I only saw his back at first, but I could’ve picked him out of a crowd just based on the way he carried himself. He radiated arrogance—or at least extreme confidence.
He turned to face me.
Dark hair tied back, exposing the sharp lines of his face—high cheekbones, a jaw that could cut glass, skin the color of a midnight ocean. His golden eyes caught the light and held it, luminous in a way that felt almost predatory. I told myself to maintain eye contact. Professional. Confident.
My gaze drifted down anyway.
Half-unbuttoned shirt. Of course. Because the universe had decided today was the day I'd be held hostage by an alien who apparently didn't believe in fastening clothes. The fabric gaped just enough to reveal the kind of chest that made me want to ask about his workout routine and also never speak again.
I caught a scent—something clean and unfamiliar, like ozone after a storm mixed with something warmer underneath. Ship recycled air shouldn't smell like that. He shouldn't smell like that.
They must have one hell of a gym on board.
"Leave us," Torvyn said. Not loud, not harsh—just absolute.
Lyrin and Vaelix stood, bowed their heads, and shuffled out through the door.
“Welcome to theStarbreaker,” Torvyn said, his deep voice vibrating through my chest.
“Thanks, but it’s not like I had much of a choice.”
“Indeed. Strange, that. A small woman, alone, at the edge of civilized space.”
“Is there a question in there, or just an accusation that I can’t take care of myself?”
His white teeth flashed as a chuckle escaped. “You must have known that your company would not have been the first to respond to your emergency beacon.”
“They told me three hours.”
He waved my words away. “We both know that was not realistic. But it would make sense for the corporations to use you as bait, would it not?”
Heat rolled up my neck. “My choices were: a) death by freezing, b) death by asphyxiation, or c) pray to god that somebody—anybody—picked me up.”
“That seems like a short-sighted plan.”
“It was the onlylong-termsurvival option available to me. Seems like my logic was sound, since I’m still breathing.”
“For now,” he said, slowly walking toward me.
“Is that a threat?”
He offered a gentle smile. “Think of it as a promise. You are a guest of ours. We will transport you to a safe harbor, ask for compensation, and then we will both be on our way.”
“Is that what you think I want?”
He shrugged. “Based on where we found you, I could not imagine anywhere else you would choose to be.”
“So I’m cargo?” I asked.
“Your words.”
“I have multiple doctorates, you know. I’ve forgotten more about the universe than you’ve learned.”
“Maybe. But I don’t see how that helps me or this ship. You do research. Thus, you are cargo.”
I tugged at my collar, jaw tightening.
“So you have everything figured out, do you?”
