Page 2 of Interstellar Love Song (Villains in Space #3)

MICAH

Stellarians are such drama queens.

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but Ziggy was suddenly extremely invested when it came to wedding planning, starting with the proposal.

The proposal I’m not supposed to know about.

“I was told we were getting a grand marriage proposal followed by a debaucherous party,” Theo loudly grumbled from where he slouched against our penthouse balcony railing. “But this waiting around is so… boring.”

“Did you seriously just ruin the surprise?” Gabe whirled on his stellar collision, adorably mad on my behalf. “What the fuck is the matter with you?”

“Too many things to count,” Dre murmured as he absently picked at his black fingernail polish, clearly as bored as his brat.

These fools .

“It’s okay, Gabe,” I laughed. “I kind of figured it out when Ziggy insisted you all visit for absolutely no reason at all.”

I slung an arm around his shoulder, thrilled to have our Stellari clan together—in person.

Unfortunately, Zion, Balty, and Daisy wouldn’t be joining us for the ‘surprise’ proposal, but I understood.

Big bro had his hands full back on Earth, between leading the much larger Salah clan and his impending bundles of joy.

Zion was another reason I knew exactly what was going down today. My eldest brother hadn’t outright told me Ziggy was proposing, but his text with a photo of my infamous “I’m getting space married, byeeee” goodbye note and the words “let the runaway space bride cook” kind of gave it away.

This family’s love language is third-degree burns.

“Well, I still think it’s sweet,” Gabe replied, tossing some side-eye in Theo’s direction before smiling warmly at me. “I’ll just live vicariously through your schmoop, Micah.”

“You want schmoop?” Dre was suddenly eerily focused on the conversation—on his twin specifically. “I can give you schmoop.”

Doubtful.

Gabe rolled his eyes where only I could see, but from the way Dre’s narrowed, he knew damn well.

Fucking psychics.

“Oh, good, we haven’t missed anything.” Honnor materialized on the balcony with Bron at their side and Pedro perched on their shoulder like an oversized furry parrot. “Not that there’s anything to miss, of course. ”

Sigh.

I turned to the space dads and gave Baby P a scritch behind the ears. “Listen, I know Ziggy’s proposing and it’s fine that it’s not a surprise. I’m just so happy y’all could be here to share the moment, because I’m sure whatever Zig has in mind will be perfect.”

If not incredibly extra and probably riddled with missed social cues.

“Hmm…” Bron’s musical hum sounded unconvinced. “I’m not sure I fully understand this Earthling custom. What is romantic about tearing yourself apart in the sky?”

What?

WHAT?!

“Wait, what?” I choked out, gripping Gabe’s incredibly sexy bicep— don’t get distracted, Micah— to steady myself. “That’s not an Earthling custom. That’s a Stellarian who’s lost his goddamn mind!”

“Get ‘em, babygirl,” Dre snickered, but I ignored his dusty ass.

Space Daddy is more important than your wannabe Dom Daddy bullshit.

“Ziggy Lemonade Andromeda!” I shouted into the seemingly empty twilight sky, like a fucking lunatic. “You don’t need to tear yourself apart, you big idiot, because the answer is YES!”

I swear to gawd!

“Space Daddy is gonna tear himself apart for you? Fuck, that’s cute…” Gabe sighed dreamily, but I was still squinting into the night, searching for my overly dramatic space fiancé .

Where the hell is he?

I huffed. “Yeah, well, I don’t find it cute at the mo— ow!”

A sharp sting on my finger had me glancing downward and I gaped as a perfect circle of raised bumps appeared on the first knuckle of my ring finger—as if sculpted from the inside.

Okay, but that is kinda cute.

“Ohhh, you two are into body mods, huh?” Dre was suddenly crowding my personal space, manhandling me for a closer look like I was just another one of his slutty subs. “Maybe I should collar you like this, huh, brat?”

“You could try, demon,” Theo sniffed haughtily, even as he craned his neck to examine Ziggy’s handiwork. “I can heal myself faster than you can injure me.”

Dre met my gaze and winked. “That sounds like a challenge to me.”

More like a masochist’s wet dream.

