a smile lighting up her face as she saw him.

He settled into a seat and she placed a plate in front of him. Neither of the others seemed surprised by his presence. Malacar greeted him matter of factly, and Sooni beamed at him between mouthfuls.

As they ate, Malacar brought up the topic of supplies.

“I was thinking some additional equipment and materials might come in useful,” the elderly Ssst said, his eyes twinkling.

He’d never expected to trust someone else to work on his ship, but he’d been impressed by Malacar’s work while they traveled. They discussed the merits of various tools and parts, and he found the exchange oddly satisfying.

“We’ll see what’s available when we land,” he promised, finishing his meal.

Willow smiled up at him as he rose, ready to return to the familiar solitude of the cockpit.

But as he left the galley, he felt different. The… contentment that settled in his chest was unfamiliar, yet not unwelcome. For once, going to the cockpit didn’t feel like an escape to his refuge, but simply the next task in a day that had started… well.

LATER THAT DAY he strode briskly through the bustling market outside Radlin’s spaceport, his senses on high alert. The usual cacophony of noise and scent surrounded him, but he automatically marked the exits and potential hazards, a skill born of necessity.

He spotted the booth he was looking for and headed straight towards it, ignoring the gaudy displays designed to draw customers in. He gave the shopkeeper a curt nod and began examining the tools and hardware laid out on the counters. Most of the items he and Malacar had decided on were available and the shopkeeper agreed to have them delivered within the hour.

As he moved on to negotiate with a gruff Tylaxian merchant for fresh produce, his thoughts drifted back to Willow. He could almost hear her excited gasp at the sight of the colorful stalls, imagine her eyes widening at the variety of people and merchandise from strange fruits to intricate crafts. A pang of regret hit him as he remembered her disappointed face when he’d refused her request to join him. It had been the right decision—he didn’t want to linger on Radlin and she would be sure to attract attention—but he found himself wishing she were with him nonetheless.

He shook off the thought, irritated by his own sentimentality. He arranged for the produce to be sent to his ship and moved on to the next vendor. As he haggled over the price of meat, he caught himself thinking that perhaps next time he could bring her along. Sooni too would enjoy the market…

The realization of what he was considering stopped him cold. There would be no next time. Soon, they would reach Farlain, and Willow would be gone. Sooni and Malacar would be gone. He would return to his solitary existence, as alone as he had always been.

The thought left an uncomfortable tightness in his chest, and he clenched his jaw, angry at how much the idea bothered him. He’d been alone for years, preferring it that way. Why should the prospect of returning to that life suddenly feel so… empty?

He was still frowning over the idea when he finished his shopping and made his way through the winding alleys leading away from the marketplace. The noise from the bustling shopping area faded as he entered a quieter district, his boots padding quietly over the stone cobbles of the narrow alley. He approached a nondescript door and rapped twice, paused, then three more times.

The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior. He stepped inside, undeterred by the gloom. A lanky Zethinae lounged behind a cluttered desk, the subtle stripes covering his skin gleaming in the dim light.

“Wraith,” the other male drawled. “Didn’t expect to see you planetside.”

He nodded curtly.

“Drax. I need information.”

Drax leaned forward, interest gleaming in his multifaceted eyes.

“Always straight to business. What’s the topic?”

He hesitated for a moment. He and Drax had been, not friends exactly—he didn’t have friends—but acquaintances for a long time. The other male had helped him find jobs in the early days before he built his reputation and Wraith trusted him as much as he trusted anyone. He still had his doubts about drawing any attention to his mission, but he’d come here for information, and if anyone had heard anything about the slave ring it would be Drax. He had an astonishing array of contacts in every conceivable level of society.

“Human slave ring,” he said finally. “What have you heard?”

Drax’s wings twitched.

“Nasty business, that. Been some chatter lately. Word is it’s not your typical operation.”

He raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

“Very elite clientele, for one. And the merchandise? Specific requests only. No bulk orders.” Drax lowered his voice. “Rumor has it there’s a high-level Imperial official involved, even though the Emperor has forbidden human traffic.”

His pulse quickened, but he kept his face impassive. “Any names?”

Drax shook his head. “Nothing concrete. But whoever it is, they’ve got serious pull. This operation’s got layers of protection that shouldn’t exist.”

Wraith mulled over the information. It aligned with what he’d seen—the unexpected security measures, the rapid evacuations. An Imperial connection would explain a lot.

“Anything else?” he pressed.

Drax hesitated. “Just… be careful, Wraith. This isn’t your typical bounty. You’re poking at something big here.”

The fact that Drax was concerned enough about it to warn him spoke volumes about how dangerous he considered it.

“Thank you,” he said, surprising both himself and Drax.

Drax shook his head, then grinned at him.

“That one was on the house. There’ll be a charge next time.”

“I’m sure there will be,” he said dryly, but he was smiling too as he left.

Their interaction had been… warmer than usual. Was that due to Willow’s influence?

He increased his pace, already anxious to return to her, as he thought about the information Drax had shared. The possibility of a high-level government official being involved in the slave ring added a new layer of complexity to his mission—and risk. Normally that would have only added to the challenge, but somehow the pursuit of his quarry wasn’t as engrossing as usual.

As soon as he reached the landing pad, he knew something was wrong. The cargo ramp gaped open, and supplies littered the ground around it. Willow! He drew his weapon, moving swiftly and silently towards the ship.

He found Malacar sprawled on the ground at the bottom of the ramp, a nasty gash on his forehead. He kneeled, checking for a pulse. It was there, steady but weak. Relief mingled with a surge of anger as he scanned the area for threats.

A muffled sob caught his attention. He whirled around, weapon raised, as Sooni emerge from behind a stack of crates. Her eyes were wide with fear, tears streaming down her face.

“Wraith!” she cried, rushing towards him. He lowered his weapon and caught her as she flung herself into his arms.

“What happened?” he asked, his voice low and urgent.

Sooni hiccupped, struggling to speak through her tears.

“A strange male. His scent tasted bad. He hurt Grandfather and… and he took Willow!”

A cold knot formed in the pit of his stomach.

“Describe him,” he ordered, trying to keep his voice gentle despite the tension coursing through him.

As Sooni stammered out a description, his jaw clenched. He knew exactly who she was talking about. Zalek. A rival bounty hunter with a reputation for playing dirty.

Rage threatened to overwhelm him, but he forced it down. He needed to think clearly. Had Zalek taken Willow to return her to her original captors? If so, he had to find them before they left the planet. It wouldn’t stop him from following, but it would make it considerably more difficult.

He picked up Malacar as gently as possible, hurrying up the ramp and into the ship. Sooni followed, still sobbing quietly. As he placed Malacar on his bunk, the elderly male gave a muffled groan, his eyes fluttering open.

