Page 1 of Alien Step-Brother

Chapter 1

I followed the crowd down the shuttle’s sky bridge to the ship, eyes wide and holding my breath at the sight above me. The intergalactic cruiser was as large as any city I’d ever seen. With smooth, curved edges, a clean chrome exterior, and looming terraces with glass domes, the ship held a beauty that I found hard to comprehend as someone who’d spent her entire life on Earth.

If not for my father’s new marriage I might have spent the rest of my days on my home planet. Whoever this mysterious new wife was, she had the funds to secure multiple tickets for an interstellar luxury cruise—no easy feat.

New stepmother or not, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. I wouldn’t miss out on the chance to break away from my ordinary life and go on an indulgent vacation through the stars.

Once I exited the enclosed passageway extending from the shuttle to the cruiser’s landing terminal, I exhaled my last breath of fresh air from Earth.

Crisp manufactured oxygen filled my lungs and electric nerves bristled under my skin. Humans and aliens of all kinds wove together under the luminescent lights of the landing terminal, herding me toward the deck. My feet got carried away in the tide of multi-colored furred, scaled, finned, and fleshy bodies rushing forward.

Cruise hosts, neatly dressed in sleek white and shimmering blue suits, twisted through the incoming passengers. They shoved chrome trays lined with tall red and blue drinks into faces so abruptly passengers had no choice but to grab a proffered drink.

Before I knew it, I had a red beverage clenched between my fingers. The little yellow umbrella swayed, and the oddly shaped ice cubes clinked on the glass as I stumbled my way onto the upper deck.

The passengers dispersed over the main deck as they flooded out of the terminal. Many first timers like me moved slowly to absorb the otherworldly sights of the intergalactic cruise ship. Its overall shape mimicked that of the vacation ships that sailed the oceans down on Earth.

Although I didn’t think any boat on my home planet had massive thrusters underneath them like the ones I’d seen approaching in the shuttle.

Overhead, domed ceilings protected the passengers from the ravages of space and kept breathable air within. As I wandered the deck, my head craned back to take in the awe-inspiring view of Earth and the stars.

No pictures or videos of Earth from space would ever do justice to the sight firsthand. As the ship hovered above the atmosphere, taking on new passengers, it provided a view that planet-bound beings would never experience.

Bright wonderment flooded through my limbs and swirled in my chest. If I didn’t pick my jaw off the floor, someone might trip over it.

Hundreds of beings already walked about the ship since Earth was the second boarding port for this trip. Somewhere on the vessel, my father and his new wife waited for my arrival.

I was sure that my wrist-com would ping with a message any minute now. Then I’d have to find Dad and meet this fancy alien woman who seized his attention in such a short amount of time that they barely had a wedding.

Though most races didn’t have weddings. Not like the ones on Earth, anyway.

To avoid my spiraling train of thought, I tipped back my glass and took a sip of the red concoction in my hand. Vibrant fruit and sharp citrus flavors swept over my tongue. Only when it hit the back of my throat did I feel the familiar punch of alcohol.

The drink was so fruity and strong that I continued sipping while mindlessly exploring the polished decks and everything the ship offered. I passed massive swimming pools, luxuriant lounge decks, sports enclosures, spas, and more restaurants than I cared to count.

All at once, the drink was gone, and clouds filled my head. The alcohol snuck up behind me and kicked me square in the ass. Whatever they put in that glass was stronger than anything I’d ever had before.

Shit, I’m already buzzed. I can’t meet my dad and his new wife like this. Okay, just pretend you aren’t nearly drunk and find someone with water. That’ll work.

Famous last words of everyone who drank more than they expected to. Even my inner monologue sounded slurred.

In passing, a host swiped the empty glass from my hand. I pivoted on my foot to follow them and request water, but they disappeared into the crowd before I got my mouth open.

A soft bell chimed through the ship’s speakers, diverting the attention of all passengers. I closed my eyes against the slight increase in the radiant lights and leaned on the exterior glass.

What the fuck was in that drink?

The speakers chimed once more before a suave, practiced voice filled the air. “Good evening crew and incoming passengers. You can call me Captain Hux’lon, and I have the pleasure of taking you on a cruise through the galaxies. Now here in about five minutes we’ll be jumping into hyperwarp. You might feel some slight turbulence as the gravity shifts but hang on tight and you’ll be just fine. Welcome to the Imperial Executor, and thanks for joining us.”

I’d never been through hyperwarp before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I believed I’d be fine if I stayed in place and braced my arm on the glass shield over the deck. From my current position on the ship, distant stars across the galaxy winked at me from outside.

Eventually, I’d need to check my wrist-com and call my dad. They had the room keys, and after that red drink I needed to lie down.

A low humming from beneath the ship vibrated through the flooring. The hairs on the back of my neck rose on end and my stomach plummeted to my feet. When the world outside the ship exploded with streaks of sparkling white and blue lights, my heart lurched to the back of my throat. The alcohol in my stomach churned as the ship’s momentum sent my body reeling away from the wall.

I stumbled back, arms flailing and eyes wide. The ground rushed up to meet my face, and I moved too slowly to brace myself against the incoming crash.

Unyielding, warm arms encircled my frame, and my face smooshed into the firm chest of a stranger. A powerful, intoxicating male scent flew into my nose, and the heat of that body melted the panic in my bones.

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