“Shoo, creep.” I shoved a cackling Dre away and waved my now-modded hand in the air. “Okay, Zig, you’ve put a ring on it. Time to come out of hiding?—”

My words choked off again as the sky suddenly exploded with what seemed like dozens of fireworks.

Oh, no…

Nonononono….

“What’s the matter, Micah?” Ziggy’s musical tones had me spinning to face him in his true form. “Do you not like the pyrotechnics I procured for you from Earth for this occasion? ”

“Jesus, fuck, Zig!” I gasped, clutching my chest. “I thought you’d torn yourself to pieces for a moment.”

“Why in Stellaria’s name would I do that?” Ziggy’s confusion was apparent, despite the lack of facial features.

“That may have been my fault!” Bron raised an armored hand. “I misunderstood what you meant by ‘a low explosive pyrotechnic display resembling shooting stars.’ Apologies!”

I SWEAR TO GAWD!

“You’re both so fucking cute,” Gabe murmured, his happy gaze flitting between me and Ziggy, reminding me my man had just proposed to me.

Kind of…

I suddenly realized Theo was being quiet, which was odd, considering he usually had commentary for everything. Peering around Gabe, I found the eccentric artist with his hand pressed to his glowing chest and his awestruck face fixed on Ziggy.

Dre must have also picked up on the unusual sight. “You good, T?” he asked, with genuine concern in his voice.

Maybe this fool can get schmoopy…

Realizing we were all staring at him, Theo straightened and cleared his throat. “It’s just… I haven’t witnessed Ziggy in his true form since…” His gaze drifted to Honnor and back to their offspring. “Well, not since he was first created.”

Gah!

Luckily for both our emotionally constipated stellar collisions, Gabe broke the spell .

“Congratulations, guys!” He yanked me into a hug, blissfully soaking in the happy vibes as Ziggy wrapped his tendrils around both of us. “And thank you for including us in this special day.”

Now who’s being cute?

That was officially enough feelings for Theo as he briskly clapped his hands together. “All right! I was told there would be debauchery. Where is the debauchery?”

It was my turn to roll my eyes as Zig released us. “Calm down, dad,” I teased. “We’re all gonna star hop to the nearest Muonova for dinner and dancing, but we’ve got all night.”

We have the rest of our lives together!

“Dad, huh?” Dre snickered, stepping closer again, like a moth to the Ziggy-shaped flame. “Does that mean Gabe and I are your step-dads, Micah? Why is that kinda…”

Now is not the time!

It was hot, but we were gathered here tonight to celebrate Zig and my official space fiancé status, not to take our alien polycule in a kinkier direction.

The step-dad role-play will just have to wait, you heathens.

Gabe was blushing adorably, but he also understood the assignment. “Okay so… Since Dre and I have never been to a Muonova, we brought a few different fits… can you help us choose what to wear, Micah?”

Squee!

“I’ll do my best.” I glanced down at my ripped jeans and Ziggy Stardust tee shirt— worn for another Ziggy’s benefit, of course— and laughed self-deprecatingly. “Even though you two have way more natural rizz than I do.”

Gabe glanced at his twin. “Maybe you can borrow something of mine. Would you like that, Ziggy?” His gaze drifted to my man before zeroing in on me with the predatory focus all supes had. “Should I dress up Micah all pretty for you to celebrate?”

Jesus!

Ziggy chuckled. “Micah’s already the prettiest creature in all the galaxies, but you’re more than welcome to wrap up my present for me, Awe.”

Christ…

“Enjoy yourselves tonight!” Honnor called out before grabbing their mate’s hand, because there wasn’t enough schmoop happening already. “We must be getting Pedro and ourselves to bed. Bron and I are far too old for Muonova nightlife.”

“You’re only as old as you feel, Honnor,” Theo piped in sassily, as if he wasn’t several thousand years younger than his fellow Stellarians.

“It was a pleasure to see you, Theo,” Honnor replied, which was gracious, considering they were essentially an awkward one-night stand from three hundred years ago. “Family looks good on you.”

Same to you, space grand-dads!