“Wh-what…”

“Willow’s been taken, and I’m going after her. Both of you stay here. I’ll set the alarms when I leave.”

He should have set them before, but it was too late for that now. As he turned to leave, Sooni grabbed his hand, her face still wet with tears.

“Find Willow,” she pleaded.

“I will, sweetie,” he promised as he gave her a quick hug. Both the hug and the endearment felt awkward, but they seemed to comfort her. “Don’t worry.”

He hurried down the ramp, only pausing long enough to set the alarms before hurrying back into the spaceport. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this level of cold fury. Someone had dared to harm those under his protection, and he was going to make them pay dearly. The thought of Willow in Zalek’s hands terrified him in a way nothing else ever had. He pushed the realization aside, focusing on the task at hand. There would be time to examine his feelings later. Right now all that mattered was getting Willow back.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Willow’s eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry and her head pounding. She was strapped to another one of those portable stretchers, the cold metal biting into her skin. For a disorienting moment, she thought she was back on the space station where her ordeal had begun. Had it all been a dream?

But as her mind cleared, the memories came rushing back. She’d been on the ship, organizing the supplies as Malacar brought them in, when she’d heard a muffled thud outside. When she looked out, she had seen Malacar sprawled on the ground, unconscious. Her heart had leaped into her throat, but she’d assumed he’d simply tripped and rushed outside to check on him.

As she’d bent over him, checking for injuries, a sharp pain pierced her neck. The world had tilted, colors swirling together before everything went black.

She fought back a sudden wave of panic. Where was she? What had happened to Malacar and Sooni? And Wraith—did he even know she was gone?

She tugged at her restraints, but they held firm. Looking around frantically, she tried to figure out where she was. The stretcher was in one corner of a vast empty room, half-hidden behind a partial wall. More partial walls, some collapsed, created a twisted maze across the floor. The upper part of the room was open and a row of windows circled it, high above the rusted metal walls. It looked like an abandoned warehouse.

She opened her mouth to call for help, then reconsidered. If her captors were close by, she didn’t want to alert them that she was awake. She closed her eyes, fighting back tears. She’d thought she was safe, that her days of being a captive were over. How naive she’d been.

Fear threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced herself to take slow, deep breaths. She needed to stay calm, to think. Wraith would come for her—she had no doubts about that. Until then, she’d have to be strong. To survive.

A loud clang echoed through the warehouse, making her jump against her restraints, followed by another. A door. Heavy footsteps approached, and she held her breath, trying to quell her rising panic.

A figure emerged from the shadows and she had to fight back a scream. Tall and almost skeletally thin, he had blood red eyes and an odd round mouth filled with a double row of pointed yellow teeth.

Terror clawed at her throat, threatening to choke her. She swallowed hard, forcing it down. She couldn’t let him see how afraid she was.

“Who are you? Why did you take me?” she demanded, proud that her voice only trembled slightly.

The male’s mouth stretched into what might have been a smile, revealing even more rows of those sharklike teeth.

“You’re a valuable piece of property,” he said, his voice a gravelly rasp. “I’ll be well rewarded for bringing you to my client.”

Property? Rewarded by whom? She opened her mouth to ask, but he kept talking.

“Humans are quite rare, you know,” he said, circling her stretcher like a predator stalking its prey. “Especially pretty little things like you.”

His eyes gleamed with malice and something that wasn’t exactly lust but sent an icy streak of terror down her back.

“The King of Farlain has a bounty on me too,” she said quickly, her voice steadier than she felt.

The male’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of interest crossing his face.

“How much?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted truthfully, hoping that might buy her some time.

He considered for a moment, then shrugged those thin shoulders.

“I’ll inquire, but I doubt he can outbid my client.”

Her mind reeled. Outbid a king? Who could possibly have that kind of wealth and power?

“Why me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why is everyone so interested in me?”

The male’s lips curled into a cruel smirk.

“You are of no consequence, but you fit the client’s specifications.”

Another chill ran down her spine as he moved closer, red eyes roaming over her.

“The color of your hair, your eyes,” he muttered, as if checking items off a list.

Without warning he reached out, using his claws to tear her gown open and expose her to the chilly air.

“Your body,” he said coldly, the look in his eyes making her shudder.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying desperately not to cry. She’d never felt so utterly helpless. Think, she ordered herself, searching for some way out of this nightmare. The snippets of conversation she’d overheard on the space station flashed through her mind.

“Your buyers won’t want me damaged,” she said desperately.

He paused, red eyes narrowing. For a fleeting moment, hope fluttered in her chest. But then he shrugged, his expression indifferent.

“I have no intention of causing permanent damage,” he said, his voice cold and detached. “I don’t usually indulge, but I’m curious why human females are considered so… desirable.”

Her stomach churned. Wraith…

“Wraith will come for me,” she said defiantly.

The male’s lips curled into a cruel smile.

“I hope so,” he sneered. “I have a surprise planned for him.”

Her blood ran cold. She believed in Wraith, believed that he’d try and find her, but now she feared for his safety as well. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. She had to be strong, to survive until he came.

When she opened her eyes again, she met her captor’s gaze with as much courage as she could muster. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear.

“The skin I understand,” he murmured. “Delicate, unprotected, easy to mark.”

She flinched as he touched her, cold fingers followed by a warm trickle of blood where his claws broke her skin. She was determined not to cry out, but she couldn’t prevent the tears welling in her eyes.

“But this…” His voice trailed off as he toyed with one of her breasts, making her shudder in revulsion. “It’s soft. Why does a female need such a thing?”

A whimper escaped her throat and she flushed with humiliation. His hands continued to roam, leaving behind an angry trail of scratches, and she flinched again as they passed over her stomach, his destination obvious.

“But perhaps softness is desirable in other locations, even though it wouldn’t represent much of a challenge.”

As she struggled uselessly against the restraints, a blur of motion caught her eye. Wraith materialized as if from thin air, his face a mask of cold fury. Her captor spun around, momentarily startled, but quickly regained his composure.

“Wraith,” he sneered. “Come to join our little party?”

Wraith didn’t respond. He simply lunged forward, his blades flashing in the dim light. The other male met him halfway, and the two collided in a brutal, violent dance.

She watched helplessly, still straining against her bonds. The fight was fast, almost too quick for her eyes to follow. Wraith moved with deadly grace, but her captor matched him blow for blow. Her heart pounded as she saw Wraith stumble, the other male’s claws raking across his chest.

For a terrifying moment, she thought it was over. But then Wraith spun, faster than she thought possible. His blade arced through the air, and a spray of dark liquid erupted from her captor’s neck. His eyes widened in shock before he crumpled to the ground.

