by Lily Harlem
Seducer
Planet Athion Series
(Equinox Book #3)
By Lily Harlem
Seducer: text copyright © Lily Harlem 2019
All Rights Reserved
With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from Lily Harlem.
Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the author’s written permission.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.
Please note this book is intended for mature readers.
Artwork and Editing by Studioenp.
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Back Cover Information
Four men are in love with me, another wants to hijack my body.
Having a stowaway Trad stare at me with hunger, lust, and determination in his eyes was enough to make my blood boil.
It really didn’t go down well with my four men either—Anki and Hurin, sexy, blue-skinned aliens, and Gavyn and Mateo, skilled pilot and copilot of Equinox.
They’re very protective and very possessive. They’re also all mine. Their hearts and bodies belong to me. Okay, so sometimes they push me to extremes—all that desire and testosterone is a lot for a girl to handle—but I was never one to throw in the towel as soon as the going got tough.
So when one of the things I love most in the universe is lost and push comes to shove, it’s time to get real. Twists of fate have a habit of becoming tangled in space. When things go wrong…they go wrong fast. Can I hold it together? Will my men, my crew, be up to the job? And will the two Space Marshalls be honest about their relationship…a relationship that is so much more than it first appears?
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
About Planet Athion
About Lily Harlem
Chapter One
“This is a major incident,” Hurin said, moving so his shoulder was half blocking me from the Trad’s unnerving stare.
But it wasn’t enough. Julian Hunter, who’d managed to fool everyone, including ground medical staff that he was human, had crept aboard Equinox on a Planet Athion-bound mission. And right now, his sole attention was on me as he pushed at the hypersleep capsule containing him.
How many others have made the trip undetected?
A swirl of nausea seared through me at the thought of Planet Athion being infected by these evil men who sought only to impregnate Earth women and use them to repopulate Tradrych.
“Wake the Marshalls,” Gavyn said, gesturing to the two deeply comatose Athions to his right. “Now.”
“Yes, Captain,” Mateo said, quickly stepping away.
“Just hit the red cross,” Hurin said. “It will deliver the antidote to their sedative and give them an adrenaline boost.”
Mateo did as instructed, using the flat of his palm to whack each cross in turn.
“How long will it take?” Anki asked, still holding me tight to his side.
“Only a few minutes, the drugs are very effective.” Hurin nodded seriously.
“He’s giving me the creeps,” I said, resting my palm on Anki’s chest and leaning harder against him.
“Don’t let him see her.” Gavyn frowned. “I won’t have him even looking at Uma.”
Anki turned and walked me around the end of the capsule.
“Bastard,” Mateo said, scowling so deeply a thick line formed between his brows.
I was facing the Athion Space Marshalls now. Their capsules had fogged over, and gas was filling their chambers. “Is that normal?”
“Yes.” Hurin stepped to the base of the one nearest me. I knew his name was Ezekeil from when we’d compared his notes to Julian Hunter’s.
“Hurin, you knew all along something wasn’t right,” I said.
He nodded, his lips a thin, straight line.
“Many medics would have missed that tiny rise in temperature. And with all these sleepers, you had to be super vigilant to notice his differing sleep patterns.”
“It gives me no pleasure to be right.”
He was close enough for me to rest my hand on his arm, so I did. Touching Hurin was a new thing. For a long time he had shied away from any physical contact with me.
He paused and glanced at me. I was pleased he didn’t jerk away and seemed to accept my gesture of comfort.
“Why is the Trad just lying there?” Mateo asked, irritation in his voice. “I thought he’d be fighting to get out.”
“By the sound of it he’s been lying there awake for days, weeks even, without making any move to rise from the capsule.” Gavyn huffed. “The lengths this hideous alternate race will go to is horrifying.”
“I agree,” Anki said.
“What are we going to do with him?” Mateo folded his arms and widened his stance like he was preparing to take up a guard position.
I glanced between him and Gavyn, both my lovers, both clearly furious rather than scared of the imposter in our midst.
But of course they didn’t need to be scared. I was the only one he could do harm to. Another sickening thought came to me. “He has been locked in, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, why?” Hurin asked.
“That’s a relief. Imagine if he’d gotten to the Earth women sleepers.”
“That’s one good thing, that he hasn’t had access to females.” Gavyn glanced around.
“That couldn’t happen.” Hurin shook his head. “All capsules are locked except for the Space Marshalls’.”
As he’d spoken, the Marshalls’ glass pods raised on a hinge by their feet. From within, a dense, misty gas swirled upward to the air vents in the ceiling. A strange hissing accompanied the observation, feed and drug lines retracting from the sleepers’ bodies.
Ezekeil, nearest me, sat, his pale-blue skin dewy and his muscles seeming to twitch as he moved. His face appeared slack and sleepy, as though he wasn’t quite aware of where he was or in control of his expression.
