Page 28

Engines powered by Orb-Material run silently – and produce infinitely more power than the fusion or combustion drives most races in the universe still rely on.

That’s why Orb-Material is so immeasurably valuable – and why my father’s mine has driven these Aurelians to resort to kidnapping – if not worse.

My father’s mine is what started this whole bloody affair. The mine that kept me prisoner ever since my father first discovered it – that now has Gerard’s blood on it.

Gods, how I hate that mine!

I force my thoughts to become logical again. Clinging to logic and analysis helps steel my nerves against the fear and grief.

I consider what might happen next. I’ve been kidnapped by Aurelians – and with an Orb powering their vessel, this Reaver could travel huge distances across space in just a split second.

That means I could be pulled away from Marn and thrown into another solar system at any moment – far from my father’s reach.

Gods…

I tried to distract myself with facts and analysis, but I can’t any longer – they just demonstrate how desperate my situation is.

The one, true fact is that I’ve been snatched up by three hulking, alien beasts – from a species known for two things above all else; their mating rage, and the code honor that holds back their primal desires.

These Aurelians, however, have proven they have no honor.

I can’t make the same assumption about their mating rage. There’s no Aurelian in the universe who is immune to those hard-wired, insatiable desires – why should these three defy biology?

That places me in a very vulnerable situation.

As if to reinforce that, the Aurelian at the controls of the Reaver turns his head. I shiver when his slate-grey eyes fall across me.

The pilot is the Aurelian who’d had that rifle slung across his back. His sharp eyes have hunger in them.

Hunger for what… Forme?

These are three brutal, alien men. They’ve survived a thousand life-threatening encounters. They’ve killed Scorp, Toad, and human men like it’s nothing.

They’re three cold, heartless murderers – who took sweet, protective Gerard and ended him.

Now, they have me in their grasp.

The cold fear grips me. It’s like I’m falling into an endless pit of terror. My heart pounds, and I begin to hyperventilate – unable to suck enough oxygen in through my nose.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

The leader of the Aurelians, who still has me wrapped in his powerful arms, speaks in a manner I assume is supposed to be reassuring. His voice is deep and powerful – but anything but reassuring.

How can it be? This Aurelian just killed a man I cared for. How can he tell me he won’t hurt me, when he’s already broken my heart by murdering Gerard?

The alien’s lie curdles in my ear – but my terror does subside somewhat.

It’s replaced with something more powerful.

Hate.

I feel frozen hatred for this marble-skinned, alien bastard.

He’s not a professional. He has no honor. He’s not even like the families of Marn – who at least have set rules when it comes to the business of kidnapping. They’d never kill a guard in the attempt – because to the crime and business families of Marn, kidnapping is supposed to be a clean transaction; a normal part of ‘business as usual’.

On Marn, even dirty business is done through wits and betrayal, not through force of arms.

But these Aurelians are not from Marn – and this towering Aurelian who pins me in his immense arms is nothing but a beast – a brutal murderer.