Page 7 of Scorching the Alien Empire
“Ack!” Sandra scoffs. “You’re more excited to see him than I am.”
Rude!
My smile wavers, faker than my mother’s eyelashes. I swear, try to help people, and they just throw it back in your face.
“Hurry up!” I snap, taking advantage of my larger size to yank Sandra toward the large metallic door.
“Wait! What happens if the screen breaks?” Sandra asks, eyes wide as the command bridge door slides open with a smooth swish.
“Then we’ll all die, child,” the totally-not-creepy Ignixis replies. His head swivels smoothly, revealing green eyes and sharp yellow teeth glinting under his hood, like a living shadow or billowing black smoke. “But such is the fate of all life.”
The bridge is a hive of activity, with all the mini-Dracoths busy at the glowing blue holographic controls. Dracoth, standing in his ashen armor and scaly cloak, faces the viewport, his gaze fixed on the simmering hues of space beyond.
“Oh,” Sandra squeaks, her hand rising to her chest. “Hello, Ignixis. It’s nice to see you again,” she says, smiling sweetly—far too sweet for the Lexie-snatcher.
“And you, pleasant one,” Ignixis replies, inclining his blackened egg-head with the slightest gesture. Any greater effort is probably beyond him. “Do try to stay out of trouble now,” he adds, his smirking gaze flicking to me.
My lips part, ready to unleash a few well-earned insults at Ignixis, until Jazreal turns dramatically beside Dracoth, his long black-gray hair tousling through the air. He’s taller than the others—except Dracoth, who is in a mountainous league of his own—clad in polished ashen armor, the red flecks shimmering like fire.
“This is no place for such beautiful females,” Jazreal says with all the smooth confidence of a giant, eight-foot-tall, handsome, murderous silver fox. “Let me escort you back to your chambers,” he offers, gesturing with a long metallic spear as tall as he is.
“That’s what I was trying to explain to Lexie!” Sandra snaps, flashing me a knowing frown. “Well, apart from the ‘beautiful’ part,” she adds with a nervous chuckle.
Jazreal moves with eerie grace, almost gliding over the black metal floor like a huge red ballerina. It stirs something in me—my heart flutters, and heat builds in my chest.
How exciting!
Then I remember Dracoth, but the rude prick hasn’t even acknowledged me! He’s just standing there with his back turned, like a massive sour cherry gummy statue, eyes glued to his precious viewport. If this were Earth, he’d be covered in pigeon poop!
So what if I flirt a little? Serves him right for ignoring me!
“Nonsense.” Jazreal stops, peering down at us with a mature smile—well, the side of his face that isn’t like wrinkly red paper. “You both shine like the brightest stars in a lonely night sky,” he adds, sweeping his open green eyes over us.
He wouldn’t be lonely if I had my way.
Sandra—poor, sweet, innocent Sandra—giggles uncontrollably, like a flustered schoolgirl, her face burning as red as her hair.
“Oh... um, that’s...” she stammers, a disgrace to feminine elegance the universe over. It’s okay, she has me to help.
“You look very dashing in that armor, Jazzy,” I murmur, making a point to study him from head to toe while my finger trails slowly along the runic brand on my chest and neck. “Yes, the very picture of manly strength and grace,” I add with a breathy laugh.
Then, to my disgust, I notice Dracoth wearing that horrible belt of bone and guts again.
“Unlike that filthy murder belt Dracoth is wearing!” I shout over at him, my plan to make him jealous evaporating in the heat of my anger.
Ugh, it’s so annoying that I can never get a rise out of him. Annoying... and strangely reassuring. He’s like a mountain—immovable, solid—always there for me.
“More will adorn it soon,” Dracoth grumbles, an alluring promise that draws me closer like debt to a new credit card.
“Is that right?” I ask, clinging to his arm like a sexy purse. The strange heat he radiates makes my body hum, a soft moan slipping from my lips as I almost melt into him like a puddle of cozy goo.
“I can hardly wait,” I add, my heart quickening. “To repay these creeps.”
He glances down at me, his fierce ruby eyes gleaming in the dim purple light. My fingers tighten around his massive fist, loving the weight of him—someone real, someone who accepts me for who I am, what I am. He not only accepts me, heencouragesme—protects the real Lexie.
Out of the corner of my eye, the brilliant blur from the viewport shifts suddenly. I gasp as the stars snap into focus, revealing an immense white star glowing with an ethereal light, like the sparkle of my diamond ring.
“Look!” I exclaim, pointing to the viewport. “We’ve arrived!” My heart pounds, and I look at Dracoth, excitement flooding my veins.
