To Change the Stars

By L.M. Brown

Jessiah will do whatever it takes to save his people—lying, spying or even selling his body.

A book written hundreds of years ago holds the key to the future of the last survivors of the human race.

Growing up in a massive underground cave network, Jessiah has never known any other world. When he discovers the existence of a time portal, he enlists the help of his friends to expose the truth about the greedy scientists who control it.

Garrett has no head for science and struggles to earn the respect of both his peers and his father. With a taste for parties and whores, Garrett is the chosen target for Jessiah and his friends to gain access to the laboratory containing the time portal.

Impatient and impulsive, Jessiah decides to move things along at a faster pace by playing the role of a prostitute to get close to Garrett. He is prepared to sacrifice his virginity for their cause, but he doesn't plan on falling for Garrett in the process.

With the future of the human race in the balance, the stakes for humanity are high. With his heart on the line, the risk Jessiah takes might be even higher.

Only together can Jessiah and Garrett change the stars of everyone in the caverns.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Apr 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781786517388

L.M. Brown

L.M. Brown is an English writer of gay romances. She believes mermen live in the undiscovered areas of the ocean. She believes life exists on other planets. She believes in fairy tales, magic, and dreams. Most of all, she believes in love. When L.M. Brown isn’t bribing her fur babies for control of the laptop, she can usually be found with her nose in a book.

Book preview

Author

Pride Publishing books by L.M. Brown

Single Books

To See the Sky

My Boyfriend’s an Alien

One Perfect Wish

Falling into Darkness

Mermen and Magic

Forbidden Waters

Tempestuous Tides

Heavely Sins

Between Heaven and Hell

Between Good and Evil

Between Life and Death

TO CHANGE THE STARS

L.M. BROWN

To Change the Stars

ISBN # 978-1-78651-738-8

©Copyright L.M. Brown 2019

Cover Art by Cherith Vaughan ©Copyright April 2019

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2019 by Pride Publishing, United Kingdom.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

Pride Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this stripped book.

TO CHANGE THE STARS

Jessiah will do whatever it takes to save his people—lying, spying or even selling his body.

A book written hundreds of years ago holds the key to the future of the last survivors of the human race.

Growing up in a massive underground cave network, Jessiah has never known any other world. When he discovers the existence of a time portal, he enlists the help of his friends to expose the truth about the greedy scientists who control it.

Garrett has no head for science and struggles to earn the respect of both his peers and his father. With a taste for parties and whores, Garrett is the chosen target for Jessiah and his friends to gain access to the laboratory containing the time portal.

Impatient and impulsive, Jessiah decides to move things along at a faster pace by playing the role of a prostitute to get close to Garrett. He is prepared to sacrifice his virginity for their cause, but he doesn’t plan on falling for Garrett in the process.

With the future of the human race in the balance, the stakes for humanity are high. With his heart on the line, the risk Jessiah takes might be even higher.

Only together can Jessiah and Garrett change the stars of everyone in the caverns.

Dedication

For Monika and Simon

Prologue

Jessiah closed the door behind him and waited until Corrine and Ashleigh had taken their seats. They had decided the private room in the archives would be the safest place to meet to discuss the situation.

Well? he asked, as Corrine placed the worn paperback on the table in the center of the room.

Corrine shook her head and tutted. I would never have thought it possible.

You don’t believe them? Jessiah’s voice rose slightly in barely concealed outrage.

Oh, I didn’t say that, Corrine assured him. The picture of the authors is proof enough of who wrote this book.

Ashleigh, the third member of their little team, picked up the book and flicked to the back page. She wasn’t much of a reader, so Jessiah had already told her what the story was about. Corrine had insisted on reading it for herself before they made any rash decisions.

They look happy, Ashleigh commented with a smile.

I’m sure they are, Corrine replied. Ryder and AJ no doubt had long and healthy lives in the distant past. They were probably much better off there than they were here.

