Planet Glecerus Read online

  “It’s going to be okay, Aaron.” Sebastian grasped Aaron’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze before releasing him. “We’ll stick together and figure it out.”

  Aaron blew out a heavy breath. “Okay.”

  After medical, they were taken to a wall of elevators and shoved tightly into a metal box. The doors closed, and the elevator shot upward. It shook and rattled, making strange beeping sounds as it went. Pressing his hand against the wall, Sebastian tried to hold on, but it was impossible. There was nothing to grip. After a minute or two, the door opened and everyone tumbled out onto the roof of the Justice Building. He grabbed ahold of Aaron’s hand, keeping the young man by his side while the guards corralled them like cattle.

  Sebastian didn’t have much time to think. He pulled his shirt over his head and walked toward a moving pathway that led to the spacecraft. He stepped onto the moving conveyor belt and held on to the railing as the floor beneath him moved at a sharp, upward angle.

  Once on the alien ship, he glanced down at the metal grate flooring. The trampling feet made an awful clanking sound, echoing through the corridor. The engines started, buzzing to life, sending jolting vibration through his entire body.

  When they cleared the first level of the ship, Sebastian’s eyes landed on a group of Glecerians. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at the imposing figures before him.

  The aliens stood well over seven feet in height and were thickly muscled. It looked as if their bodies had been carved from marble, chiseled to perfection, elegant yet rough at the same time. All six of them looked identical with long, flowing white hair, white-silver skin, and black eyes without irises of any kind. They were all bare-chested, wearing only a pair of black, leather pants and boots. The only difference between them was the thick black tattoos painted on their sleek skin. The markings looked beautiful, standing out in stark contrast against the white canvas.

  Sebastian let his eyes wander freely, drinking in the sight before him. They were magnificent. Masculinity and sex seemed to ooze from their pores. His heart galloped wildly as he watched and waited. Without even realizing what was happening, Sebastian found himself breaking off from the rest of the humans and walking toward the aliens. He didn’t stop until he was standing in front of one of the amazing creatures.

  He tilted his head back, and the Glecerian looked down at him. Their eyes clashed, endless pools of black with Sebastian’s bright blue. The alien’s black globes pulled him in and swallowed him whole. Electrical energy grew and pulsed between them. He felt a strange connection to the alien. In that moment, he saw the two of them together, wrapped in each other’s arms.

  Sucking in a shocked breath, Sebastian stood motionless. The alien’s eyes were intense, the stare all-consuming. He didn’t smile or show any outward signs of emotion, but his eyes… They sucked Sebastian in and held him in place. He was tempted to reach out and touch the other man. He wanted to run his fingers over the curves and angles, mapping out each muscle. The man was all hard angles and fierce planes, clearly as dangerous as he was beautiful.

  What would he feel like? Would the alien be soft as silk or hard like granite?

  Sebastian’s cock thickened within the confines of his jeans, pressing hard against the zipper, and his entire body shuddered. A moan escaped, slipping past his lips before he could stop it.

  Foreign words were spoken. The alien before him blinked and looked away, breaking eye contact, and the spell was broken. What the hell just happened? Jerking backward, Sebastian shook his head rapidly, trying to clear his lust-filled mind. He dropped his head forward in embarrassment and hurried back, taking his place in line beside Aaron.

  “What are you doing?” Aaron asked in a harsh whisper.

  “I don’t know.”

  They were taken to a room filled with glass sleeping pods that resemble coffins. Even though Sebastian had never been inside one, he knew that he didn’t have any other choice. Traveling to Glecerus took three months, and it was easier for the aliens to put them all to sleep rather than take care of them. Tubing and thick electrical cables ran along the floor, connecting each pod to some sort of computer system, which meant that someone would be watching to make sure he lived through the journey.

  “Welcome aboard.” A voice came on over the speaker system, and everyone stopped moving. “The starship you are traveling on is part of the Obsidian Squadron of Planet Glecerus. It will take you safely to your new home. If you have not done so, please stand beside one of the cryosleep chambers. There you will find clothing to wear while sleeping. Please change and make yourselves comfortable. We’ll be leaving momentarily.” The voice cut out.

