The Lonely Orphan (The Lost Planet 5)

“Why am I in a reform cell?” I demand, jerking my gaze back to Lyric.

She crosses her arms over her chest as she sizes me up. “That’s where kidnappers go in a prison.” She steps closer. “What planet are you from?”

“This one. Mortuus.”

“What’s your name, monster?”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Hadrian.”

“Well, Hadrian, you fucked with the wrong chicks today. We didn’t get to our position to let two braindead monsters screw it all up.”

“What do you want?” I growl.

Bravely, she walks close enough that I could reach out and grab her throat if I wanted to. But I don’t want to. This is Lyric. Aria’s family. I fist my hand at my side and level her with a hard glare.

When something glints, I realize she’s holding a magknife in her grip. Not so useless after all.

“I want my sister,” she says coolly.

So do I.

“And if you’ll let me, I’ll bring you to her.” I grit my teeth, biting back an irritated snarl. “Release me, female.”

Her lips curl into a sinister smile. Where Aria smiles sweetly at me, her sister looks like a sabrevipe ready to pounce on its prey. “No, monster boy, you’ll bring her to me, not the other way around.”

Bring her here?

Rekk no.

“Breccan won’t allow that,” I bite out at her.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass what Breccan won’t allow. You’re going to help me get my sister here.” Another predatory smile. “If you want to live.”

I blink at her. Did this alien just threaten me?

My sub-bones start popping and it takes everything in me to rein in my anger. All I want is to get this female and drag her back to my Aria so I can go back to the way things were. Rather than backing away, she lifts her chin and pierces me with a fierce glare.

She opens her mouth and I take my opportunity. I grip the hilt of the magknife, yanking it from her hand. Her body falls against mine and I hug her to me. Twisting her around, I keep her pinned to my front with her arms trapped in my grip.

“Listen, alien,” I growl, my lips pressed against her hair near her ear. She smells foreign but sweet. “I’m trying to make Aria happy. You for some rekking reason make her happy. So you’re going to get on that ship even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming onto it.”

“Let me go!” she cries out, squirming and flailing.

The wiggling causes my cock to wake up. Oh, rekk no! Her rump rubs against it, making me groan in shock. I practically throw her away from me. She stumbles and then swivels on her feet, her glare dangerous and threatening.

“Oh, motherfucker, you’re going to regret doing that shit!” she screeches, her chest heaving. My gaze falls to the way the gray material hugs her breasts. They’re rounder than Aria’s. My eyes, against my wishes, rake down her trim body and I take in the slight flare of her hips.

“Are you okay?” Willow asks, running into the room.

“Don’t get close to them,” Lyric says, huffing. “They’re monsters. Just because they talk and have our family members doesn’t mean a damn thing. They’re dangerous.”

Willow’s gaze flits over to me and then she winces. “He’s bleeding. Zoe should take a look at him.”

“He’ll live,” Lyric barks out. “Unfortunately.” She storms off, leaving Willow behind.

“Are you okay?” she asks, her brows furling together just like Molly’s do.

“I just want to make Aria happy,” I mutter mostly to myself.

Willow’s features soften. “You really know my mother?”

“I do.”

“Is she hurt? Where is she?”

“She’s here, on this planet. Quite the contrary. She’s happy. And in love.”

“In love?” she asks, astonished.

I nod. “So is Aria.” My heart aches at that thought.

“Hey,” Willow whispers. “Just hang in there for a bit. We’ll get you fixed up. Let me talk to Lyric. I’m sure we’ll get this sorted. Give me some time.”

Since she’s Molly’s daughter, I throw her mother’s words back at her, hoping to gain favor. “Thank you. You’re a doll.” It’s a phrase Molly uses often.

Her cheeks blush and she laughs. “Only Momma would land herself on an alien planet, fall in love, and enchant the monsters into using her country bumpkin lingo.” She stares at me for a moment longer. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re here.”

Willow rushes from the room and the door closes behind her. I sit down on the bed and inspect the cut on my hand. The magknife sits on the floor, so I quickly stash it between the cushion and the bed, hiding it. It could prove to be useful later.

“Your negotiation skills need work,” Theron calls out from somewhere.

“Rekk off.”

3

Lyric

“You should have killed them when you had the chance,” Zoe says bitterly. “Now what are we going to do with them?”