Jessiah nodded and took the book from Ashleigh so he could look at the photograph for himself. Ryder, the man who had saved him and Ashleigh from a life in the Labyrinth, smiled for the camera. Beside him was his lover AJ, who Jessiah had known only briefly, and not as well as he would have liked. Between them was a strange creature that the text of the author biography referred to as a dog. The small family loved the outdoors and Jessiah envied them the ability to breathe the clean, fresh air.

Unlike their contemporaries, Jessiah knew exactly why the two men enjoyed being outside so much. After living his entire life in the vast underground cavern system, he would have felt the same way.

After the Last War, the atmosphere of the earth had become poisoned with deadly gases and the only survivors of the human race had retreated below the surface. The cave system had quickly filled, and as the population had grown, they soon had to search for another solution. Digging out new caves had become essential and continued to the present day. Caves and tunnels stretched in all directions from the original ones—twisting, turning and crossing each other. The massive cave system was impossible to map and had earned the nickname of the Labyrinth, and the occupants…the lab rats.

Jessiah still recalled the choking dust on the lower levels, where new tunnels were being dug to accommodate the still-increasing population. Life expectancy in the Labyrinth was just twenty-five years, but still the population grew, largely due to the lack of contraception for the masses. When people didn’t have the credits to pay for essential medicines, things like contraceptive pills were a luxury most couldn’t afford.

It didn’t help that the merchants kept their prices high, hoping to elevate their own status and escape the Labyrinth for a new life in one of the towers.

To monitor the condition of the air and establish when the surface might one day be habitable again, the scientists of their society all lived above the ground in impregnable towers. They were the elite, working tirelessly to keep humans from becoming extinct, until they could emerge into the sunlight once again.

Only the scientists, their servants and the occasional savvy entrepreneur could afford to live in the towers.

What no one had realized, at least until now, was that the scientists weren’t producing the supplies to keep things going. They were fetching them from another time in the distant past. They had an escape route out of the hellish world of the Labyrinth and they had kept it a secret for years.

When Jessiah had read the book by an author named AJ Ryder and recognized the picture of the two co-authors at the back as being his friend Ryder and Ryder’s lover AJ, he had discovered the truth about their society, and his determination to set things right had taken hold.

So, what are we going to do about this? he asked the two women.

"What can we do? Ashleigh replied. We don’t have access to the laboratories where this time portal is kept."

But we have to do something!

Corrine patted his arm. "We will, but we mustn’t rush into things. If they suspect we know about this portal, they’ll send us into the past along with Ryder and AJ. We can’t let that happen. We have to think about everyone."

You’re right, of course, but what are we going to do?

Corrine, who had been like a mother to him, shook her head. I don’t know, but I’m sure between the three of us, we’ll think of something.

We need a scientist on our side, Ashleigh said, someone with access to the laboratory, who isn’t a dick.

Ashleigh, language, Corrine scolded. How will you ever find a nice young man if you keep swearing like you do?

Jessiah snickered, earning him a scowl of his own.

And you can stop laughing, Corrine added. Your own mouth can be just as dirty—and is probably where Ashleigh picked it up in the first place.

Suitably chastised, Jessiah returned to the matter at hand. "Ashleigh is right. We do need a scientist on our team."

Pity we don’t know any other than the boss, Ashleigh said. And he won’t help us, not after what he did to AJ and Ryder.

Then I suggest we find another one, Corrine said. Let’s check the public records and see which of the scientists have the same security clearance in the laboratories that Blake does. One of them has to be suitable.

Chapter One

Two months later

You were fired? Jessiah groaned as Ashleigh delivered her bad news.

I asked if I could change one of my days because it clashed with one of Blake’s parties, and he kicked me out.

He was our best shot at getting information about the laboratory.

Ashleigh snorted. He wouldn’t have told us anything. I think we should try a new target.

Who do you suggest? Jessiah asked. Most of the scientists have live-in staff already. They don’t need any extra help.

This one does, Corrine announced with a smile. His name’s Garrett, and he could be the answer to our problem.

