by Cheree Alsop
My thoughts keep drifting back to Vanessa. I can’t help being nervous. I tell myself it’s foolish and that I have nothing to fear, but my nerves make my hands shake whenever I think about it.
I’m going to ask her to marry me today.
***
Gage’s heart slowed. He turned the very last page. The excitement of the words was evident in the way the penmanship practically leaped off the page.
***
She said yes! She said yes! She said yes! I can barely believe it! Vanessa Stewards is my fiancé! She wore the ring and everything. It’s only a matter of time before everyone in the battalion knows we’re engaged.
She got called right after on a mission to the Verde Nebula. Gage is her commanding officer, so I know she’s in good hands. I can’t wait for her to return. I’ve already planned with the other officers to make tonight special. Goren is going to play the catastans and Figet said he would sing her favorite song.
I didn’t get to tell Gage about the proposal, but I know when I do, he’ll be over the Macrocosm for me! Sweet Vanessa, I promise to make you the best husband a wife ever had. I can’t wait to see you again!
***
Gage closed the book. He swallowed past the lump in his throat. The date of the final page burned in his mind. It was one he would never forget.
Twenty-Four Fifteen Point Fourteen would forever be the day that had changed his life forever. He remembered their trip to the Verde Nebula. Everyone had been excited at the chance to engage the hostiles. According to Corporal Ganik, it was a routine sweep to shoot down Macsian Invaders that had been spotted raiding a village near the military’s outpost.
Gage had wondered a thousand times over how different that day should have gone. Nobody knew when they embarked on the ship that morning that the majority of them would be shot to pieces by that evening. Gage remembered the way Vanessa couldn’t stop smiling when they set foot on the rugged planet. He had meant to ask her about it, but being a new officer meant he was closely watched by his supervisors to ensure that he took the position seriously. Gage had led the way Corporal Ganik instructed without knowledge of the horde that awaited them.
***
The intercom beeped, jolting Gage from his thoughts.
“Captain, we’re ready for takeoff,” Tersha announced.
“I’ll be right there,” Gage replied.
He put the book back in his dresser and left the room. He tried to push away the thoughts of watching Vanessa’s life fade away in his arms. He wondered if she had worn the ring Donovan gave her beneath her glove to avoid questions. He wished he had known; perhaps he could have given it back to Donovan.
Gage stepped onto the bridge with the reminder that he had duties to fulfill. He shoved thoughts of Donovan and that day out of his mind.
“Manax, take her out.”
“Yes, Captain,” the Amphibite replied. “Off to cause Coalition chaos and ensure that they don’t forget the name of the dread Pirate Metis. They’ll regret the day they ever put you on a wanted poster, or any of us for that matter. They’d really be better off— uh, Captain? There’s a Corian vessel blocking our path.”
Manax pushed a button and the main monitor showed a very angry looking Belanite.
“Where do you think you’re going with my bride?” Commander Parragosh demanded.
Gage glanced away. “Tersha, get Sienna up here right now!” He turned back to the Belanite. “Well hello, Commander. I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of speaking.”
Parragosh’s eyes narrowed. “The last time I saw you was when your ship was plummeting into the Skavian. How did you find the water, Captain Metis?” he asked, stressing the title.
“Cold and with a bit of a bite,” Gage replied amiably as he waited for Sienna to appear. “It’s far more pleasant later in the year.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Parragosh said dryly.
“Oh, I forgot your race doesn’t enjoy water,” Gage said. “Pity. I’d recommend avoiding Cree. It’s a pleasant planet to visit, unless you don’t like swimming.”
The Belanite’s eyes narrowed further and he didn’t reply.
“Gage!”
He turned at the hushed voice and spotted Sienna standing in the hallway.
“Get in here,” he demanded.
She shook her head. “I will not,” she said, her voice still at a loud whisper.
“Get in here right now!” he insisted.
She shook her head again stubbornly.
Gage gave Parragosh an embarrassed look. “I’ll, uh, I’ll be right back.”
He hurried off the bridge to the hall where Sienna waited with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
“Can you tell me why your ex-fiancé is blocking our exit with a freighter?” Gage demanded.
Sienna looked anywhere but at him. “I may have not told you the truth about our discussion…,” she hedged.
“Which part?” Gage asked, forcing himself not to shout.
“The part where I said we had a discussion,” she replied.
Gage stared at her. “So what does Parragosh think you’re doing aboard my ship?”
“You got his name right!” she replied. At his glare, she said, “He may think you’re kidnapping me again because you’re madly in love with me and can’t stand traveling the Macrocosm without me at your side.”
Gage’s mouth fell open. “Now where would he get that idea?”
She looked at the wall past his head. “From the ransom note I left on his pillow.”
“Sienna!” Gage shouted.
