Page 11 of Alien's Love Child

Laughter erupts around the table. Taluk nearly chokes on his stew, and even Paraxan's shoulders shake with silent mirth.

"At ease, soldier." Jesse's eyes dance with amusement. "This isn't the Sirius Syndicate. We're a bit more... relaxed here."

"Sorry, force of habit." Heat creeps up my neck, turning my blue skin a shade darker as I take my seat again.

"Getting crowded in here." Jesse surveys the mess hall, her gaze lingering on the empty space beside me. "Mind if I join you?"

Before I can answer, she slides onto the bench, her bare arm brushing against mine. The contact sends electricity racing through my body, every nerve ending suddenly alive and singing. My breath catches in my throat.

The scent of her hits me next – a mixture of engine grease and something uniquely human, uniquely her. Something clicks into place deep inside my chest, like a key turning in a lock I didn't know existed. The universe shifts, realigns, and suddenly everything makes perfect sense.

Jalshagar. The word echoes in my mind, ancient and undeniable. My hands tremble as I lower them to my lap, hoping no one notices.

"Pass the salt?" Jesse asks, completely oblivious to how she's just turned my world upside down.

I reach for the shaker, my fingers brushing hers as I hand it over. Another jolt of electricity. Another piece of my soul sliding into place.

"Thanks." She seasons her stew, picking out a stray Odex hair. "So what'd I miss?"

"Excuse me."

I stumble out of the mess hall without another word, my heart hammering against my ribs. The engine room beckons – quiet, isolated, perfect for gathering my scattered thoughts. The thrum of machinery drowns out everything except the chaos in my head.

"This isn't happening." My words echo off the metal walls. "Not now. Not with her."

Jalshagar. The word burns in my mind like a brand. Every Kaleidian child grows up hearing stories about it – the instantrecognition of your perfect match, your other half. But it's rare. So rare that most consider it a myth.

The cool metal of the bulkhead presses against my back as I slide down to sit on the floor. My hands shake as I run them through my silver hair.

"Focus." I press my palms against my eyes until spots dance in the darkness. "The job. Remember the job."

But Jesse's face floats in my mind – those green eyes, the scatter of freckles across her nose, the way her presence lit up every nerve ending in my body. The thought of betraying her makes my stomach turn.

"The bounty's worth so much more." My voice sounds hollow even to my own ears. "Just grab Xander, drop him off, collect the money. Simple."

Except nothing's simple anymore. Not with this bond thrumming between us like a live wire. Even now, I can sense her presence above deck, a constant pull in my chest.

"Could tell her the truth." The words taste like ash. "About Xander. About everything."

But I already know how that would end. She's a smuggler, he's her cargo. She'd never understand, never forgive the deception. And the bond would turn toxic, poisoned by betrayal.

"There has to be another way." I bang my head back against the wall, welcoming the sharp pain. "Some way to complete the job without her finding out."

But if there is a way, I'm finding it hard to figure it out.

CHAPTER 5

JESSE

The engine room hums with its familiar rhythm as I make my way down the corridor. A small cleaning bot whirs past my feet, its collection bin full of the space vermin we picked up at our last stop.

"Good job, little guy," I pat its casing as it beeps cheerfully in response.

Paraxan's furry head pokes out from behind a panel, his whiskers twitching. "Captain."

"How're we looking, Par?"

He gestures to the exposed wiring. "Better since the upgrade. Fuel efficiency up twelve percent."

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