He wanted his life with no overlord suppressing him.

Don’t be stupid. You tap your powers, and you can die. You don’t ever know who’s around you or what they can detect.

Live like a regular human, Vicar, or you’ll die like everyone else in our family.

Painfully and in misery.

Nero had said that to him so often that it was permanently running through his head. In truth, he was surprised his brother hadn’t tattooed it across his forehead.

Seriously though? What kind of trouble could he find on this backwater hole where Nero had dumped him?

I should leave and not look back.

‘Course that would only work until Nero tracked him down and kicked his ass, then dragged him off to an even worse, more remote hellhole. A lesson he’d learned long ago.

Big brother didn’t play. Nero had risked his own life to save his when their planet had been destroyed by war and their race hunted to the brink of extinction. For saving Hadrian’s toddler ass when Nero had still been a boy too young to witness the carnage, he owed his brother and would do anything for him.

Yet Nero still thought of him as that helpless toddler.

Even though Hadrian was better trained than his brother and as capable as any soldier, Nero wouldn’t let up or give in.

He was the only family Nero had left and big brother hen intended to sit on him until he hatched.

Or went crazy.

It might be too late for the crazy part . . .

The buzzer sounded.

Great. They needed help up front. The only thing he hated more than washing dishes . . .

Facing the derelicts who drifted in.

With a low growl in his throat, he headed for the door.

Then froze.

For a full minute he couldn’t breathe as he saw the woman at the counter. Tall, athletic, and surrounded by an air that said she was no one’s prey or plaything, she had to be the sexiest thing he’d ever laid eyes on.

Long, thick black hair was pulled back from her pulchritudinous face in a tight ponytail. Even from here he could see her silvery blue eyes that were a stark contrast for her raven hair.

He didn’t need his Trisani powers or instincts to know that she was a creature of complete and utter violence. No, he could see the way she watched the doors and everyone around her.

Fully alert.

Fully armed.

Like a predator on the prowl. She was just biding her time in case she needed to attack or defend.

Damn.

But with that came a heavy wave of caution. Was she after him?

So many had tried . . .

Watch your ass, boy.

“Vicar!”

Isak’s sharp call reminded him what he was supposed to be doing.

Grabbing an e-pad, he headed for her before anyone else beat him to it. If she was an enemy, he needed to keep her close. “Your tablet’s broken.”