Wraith didn’t even look at the fallen body. He rushed to her side, scanning her body for injuries. A haunted look crossed his face when he saw the blood on her chest, and his fingers hovered over the wounds, trembling slightly.

“Willow,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the vulnerability vanished from his expression. He cut through her restraints, wrapping the remnants of her dress around her before he pulled her into his arms. She burst into tears, her body shaking from the force of her sobs, and buried her face against his neck, inhaling his familiar scent, desperate for comfort.

A deafening roar suddenly filled the air and the warehouse erupted into flames. The heat hit her like a wall, but Wraith was already on the move, shielding her with his body as he raced through the maze of walls. The heat scorched her skin, the roar of flames surrounding them, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trusting him to carry her to safety.

They burst out into the cool night air, and she gulped it down gratefully. Wraith was breathing just as heavily but he didn’t slow down, carrying her swiftly through the outskirts of the spaceport. In the distance, fire alarms blared, their shrill cries piercing the night.

He manipulated a device on his belt as they ran towards the ship. The landing ramp descended as they reached the ship, and he carried her rapidly up it. Sooni and Malacar were waiting anxiously at the entrance, Sooni’s eyes wide and scared. Relief flooded through her at the sight of Malacar, bandaged but standing, and she gave Sooni a reassuring smile.

“I’m fine, sweetie,” she called quickly as Wraith kept going, carrying her straight to their cabin. She saw Malacar put his arm around the little girl as the cabin door closed behind them.

Wraith gently set her down, immediately checking her injuries. His face was pale, his eyes almost black with worry as they roamed over her body.

“They’re just scratches,” she assured him. “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. You were… in time.”

He nodded abruptly, his jaw clenching as she gave him a worried look.

“What about you? I saw him claw your chest.”

“I’m fine. We need to leave the planet immediately,” he added, his voice tight.

“I understand.”

He flashed her a quick unreadable look, then gently touched her cheek before hurrying out of the room.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Wraith gripped the controls tightly as he piloted the ship away from Radlin, his jaw clenched, his muscles taut with tension. The familiar hum of the engines usually brought him comfort, but now the sound felt distant and hollow. His chest ached where Zalek had tried to slash him, but the metal threads woven into his shirt had protected him. He deserved much worse for letting her fall into Zalek’s hands.

Images kept flashing through his mind—Willow strapped to that stretcher, her torn clothing, the blood on her skin. His chest constricted painfully. He’d almost been too late. If he hadn’t gotten there when he did…

The memories he’d blocked for so long battered against his mind, threatening to break through, but he forced back the onslaught. Now was not the time to lose control. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. One task at a time. Get away from Radlin. Set the autopilot. Return to Willow.

But it didn’t help. The smell of smoke lingered on his clothing, awakening memories of that other fire. Smoke. Screams. His mother’s face, contorted in agony.

No. He couldn’t let himself go there. Not now. Not when Willow needed him.

The ship’s warning system beeped, alerting him to an incoming vessel, and adrenaline spiked through his body. He forced himself to focus, checking the readings. Just a routine cargo freighter, no threat. He adjusted course slightly to give it a wide berth, but his heart rate refused to slow.

She’s all right, he kept telling himself. She’s safe. I found her.

Thanks to Drax. As soon as he’d left the ship, he’d raced back to the Zethinae’s office. He stormed in, not bothering to hide his fury behind his usual icy mask.

“Zalek. Where is he?”

Drax frowned at him, cautious but not intimidated by his rage.

“I’m not sure. I’ve heard rumors—”

“I need to know. Now. I don’t care what it costs. He has my female.”

Drax nodded abruptly and picked up a communication device, his face grim. Within minutes he had runners moving throughout the port.

While they waited Wraith prowled the small office like a caged animal, his mind racing with possibilities, each worse than the last. The thought of Willow in Zalek’s clutches, terrified and alone, sent agony searing through his chest. Drax watched him, but didn’t attempt to calm him down.

He knew he was destroying his reputation as a cold, emotionless hunter, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. All that mattered was finding Willow. The minutes stretched on endlessly as he waited for information. Reports started to come in, Drax sorting through the information before finally coming up with an answer.

“There’s a warehouse on the southern edge of the port. Zalek’s shown an interest in it recently, although I don’t know—”

But he was gone, running out the door before Drax had finished speaking. His heart pounded in his ears, terror driving him on.

Hold on, Willow, he thought fiercely. I’m coming.

His heart was still racing when he reached the warehouse district. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to tear through the area, ripping doors off hinges until he found Willow, but years of training and discipline kicked in, forcing him to slow his pace and think strategically.

He pulled out his scanner, sweeping it across the buildings. The busy front area teemed with activity, but he doubted Zalek would risk such exposure. He moved quickly towards the deserted structures at the outskirts, focused on the scanner.

As he rounded a corner, it picked up two heat signatures in a dilapidated building. He’d never felt such a terrifying mix of hope and dread before.

Focus, he commanded himself. This isn’t just another hunt. It’s everything.

He couldn’t risk a direct approach, terrified that Zalek would simply kill her. Instead, he crept towards a neighboring structure, his movements fluid and silent despite his inner turmoil. He scaled the wall with practiced ease, pulling himself onto the roof. From there, he had a clear view of his target—a weathered warehouse with boarded doors.

He moved silently across the rooftop until he reached the edge. There was a wide gap between the buildings, but in any other situation he would have cleared it without a second thought. This time he was terrified, not for himself, but for what would happen to her if he failed.

He shook his head, banishing the hesitation, then leaped across the gap. His feet hit the roof and he rolled to absorb the impact and muffle the sound of his landing. There was no sign that his presence had been detected, and he crept cautiously towards a grimy skylight, peering down into the gloom below.

He spotted the corner of a stretcher and a small familiar foot, and his heart constricted. There she was. Then Zalek came into view, circling her, and everything disappeared except a single consuming thought—I have to save her.

I did save her, he reminded himself now, his hands clenching on the ship’s controls. They were free of Radlin now. He should go to her.

Instead, he remained paralyzed at the controls as the memories he’d been fighting so hard to avoid crashed down over him. The acrid smell of smoke filled his nostrils, and suddenly he wasn’t on his ship anymore. He was a boy again, small and terrified, creeping through a burning building.

His mother’s face swam before him, bruised and bloodied. Her purple eyes, so like his own, wide with fear.

“Run,” she whispered, her voice hoarse from screaming. But he couldn’t leave her, not with those men still there, their cruel laughter echoing through the flames.

His chest constricted, each breath a struggle. He could feel the heat of the fire on his skin, hear the crackle of burning wood. The memory of his helplessness threatened to overwhelm him.

