Page 13 of The Alien's Vicious Starflash Manor

I stumble toward the gate, fighting against the pull even though I know it’s useless. The magic burns cold up my arms, but I manage to twist my head back toward my sister.

She’s shaking her head and moving toward me.

The wrong way.

“Run!” The word comes out as a strangled cry, torn from my throat just before I’m yanked through the gateway.

Ivrael’s lips curve in that empty smile I’ve grown to hate as he waves an elegant hand through the air. The words he murmurs sound like breaking icicles, sharp and cold.

Behind me, I hear Izzy’s startled yelp and turn to watch as Khrint drags her through the gate, his grip on her arms far gentler than it could be—which somehow makes it worse.

Even Ivrael’s servants know we’re trapped.

The air before us shimmers, and suddenly Ivrael’s enormous saucer-shaped spaceship materializes in the field. The sight still strikes me as absurd—an actual flying saucer of gleaming metal and sparkling crystal that shouldn’t exist outside of science fiction.

Izzy’s mouth falls open, her eyes going wide. For a moment, she looks like the little girl who used to beg Mom to read her one more chapter of her favorite space adventure books before bedtime.

“What the actual fuck?” Her words come out barely above a whisper.

“It’s a spaceship,” I say, aiming for dry humor but hearing the crack in my voice. A hysterical laugh bubbles up in my throat as I watch my brainy, rational sister try to process the impossible sight before her.

The laugh dies as a single tear escapes, trailing hot down my cheek before I clench my teeth so hard my jaw aches.

I do what I’ve learned to do over the past year at Starfrost Manor—take all my rage, my fear, my guilt at failing to protect her, and lock it away deep inside.

Down where even Ivrael’s cold can’t reach it.

But I can feel it burning there, a kernel of defiance I refuse to let him extinguish.

My gaze meets Izzy’s, and I see the moment her initial shock gives way to that razor-sharp intelligence. She’s already searching for weaknesses we can exploit.

My brilliant little sister.

I have to believe that between her mind and my experience, we’ll find a way out of this.

I straighten my spine, ignoring the way the ribbons bite into my wrists.

I’ll find a way to keep you safe, I silently promise her.Whatever it takes.

I only pray I can contain my fury long enough to figure out how.

The ship’s boarding ramp descends with a soft hiss, and Ivrael gestures for us to precede him aboard.

“Welcome to your new life.” His cultured voice carries an edge. His eyes meet mine, and for just a moment, I think I see something like regret flash across his perfect features before the mask of aristocratic indifference slides back into place.

Liar, I think viciously.Monster.

But I keep the words locked behind my teeth as I lead Izzy toward the ramp.

One step at a time. One moment at a time. Until I find our way out of this nightmare.

But then we enter the ship and the door seals behind us with a hiss that ends my plan to escape, to save Izzy from my own fate.

I realize with a horrible, crushing clarity—there truly may not be any way out.

CHAPTER 5

IVRAEL

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