  Sebastian turned to the side, hoping to shield his nudity from the other men present. He removed his clothes in a rush and put on the white pajamas the aliens provided. Climbing into the pod, Sebastian lay down and stared up at the ceiling. He shivered in both fear and anticipation. The door slowly closed, sealing him inside.

  He turned his head and looked over at Aaron, giving the other man a shaky smile. “I’ll see you when we wake up.” Sebastian told him, and Aaron nodded in agreement.

  The lights inside the stark room dimmed, and Sebastian’s body went limp. Blinking his eyes repeatedly, he fought to stay awake, but it was a losing battle. His eyes closed, and he fell asleep.

  Chapter Two

  Captain Regin Priq’aq watched as the humans climbed into the cryosleep pods. A few appeared to be afraid, but most of the young men merely lay down and got comfortable for the three-month-long journey. It was easier to transport human cargo while they slept. The Glecerians had learned long ago that the journey from Earth to Glecerus was hard on the Earthlings’ delicate bodies.

  In the beginning, most of the humans became very ill and some died because they lacked the proper amount of bone density and muscle mass for long-distance space travel. It was a terrible tragedy and a great loss, which was why the pods were brought onboard and monitored closely.

  Regin captained the ship with a small crew. Since humans no longer required a lot of extra care, the original crew had been slashed down to six males. Two well-trained doctors alternated shifts, watching the pods around the clock. The individual glass panels over each bed displayed diagnostics and monitored their status. The doctors, Maukr Tronos and Skikr Urak, took their jobs seriously. The safety and wellbeing of the humans was, and always would be, their top priority.

  Regin waited until the human cargo was resting safely inside the cryosleep pods before exiting Deck 3. He took the lift up to the command center on Deck 5 where the bridge was located.

  “Report,” Regin ordered as soon as he stepped foot onto the bridge.

  “The travelator has been retracted, the doors are sealed shut, and the engines are started,” Second Officer B’hann Kurak said from his seated position before a row of computers. “We’re ready to go on your command, Captain.”

  “Let’s go home,” Regin told him. After the long journey to Earth, he was ready to get back to Glecerus.

  “Yes, sir,” B’hann automatically said.

  The ship vibrated roughly as the engines revved, telling the rest of the crew they were leaving Earth. Regin took a seat, lounging in the overly large chair as he readied himself for take-off. He stared out the panoramic windows as the ship slowly rose up. The view was breathtaking, but it was nothing compared to seeing Glecerus as they landed.

  The ship continued its upward motion, the powerful beast rumbling as the engine hummed. Once B’hann put some distance between the starship and the Justice Building, he added more power, sending them hurtling through the air at a rapid pace. A powerful rush of energy shot through Regin’s body. It felt as if the ship was being pushed upward by a giant hand. The ship vibrated and quaked due to the acceleration of the engines.

  When the ship hit Earth’s atmosphere, it shook violently. As the atmosphere thinned, the vibrations eased somewhat until they finally reached space, where they stopped altogether. It took about fifteen s
econds for day to turn to complete darkness. It felt as if the ship came to a screeching halt, but that wasn’t the case. They were still moving at a rapid pace, heading home.

  From this distance, Regin’s opinion of planet Earth was different. There were no boundaries. Instead, he was able to take in its true beauty. A brilliant deep blue ocean, shot with shades of green and grayish-white clouds. The planet itself looked welcoming, inviting even, but that wasn’t the case. Interacting with the human government gave him a strong distaste for the race as a whole. He knew it was wrong to judge them all by the actions of a few, but sometimes he found it difficult to separate the two.

  “Initiating autopilot,” B’hann said. Regin’s second-in-command spun his chair around when his task was complete. He leaned back, relaxing casually, and grinned. “Did you find any of the humans pleasing?”