A gentle touch on his arm jolted him back to the present. Willow stood beside him, her hair damp, her face scrubbed clean.

“Wraith,” she said softly, “It’s all right. I’m safe.”

He stared at her, the nightmarish images still swirling in his mind.

“I should have been stronger,” he said, the words scraping against his raw throat. “I should have saved her.”

Understanding dawned in Willow’s eyes, followed by sorrow.

“I’m so sorry.”

He swallowed hard, trying to regain control, and she put her arms around him, holding him protectively. After everything she’d been through, she was the one trying to comfort him.

“I love you,” he blurted out, his voice rough. The words felt foreign on his tongue, but the truth of them settled into his bones.

She looked up at him, tears sparkling in her eyes as she gave him a radiant smile.

“I love you too,” she whispered.

The simple declaration made him feel like his chest might burst open from the sheer enormity of the feeling. Unable to find the words, he reached for her instead. As soon as their lips met, need roared through him, as hot and powerful as the flames that had surrounded them. He dragged her onto his lap, his mouth devouring hers, his tongue plunging past her lips to tangle with hers. She returned the kiss eagerly, her fingers threading through his hair and sending shivers of desire through him.

“I need you,” he growled.

“Yes.”

His cock throbbed an urgent rhythm and he barely retained enough control to hit the door control, sealing them into the cockpit, before his mouth descended over hers again, his hands seeking the perfect mounds of her small breasts. She gasped, rocking eagerly against his cock in response. The heat of her, even through her clothes and his, drove him wild. He fumbled with the top of her gown, desperate to bare her to his hungry gaze.

He pushed it down impatiently, revealing her taut pink-tipped breasts—and the line of small white bandages. He froze, horrified that he had momentarily forgotten her injuries.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” she asked immediately, and he shuddered.

“I’m sorry. I did not consider your condition.”

“Condition?”

She followed his gaze, and understanding dawned on her face. She took his hand and brought it back to her breast. His fingers flexed automatically, unable to resist that sweet temptation, and the stiff peak of her nipple pressed against his palm.

“I want you to touch me,” she said quietly. “I need to know that I’m safe and loved and that we’re together.”

“Are you sure?”

“Very sure. Now are you going to stop worrying and make love to me properly or am I going to have to do all the work myself?”

She rocked teasingly against his rigid shaft again, and he pushed aside his doubts. He bent her back over his arm, taking a sweet, tempting little nipple in his mouth, licking and sucking as she wiggled impatiently against him. He gave her other breast the same attention, feasting on her until she was trembling with need.

He slipped one hand beneath her gown, his hand traveling up her thigh until he found the swollen bud of flesh that brought her pleasure, circling it until she cried out, her body quivering.

“Please, Wraith.”

He continued to caress her with one hand as he freed his erection with the other, his frills already fluttering with anticipation.

He lifted her over him, the slick heat of her cunt teasing the head of his cock as she rocked against him. He groaned at the sensation, gripping her hips to still her. He’d been so obsessed with making sure she was ready for him he hadn’t considered his own precarious state of control.

Gritting his teeth he slowly lowered her down over him, her body stretching to accommodate the wide head of his cock before finally taking him inside. Her wet heat enveloped him, the pressure and friction drawing a guttural groan from his throat as his frills caressed her.

“Oh, God, yes,” she moaned, rising up to sink back down again, taking him deeper.

He nearly lost control right then, but he managed to restrain himself and let her ride him, impaling her body on his cock again and again, her head thrown back, her cheeks flushed with pleasure. His muscles trembled with the effort of remaining still, of watching her pleasure herself with his body.

He’d never seen anything as beautiful as she was at this moment. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted, her hair a wild cloud around her. His heart raced as emotion washed over him, more intense than any physical pleasure could be.

She cried out as her climax took her, her channel convulsing around his cock, and all hope of control vanished. He surrendered to the hunger, pulling her down over him as he thrust up into her, faster and faster until he shuddered, his release sweeping over him in long, shuddering waves, shaking him to the core, and leaving him panting and utterly sated.

She collapsed against him, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too.”

She sounded as dazed and happy as he felt, and he tightened his grip as he gazed out at the vast expanse of stars. A sense of peace washed over him, unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. The warmth of her body against his, the gentle rhythm of her breathing—it all felt so right, so perfect.

The sudden chime of an incoming call broke through the tranquil moment. He winced as he recognized the source of the call, remembering his promise to Drax. He reluctantly reached for the communication panel, bracing himself for an immediate assignment.

To his surprise, the trader’s gruff voice held a note of concern. “Did you find your mate?”

Mate. The word sent an unexpected thrill through his body. He tightened his hold on her, savoring the feeling.

“Yes,” he said quietly. “I am in your debt.”

Drax grunted, a hint of amusement in his tone.

“Yes. But I think I will hold that debt in reserve until it is needed.”

With that, the communication ended. He looked down at her, her eyes warm and loving, still stunned that she had changed his world so completely.

“What shall we do now, my love?” he asked softly.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Willow’s heart skipped a beat at Wraith’s question. His purple eyes, usually so guarded, were warm and loving. She reached out, tracing the contours of his face with her fingertips.

“Is there a choice?” she asked softly. “I thought you had a contract to take me to Farlain—and you never break a contract.”

He shook his head, his long hair brushing softly against her skin.

“Your happiness is more important to me,” he said, his voice low and intense. “We can go anywhere you want.”

For a moment she thought of Earth, but Wraith, the wounded, complex male who’d stolen her heart, wouldn’t be welcome there, let alone Sooni and Malacar, her new little family, and she dismissed the idea without regret.

“I don’t know where else we would go,” she said, giving him a rueful smile. “Tell me more about Farlain.”

“What do you want to know? There’s one main continent where most of the Farlain live, plus some small islands inhabited by a different race, the Elvar. The climate is temperate and much of the land is unspoiled. It is somewhat… primitive,” he said slowly. “The previous king restricted the use of technology to the nobles, and only the ones he favored.”

“That doesn’t seem right.”

“It wasn’t, and from what I heard, it was the least of his sins. The present king, Conran, led a rebellion against him. The planet is at peace now,” he added. “And Conran is a good king. He was the one who hired me to track down the slavers.”

“That sounds more promising,” she said thoughtfully. The absence of advanced technology didn’t really bother her. That is… “Just how primitive do you mean? Do they have electricity? Indoor plumbing?”

He laughed.

“Yes, love. You would be comfortable there. We don’t have to decide right away,” he added. “We can take some time, explore our options.”

She considered the idea, then shook her head.

