3013: ASYLUM
In a male dominated world, Alliance Commander Olivia Jacobson has spent most of her adult life clawing her way up the ranks, but her dream of commanding her own post has always been just beyond her grasp. With the discovery of a new planet, a new race, and the relocation of Alpha Station: X21, her dream is finally within reach. The last thing she needs is distractions, but the universe has a sense of humor, and complications arrive in the form of two Krytos males intent on claiming her as their mate.
One night with the beautiful and passionate commander won’t be enough for Krytos brothers Axton and Zade Tavish. Choosing X21 as the home for their sanctuary, Asylum, had nothing to do with location, and everything to do with Olivia. The closer they try to get to the female, however, the more determined she seems to pull away, proving it will take more than charm and persistence to win her heart.
When their tenuous relationship reaches its tipping point, Olivia is left with an impossible decision—to sacrifice love in the name of duty, or risk everything for a chance at forever.
One night with the beautiful and passionate commander won’t be enough for Krytos brothers Axton and Zade Tavish. Choosing X21 as the home for their sanctuary, Asylum, had nothing to do with location, and everything to do with Olivia. The closer they try to get to the female, however, the more determined she seems to pull away, proving it will take more than charm and persistence to win her heart.
When their tenuous relationship reaches its tipping point, Olivia is left with an impossible decision—to sacrifice love in the name of duty, or risk everything for a chance at forever.
Excerpt
“Oh, come on, where is it? It has to be here somewhere.”
Alliance General Olivia Jacobson stretched out on the floor, her naked breasts pressing into the thick carpet, and swept her arm under the bed in search of her bra. Pale sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the room in the gray tones of early morning, but it did little to aid in her quest.
Her normally golden hair fell into her face, the strands pallid, almost silver in the dusky haze of the room. It didn’t look terrible against her fair skin, she noticed distractedly. Maybe she’d consider lightening it more permanently once she had some spare time to visit the hairdresser. Of course, she rarely had free time, and when she did, the last thing she wanted to do was sit in a chair and stare at her own reflection while some stranger buffed and polished her to a shine.
Bringing herself back to the present, she choked down a groan when she noticed the time displayed on the alarm clock. With a sigh, she gave up finding her bra, and pulled on the thin chiffon dress she’d worn the night before without it. Hopefully, she’d be able to slip away from the visitor’s center and back to her quarters without meeting anyone important on the street.
After finding her sandals, she spared one last, lingering look at the two Krytos males sleeping on either side of the king sized mattress, then hurried quietly from the suite. Part of her felt bad about sneaking off without a proper goodbye, but she just couldn’t bring herself to wake them. After her meeting with the Regents, she’d find them, explain, and give herself over to their mercy.
Or she’d never see them again.
A slight pang twisted her stomach at the thought. She hadn’t been looking for romance, or even sex, when she’d ventured out to Club Andromeda with her friend Morgan. From the moment Zade and Axton had walked through the doors, however, she hadn’t been able to take her eyes off them. After a lot of nudging from Morgan, she’d finally made her way across the packed dance floor, but before she’d been able to utter a single word, Axton had pulled her into his arms, sandwiching her between him and Zade.
They had moved like liquid sex, grinding against her, priming her, making her body ache and throb in all the right places. From that instant, neither Zade nor Axton had acted as though any of the other females in the club existed. Living in the Capital, it wasn’t something Olivia was used to, especially not from other elites. The damn star tattooed near the corner of her right eye made sure of that.
Earth barely survived the Alien Wars with the bug-like Zyphir race, but with the help of their allies, humans had rebuilt—bigger, better, stronger. They thrived, but the aftermath of the war would leave its mark for generations to come. While humans had made great strides in technology, they still hadn’t found a cure for the virus brought to Earth by the Zyphir, a virus that ravaged the female reproductive system.
At the age of ten, girls were tested for fertility. Those who tested positive were marked with an intricate scroll design at the corner of their right eye, a mark that darkened over time until they turned eighteen. Scrolls, as they were informally called, were protected, prized, and elite males would do anything to claim one as their chosen.
Girls like Olivia, girls who hadn’t escaped the effects of the virus, were marked with a simple star, broadcasting their deficiency to the universe. Some days, Olivia didn’t know which fate was worse—to be dismissed because of her defective womb, or to be claimed by two strangers and have no say in her future.
Luckily, she’d shown promise as an elite soldier, and had been recruited into the Academy, given the genetically modified enhancements, and trained in the service of the United Federation Command Alliance.
