Chosen By the Alien King: Alien Love Island, #5

By Lindsey R. Loucks

On Alien Love Island, the days are hot, but the nights are scorching...
Staying alive has never been harder. But the latest drama on the reality TV show may ensure that I do stay alive. At what cost though? And what if by playing this lovesick part, I've just fallen head over heels into yet another death trap?

Whatever's best for the ratings, right? I just hope my heart can take it.

Don't miss the exciting conclusion to Alien Love Island!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lindsey Loucks
• Release date: Jan 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223717638

Lindsey R. Loucks

Lindsey R. Loucks is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of paranormal romance, science fiction, and contemporary romance. When she's not discussing books with anyone who will listen, she's dreaming up her own stories. Eventually her brain gives out, and she'll play hide and seek with her cat, put herself in a chocolate-induced coma, or watch scary movies alone in the dark to reenergize.

Book preview

Chosen by the Alien King

Alien Love Island Season 1: Book 5

Lindsey R. Loucks

Copyright © 2024 by Lindsey R. Loucks

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

1.Nera

2.Rain

3.Maxx

4.Nera

5.Maxx

6.Nera

7.Maxx

8.Nera

9.Maxx

10.Rain

11.Nera

12.Maxx

13.Nera

14.Mosely

15.Maxx

16.Nera

17.Maxx

18.Rain

About the Author

Chapter one

Nera

I’d heard Maxx’s question, but I’d just been through a major spaceship crash and my brain was still rebooting. It was now loading the smell of a red number seven, a core process for sure, and was nowhere near answering important, life-altering questions yet.

Will you marry me?

Maxx, I whispered, my voice trembling slightly, is this really the right time?

He took a deep breath, his shimmery purple scales catching each halo the sunset cast on him, and looked into my eyes with a fierce determination that left me breathless. If I waited for the right time, we’d both be dead.

He was right, of course. Our lives had been in a constant state of upheaval since we’d been kidnapped. Before that even.

Conflicting emotions stirred within me like a raging storm. Could I truly trust him, put my faith in a Faid after all I had lost at the hands of one? Could I let go of my past and trust this alien warrior king with my future?

My heart ached with longing for the kind of love he offered. I wanted so desperately to believe in him, to let go of the past and embrace…us.

Throwing a furtive glance around, I found the entire cast and crew of Alien Love Island, plus my crew, and likely the billions of viewers watching live via the hovering camera drones, plus very hungry caterpillar number one in his jar, and Nacket with a striped sock around her head wound, who’d slumped to the sand, all waiting for my answer with bated breath.

Except Mike, my ex-husband, who must’ve made himself scarce in the dense jungle foliage. Mike, the cause of most of my problems.

But he wasn’t Maxx.

As I stared into Maxx’s eyes, I saw a reflection of the pain we both carried, the losses we’d suffered. With him by my side, the soul-crushing weight was bearable. I clutched Maxx’s hand tighter, feeling the smooth texture of his scales against my skin. Despite what he was, I loved him, completely and irrevocably, so this wouldn’t take much of a leap of faith.

Yes, I said finally.

A manic cheer erupted, but I hardly noticed anything other than Maxx’s joyous grin. He leaped to his feet and swept me into his arms, and my heart swelled so much for this alien king that it hurt.

I love you so much, he murmured in my ear. And notice how we’ve now lost a certain armed segment of our audience?

Very clever and not surprising given that we’re on live TV, I choked out, clinging to him while eying the nearest camera drone. But I have one condition before I marry you.

He pressed a tender kiss to the stray tears wetting my cheek. Name it.

Promise me that we’ll always be honest with each other, I implored, seeking reassurance in his gaze. About anything. Always. No more secrets.

I promise, he replied without hesitation, his otherworldly eyes brimming with happiness. I don’t have any more anyway. You know everything there is to know about me.

Then let’s get married, I declared, and a fresh wave of tears and laughter bubbled up from the warmest part of my soul.

He exhaled deeply and pulled away, his purple lightning eyes shining brightly as he slipped the leaf ring with little caterpillar bites onto my finger. Our lips met in a soft kiss that held a hell of a lot of heat and scandalous promises for later, which made the crowd cheer even louder.

When is the big day? Smitha shouted in her lovely Indian accent, her hands clasped over her heart while tears drenched her face.

Yes, we need to plan, Oreo, the slightly more high-strung member of my style team, said with a hysterical note in her voice.

Tomorrow, someone yelled in an unnaturally high-pitched voice.

I narrowed my eyes in their direction and spotted Umo, the show’s producer, stepping his short orange body behind a group of much taller people. Of course he’d suggest that so he could get the mad scramble and the big day all on film.

I can wait that long if you can, Maxx rumbled, his breath over my skin making me shiver.

"Sure, who can’t plan a whole bride look in less than a day?" Oreo shrieked and stalked away, Smitha right behind her.

I winced, feeling their pain, especially in their six-inch heels.

What about Roxxanne? She couldn’t get here in a day, and even if she could… I shook my head because I did not want Maxx’s daughter anywhere near this death pit of a planet. Or my parents for that matter.

No, she can’t come here, but as long as the wedding is aired on TV, I think she might forgive me for not being invited.

Okay. Tomorrow, I agreed with a smile.

I was about to dive in for another kiss like the selfish, horny fangirl I was, but a loud bang split Maxx and me apart and silenced everyone’s excitement. My pulse jolted at the sound. It came again, near the direction of the crashed ships.

Stay close, Maxx commanded, gripping my arm.

Murmurs rippled through the cast and crew as we all stared down the beach. The sounds were too far away to tell what was happening, but when the bang came again, I knew exactly what it was.

Mike, I said through gritted teeth.

What’s he doing? Maxx asked.

Taking his anger out on my ship. If he can’t have it, no one can.

Shrugging, my pilot, Darc, strolled up to me with her hands in her pants pockets and a few tear tracks on her porcelain skin. Either that or he’s pissed I crashed it. She pulled me into a sideways hug. You made me cry, Captain. I never cry.

I touched my head to hers, some of her short pink hair fluttering into my cheek. Sometimes it’s all I do, but today they’re happy tears.

Good, she breathed.

Philip, Mosely, Miekil, and Pete came to join us, all part of my crew, in one way or another. Intentionally or otherwise, they surrounded Rain with my cat, Major, perched on her shoulder. Rain kept her gaze cast downward at the sand, her human-like lashes clumped together slightly with unshed tears. She glanced up and caught me staring, and a big, watery smile dashed across her face.

I quickly looked away, wanting to stay in my happy bubble without her popping it.

Mosely, my muscley engineer, parked himself in the sand between me and the continuing loud crashes. Want me to go tear his limbs off and save our ship?

No. I focused on Maxx again as a flicker of hope ignited inside me—hope that maybe, together, we could conquer the darkness known as Earth Space Fleet and live happily ever after. We all have a wedding to plan.

It seems like the drama’s over, everyone, Umo shouted. A curl of cigar smoke wafted up out of his orange head, still facing the direction the loud bangs were coming from. At least the part I have no control over, so take your places. We’re going live, again, in sixty seconds!

But Umo… Pete whined as he rushed toward him, the great reveal of who lived through the shipwreck already happened the first time we went live. Can’t we just give everyone a break?

HA! Oreo shouted from…somewhere.

Everyone winced at the shrill volume and panic in her voice even though she was