The early birds star hopped away with Pedro after that mic drop, but Theo was as unruffled as always. “Well, I know exactly how to dress for an evening at a Muonova,” he loudly stated. “But I bet a certain someone may need my fashion expertise, hmm?”

Ziggy sighed but probably knew resistance was futile as he obediently floated after Theo into our unnecessarily luxurious condo.

Interstellar Ambassador perks.

“OooOOOooo… Ya boy is gonna look slutty by the time Theo is done with him!” Gabe sang as we wandered into the guest bedroom where they’d dropped their things. “And I’m gonna make sure you look pretty for your man.”

I huffed, feeling my cheeks heat with all the attention. “Yeah, I clean up good. Let’s see what you brought, Suarez.”

Gabe blindly tossed his twin a black, sleeveless blazer adorned with silver buckles and chains, and I blushed harder when Dre casually peeled off his shirt to put it on.

“Easy, babygirl,” he teased as he fastened it over his ridiculous muscles. “It’s not anything you haven’t seen before. Gabe and I are identical after all… in every way.”

Asshole.

“Oh, leave him alone,” Gabe scolded, and I nearly fainted as he removed not only his shirt but his pants. “You’re just mad because you can’t pull off a dress the way we can.”

Dress?

We?!

Apparently, he was serious, as Gabe somehow squeezed his muscles into a skintight, floor-length halter dress with matching silver chains, generous cleavage, a low scooped back, and large cutouts on the thighs.

Imma just pass away now, thanks.

“So, how do we look, Micah?” Gabe innocently asked as he pulled his luxurious hair back into a low bun and posed beside his twin. “Good enough for a Muonova?”

Good enough to eat.

“You both look incredible,” I replied genuinely before a wave of self-consciousness washed over me. “I was just gonna grab a random dress shirt myself…”

“Nah,” Dre interrupted, crossing his arms and staring me down as if daring me to argue. “You would look hot in one of Gabe’s dresses.”

I would?

“Do you wanna try one on?” Gabe asked hesitantly, holding up a black— big surprise— dress that had way less fabric than his. “I know you’re not really femme, but maybe just for tonight?”

I mean…

“Sure, why not?” I laughed, snatching the dress from him before pointedly looking at his twin. “Do you mind?”

Dre rolled his eyes. “Whatever, prude. I'll go make sure Theo isn’t convincing Ziggy to wear a banana hammock and nothing else.”

Again, doubtful.

After Dre made himself scarce, I stripped and squeezed myself into what turned out to be a goddamn minidress with an off-the-shoulder neckline situation.

Gulp.

“Dang, Micah.” Gabe’s pretty blue eyes roamed over me appreciatively. “Space Daddy is gonna die when he sees you.”

His choice of words caused a nagging concern to float to the surface. “Actually, Ziggy’s gonna outlive me by a lot.” I laughed humorlessly and fiddled with the hem of my dress. “You all are…”

Because I’m the only human in this alien polycule.

Gabe’s grin instantly faded. “Well, shit. I… hadn’t thought of that.”

I dropped my gaze, feeling like a little dark rain cloud. “I’m sorry for ruining the mood with my Debbie Downer thoughts?—”

“Oh, stop it…” he scolded, pulling me into a hug. “If anyone can figure out a solution, it’s you, Micah. For science, right?”

I let my Earthbound bestie hold me for a bit, allowing our combined resonance to lull me back to baseline.

Even if my resonance is actually Ziggy’s…

Gabe pulled back and placed his palm on my glowing chest. “You do have a piece of Stellarian inside you… Maybe that could be enough for your lifespan to increase?”

I smiled softly. “I wish it was that simple, but I’m not sure it is.”

He nibbled his bottom lip. “Maybe Honnor knows? He’s old as hell, right? ”

I laughed because Honnor was probably considered barely middle-aged, if that. “I don’t even think a really old Stellarian would know the answer to this. Zig and I are a unique pair of stellar collisions.”

Gabe sighed. “I guess we’ll just have to light some candles and consult the ancestors.”

Sounds witchy…

“I guess we’ll just have to see where the breadcrumbs lead.” I grinned, feeling lighter already as I took his hand in mine. “But for now, let’s head to the Muonova and dance like there’s no tomorrow.”