Next to him, in the adjacent pod, another Athion sat. It was obvious he was taller and leaner than Ezekeil and his adrenaline had kicked in faster. He moved swiftly, and within a second was standing, utterly naked, beside his pod. He snapped his hand to his forehead in a salute, his biceps bulging and his cock shifting with the sudden action. “Marshall Sai, Custo Regiment, reporting for duty, Captain Rivers.”
“Sorry to wake you, Space Marshall Sai,” Gavyn said, “but we have a situation on board Equinox.”
Ezekeil stood at Sai’s side. He, too, saluted though swayed to the left before straightening. “Marshall Ezekeil, Custo Regiment.” He cleared his throat. “Reporting for duty, Captain Rivers.”
Gavyn nodded, his mouth a tight, serious line. “Get dressed, Marshalls, and I’ll fill you in.”
�
��Here.” Hurin handed them each a pile of dark clothes.
While they dressed, I wrapped my arms around Anki who was still holding me. “What’s he doing now, the Trad?” I nestled my head beneath his chin.
Anki glanced over his shoulder. “He’s just lying there, eyes closed, but still pressing on the glass.”
“Will we leave him in there? Would that be for the best?”
“No,” Gavyn said quickly. “I don’t want him in here with females, locked capsules or not.”
“But where—?”
“We’ll discuss it with the Marshalls”—Gavyn stepped close and stroked my hair—“and decide what to do.”
Ezekeil and Sai were now wearing black pants and tunics, the same style Anki wore. Each had a small dark-blue Planet Athion Space Marshall badge on their right sleeve. Hurin handed them soft sneakers which they slipped on.
Sai glanced at the digital clock on the wall. “We have been awake three minutes now. That means we are at full comprehension and physical ability. What tasks would you like us to fulfil?”
Ezekeil glanced around, his now keen gaze seeming to take in the situation. He frowned. “Is it an emergency? That’s the only reason we should be woken.”
“Yes, it bloody well is,” Mateo said, tapping his left foot on the floor. “You think we would wake you for nothing?”
“Mateo,” I said.
“Well.” He tutted. “Seriously.”
“It is an emergency,” Gavyn said, “though we have it under control for now. But as you’re on board, and at my discretion to use as I see fit, I want you here, awake, and on duty for Uma’s added protection.”
“Uma?” Sai said.
“Yes.” Gavyn nodded at me. “Uma.”
Both Marshall’s turned in my direction. Had they only just noticed I was there—an Earth woman?
I spun within Anki’s arms and faced them. Perhaps, like Hurin, they’d never disembarked on Earth and I was their first female sighting.
Ezekeil widened his eyes, stared for a moment, then dipped his gaze to the floor.
Sai also stared, mouth slack before he, too, lowered his head.
“I’m glad you’re both on board Equinox,” I said. “Your assistance will be very valuable.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sai glanced at me. His cheeks were a little darker, the same shade as when Anki blushed.
“Uma is fine,” I said. “To call me, that is.”
Neither spoke.
Gavyn clapped and turned to the capsule. “To business. In here, Marshalls, is an imposter.”
“What kind of imposter?” Ezekeil glanced at me then quickly set his attention on Gavyn.
“We believe it’s a Trad.”
“A Trad!” Sai stepped up to Julian Hunter and stared down at him. “What makes you think that, Captain?”
“Hurin, our medic, noticed some anomalies a while ago.”
“Such as?” Sai asked, placing his hands on his lean hips.
“Slight fever, lighter sleep patterns.” Hurin swiped over the screen at the end of the capsule. “A slower pulse than I’d expect. This has been going on for several weeks.”
“So there is no proof?” Ezekeil folded his arms. His biceps bulged from the push of his knuckles, and now he was properly awake and in control of his body, I realized he was damn fit, as was his partner.
“As you know, it’s very hard to determine a Trad from a human. They have ways of disguising their DNA that we don’t yet understand.”
“But we will.” Mateo’s frown deepened. “One day.”
Sai nodded. “So why now? Why the emergency?”
“He just opened his eyes and stared straight at me,” I said. “And his hands…he’s pressing on the capsule, he seems to be trying to escape.”
Sai rubbed his bottom lip. It was full and appeared silky soft; the moisture in the capsule kept skin at optimal health and pliancy. “Could he be a sick human?”
“Maybe he’s allergic to some of the medication or it’s not working properly,” Ezekeil said.
“No.” Hurin shook his head. “I’ve ruled everything out. These anomalies are because he’s different.”
“Trad different,” Mateo added. “And we want him out of the sleeper pod, contained and guarded.”
Gavyn nodded. “Yes, that’s the only thing for it, Mateo. But where?”
The Marshalls glanced at each other.