Jessiah and Ashleigh turned to see who Corrine was referring to. She had called up a new profile on her small tablet computer and the hologram of the man’s head hovered above.

He’s dishy, Ashleigh said with a dreamy sigh.

You’re not his type, love, Corrine said.

Always the way, Ashleigh muttered.

Corrine hit a few buttons on her tablet and Garrett’s current advertisements appeared in the air. He’s looking for a part-time maid.

What credits is he offering? Ashleigh asked.

Jessiah glared at her. Does it matter? You already have a job that pays pretty well. It’s not as if you need the credits.

Ashleigh folded her arms across her chest. If I’m going to be interviewed, I need to know what he’s offering, and if it’s too low, I intend to negotiate. I’ll look like an amateur if I don’t.

Just don’t negotiate yourself out of the job, Jessiah warned.

I’d like to see you do better, Ashleigh snapped. "So far I’m the one doing all the work here."

I’m not a maid, Jessiah pointed out.

As anyone who’s seen your quarters could tell.

Corrine clapped her hands together sharply, drawing their attention back to her and ending the squabble. Ashleigh, go apply for the position. Jessiah, you should finish your errands before the boss gets back. Keep your eyes and ears open for anything useful about this Garrett, anything we can use to get closer to him. I’ll keep searching for any other prospects, in case this one doesn’t work out either.

Jessiah and Ashleigh hurried to do as they were told, leaving Corrine with her own job to do.

* * * *

Absolutely not, Corrine stated with a shake of her head for good measure.

Ashleigh remained silent as she chewed on her nail.

Jessiah had known before he spoke that his suggestion would not go down very well. AJ did it to get the credits for his sister’s medicine, he pointed out.

You’re not AJ, and while he felt he had no choice, we do. Ashleigh got the job and has been working hard to find out whatever she can about the laboratories. She’s already uncovered a wealth of information about rotas and current projects.

It’s taking too long, Jessiah said. Hundreds die in the Labyrinth every day that we waste.

Try to be patient, Corrine advised. We don’t want to ruin everything by doing something foolish.

It’s not foolish. You know there are only two things everyone who knows Garrett seems to agree on. He’s a pretty useless scientist and he sleeps with more whores than most of the other scientists combined.

I think the boss could give him a run for his credits, Ashleigh muttered.

Corrine sighed and shooed Ashleigh away. She took Jessiah’s arm and steered him to a quiet corner in the staff quarters of their residence in the tower.

You know it could be the answer to our problem of getting closer to him, Jessiah pointed out quietly.

It could, but I still don’t like it. We don’t know enough about this man or how he treats the men he takes to his bed.

Ashleigh doesn’t think he’s like the boss. She says he seems kind.

I know, but so does Blake, when he wants to come across that way. Do you really want your first time to be with someone who’s paying you?

Jessiah wanted to deny his inexperience, but he knew it would be a waste of time. He had never been able to lie to Corrine, and she and Ashleigh knew him better than anyone else, except perhaps Ryder.

Once upon a time he had thought Ryder might be the one for him. He had harbored a youthful crush on him for years, though now he knew that was all it had been.

I have enough credits to hire a collar, Jessiah said. If it looks like Garrett might be interested in me, I can buy it after a few…err…

Fucks? Corrine supplied with a grimace. Is that the word you’re looking for?

Jessiah nodded as he tried to reconcile what he had heard with the fact that it had come out of Corrine’s mouth. She swore so rarely that it always took him by surprise.

For goodness’ sake, be careful, Corrine warned. If he treats you even half as badly as the boss treats his bed partners, promise me you’ll walk away.

I promise.

Corrine shook her head and pulled him into her arms. I wanted so much for you to find a nice young man who’d treat you like you deserve.

I’ll be fine, and maybe when this is all over, I’ll find someone in the past. The population was much bigger back then.

Jessiah left Corrine shaking her head.

I hope you know what you’re doing, she called after him as he reached the door.

"Of course