“I’ve enjoyed our time on the ship, but I’d like to be back on the ground. To have fresh air and sunshine and… a home. I want somewhere where we can put down roots.” She hesitated, then added, “And I’d like Malacar and Sooni to share that home with us.”

His expression softened, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Of course,” he said at once. “They’re family now.”

She gave a relieved sigh at how easily he accepted both the idea of settling down and of including Malacar and Sooni.

“Then… let’s continue on to Farlain,” she said decisively.

“Are you sure? There are other planets we could choose from.”

She nodded, feeling more certain with each passing moment.

“I want to settle down,” she explained. “And I like the idea that there’s another human woman there. Someone I might be able to connect with.”

“Actually there are two of them, although the other one lives on the islands I mentioned with her mate. The former king… arranged for both of them to be taken.”

She shuddered, remembering what her captor had said.

“The male who took me—he said that I had been ‘ordered’ the same way someone would order food from a restaurant menu. This color eyes, this color hair, this type of b-body.”

Her voice shook at the memory, and he tightened his arms around her.

“You’re safe now, my love.”

“I know.” She leaned in and gave him a quick soft kiss. “We should go talk to Malacar and Sooni now. They’re probably worried.”

He agreed, then helped her clean up and dress before they made their way to the common area. They found Malacar in the galley, stirring something in a pot. He was moving more slowly than usual and she immediately started to worry about him.

“You shouldn’t be up and about so soon,” she scolded.

The elderly Ssst waved off her worry. “I’m fine, child. A little sore, but nothing to fuss over.”

Before she could argue, a blur of green rushed towards her and Sooni threw her arms around her waist, burying her face against her.

“I was so scared!”

“I’m sure you were,” she said soothingly, holding her close. “I was scared too.”

Sooni’s mouth trembled.

“I should have done something when that bad male took you.”

The guilt in Sooni’s voice made her heart ache. She gently stroked the smooth green scalp, trying to find the right words. Wraith seemed to understand her struggle. He smiled at her and picked up Sooni, then sat down with her on his lap.

“You did exactly the right thing,” he told her, his voice gentle. “You stayed hidden and you stayed safe.”

“It was the right thing to do?” the little girl asked doubtfully.

“Yes. The most important thing is that you were safe.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he repeated, and the small body relaxed.

She smiled at the two of them, but there had been something in his voice which made her think he’d remembered more of his past. Remembered a time when he hadn’t been safe.

Malacar dished out the meal he’d prepared, and they all sat down together. My family, she thought, smiling at them.

“You know we’re heading for Farlain,” she said. “Wraith and I have decided to stay there and make a home. We were hoping you both would join us.”

Malacar gave her a shocked look.

“Farlain?” he repeated, his voice gruff. “I don’t really know much about it…” Those perceptive eyes looked from her to Wraith, then he nodded decisively. “But I’m sure it’s better than an old space station. I think it’s an excellent idea. As long as you’re sure it’s the right place. I’m not moving again.”

“We won’t stay unless we’re sure,” she assured him and he smiled at her, patting her hand.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “Both of you.”

Sooni could barely contain her excitement.

“Our own home?” she squealed. “Can I have my own room? With a big window? And maybe a garden outside?”

As Sooni’s enthusiasm grew, dreaming up ever more elaborate plans, Willow bit her lip. She hadn’t really considered the practical aspects of their new life, like money. Most of the little girl’s suggestions weren’t realistic, but they would still need to find a place large enough for all of them, plus the garden she wanted. How would they afford all this?

“Sweetie,” she started gently, trying to temper Sooni’s expectations. “We’ll have to see what we can manage—”

Wraith leaned in close, his voice low and amused.

“You don’t need to worry about credits,” he murmured. “I have more than enough. I’ve had a very profitable career and I never had much to spend those profits on other than my weapons and my ship.”

She blinked in surprise, realizing there was a lot about his life before her that she didn’t know. But she gave him a relieved smile and let Sooni continue with her grand plans.

All of them were tired by the day’s events and they decided to turn in early. She put Sooni to bed as usual, but before she left, the little girl reached up and hugged her, her thin arms tight around Willow’s neck.

“I’m glad I get to stay with you forever and ever.”

Tears pricked at her eyes as she returned the hug.

“So am I, sweetie.”

She went to join Wraith in his cabin—their cabin—but as she settled into bed next to him, a thought struck her.

“Had?” she asked, turning to face him. “You said you ‘had’ a successful career.”

He smiled at her.

“I’m retiring,” he said simply.

She bit her lip. As delighted as she was by the thought that he wouldn’t have to leave them, she knew how much his work had defined him.

That thought continued to gnaw at her as he dimmed the lights and pulled her close.

“I’m worried you’ll regret giving it up,” she said finally.

“I’ve already found the only thing really worth searching for,” he murmured, his voice low and sincere. “Love.”

Tears pricked her eyes again as she tilted her face up to his and he kissed her. The kiss quickly turned passionate, but she remembered her earlier thought and she pulled back slightly.

“You remembered, didn’t you?” she asked quietly, and he went still.

“Yes. Everything.”

She waited patiently and he finally spoke again.

“My name was Tarchek.”

Tarchek. It didn’t seem to fit him, but…

“Is that what you would like to be called now?”

He looked surprised by the question, but then he shook his head.

“No. I am not that child anymore.”

She thought he might stop there, but he kept going.

“We lived on a farming planet, my mother and I,” he said, his eyes distant. “It was quiet, peaceful. Until the raiders came.”

She gripped his hand, fighting back the tears as he described the brutal attack. His mother, raped and killed. Their farm set ablaze. How they had discovered him.

“I was… a pretty boy,” he said, his voice thick with disgust. “They decided I’d fetch a good price.”

He’d tried to fight them, only to be knocked unconscious. He didn’t elaborate further, but she was horrified by the full extent of what he’d endured.

“Oh, Wraith,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “No wonder you blocked it out. Are… are you sorry you remembered?”

He was quiet for a moment, then shook his head. “No. I needed to know the missing piece. For the first time I feel whole—partially because of that, but mostly because of you.”

His eyes met hers, filled with a warmth that made her heart skip a beat. He leaned in, kissing her softly, and she let herself be swept away into the heat and passion of his embrace, losing herself in the pleasure of his love and the sweet promise of their future together.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Wraith strode rapidly through the Farlain palace, automatically checking his surroundings even though most of his attention was on the upcoming meeting.

He found King Conran in his office, frowning at some paperwork. He was simply dressed in his warrior leathers, but even so there was something regal in his posture and bearing, an indefinable air of command.

Conran looked up as he entered, his golden eyes gleaming, then frowned.

“Where is the human female?” Conran demanded.

“Safe,” he said calmly. “But I wished to speak with you before bringing her here.”

