Page 2 of Cheating Fate

I growled and took a menacing step towards her, which only made her take on that legendary pesky expression she knew drove me bonkers.

“You keep this up, and I’ll give you the most memorable spanking of your life,” I snarled.

She opened her eyes wide and pressed her palm to her chest in a stunned expression laced with wonder. “Wow, Gavin! I had no idea you were the kinky type. But I’m your sister. Keep that for your Titan girlfriend.”

I recoiled as the brat burst out laughing at my horrified reaction.

“What the fuck, Naya! You’re way too young to be talking about this kind of stuff,” I said, bewildered.

She rolled her eyes at me in a way that screamed she found my IQ seriously lacking.

“Dude, I’m seventeen, soon to be eighteen. Honestly, I could probably teach you a thing or two about the facts of life,” she said in a haughty tone.

I slapped my hands over my ears and shook my head. “Don’t ‘dude’ me, and I don’t need to hear this. That is the type of information a big brother does not want to find out about his sister. And who taught you whatever you think you know? Who must I hurt?”

She cackled and clapped her hands mockingly while staring at me with almost malicious glee.

“Spare me the jealous big brother nonsense,” she said disdainfully.

“I don’t want the leeches who visit this space station sniffing around you,” I said in a grumpy tone.

She huffed and waved a dismissive hand. “First off, I’m old enough to assess what kind of people I’m dealing with. Second, you’re leaving now, so I thankfully will no longer have to deal with any more cock-blocking from you.”

Another annoyed growl vibrated in my chest while I scrunched my face at her. Once again, utterly unfazed by my displeasure, her taunting grin broadened.

“You know, Zharina has three brothers, two fathers, her Uncle Ghan, and the countless Xelixian males who are now part of the Sentinels and who were formerly serving in Xelix Prime’s elite military, the First Division. Every single one of them will be bending over backwards cockblocking you. You’re about to get a taste of your own medicine multiplied a thousandfold.”

My stomach knotted. Although Naya said it to poke a bit of harmless sibling fun at me, I doubted she realized how accurate her statement was. From all accounts, all the males my sister listed indeed worshipped General Khel Praghan’s only daughter. I had no doubt they would put me through the wringer before they finally gave our relationship their blessing.

To my shock, Naya’s expression lost some of its playful edge. Although she swiftly hid it, I didn’t miss the flash of hurt that flitted over her delicate features.

“Maybe then you will finally know what it feels like when your loved ones act as if your judgment cannot be trusted.”

That struck me hard. Closing the distance between us, I settled at the edge of the bed by her side and slipped my arm around her narrow shoulders. Where I had inherited the massive and muscular body of a Braxian, she had the lithe and delicate constitution of our human mother.

“I trust you, Naya,” I said in a gentle voice. “As obnoxiously annoying as you can be at times, you are not a helpless airhead. You’re beautiful, smart, funny, and insanely rich. It’s the males that lurk around that I don’t trust. I just want to protect you because I love you.”

“There’s protecting and then there’s smothering, Gavin,” she countered. “Let me make my own decisions and the occasional mistake. If I need protection, I will call for help. You know how loud I can be when needed.”

I snorted and nodded. “That, I certainly do. I’m sorry if I ever smothered you. You’re insufferable, but I love you.”

She playfully elbowed me even as she smiled. “I love you, too, you deserter. But what you’re going to love a lot less is the fact that Dad wants to see you right away.”

“WHAT?!” I exclaimed, shooting to my feet. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me sooner?”

She shrugged with a bratty grin that once again made me itch to put her across my knee.

“I guess I forgot. But shoo! Off you go!” Naya said, gesturing with her hand for me to get going.

I bared my teeth at her and hastened towards the door, her mocking laughter following me. I hurried through the spacious penthouse where I had spent my whole life. Located on the top floor of the headquarters of the Venus Hive space station, each huge reflective window gave a breathtaking view of the concourse below.

I would miss the glamour and excitement of living on the biggest, most luxurious, and highest-rated entertainment pleasure barge in the universe. And yet, I couldn’t wait to start my new life on the far more bucolic Veredia.

But then, with the Great War looming on the horizon, I doubted the near future would involve much rest and relaxation.

I crossed the spacious living area, climbed the three steps facing the elevator into the penthouse, then turned right into the hallway which led to my father’s office. He was a workaholic, and yet he still managed to find time for his family. My chest constricted at the thought that I wouldn’t have him nearby anymore.

People feared him. Although hybrid like me, my father could have passed for a pureblood Braxian with his brutish features, strong brow, and broad, flat nose. His smaller height and body mass in comparison to purebloods were the only traits that betrayed the fact that he wasn’t one himself. And yet, to humans, he was a beast of a male. When it came to business, he could be ruthless. A single stern glance from him would turn your blood to ice.