  Regin could only shake his head. “Get to the point, B’hann.”

  “The human male.” B’hann gave Regin a pointed look. “He walked right up to you without any fear. Don’t tell me you aren’t curious.”

  Regin had to admit he’d been surprised by the human’s actions, but more than that, he was attracted to the young male. With short black hair, bright blue eyes, and an angelic face, the human was, without a doubt, the most striking creature Regin had ever seen. Regin wanted to own him. He wanted the human to wear his mark and be his mate.

  The human’s uncharacteristic behavior gave Regine hope that this batch of humans was more prepared than the last. It didn’t seem to matter how much preparation or information the Earthlings were given before their journey to Glecerus, they still seemed overwhelmed and shocked. To help with the transition, scholars had written a detailed manual explaining the customs, rules, policies, and way of life for Glecerus, and all the other races the Glecerians had an open-trade agreement with.

  After years spent collecting humans, Regin had grown accustomed to their odd behavior. Whoever this particular human was, he was special. He stood out among the others.

  “Are you going to bid on him at auction?”

  “I have not given it much thought.” The lie rolled off his tongue. He already knew that he would be bidding on the beautiful human, but he wasn’t about to share his plans.

  “With his blatant curiosity for our race, he’ll be popular on the auction block.”

  Regin merely shrugged. He wouldn’t allow B’hann to know what his thoughts were. Nor would he share how much agorot he’d been saving, just waiting for the right male to come along.

  “I’m going to grab a meal.” B’hann rose from his chair. “And retire to my sleeping quarters. If you need me before my next shift, you know where to find me.”

  Regin nodded. “Rest well.”

  B’hann left Regin alone at the bridge. Regin waited, listening to B’hann’s retreating footsteps as his booted feet crashed against the metal floor. When silence surrounded him, Regin rose from his chair and made his way over to the computers.

  He quickly typed in his password and started looking through the cargo manifest. He swiped his finger across the flat screen, anxiously waiting to see the image of his male. He needed to find out who the human was. Reading the male’s documents—medical, psychological, and sexual reports—might give him some advantage among the others when it came time for the auction.

  When the human’s face came up on the screen, Regin smiled. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure he was alone before downloading the information into a private file that he could access from his quarters. When he was finished, Regin deleted the screen, making sure that none of the other warriors would know what he’d done.

  Regin waited a moment before leaving the bridge. He took the stairs down one level to where the mess hall, relaxation lounge, and sleeping quarters were located. Instead of going directly to his room, Regin went to the mess hall to grab a bite to eat. The rest of the crew seemed to have the same idea. They were sitting around one of the large rectangular tables, talking. None of them bothered to even acknowledge Regin when he walked into the room.

  B’hann was leading the conversation, giving his take on Regin’s male. It was obvious that his second-in-command would be putting in a bid at auction.

  “He is indeed a handsome male, but I’ve got my eye on another,” Doctor Maukr Tronos told them.

  “What male captured your attention?” Purn Ruk’Lutan asked. “You have never taken an interest in the cargo before.”

  “If you didn’t notice him, I’m certainly not going to point him out to you,” Maukr said.

  “What do you think, Regin?” B’hann asked, pulling him into the conversation.

  “What have you cooked for us, Glaumm?” Regin questioned, patting his flat stomach. “It smells good in here.”

  “Take a seat, Captain,” Glaumm said as he rose to his feet in one smooth motion. “I’ll grab you a plate.”

  “Thank you.” Regin took a seat beside Maukr.

  B’hann chuckled. “You’re always so secretive, Regin. I never know what you’re thinking.”

  “My only concern is getting the Earthlings to Glecerus safely. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us,” Regin told him.

  Maukr gave him an update. “So far, the humans are resting comfortably. Skikr is taking the first shift.”

  Normally, Regin would stay and talk with the crew while he ate, but he was anxious to return to his quarters. The documents were just sitting there, waiting for him. Regin rose from his seat. He took the plate of food from Glaumm and thanked the man before bidding farewell. He left the mess hall and walked toward the sleep quarters on the other side of the deck.