The king’s frown deepened, his fingers drumming on his desk. “Explain.”

He hesitated, an unusual uncertainty gripping him as he realized how much this mattered to him.

“She wishes to stay,” he said finally, his voice low but firm.

“Of course, that was the plan.” Conran gave him a confused look. “We have arrangements in place for her comfort and safety, and my mate is excited to meet her.”

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what came next.

“I will be staying as well.”

The king’s eyebrows shot up, genuine surprise crossing his features, and he leaned forward, studying Wraith intently.

“You? Staying? This is… unexpected. You’ve never shown interest in settling anywhere before.”

Wraith nodded, his face still a mask of calm despite the turmoil within.

“Things have changed.”

The golden glow in the king’s eyes intensified.

“I see. And what exactly has changed, Wraith?”

“I am retiring.”

“Without finishing the job? That’s not like you.”

Conran was right—it was the first time he’d ever failed to fulfill a contract. Yet he felt no regret.

“I will give you all of the information I have collected so far, and reimburse you for the unused portion of your first payment. I also have some possible leads that I am willing to pass on, but I will not be the one pursuing them,” he said firmly.

The king leaned back in his chair, studying him intently. Seconds ticked by in tense silence. Then, unexpectedly, Conran’s face broke into a grin, and he started to laugh.

“The human female is your mate, isn’t she?”

“Yes,” he replied simply, still marveling at the happiness that single word brought him.

“And both of you wish to remain?”

Wraith nodded. “Yes, along with a Ssst elder and child.”

Conran looked surprised again. He stood, walked to a nearby table, and poured two glasses of wine. Offering one to Wraith, he gestured for him to sit at one of the chairs arranged in front of an open window.

“I think you’d better fill me in on the details,” Conran said, settling into his own chair.

TWO NIGHTS later Wraith stood in the shadows, watching Willow as she chatted animatedly with Unity, the king’s human mate. The two females had hit it off immediately, and he enjoyed seeing her so happy. He watched as her face lit up with laughter, her chestnut hair catching the last rays of the setting sun.

The private garden behind the royal quarters where they were gathered was a lush oasis, filled with exotic flowers and the gentle sound of a nearby fountain. Sooni darted across the grass, chasing a colorful ball with unbridled joy. Her green scales glimmered as she moved, her yellow eyes bright with excitement, and he smiled as he watched her play.

His gaze shifted to Malacar, who was engrossed in conversation with Barthar, the king’s imposing second-in-command. The contrast between the small, elderly Ssst and the towering Farlain warrior was striking, yet they were clearly enjoying their discussion.

He sensed a presence beside him and turned to see Conran coming towards him. The king’s lips quirked in a knowing smile.

“You don’t have to hide in the shadows anymore,” Conran said lightly

He shrugged.

“I’m not hiding.”

As if on cue, Willow looked up, her eyes going directly to him despite the shadows. She smiled warmly at him, the smile that never failed to fill him with happiness, and turned back to Unity.

“My mate knows exactly where I am,” he said calmly.

Conran chuckled softly.

“I suppose that’s all that really matters,” he conceded.

They stood in oddly companionable silence for a moment, watching the scene before them. Wraith felt a sense of contentment he’d never known before, surrounded by this makeshift family he’d somehow acquired.

“Come see me tomorrow,” Conran said suddenly. “I have a proposition for you.”

A FEW DAYS LATER, Wraith led Willow through the massive gates in the middle of a long stone wall, watching her face as she studied the overgrown gardens, the large stone house, and the assortment of outbuildings beyond.

“What do you think?” he asked, his voice carefully neutral.

“I think it must have been beautiful once. Why?”

“I was thinking that perhaps it would make a good home for us,” he said, unexpectedly anxious about her response.

They’d been staying on the ship for the past week. Conran had offered to let them stay at the palace, but he wasn’t ready to be surrounded by so many people. She didn’t seem to mind, but he’d promised her a house and he was determined to find her one.

Barthar had suggested this property. It had been empty for many years, but as soon as he’d stepped through the gates on his previous visit, it had felt… right. But it needed to be right for her as well.

She gave him a shocked look.

“But it’s enormous.”

“Which means there’s plenty of room for all of us. The fact that it’s enclosed will make it easy to set up a security system.” He might have retired but he had no intention of being lax with her safety. “Malacar can set up his workshop in one of the outbuildings and Sooni can have her pick of a dozen rooms.”

She laughed.

“That would definitely be an advantage. What’s it like inside?”

“Come and see.”

He led her across the weed-choked courtyard and into the spacious entry hall. Shutters still covered most of the windows, but enough light came through to reveal the high ceilings and generous proportions. He could already envision it with the shutters open, filled with light and life.

“It’s not as bad as I expected,” she said thoughtfully as they explored. “All of the rooms will need to be cleaned and scrubbed, most of the walls will need to be painted, and the floors need to be polished, but those are only cosmetic changes.”

“It was built well. I thought this would be a good room for us.”

They’d reached the upper level and he led her to a large room at the end of the hall. He wrestled open the shutters that covered the tall glass doors and they walked out onto the spacious terrace. The house was located on a small hill to the north of the palace, elevated enough to give a wide view out over the city below.

“Oh, this is beautiful,” she murmured, joining him at the balustrade, then gave him a curious look. “You really want this house, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I guess we’ve found our new home.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I know it’s going to take a lot of work, but it was beautiful once and it will be again.” She hesitated, and this time she was the one studying his face. “But are you sure you won’t regret giving up your job and staying planetside? That you won’t get bored?

“I could never be bored with you,” he said sincerely. “I would be quite content to simply remain at your side, but Conran has suggested that I work with a small group of his warriors, teaching them about some of the tools and methods I used. They haven’t been exposed to that type of technology before, but he thinks they need to learn about it, especially since he may send some of them off-planet to continue the search.”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” she said enthusiastically.

“Do you think Sooni and Malacar will approve of the house?”

“I’m sure they will, but we should bring them here later so they can see it.”

She rose on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth to his, and he pulled her close. Heat rushed through his body, the kiss growing hotter and wilder with every heartbeat. She wiggled impatiently against him, her softness tormenting his aching cock.

“Willow,” he groaned. “We should return to the ship.”

“Later. I think we should celebrate our new home first.”

His body immediately responded to the promise in her words. He pulled her close, breathing in her scent, marveling at how quickly she had become essential to his existence.

“There isn’t any furniture,” he warned her.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

He laughed and lifted her into his arms, carrying her back into the house, determined to justify her confidence in him.

He did.

A long time later he held her close as they curled together on the built-in window seat that had turned out to be the perfect height, filled with a sense of peace and belonging he’d never known before. He was home at last.

