by Erin Raegan
He knew the world was searching for him the moment Noah had shown up on our front porch.
Every thought I’d ever had about him, he knew.
Every wish and desire.
It explained so much.
How he knew what my brother was before I did.
Why he didn’t want me anywhere near Tim Greer.
My mind was not safe from him. And that was terrifying.
Killian now had to cover their tracks.
Jeremy’s truck had been disposed of, just before he invaded the mind of every agent involved and convinced them my brother’s report was false. They were then redirected away from my home—at least most of them.
Something this big couldn’t be completely covered up. And that was where Killian was going to go tonight. To threaten and penetrate the mind of another man. This time a man in power. He would demand our safety, and in return, Killian wouldn’t blow our world to smithereens.
Killian. An alien that had the means to completely wipe us out.
I wasn’t naïve. It wouldn’t last. If Killian was reading my mind right then, I hoped he could tell how much I hated him for putting us in this position. We would never be left alone now. Always watched and interrogated. Our lives as we knew them were over.
He stiffened beside me and kept his eyes averted.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD.
He glared at me and tore off his seat belt, stomping to the back of his ship.
I fumbled with my own and ran out and past him. Sprinting from the field and straight to the house. My brother was sitting on the porch, his head in hands. Totally oblivious to the SPACESHIP in the yard. No doubt cradling one hell of a migraine. I ran past him and into the house, unable to utter a word without kicking him.
Sal and Bets were on the couch, sitting far too still and holding hands.
I knelt in front of them. “Are you okay?”
Sal grabbed me first, tugging me into a tight hug. Then Bets sniffled back a sob and squeezed me to her.
When he walked in, I glared at Killian over her shoulder. My aunt was far too sweet and gentle to understand his kind of deception. She didn’t deserve this. None of us did.
So you needed something from us? Fine. Take it and go. Don’t stick around long enough for us to care for you. Don’t let us welcome you into our home and family when you give nothing but lies and secrets in return.
Killian held my stare as I thought every last disgusted thought to him. He’d done this to us.
“And now you need to leave,” I said, deathly quiet.
Jeremy and Holden came running into the room from the kitchen and skidded to a stop, a mix of awe and terror on their faces. Killian must have freed all of their minds. And though I was grateful, I still loathed him with the power of a thousand suns for doing this to us in the first place.
Who knew what kind of effect it had on us?
The long term damage?
It could have killed us for all he knew.
Killian winced, the first real sign of emotion from him the entire night. He looked away from me. “You asked me not to leave you.”
“You can’t be serious.” I stood. “I wasn’t even me! You were in my head!”
“No, your thoughts were you own. I only—”
“I don’t care,” I cried, my voice catching. “How can I ever believe a word you say now?”
“What would you have done if I’d told you from the beginning?” he roared. “You would have still welcomed me? You would have still allowed us into your home?”
“I don’t know, and neither do you!” I sobbed, my heart throbbing. “And now we never will!”
“Theo,” my aunt called, sobbing herself.
“I can’t stay here, Theo. They will never leave you be if I do,” Killian said coldly.
“So go!” I shouted, pointing at the door. “We don’t want you here anymore.”
My uncle’s arms came around me, and he tugged me to his chest. “It’s time for you to leave.”
When I heard my uncle’s voice break, my heart broke all over again. Sal never cried. He was the rock of our family.
“I think you’ve done enough here,” Sal pushed out, ragged.
“Theo,” Killian said, his voice rough and tortured, “I won’t be far.” He palmed the back of his head. “You ever call for me and I’ll come.”
“From space?” Jeremy drawled mockingly.
Oren walked into the house and tossed a black device onto the coffee table.
“Hit the button on the side,” Killian said, “and I’ll come.”
“I won’t,” I said darkly, pain and anger taking over my entire body.
He nodded, his mouth tight. “Still, keep it.”
He turned his back on me and I involuntarily stepped closer to the door. But then it was closing and my body melted to the floor.
I cried with my aunt, too overwhelmed to process everything we’d been through and too in pain from Killian’s betrayal to care about anything else.
Safeguards
Kil
“We’re truly leaving them then?” Oren asked as we left the man fumbling with his thoughts and drooling on the carpet.
Howard. He would be my eyes and ears while I was gone. His every thought belonging to me.
He knew Theo’s Noah. They worked together. If they made any move toward my Theo I would rip his entrails from him with barely a thought. I left this threat in his mind. He would be confused. Unsure if my true form was a figment of his imagination. But the fear of me would remain.
But that wasn’t enough. I needed more reassurances.
I could not manipulate the entire planet.
There was one other I could speak to. And this time I would allow the man to remember every moment.
“My lord?” Oren asked softly. Concerned. For me.
I was not myself since I lost her.
“Yes, we are leaving them.”
Leaving her.