“The isolation pod would be best,” Anki said, his breath warm on my ear. “The door locks with a code. And due to the nature of the room, it’s impossible to break out, and fully equipped for someone to live in without any of us having to access it.”
“Perfect,” Gavyn said, “and there’s an adjacent dormitory the Marshalls can use so he’s under twenty-four-hour surveillance. I don’t trust this cunning bastard not to escape somehow and get to Uma.”
A shiver went though me. My last encounter with a Trad had been one too many. Another one, I could definitely do without.
“Or get in here and somehow attack the female sleepers.” Hurin gestured around. “I’ll double lock all the capsules and alarm them.”
“Good idea, do it now.” Gavyn pointed at the master control panel.
Hurin rushed to his task.
“It’s weird how he’s exerting pressure on the glass,” Sai said. “He appears asleep, but his muscles are rigid.”
“He’s not asleep,” I said. “He stared at me in a way that couldn’t be mistaken. He’s very much awake, alert and plotting.”
“Plotting?” Ezekeil repeated.
“Yes, as in, how to do harm. How to get to me.” I swallowed.
“He won’t.” Anki tightened his arms around me. “I promise.”
“It’ll be okay.” Mateo stepped close and hooked his finger beneath my chin, raised my face to his. “We’ll keep him contained.” He swept his lips over mine. “He won’t get anywhere near you.”
“You’re our priority, Uma,” Gavyn said. “And you now have not just four but six men protecting you. This will not be a problem. You will not be at risk.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks necessary,” Sai said. “We can’t lock you in a capsule for your safety.”
“Which means you have just become our world, too.” Ezekeil’s jaw tensed, and he nodded seriously. “Our priority.”
I dragged in a shaky breath. I didn’t like feeling vulnerable, it didn’t sit well with me. I was strong and independent—a modern woman who could take care of herself.
Unless there was a Trad around.
My attention was drawn to Julian Hunter again. “So when are we going to move him?”
“No time like the present,” Gavyn said. “You finished over there, Hurin?”
“Nearly, Captain.”
“Good. When you have, open this capsule. Marshalls, be prepared for anything.” He scanned them up and down. “You don’t have weapons?”
“There will be laser shooters in the arms cupboard,” Sai said.
“But we don’t need them, not for this,” Ezekeil said.
Gavyn raised his eyebrows.
“He’s just one man—” Sai started.
“Not my definition of a man.” Mateo huffed.
“Mine neither,” Sai said, “But you know what we mean. There’s only one of him, there’s two of us.”
“And from my experience,” Mateo said. “They’re runners rather than fighters. They take what they want by other means, the way all cowards do.”
“Yes.” Sai unfolded his arms. “So he won’t stand a chance at fighting, and he definitely won’t be running anywhere.”
“Okay,” Gavyn said. “If you’re confident with the situation, that’s enough for me.”
“It’s what we’re trained to do, Captain.” Ezekeil nodded. “Assess and react appropriately.”
“Are we ready?” Hurin strode to the screen at the end of the capsule.
“Ready,” Gavyn said. He spun to Anki. “Keep her back, okay.”
�
�Of course.” Anki took a step away, pulling me with him.
I gripped Anki’s forearms as Hurin tapped the screen before him.
Within a minute, the capsule bleeped three times. The lid began to lift, from the base, and the hiss of lines being withdrawn sung through my ears. There was no misty gas—it seemed that was part of the Marshalls’ rapid coma reversal.
I held my breath. Ready for the unexpected. Ready for Julian to leap up and run at me like a rabid beast hungry for my blood…my womb.
Chapter Two
The Trad did nothing.
He continued to remain dead still with his arms raised, palms flat, seeming to exert pressure on the capsule glass even though it was no longer there.
I blew out my breath, then sucked in another one. My heart was thudding, my pulse galloping through my ears. I was sure I could feel Anki’s heart banging through my back, too.
“I thought you said he was awake,” Sai said.
“He is.” Gavyn stepped up to him, his fists clenched.
Ezekeil moved in; Sai was at his side.
“Open your eyes, you bastard,” Mateo said, drawing shoulder to shoulder with Gavyn.
Hurin glanced at me, then concentrated on the screens again. “No reason for him to be lying there like that unless it’s through choice.”
“And my choice is for him to be under lock and key with guards at the door.” Mateo shook Julian’s shoulder. “Stop playing around. This won’t end well for you.”
Julian flicked his eyes open, the way he had before. But this time, instead of me, he set his attention on Mateo.
Mateo continued to grip his shoulder. “You can’t fool us and you can’t do us any harm.”
Suddenly Julian coughed, a hard splutter that seemed to rack his chest. He brought his hands to his face then half sat.
“What’s the matter with him?” Gavyn asked Hurin.
“Nothing,” Hurin said.
“I don’t care if he’s dying.” Mateo frowned. “Get him up, Marshalls.”