EPILOGUE

Three months later…

A STRAY BEAM of sunlight woke Willow not long after sunrise. The restoration work on their room had been completed but she had yet to put up any curtains, enjoying the sunshine that flooded the room all day long. All of the main rooms had been finished, and they were gradually working their way through the others. Wraith had insisted on hiring help—very carefully vetted help—for a lot of the work, even though she’d assured him she was happy to tackle it.

He’d found gardeners too, a female pair who were now living in the set of rooms attached to the greenhouse and who were working wonders on the overgrown gardens. They shared her vision of restoring order without losing the charm of the previous wilderness.

I need to see them today about the fountains, she thought as she snuggled against Wraith’s side. They’d discovered a surprising number hidden amongst the tangle of bushes and vines, and she was determined to restore every one.

She tried to go back to sleep, but even though she’d been lethargic in the mornings for the past few weeks, today she felt unexpectedly energetic. She was tempted to get up, but Wraith was still asleep and he didn’t like waking up alone.

Since she understood that only too well, she wasn’t going anywhere until he woke up. Of course, there was nothing to prevent her from hurrying that process along. Smiling to herself, she slid down under the thin sheet. Enough sunlight made its way through the fabric for her to see quite clearly. She smiled again at the sight of that thick cock, heavy against his leg, his frills relaxed along the sides.

She leaned closer and blew gently across the head, and it immediately began to respond. She took him in her mouth, still large even in this state but less of a challenge than he would be when he was fully erect, and sucked gently. He grew with gratifying speed, filling her mouth until her lips were stretched wide but she did her best to maintain the gentle suction, occasionally stopping to flick her tongue across his frills, now fluttering wildly.

He still hadn’t moved, which surprised her a little, but it meant she had more time to play before he woke and took control. He rarely let her do this for long, claiming he couldn’t last long with her mouth on him.

Determined to test that theory, she closed her hand around as much of his shaft as possible as she drew him a little deeper. He stiffened, his cock jerking in her hand, but when she tugged the sheet back far enough to see his face, his eyes were still closed. Excellent. Stroking him more firmly, she worked the head of his cock with her lips and her tongue, sucking hard one moment and swirling her tongue gently around him the next.

He was breathing faster now, his chest rising and falling rapidly, but his eyes remained tightly shut. His cock grew even harder, and then his fingers tangled in her hair. Instead of pulling her away as she expected, he held her steady as he began to thrust, almost too much for her to take, but she did her best to meet each stroke.

She adjusted her grip, her fingers sliding between his frills, and he groaned her name.

“Willow,” he rasped.

She hummed in response, unable to speak, and the vibration pushed him over the edge, his hips jerking wildly as the first pulse of seed hit the back of her throat. His hand tightened in her hair, and she swallowed eagerly as he flooded her mouth.

He loosened his grip as his body slowly relaxed, stroking her hair before pulling her up into his arms.

“You were awake all along, weren’t you?” she accused playfully.

“Did you really expect me to be asleep?”

Even his current happiness hadn’t changed the habits of a lifetime. He still didn’t sleep much, but he came to bed with her every night and remained there until she woke. If he had to leave for an early meeting, he would kiss her awake long enough to say goodbye. Those meetings were occurring more frequently now that Conran had appointed him as an advisor, but this morning he was all hers.

At least he was until a small green head poked around the door.

“Are you awake yet?” Sooni asked.

“No,” Wraith said firmly. “And Willow needs her sleep. I put a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table for you if you’re hungry.”

The little girl gave a theatrical sigh, then grinned and raced away as Willow tried to stifle her laughter.

“You forgot to lock the door again. It’s a good thing she didn’t show up five minutes earlier.”

“An oversight I intend to take care of immediately.”

She watched his muscular body admiringly as he walked over and locked the door, the sunlight picking out the shifting colors in his skin. When he turned back, the purple sparks burned in his eyes.

“Are you in need of something, my love?” he purred as he returned, his cock already thickening again.

“What makes you think that?” she asked breathlessly.

“Your scent is richer, sweeter, even more delicious.”

Instead of returning to the bed, he went down on his knees next to it, pulling her towards him as she shivered in anticipation.

“So pretty,” he murmured as he gently spread her legs, pressing teasing kisses to her inner thighs. “But I need to taste you.”

He kissed his way higher until he could lick softly along her slit, and she shivered at the touch of his tongue. He continued the light, teasing licks as he slowly inserted a thick finger, the intrusion easing the need that had been building in her since she touched him.

He flicked his tongue across her clit, not hard enough to give her what she wanted, and she wriggled against his restraining hands.

“Please, Wraith.”

“Such a polite little mate.”

He sealed his lips around her clit, his tongue working its magic on that small bundle of nerves as his finger slid deeper and then curled upward. The sensations crashed over her, leaving her hovering on the edge of climax, and then he drew her clit into his mouth and sucked hard.

Her body convulsed so hard she saw stars, arching helplessly against his mouth until he gentled his touch, soothing her down into a state of boneless contentment. Then he straightened and joined her on the bed, gathering her close.

“A remarkably pleasant way to begin the day.”

“Mmm,” she agreed, already half-asleep, but then she remembered what he’d told Sooni and gave him a puzzled look.

“What did you mean when you told Sooni I needed my sleep?”

“I meant that nurturing another life is hard work, and you need your rest.”

His eyes glowed, warm and loving, his face softer than she’d ever seen it.

“You know?” she gasped. “How? I only figured it out yesterday.”

She’d intended to confirm it with the doctor before telling him, still half-afraid to believe it was true even though the signs were obvious once she thought about it.

“I know everything about you.”

His voice was light, teasing, but she suspected he was being truthful.

“Are… are you happy about it?”

“I am delighted that our family is growing,” he said firmly, and she could see the happiness on his face, once so inscrutable.

She bit her lip.

“Do you think Sooni will be happy about it as well?”

“I think she will be thrilled to have a sister.”

Unexpected tears sprang to her eyes. The little girl had started calling her mama lately—not all the time, but it always filled her with happiness when it occurred. The first time the word slipped out, Willow had gone to see Malacar, tinkering in his workshop as usual. He was developing a small but growing repair business, and she loved seeing him so content.

She told him what had happened, concerned that he might think she was trying to take his daughter’s place. Instead, his wrinkled face creased into a gentle smile.

“I’m glad to hear it. Sooni needs a mother’s love and comfort.”

“I can’t replace her mother, but I’ll always love her and I hope she knows that.”

“She does. We both do.”

She’d hugged him impulsively and to her delight he’d hugged her back before clearing his throat and turning back to his tools.

Now she put her hand on her stomach and Wraith covered it with his much larger one.

