“There isn’t a place in the universe we can’t go now that it’s ours for the taking,” he said, his deep voice filling her ears.
She stepped away from the glass, glass that could’ve been sourced from her family’s own agri-lot, glass she could’ve personally harvested in its raw form from the very place she’d been born.
“Any place?” Janet asked low enough that Lily wouldn’t hear over her excitement.
Zeph narrowed his gaze. “Tau-Ceti has so many suns the days never end. There are asteroid fields that are as big as a solar system,” he continued.
“What about Earth? Would you take us to the human homeworld?” she taunted, knowing he wouldn’t risk that.
Ignoring her, he turned to address Lily. “That game on your tablet, kid. You said it takes place on Titan, yeah? We could explore Titan ourselves.”
“What about Xanteaus Trent?” Janet asked, raising her voice and stepping forward. “Can we explore the alien homeworld?”
Zeph grinned, his eyes clouding with darkness before alighting again with their mischievous green. Janet took another threatening step toward him.
“I wanna see Xsan-seaus Trent!” Lily screamed, mispronouncing the alien homeworld while jumping up and down.
“How about it, Zeph? Take us to Xanteaus or Earth. You did just say anywhere in the universe, right?”
“Wouldn’t you suggest your very own Kepler then?” There was an edge in his voice, clearly warning her to stop.
“No.” Janet squared her shoulders, her own expression darkening before she forced an excited smile. “You’ve got me curious—given both me and Lily have a taste for adventure. Take us to Xanteaus and show us its crystal cities. Surely a Cyborg like you could accomplish that?”Two can play at this game.She broke out into giddy laughter, trying to mirror Lily’s childhood euphoria. “Wouldn’t you like to see crystal cities that touch the sky, Lily?”
“Yes!”
“And walk through the underground caverns to meet a living planet!”
“Does it talk?” Lily’s eyes widened further, chubby cheeks flushing with joy at the mere idea of talking to a planet.
“Maybe it does. I’m not sure, but there’s only one way to find out,” Janet bounced on her soles and looked at Zeph expectantly. “You said we’d get to see the planets. Please, Zeph, take us to Xanteaus,” she said, knowing it was completely off-limits to humans and a suicide mission for a Cyborg.
His smile was as fake as her own. Looking out that window answered the questions still lingering in her mind. It solidified every misgiving and fear she’d borne since waking hours ago. The Cyborg had kidnapped her and brought her aboard his ship while she slept. Like a psychopath, like a blackguard, or one of those space pirates she’d read about.
Rylie had been right all along.Janet had played with hellfire when she decided to seduce Zeph.
But why did he take Lily? Janet could understand why he’d kidnap her, but what could the Cyborg want with a five-year-old?
Zeph was supposed to be a war hero, a super soldier, and a nearly immortal one at that. What had she been thinking when she thought she could play someone like him? A Cyborg wasn’t just like any man. Hell, half of Zeph was something else entirely, something she’d never be able to understand. Her eyes fell to her sister.
And she’s paying the price for my stupidity.Janet’s smile faded.
When she caught Zeph reaching out for her, she fled back toward the panoramic view, widening the distance between them.
4
Janet tucked Lily into bed. She brushed back her sister’s wispy locks and slipped down into the space beside her. A deafening silence overcame the room as their breathing deepened.
What am I going to do?
She couldn’t remember a time when she’d felt so alone. Today had proven to be one of the longest days in her life, not only because she couldn’t straighten out her emotions, but in the literal sense… Time was different in space. It was common knowledge that time was different on each and every planet. And that a standard ship cycle most often followed Earth’s sun and moon cycle.
Earth. She’d studied the planet and the human Mecca fiercely when she’d been younger. Once upon a time when interstellar communications fascinated her. Once, when she had the universe in her eyes and adventure in her heart.
It was like her to take liberties with her own body to get the information she needed or for the power it could provide, but she’d never, ever put her family in danger by doing so. Tears gathered in her eyes. She was the way she wasforher family.
They meant everything to her. Even if they all looked down upon her, she’d lay down her life for them. Her love burned from her belly to her heart, radiating along her collarbones and into her throat. Her love blazed fiercely.
Janet placed a whisper-soft kiss on her sister’s forehead.I’ll kill him. I’ll kill anyone who tries to harm you. Nothing will touch you while I’m around.