But she hadn’t been content to be a mere footnote in someone’s file. From the moment she’d entered the Academy, she’d worked her ass off, fighting and clawing for every bit of recognition, every promotion. In a male dominated world, it hadn’t been easy, and while she had no delusions of ever becoming a regent, she desperately wanted her own command.
Since the discovery of Xenthian and its inhabitants, the Xenon—a magical, immortal, elven-like race—Olivia finally felt her goal might be within reach. Construction of Alpha Station: X21 was almost complete, and the Alliance had made the strategic decision to relocate the new space station closer to Xenthian airspace. Of course, such information was classified and kept from the general public. The only reason Olivia knew was because she’d miraculously made the short list of applicants qualified to take over command of X21. She knew it was an honor to be considered, but as the only female in the running, she also knew her chances were nearly nonexistent.
X21 was a pipe dream, but not her only option. She’d gladly accept command of one of the outposts along the borders of the Badlands. Hell, given the opportunity, she’d take over one of the Beta stations. Whoever took command of X21 would have to leave their previous post, and the Alliance would need someone to fill the gap. With any luck, she could be that person. Anything to get away from the Capital and the judgment that seemed to dog her every move—all because of a simple tattoo.
Olivia was no stranger to one-night stands. Plenty of human men wanted to take her to bed for a night, but never anything beyond a quick roll in the sheets that they’d deny if asked about in public. Stars, she didn’t know when she’d become such a magnet for assholes.
Of course, not all elite males were dicks. In fact, most were quite decent, but even the best of them wanted to claim a chosen who could bear their children. Olivia didn’t blame them, but it did make finding her own happily-ever-after more challenging. So, she’d stopped trying, turned her focus to her career, and she hadn’t thought about love or long-term relationships in years.
Until she’d met Axton and Zade.
As one of Earth’s oldest allies, the Krytos knew what the star on her face meant, but if it mattered to them, they hadn’t shown it. They’d only made her feel wanted, and for the first time in her adult life, she’d sensed a connection that went beyond mere physical release.
And she didn’t even know their last names.
As she thought more about it, she realized she knew very little about them at all, including what business had brought them to Earth. Every time she’d tried to ask, the males had steered the conversation back around to her, asking her a barrage of questions about her life, her job, where she lived, what she liked to eat, and on and on. Once they’d left Club Andromeda, they hadn’t done much talking at all, and suddenly her questions had no longer seemed so important.
As she trekked the few blocks to her quarters, she smiled to herself, content to stroll the nearly empty streets alone. Despite their enormous size—both males standing well over seven feet tall with broad shoulders and rippling muscles—they’d been so gentle with her, almost reverent. Her body ached in all the right places from their attentions, and even if she never saw them again, she doubted she’d ever forget them.
“Stop it,” she muttered under her breath as she unlocked the door and stepped into her quarters.
Her meeting with the regents started in just over an hour, and she had to stop pining after those Krytos males like some lovesick fool. If she wanted to make commander, she had to get her shit together and put on her game face.
After the meeting, though…after the meeting, she could be as foolish as she wished.
Alliance General Olivia Jacobson stretched out on the floor, her naked breasts pressing into the thick carpet, and swept her arm under the bed in search of her bra. Pale sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the room in the gray tones of early morning, but it did little to aid in her quest.
Her normally golden hair fell into her face, the strands pallid, almost silver in the dusky haze of the room. It didn’t look terrible against her fair skin, she noticed distractedly. Maybe she’d consider lightening it more permanently once she had some spare time to visit the hairdresser. Of course, she rarely had free time, and when she did, the last thing she wanted to do was sit in a chair and stare at her own reflection while some stranger buffed and polished her to a shine.
Bringing herself back to the present, she choked down a groan when she noticed the time displayed on the alarm clock. With a sigh, she gave up finding her bra, and pulled on the thin chiffon dress she’d worn the night before without it. Hopefully, she’d be able to slip away from the visitor’s center and back to her quarters without meeting anyone important on the street.
After finding her sandals, she spared one last, lingering look at the two Krytos males sleeping on either side of the king sized mattress, then hurried quietly from the suite. Part of her felt bad about sneaking off without a proper goodbye, but she just couldn’t bring herself to wake them. After her meeting with the Regents, she’d find them, explain, and give herself over to their mercy.
Or she’d never see them again.
A slight pang twisted her stomach at the thought. She hadn’t been looking for romance, or even sex, when she’d ventured out to Club Andromeda with her friend Morgan. From the moment Zade and Axton had walked through the doors, however, she hadn’t been able to take her eyes off them. After a lot of nudging from Morgan, she’d finally made her way across the packed dance floor, but before she’d been able to utter a single word, Axton had pulled her into his arms, sandwiching her between him and Zade.