“I can’t believe it didn’t occur to me sooner—especially since Unity is so very, very pregnant.” The other woman was only a few weeks away from what she’d calculated as her due date and her stomach was almost as large as she was. “I guess we were just so busy working on the house and settling in that I didn’t think about it.”

“I suspect you were afraid to consider the possibility.”

He wasn’t wrong. She’d been so focused on enjoying her new life, the happiness of having a home and a family, that she hadn’t thought beyond it.

“Maybe it seemed like too much to hope for when I’ve already been so blessed. I love you, Wraith.”

“I love you too.”

He kissed her, softly at first, then more deeply. She responded eagerly, her need rising as his tongue stroked against hers. When he finally raised his head, arousal hummed through her veins but she gave him a teasing smile.

“You know, Unity said that being pregnant made her very… needy. You’re going to have your hands full.”

He flashed her a predatory grin. “I think I’m up to the challenge.”

Her laugh turned to a moan as his hand moved to her breast, his fingers toying with her nipple.

“I’m glad to hear it,” she whispered against his lips, “Because I’m going to need you a lot.”

“You can always count on me, my love,” he murmured as he drew her into his arms.

A long, pleasurable time later she snuggled against him, her heart filled with a joy she’d never imagined, and gazed out the windows, at the lovely old house and the colorful blooms in the garden, at the city below, the castle on the hill, and the endless sky above.

“We’re home,” she whispered, and he tightened his hold on her.

“Yes, we are,” he whispered. “We’re finally home.”

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading Willow and the Wraith! Wraith is another character who demanded my attention as soon as he appeared on page. I loved discovering his secrets, and Willow was the perfect person to help him break out of his frozen shell.

Can you believe we’re already at W? It seems like only yesterday when I loaded Anna and the Alien on to Amazon, convinced that no one would ever read it!

Whether you enjoyed the story or not, it would mean the world to me if you left an honest review on Amazon—reviews are one of the best ways to help other readers find my books!

Thank you all for supporting these books—I couldn’t do it without you!

And, as always, a special thanks to my beta team—Janet S, Nancy V, and Kitty S. Your thoughts and comments are incredibly helpful!

We will be returning to the Alien Abduction universe, but coming up next is the first book in a new series! Welcome to The Five Kingdoms!

When Wulf makes a desperate plea to the Old Gods to save the orcs of Norhaven, he doesn’t expect his prayers to be answered by the sudden arrival of a beautiful - naked - female.

He’s sure she is his mate, but prayers to the Gods are a tricky business. How much is he prepared to sacrifice for his people?

Click here to order The Orc’s Stolen Bride!

Begin your journey to The Five Kingdoms with this free prequel!

When Freya stumbles on a body in the woods, she doesn’t realize that her life is about to change forever.

Thorn’s body may be wounded and his memory uncertain, but the moment he sees Freya he knows she belongs to him - and he will eliminate anyone who tries to come between them.

But trouble is brewing in The Five Kingdoms, and his duty might separate them when nothing else could…

The Orc’s Hidden Bride is available here!

If this is your first encounter with the Alien Abduction series, find out where it all began in Anna and the Alien!

Anna Elliott wanted to get away - but an alien spaceship was not on the itinerary. Can a girl and her alien find happiness on a deserted planet at the far end of the galaxy?

Anna and the Alien is available on Amazon!

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OTHER TITLES

KAISARIAN EMPIRE

The Alien Abduction Series

Anna and the Alien

Beth and the Barbarian

Cam and the Conqueror

Deb and the Demon

Ella and the Emperor

Faith and the Fighter

Greta and the Gargoyle

Hanna and the Hitman

Izzie and the Icebeast

Joan and the Juggernaut

Kate and the Kraken

Lily and the Lion

Mary and the Minotaur

Nancy and the Naga

Olivia and the Orc

Pandora and the Prisoner

Quinn and the Queller

Rita and the Raider

Sara and the Spymaster

Tammy and the Traitor

Unity and the Usurper

Vera and the Victor

Willow and the Wraith

Folsom Planet Blues

Alien Most Wanted: Caged Beast

Alien Most Wanted: Prison Mate

Alien Most Wanted: Mastermind

Alien Most Wanted: Unchained

Stranded with an Alien

Sinta - A SciFi Holiday Tail

Treasured by the Alien

Mama and the Alien Warrior

A Son for the Alien Warrior

Daughter of the Alien Warrior

A Family for the Alien Warrior

The Nanny and the Alien Warrior

A Home for the Alien Warrior

A Gift for the Alien Warrior

A Treasure for the Alien Warrior

Three Babies and the Alien Warrior

Sanctuary for the Alien Warrior

A Miracle for the Alien Warrior

Hope for the Alien Warrior

HOMESTEAD WORLDS

Seven Brides for Seven Alien Brothers

Artek

Benjar

Callum

Drakkar

Endark

Frantor

Gilmat

You Got Alien Trouble!

How the Aliens Were Won

Borgaz

Temel

Naffon

S’kal

Celenk

Kalpar

H’zim

Tomlin

Cosmic Fairy Tales

Jackie and the Giant

Blind Date with an Alien

Her Alien Farmhand

Back Away From My Girl

Guarded by an Alien Assassin

Cyborgs on Mars

High Plains Cyborg

The Good, the Bad, and the Cyborg

A Fistful of Cyborg

A Few Cyborgs More

The Magnificent Cyborg

The Outlaw Cyborg

The Cyborg with No Name

Cyborg Rider

Cosmic Cinema

My Fair Alien

The Alien and I

Skruj

Horned Holidays

Krampus and the Crone

A Gift for Nicholas

A Kiss of Frost

The Knotty Clause

Exposed to the Elements

The Naked Alien

The Bare Essentials

A Nude Attitude

The Buff Beast

The Strip Down

The Alien Invasion Series

Alien Selection

Alien Conquest

Alien Prisoner

Alien Breeder

Alien Alliance

Alien Hope

Alien Castaway

Alien Chief

Alien Ruler

COZY MONSTERS

Fairhaven Falls

Cupcakes for My Orc Enemy

Trouble for My Troll

Fireworks for My Dragon Boss

The Single Mom and the Orc

Mistletoe for My Minotaur

Valentine for My Vampire

Protected by the Orc

Gift for My Ghost

Monster Between the Sheets

Extra Virgin Gargoyle

Without a Stitch

Standalones

Hot Wolf in the City

Mated to the Swamp Monster

FANTASY

The Five Kingdoms

The Orc’s Hidden Bride

The Orc’s Stolen Bride

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies.

Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of five. Her writing has improved since then. Her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.

Honey loves to hear from her wonderful readers! You can stalk her at any of the following locations…

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