She gave him an apologetic look. “To be honest, I really can’t see myself settling down on Corian like you said, and I couldn’t break Parragosh’s heart. He insists on clinging to me even if there’s nothing left between us and I’ve taken great measures to ensure he knows exactly how I feel about him.” She paused, then said, “Please take me with you, Gage. I need to get out of here.”
“Couldn’t you just be honest with him?” Gage asked.
She shook her head. “And break his heart? You know how Belanites are with honesty. If I fibbed just a little bit to make him feel better, he would know, and then I would see it in his eyes and I would feel even worse. At least this way he can tell himself that I was swept away by a dashingly handsome pirate and carried off to the far ends of the Macrocosm.”
“And that’s supposed to make him feel better?” Gage’s head was spinning.
“Yes,” she replied. “Because that way, I didn’t leave him and he can tell himself that he still has something to offer, even though you and I both know he’s droll and boring. Perhaps he’ll find someone else.”
“When he’s done pining after his stolen fiancé?” Gage asked in a wry tone.
“Exactly,” Sienna replied.
Gage stared at her for a moment. He didn’t quite know what to do. All he knew was that he couldn’t deny the pleading in the gaze she gave him. She had learned it from his sister, no doubt. It was a conspiracy; they were all in it against him.
“Fine,” he breathed.
“Oh, thank you!” Sienna exclaimed. She hugged him tightly around the neck and then kissed him on the cheek before she stepped back. “Now have fun getting away from him; I know you will,” she said as she walked lightly back down the hallway toward her quarters.
Gage entered the bridge again with his thoughts racing. He took a seat back in his captain’s chair and attempted to appear calm.
“Thank you for your patience, Commander.” He paused, then said, “I suppose you know who I am.”
The Belanite nodded. “Gage Metis, a member of the Day-Metis family and an owner of Corian.”
Gage nodded. “Yes, but you left out one detail.”
“Which one?” Parragosh asked.
Gage grinned. “That I’m a pirate. I’m kidnapping your fiancé and taking her across the Macrocosm on adventures you can’t even begin to imagine. I recommend that you get out of my way before we shoot a path throu
gh your freighter which, if you consider my last name, you’ll realize I actually own. And in that light, if you know what’s good for you, you will regard my request as a direct order from your superior.” He paused, then said, “Oh, and I also suggest that you consider finding yourself a fiancé with a little bit less of, how shall I say, a wandering spirit. Alright?”
The Commander realized Gage wanted an answer to both questions at once. He looked left and right as if searching for what he should say in light of the pirate’s words. When nothing came to him, he finally nodded.
“They’re pulling back,” Manax said with a laugh.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Gage told the Commander. He pressed a button and the Belanite’s face disappeared from view.
Laughter burst out across the bridge.
“Did you see his face?” Hyra asked, wiping tears of glee from her eyes.
“I’ve never seen anyone give a Belanite a talking-to like that!” Klellen exclaimed.
“Manax, get us out of here. Hyra mark your coordinates for the Centaurus A Galaxy, and Tersha, tell Sienna to report to the bridge right this instant,” Gage demanded.
With a grin on his face, Manax initiated the AB drive the moment they reach a safe distance from Corian.
A few minutes later found Gage still waiting for Sienna to choose to return to the bridge when a warning signal sounded.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“There’s something on the monitor that’s not on the star map,” Hyra said. “Look.”
She pulled the image up on the main screen. Everyone watched the object draw closer.
“It’s too big to be a ship,” Manax said.
“And too uneven to be a planet,” Klellen noted.
“Either way, it’s directly in our path. We need to come out of the surge early,” Hyra said.
“Do it,” Gage replied.
Manax brought the ship up short.
“What are we looking at?” Gage asked.
“Notice the jagged ribbing along the outside,” Hyra said, studying the image on the monitor. “It’s uniform. That thing was made, not naturally formed.”
“Something’s opening,” Manax said.
They watched as a line of light appeared in front of them. Instincts pressed against Gage.
“Get us back!” he ordered. “Shields at full power!”
The light became clouded by objects that burst out of the sphere aimed directly at them.
“We’re under attack,” Manax said.
“Send out the signa detonators,” Gage told Klellen.
Everyone watched in tense silence.
“They flew past the detonators,” Klellen reported, his scales blue and green. “And the missiles aren’t shooting them down. There’s no heat signature to follow. I don’t know what we’re looking at!”
“Tersha, alert the crew. Bridge, brace for impact,” Gage called out.
The objects struck the Kratos. The bridge went dark. Sirens sounded amid the smoke that rose from the monitors, then fell eerily silent.
“Status report,” Gage said as he pulled himself back onto his seat.
He heard Hyra cough in the darkness. “We don’t have any power. I can’t report.”