  When he reached his quarters, Regin hit the button on the corridor wall, and the door slid open. He stepped inside, and the door shut behind him. Not willing to take any chances that he might receive a surprise visitor, Regin locked the door. His quarters were functional and simple. He had a bed, a wall unit where his clothing was kept, a desk, and a small adjoining bathroom.

  Regin put the plate on his desk and sat down on the edge of the bed, removing his boots. Turning, he leaned his back against the wall and stretched out. He reached out and grabbed his personal computer from his desk. Regin typed in his password, and the screen opened, revealing the human’s documents. Food forgotten, Regin opened the file. He stared at the picture for a minute, letting his eyes roam over the young man’s features.

  The smile made the human’s eyes light up, the blue sparkling even in the image. Regin couldn’t help but smile back. After a couple of minutes, he swiped his finger across the screen. The first page of the application was filled with basic information.

  Name: Sebastian Cain.

  “Se–bas–tian,” he whispered, letting each syllable slowly roll off his tongue. He repeated the human’s name, over and over again, until he was able to say it clearly with confidence. “Sebastian. Sebastian Cain.”

  Regin didn’t pay much attention to Sebastian’s weight, height, or date of birth. He could find that out later. Right now, he wanted to see what Sebastian had to say on the sexuality test. Was the human looking for a male mate? That was the most important question because if Sebastian preferred females, Regin wouldn’t get the chance to bid on him. In fact, he would never see the human again. That realization made his heart clench.

  Moving his finger across the screen, Regin flicked through page after page, searching for the answer he needed.

  The Glecerians were given priority when it came to the humans. They were allowed first pick since they were the ones providing transportation and taking care of the humans during the long journey from Earth. The application, stating the human’s needs, wants, and desires, was crucial. The answers given had an effect on where the Earthlings would be placed.

  Human males that weren’t purchased at auction could either stay on Glecerus in the singles dormitory, or they could find a mate on another planet, one with an open trade agreement. If the human decided to stay, males wanting to mate with other males were encouraged to i
nteract and spend time with the unmated Glecerians in the hopes of creating a bond.

  The females and heterosexual males weren’t given the same choice. They never stepped foot onto Glecerus. Instead, their pods were transferred to a different starship and safely escorted to Viater, a small tropical planet.

  Regin’s finger instantly froze on the screen when he reached the sexuality test. He sucked in a sharp breath and held it as his eyes skimmed over the information.

  Male searching for male. Regin sighed happily. Now that he knew Sebastian would be available to bid on, Regin was finally able to relax. He flicked his fingers across the screen, moving back to the beginning of the document, and started reading.

  Sebastian would be his. There was no doubt in Regin’s mind. He would bid on the human, and he would win.

  Only after reading through Sebastian’s documents and eating his meal did Regin attempt to venture out of his quarters. He was careful not to make too much noise as he strolled down the corridor. He didn’t want to alert the other warriors of his presence. Regin made his way down the stairs to Deck 3 where the cryosleep pods were located.

  Sebastian was at the forefront of his mind, and Regin desperately wanted to see the human male.

  When he reached Deck 3, Regin paused, scanning the large room. He spotted Skikr Urak, the doctor on duty, asleep near a wall of monitors. Instead of being irritated that the other male was sleeping on the job, Regin was relieved. He would have a few moments of privacy.

  Regin made his way down the row of pods to where Sebastian was sleeping. He stopped beside the glass tomb and peered inside. He couldn’t believe how attracted he was to this particular human, especially considering all the trips he’d made to Earth. As he watched Sebastian sleep peacefully, Regin replayed the exact moment he saw the young man. When Sebastian had stepped out of line and strode toward him, Regin had been enchanted.

  Regin had waited silently for the human to speak. He’d thought the human male had a question or a request, but he merely stared at Regin in awe. When B’hann spoke, their connection was broken, and the private moment they shared instantly vanished.