He shifted beside the ship. “Are you sure?”
I shot him a lethal glare. He did not have the luxury of changing his mind now. It was done. No matter the guilt he felt for leading the humans to Theo’s door plaguing him.
I left him on the ship.
Then I waited.
Waited for the human’s security to leave his dwelling. Leaving him unprotected.
From the shadows, I watched the older male move throughout his rooms. Completely unaware of the beast waiting to pounce.
Finally, he settled to sleep. Only then did I reveal myself.
When he was at his most vulnerable.
“Name?” I crooned, pushing calm and serenity into his mind.
“B-burin,” he mumbled dazedly.
“Greetings, Vice President Burin,” I flashed him a cold grin.
“W-who are you?” He asked, confused. “How did you get in here?”
“Calm,” I told him. Forcing his terror into the back of his mind. He saw only a human when he looked at me but I delivered a well placed kernel of doubt in his mind. Just enough to ensure he would take my words to heart.
I was not fool enough to believe they would leave my Theo untouched. Others would find the loose ends I could not tie. I had done that to her. But that did not mean I could not ensure her safety in other ways.
“You are not alone,” I began. “And you would do well to heed my warning. For more will come after me.”
And when they did, I would be here to take my Theo far from this planet.
Whether she allowed it or not.
Ten Days Later
Theo
They came at night.
Men in black masks and Kevlar.
They broke down the front door and raided the house.
I woke first, a scream in my throat.
As the men reached for me, I reached for the little black box I’d slept with every night since he left.
My thumb slammed down on the button on the side, but it was knocked from my hand.
I thought I hit
it. But it might’ve been too late.
It didn’t matter anyway.
Killian never came.
Not for one very long, terrible year.
By then, the world was already on fire.
To be continued…
Flying in Spaceships with Aliens
May 2020
Acknowledgments
Those of you that read the Galactic Order series more than likely knew that ending was coming. We met Kil for the first time in War for Earth. He was mysterious, charming, humorous, and completely enchanting. You followed his progress all throughout the series and waited a very long time for his story, likely knowing from what little he revealed that it was going to be a wild ride, but a long one.
I could have started to tell his story from the very end of Shadow Assassin. I would have avoided the cliffhanger then. But if I’m honest, Theo and Kil’s meet-cute was calling to me. I wanted to tell how they met so very badly that I made the difficult decision to split their story into two parts. Before the GO series and after. I almost melded the books together into two parts but I thought it would take away from the magic of their meeting if I did that and also make for one heck of a long book. Maybe too long if there is such a thing.
Having said that, I won’t keep you waiting for long. Part two will be out next month, in May. It’s already in edits as you’re reading this. I busted my butt to get it done as fast as my fingers could fly and it was so fun. I’m not ready to give them up. So I decided I might not.
Part two is not a cliffhanger but I very likely will continue the series on with Theo and Kil’s various adventures. But for now, I am really satisfied with how their story ends. So, even as you’re cursing me and mentally stripping my skin from my bones for that ending, rest assured Kil and Theo are back on their way to you!
My editing team, betas, ARC readers and the lovely Lexy helped me immensely with this brand new series and I thank them so much for all their help! But I really want to thank my readers. I hadn’t originally intended for Kil’s story to be written so soon but you loved him and asked for him and before I knew what was happening, I couldn’t wait myself. So here he is. I hope you enjoyed him in all his glory. It only gets better on from here!
My family is as always amazing. I love them so much for supporting me.
Special shout out to my sister, D. This story was her first ever SFR and she fell in love. I cannot wait to introduce her to other authors in the genre and open her up to all the fantastical joy that is science fiction romance.
Stay safe. Wishing you health and happiness.
Erin.
Other Books by Erin Raegan
Galactic Order Series
Pythen: Galactic Order Book One
Home World: Galactic Order Book Two
War For Earth: Galactic Order Book Three
Juldo Made: Galactic Order Book Four
The New King: Galactic Order Book Five
Pythen Blessing: Galactic Order Book Six
Shadow Assassin: Galactic Order Book Seven
Galactic Order Novellas
A Not So Lonely Christmas
Kilbus Lord Series
Playing Cards with Aliens
Flying in Spaceships with Aliens (May 2020)
Hunting Aliens with Humans (TBD)
Books by E.M. Raegan
Defy the Ravaged Series
Willow: Defy the Ravaged Book One
Thrive: Defy the Ravaged Book Two
Hunted: Defy the Ravaged Book Three
Defend: Defy the Ravaged Book Four
For the Hunt Series
For the Hunt: For the Hunt Book One
Capture A Seer: For the Hunt Book Two: Fall 2020
Book Three: TBD
Rainy Day Cleaning Series
Book One: Night Shift (Coming Soon)
Book Two (TBD)
About the Author
Erin Raegan is an obsessed reader, a dedicated writer, and a lover of all things fantastically impossible. When she’s not plotting her next project, she spends hours on her Kindle, though nothing beats a real book in her hands. She can be found at home in Connecticut with her Chihuahua-Leeloo, Shiba Inu-Shiro, and her German shepherd-Odin, waiting with her son for her active duty husband to come home.