The monitor in front of them flickered on. A black and white face appeared.
“We’ve taken your power and your ship. You are now property of the Waverian Federation. Prepare for boarding.”
About the Author
Cheree Alsop is an award-winning, best-selling author who has published 38 books, including two series through Stonehouse Ink. She is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her by reading the first drafts and giving much appreciated critiques. Cheree works as a fulltime author and mother, which is more play than work! She enjoys reading, traveling to tropical beaches, riding motorcycles, spending time with her wonderful children, and going on family adventures while planning her next book.
Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great quests, and never stop dreaming.
Look for updates on the rest of the books from this series on Cheree’s website.
To be added to Cheree’s email list for notification of book releases, please send her an email to [email protected]
You can find Cheree’s other books at www.chereealsop.com
If you enjoyed this book, please review it so that others will be able to share in the adventure!
REVIEWS
The Girl from the Stars Series
This is my favorite Cheree Alsop book now! Her best yet! I loved it. So many twists and turns, great characters, excitement and hints of romance. I can't wait for the next one in the series.
—Voca Matisse, Reviewer
Fantastic book! Cheree's ability to write an amazing character that you not only sympathize with but also grow to care for, is one of the fabulous writing abilities that she lends to every story. This story line was full of epic twists and wry humor that had me engaged the entire way through. All in all a fun enjoyable read.
—akgodwin, Amazon Reviewer
This was one of the best books I have read in a while. Sci-fyi, adventure, thriller... could not put the book away. I already bought the second book in the series, and hope the third will come out soon.
—Kindle Customer
The main character, Liora, is a very mixed up but emerging person who is a genetic mutt! Half of her DNA is totally violence oriented whilst the other half is straight human, which is to say violent when necessary but basically well rounded. In the beginning she was a slave in a circus and had never known anyone she could trust or care for, and even when she is rescued from that hell she has a hard time adjusting to the idea that she can fit in anywhere. The action is frequent and well written and over time she keeps trying to both find reasons to fit in and reasons to strike out on her own. This is not resolved in the first book, and makes you want to read more. I like the series a lot and hope the writer keeps them coming.
—Sam, Amazon Reviewer
Dr Wolf, the Fae Rift Series
Dr. Wolf, the Fae Rift Series Book 1- Shockwave by Cheree Alsop is a movie transcript ready and suspensfully alluring tale that weaves the mind of the reader around the world of wild dreams.
— Rachel Anderson, Amazon Reviewer
Wow! Was not expecting enjoying this book as much as I did. Ms. Alsop had me drawn in front the get go. The writing was fantastic, the story just flowed so easily and I could not put the book down. I enjoyed all the characters and love her imagination. The banter with the characters had me laughing out loud (I love the fairy and the vampire). I really enjoyed the storyline and the whole what if of falling into a rift. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice fresh look on paranormal.
— Amazon Verified Reviewer
Demon Spiral picks up right where Shockwave left off…Once again, I could not put this book down. The flow of the story is amazing and the banter that the author was able to put into the book just made for a very enjoyable read. I highly recommend Cheree Alsop and look forward to reading the next in this series as well.
—Crystal’s Review, GoodReads Reviewer
I had to download the sample for this because I was sure I wanted it. I bought the book after the first page. It’s almost like Dr. Who with Fae.
—Chris Hughes, Amazon Reviewer
The Silver Series
“Cheree Alsop has written Silver for the YA reader who enjoys both werewolves and coming-of-age tales. Although I don’t fall into this demographic, I still found it an entertaining read on a long plane trip! The author has put a great deal of thought into balancing a tale that could apply to any teen (death of a parent, new school, trying to find one’s place in the world) with the added spice of a youngster dealing with being exceptionally different from
those around him, and knowing that puts him in danger.”
—Robin Hobb, author of the Farseer Trilogy
“I honestly am amazed this isn’t absolutely EVERYWHERE! Amazing book. Could NOT put it down! After reading this book, I purchased the entire series!”
—Josephine, Amazon Reviewer
“A page-turner that kept me wide awake and wanting more. Great characters, well written, tenderly developed, and thrilling. I loved this book, and you will too.”
—Valerie McGilvrey
“Super glad that I found this series! I am crushed that it is at its end. I am sure we will see some of the characters in the next series, but it just won’t be the same. I am 41 years old, and am only a little embarrassed to say I was crying at 3 a.m. this morning while finishing the last book. Although this is a YA series, all ages will enjoy the Silver Series. Great job by Cheree Alsop. I am excited to see what she comes up with next.”
—Jennc, Amazon Reviewer
The Werewolf Academy Series
If you love werewolves, paranormal, and looking for a book like House of Night or Vampire Academy this is it! YA for sure.