Chapter 01

Lila Morgan sprinted through the ashen forest, her breath ragged and her pulse pounding like war drums in her ears. Every snap of a twig or rustle of decayed foliage sent her heart into a chaotic staccato. Her crew’s warnings echoed in her mind: Stay together, avoid the northern sector. If they catch you, there’s no coming back.

But she was alone now. The crash had scattered them like leaves in a storm, and the scavengers—twisted, feral creatures mutated by this planet’s mysterious plague—were hunting them down one by one.

“Keep moving, keep—” Her foot caught on a jagged root, sending her sprawling into the dirt. Pain shot through her knee as blood seeped through her torn pants, but the sharp growl behind her erased any thoughts of rest.

She scrambled to her feet, only to freeze as a hulking figure emerged from the shadows. Not a scavenger. This creature was taller, broader, with a commanding presence that stole the breath from her lungs. Glowing silver eyes pierced the gloom, locking onto hers.

The thing stepped forward, the light revealing more. His face, though scarred and slightly decayed, retained a hauntingly human beauty. A strong jawline, high cheekbones, and full lips that twitched into a curious half-smile as if he’d caught something fascinating in her gaze. His body—half-flesh, half-biomechanical—gleamed under the faint alien moons. Black veins pulsated beneath patches of smooth, pale skin, a cruel juxtaposition to the sharp, glowing lines that snaked up his arms and across his chest.

Lila staggered back, her hands trembling as she reached for the knife strapped to her thigh. “Stay back!”

He tilted his head, the motion almost animalistic. “You fear me.” His voice was low and gravelly, with an edge that sent a shiver skittering down her spine.

“No kidding,” she shot back, clutching the knife tightly. “Who—what the hell are you?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he closed the distance between them in a single, fluid stride. “You’re human. From the stars.”

“Yeah, and I want to leave. Preferably alive.”

The corner of his mouth twitched again, but the faint humor in his expression faded as he studied her. “No. You’ve entered my domain. You belong to me now.”

Her stomach dropped. “Excuse me?”

Before she could react, his hand shot out, gripping her wrist with inhuman strength. His touch burned—not painful, but electric, like static coursing through her skin.

“Let go of me!” she hissed, twisting and kicking at him, but it was like fighting a steel wall.

“You don’t understand,” he murmured, his eyes narrowing as if wrestling with something deeper. “You’ve entered the cursed lands. They will come for you, and they won’t stop until you’re one of them.” His gaze flicked to her lips, then back to her eyes. “But if I mark you, they’ll know you’re mine. You’ll be safe.”

Lila stared at him, her heart hammering in disbelief. “Mark me? What does that even mean?”

Instead of answering, he cupped the back of her neck, pulling her closer. The sudden proximity made her pulse spike, her skin heating where his fingers grazed it. His eyes, impossibly bright, held hers captive.

“This will hurt,” he warned, his voice barely above a whisper.

Before she could protest, he leaned in, his lips brushing the side of her neck. It wasn’t a kiss, but the sensation sent shockwaves through her body. Then came the bite—sharp, searing, and unlike anything she’d ever felt. It wasn’t just pain; it was heat, fire, and something deeper, primal, that left her gasping.

A surge of alien energy coursed through her veins, lighting her senses on fire. She gripped his shoulders, nails digging into the strange, cool metal embedded in his flesh. His scent—earthy, metallic, and darkly intoxicating—filled her lungs, clouding her thoughts.

When he finally pulled back, she stumbled, her vision swimming. Her fingers flew to her neck, touching the fresh mark. It pulsed faintly, matching the rhythm of her racing heart.

“What did you do to me?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“I claimed you.” His tone was steady, but there was something raw beneath it, almost vulnerable.

“You’re insane!”

“Perhaps,” he said, his lips curving into a dark smile. “But now, no one else can touch you.”

Ronan was not born a king, nor a monster. Once, he had been a proud soldier of the Threnaxian Empire, a thriving civilization that spanned countless star systems. He’d fought wars, forged alliances, and bled for his people.

But everything changed the day the plague came. It started as whispers—isolated outbreaks in the outer colonies. By the time the empire acted, it was too late. The virus spread like wildfire, twisting its victims into mindless husks or mutated horrors.

Ronan had been among the first infected during a desperate mission to contain the outbreak. But instead of succumbing, he changed. His body began to decay, yet his mind remained intact. Worse, the infection granted him strength, power—and a curse. He became something between life and death, unable to age, heal, or truly live.

The people he’d once sworn to protect feared him, calling him a monster. He took the survivors and built a kingdom from the ashes, ruling over the mutated remnants of his world. But the curse weighed heavily on him, his every action tinged with longing for the humanity he’d lost.

Then Lila arrived—a spark of life and defiance that awakened desires he thought he’d buried long ago.

The firelight flickered across the cold, stone walls of Ronan’s chamber. Lila sat stiffly on the edge of the enormous bed, her fingers brushing the smooth fabric of the alien quilt. Her heart was still racing from the events of the day, the fresh mark on her neck throbbing faintly.

Ronan leaned against the far wall, his silver eyes studying her. The glow softened in the warm light, but there was still an intensity in his gaze that made her squirm.

“Why are you staring at me?” she snapped, her voice sharper than intended.

“I’m trying to understand you,” he said simply.

“Understand me?” She laughed bitterly. “Here’s a start: I don’t belong to anyone, least of all you.”