For more information about Erin Raegan and her books, visit:
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Glossary
Battler Games: The Juldo fighting games. Species throughout the universe travel to watch the games and the slaves of the Juldo forced to fight.
Dahk: A purple-grey-skinned alien species. They are an honorable warrior species and led by a King and his House. The throne is passed down through their royal genetic line. Description: Over seven feet tall, on average, purple-and-deep-grey-skinned, with armored plates and ridges strategically placed on their bodies as a defensive trait. They have large wings, claws, and fangs as offensive traits. Their ears are large and pointy, flattened to the sides of their skulls, and they have horns that curl from their upper temples to the back of their crown. Dahk are built for dark surroundings, and sunlight is an irritant.
Dahkish: Dahk Ancestors. Often used as an exclamation of surprise or great emotion.
Dahk Hierarchy: All Dahk are ruled by one King. His House is the ruling line, passed down from each generation. A King has a personal council that will aid him and give him guidance during his rule. He will grant his chosen members of his council a “Rise,” placing them in their position. He will Rise a Commander to lead his army. A Dahk Commander will also have a personal council. He too will hand-pick its members and grant them the “Rise.” A Dahk House is their immediate family and those to whom they extend an invitation to join. A House is comprised of a “First Father” and several mates that his own “First Father” have matched him with. These mates have their own hierarchy, “First Mate,” “Second Mate,” and so on.
Galactic Council: A group of twelve seats of different species filled by invitation alone. They enforce Galactic Law throughout the members of the Order.
Galactic Order: A large group of alien species joined in an alliance.
Galactic Vernacular for telling time: Sunring- “Day,” Sunspin- “Year,” Dimtide- “Hour,” Spin- “Minute,” Click- “Second.” Actual times vary from species to species based on how their time is judged.
Guhuvin: An avian species, they are known for their skills of flight. They are a peaceful species but are fiercely protective of their home and nests. Their Guhuvin steel is highly sought after throughout the universe. They are led by a king and his flight captains.
Heraterran: Scorching planet filled with multiple species, known for its slave auctions and unlawful trading.
Hima: Dahk word and interpretation of their “ear.” Also referred to as a hima canal.
Home World: The Dahk’s home planet. Dark due to their dying sun. It is known for its various types of toyl stones. The Dahk use them to light their homes and for trade with other species who use them as a fuel source.
Hugund: The Galactic Order Outpost. Home to various species, Hugund was built among the moons and the remains of the Order’s chosen home planet. The planet died hundreds of years ago for reasons unknown.
Huktbores: Galactic curse word. Often used to express anger, surprise, or rage.
Ilyndahdus: Warmest landmass on Home World.
Ilynda: Home World’s trading city. (Outside of Ilyndahdus)
Juldo: A warmongering species. Their mechanics contain a disease that will allow them to infect other species
and change them into Juldo. They are led by a Juldo Master who earns his title through a challenge. Description: Juldo are large, varying between six and eight feet—and in some cases larger, though this often means a Juldo is close to succumbing to the virus. They are a red-skinned species with large incisors. Both traits are a result of the infection. They alter their bodies for battle with nano-mite tech. The nano-mites are also essential for their survival. Without them, the virus would grow in strength, eventually killing the host.
Juldo Made: A term used by the Juldo and other species for the process and end result of infecting another species and turning them Juldo.
Juldoris: The Juldo home planet.
Kilbus: A nearly extinct raiding species. They are led by one lord for thousands of years.
Litsipth: A trading post. Free-floating of any known orbit.
Pythe: The female vernacular for a true mate in the Dahk species.
Pythen: The male vernacular for a true mate in the Dahk species.
Pythen Mating Rage: An affliction the Pythen endures when he finds his Pythe. He becomes feral and enraged beyond his control.
Pythen Mating Ceremony: After a Pythen loses himself to the mating rage, he is chained for long periods of time to honor his Pythe. This is to allow him to become worn, lessening his strength and rage, so it is safer for the Pythe during their first mating.
Rite: Dahk burial ceremony.
Ruhasha: Galactic vernacular meaning “Treasure” or “Prized.”
Shadow Born: A Juldo Assassin. Their ancestry is unknown. The Shadow Born were believed to be eradicated by the Old Juldo Master hundreds of years ago, after they became too powerful and hard to control. A Shadow Born is believed to be so formidable, it would take an army to destroy him. They are not as dependent on nano-mites, but it is unknown why. The Juldo are secretive about their Shadow Born and their capabilities.