They had moved like liquid sex, grinding against her, priming her, making her body ache and throb in all the right places. From that instant, neither Zade nor Axton had acted as though any of the other females in the club existed. Living in the Capital, it wasn’t something Olivia was used to, especially not from other elites. The damn star tattooed near the corner of her right eye made sure of that.
Earth barely survived the Alien Wars with the bug-like Zyphir race, but with the help of their allies, humans had rebuilt—bigger, better, stronger. They thrived, but the aftermath of the war would leave its mark for generations to come. While humans had made great strides in technology, they still hadn’t found a cure for the virus brought to Earth by the Zyphir, a virus that ravaged the female reproductive system.
At the age of ten, girls were tested for fertility. Those who tested positive were marked with an intricate scroll design at the corner of their right eye, a mark that darkened over time until they turned eighteen. Scrolls, as they were informally called, were protected, prized, and elite males would do anything to claim one as their chosen.
Girls like Olivia, girls who hadn’t escaped the effects of the virus, were marked with a simple star, broadcasting their deficiency to the universe. Some days, Olivia didn’t know which fate was worse—to be dismissed because of her defective womb, or to be claimed by two strangers and have no say in her future.
Luckily, she’d shown promise as an elite soldier, and had been recruited into the Academy, given the genetically modified enhancements, and trained in the service of the United Federation Command Alliance.
But she hadn’t been content to be a mere footnote in someone’s file. From the moment she’d entered the Academy, she’d worked her ass off, fighting and clawing for every bit of recognition, every promotion. In a male dominated world, it hadn’t been easy, and while she had no delusions of ever becoming a regent, she desperately wanted her own command.
Since the discovery of Xenthian and its inhabitants, the Xenon—a magical, immortal, elven-like race—Olivia finally felt her goal might be within reach. Construction of Alpha Station: X21 was almost complete, and the Alliance had made the strategic decision to relocate the new space station closer to Xenthian airspace. Of course, such information was classified and kept from the general public. The only reason Olivia knew was because she’d miraculously made the short list of applicants qualified to take over command of X21. She knew it was an honor to be considered, but as the only female in the running, she also knew her chances were nearly nonexistent.
X21 was a pipe dream, but not her only option. She’d gladly accept command of one of the outposts along the borders of the Badlands. Hell, given the opportunity, she’d take over one of the Beta stations. Whoever took command of X21 would have to leave their previous post, and the Alliance would need someone to fill the gap. With any luck, she could be that person. Anything to get away from the Capital and the judgment that seemed to dog her every move—all because of a simple tattoo.
Olivia was no stranger to one-night stands. Plenty of human men wanted to take her to bed for a night, but never anything beyond a quick roll in the sheets that they’d deny if asked about in public. Stars, she didn’t know when she’d become such a magnet for assholes.
Of course, not all elite males were dicks. In fact, most were quite decent, but even the best of them wanted to claim a chosen who could bear their children. Olivia didn’t blame them, but it did make finding her own happily-ever-after more challenging. So, she’d stopped trying, turned her focus to her career, and she hadn’t thought about love or long-term relationships in years.
Until she’d met Axton and Zade.
As one of Earth’s oldest allies, the Krytos knew what the star on her face meant, but if it mattered to them, they hadn’t shown it. They’d only made her feel wanted, and for the first time in her adult life, she’d sensed a connection that went beyond mere physical release.
And she didn’t even know their last names.
As she thought more about it, she realized she knew very little about them at all, including what business had brought them to Earth. Every time she’d tried to ask, the males had steered the conversation back around to her, asking her a barrage of questions about her life, her job, where she lived, what she liked to eat, and on and on. Once they’d left Club Andromeda, they hadn’t done much talking at all, and suddenly her questions had no longer seemed so important.
As she trekked the few blocks to her quarters, she smiled to herself, content to stroll the nearly empty streets alone. Despite their enormous size—both males standing well over seven feet tall with broad shoulders and rippling muscles—they’d been so gentle with her, almost reverent. Her body ached in all the right places from their attentions, and even if she never saw them again, she doubted she’d ever forget them.
“Stop it,” she muttered under her breath as she unlocked the door and stepped into her quarters.
Her meeting with the regents started in just over an hour, and she had to stop pining after those Krytos males like some lovesick fool. If she wanted to make commander, she had to get her shit together and put on her game face.
After the meeting, though…after the meeting, she could be as foolish as she wished.