January 24th & Chapter 37

Hello, alien lovers!

I need something to stay motivated when I feel like giving up on writing, so I made the executive decision to publish Perilous Love Stars/launch my publishing company on January 24, 2026.

Having a date helps me stay focused on my goals and makes all the work I'm doing more tangible. Since that deadline is self-imposed, I'm also hoping it alleviates some of the stress attached to deadlines. I can always change it if I feel the need to, since I'm my own boss.

Wish me luck!

Welcome to Chapter 37!

I'm always cautious when introducing angst in romance, as I enjoy a safe space (lol) when reading/writing romance.

That being said, as any soap lover knows, angst is part of the formula. I sprinkled a little bit of this chapter to highlight some of the emotional turmoil that Maple goes through as she comes to understand the extent of Salvatore's betrayal.

Enjoy!
lunus 🩷

If you're new to the story, start with Chapter 1.

If you missed the last chapter, Previously on Perilous Love Stars.

The bedroom in the underwater lab was cold as fuck. Clearly, the heating system was broken in that damn submarine because it was the middle of June, and Maple had hoarded all the blankets she could find in that wretched place. It was still freezing.

She tried to remind herself she was mad at the situation—at Salvatore’s, more especially—and not at the submarine lab. It was challenging when she was stuck with the former inside the latter. Once Daphne had plunged their boat under the surface and navigated to the lab, she’d informed them that nobody would be going back to the surface until she got the old security network back on. Until then, the lab was safe since it wouldn’t show on any of the mercenaries’ scanners thanks to alien technology Charles had spent years crafting. 

“My lying husband was good at one thing. Hiding things. All his secret alien research was kept here. The place has a separate emergency surveillance system. As soon as I turn it back online, we’ll have eyes inside the mansion and see how many of those uninvited guests we still have wreaking havoc in my home.” 

With that, Daphne had left them to a self-guided tour of the place. Maple had avoided Salvatore as much as possible. The submarine had one study that Daphne had already claimed for herself, a small kitchen and dining area, a library, a tiny bathroom, Maple barely fitted in, and one fucking freezing bedroom.

“You’re shivering," Salvatore said from his spot on the bed. 

That was the issue with being underwater in a giant can of metal. There was nowhere else to go and only one bedroom for Salvatore and Maple to share. 

The library didn’t have a bed or anywhere Maple could lie down that wasn’t the cold, hard metal floor of the submarine, so she’d tried the study next. Daphne had responded with thrown books and yelled at her to “Get the fuck out! Your boyfriend’s emotionally fucked up family destroyed my house, and now you want to stomp on my personal space while we’re stuck under fucking water?”

Clearly, Daphne had found booze somewhere in that study. 

So, now, Maple was stuck in a room with the one person in the world she could not be stuck in a room with. She didn’t want to let anger control her, which required some time and space for said anger to appease. It was impossible to do that when Salvatore was shirtless on the bed they were meant to share. They’d agreed she’d sleep under the blankets, he on top of them, and that they wouldn’t speak to each other until morning. Maple hoped that by then, she’d found some empathy and enough willpower not to slap him.

Her fury had diminished when she’d seen him tend to his cuts and when he had offered to care for hers. She’d refused, obviously, and had taken a boiling shower instead, wincing every time hot water ran down her injuries. She’d cleaned and bandaged her wounds, all minor, and had put on a blue jumpsuit, the only clothes she’d found in the room’s closet. Now, she felt the strain of the past two days with every inch of her aching body.

“I’m fine,” Maple replied, tightening the bundle of blankets around her, unable to make herself warmer. She was standing in front of the bed, eyeing with apprehension her dedicated spot next to Salvatore. “You’re breaking our agreed-upon rule not to speak till morning.”

“You wanted me to tell you my truth. Now, you don’t want to talk anymore.”

He was baiting her, and she was too tired to resist. “Don’t you think it’s a little bit too late for that when your truth almost cost me my life? I almost got blown up today, Salvatore! Do you realize that?”

He crossed his arms, annoyed. “Okay, and your cascade of lies got us to this mansion and got us shot at by Daphne. Yet, you don’t hear me make a whole fuss about that.”

“It was a mission you agreed to join. You made an informed decision when I wasn’t given a choice. You had ulterior motives all this time. Everything you told me was a lie.”

“You lie all the time, Maple.”

She bit her lips, holding a grunt in. “Maybe. But I don’t lie to you.” 

His annoyance merged into defiance. “Only because you can’t, not because you trust me. My powers won’t let you. You’re lying to everyone else in your life.”

She was too hurt to admit he was right. She would have never told him the truth about Daphne that day in the car without a nudge from his powers. Instead, she said, “I trusted you before. I don’t anymore.”

“You’re judging me, but what about the crew? They trust you, and you’re lying to them. We’re not that different, you and I.”

Tears gathered at the corner of Maple’s eyes. “I’m not judging you. I’m pissed at you! And I don’t need any moral lessons from you right now. You almost got us killed.”

His stance softened, and he relaxed his arms. “I’m so sorry about that. I feel awful. I told you I would protect you, and I failed.”

He looked down, ashamed. It pained Maple to see Salvatore like this, no matter how mad she was at him.

“You didn’t,” she said, wanting to soften the blow. “I’m still alive.”

He met her eyes. “Maple, you have to believe me. I never meant for any of this to happen.” 

“What? Lying? Or seducing me so you could access your dead dad’s secret research?” She turned away so he wouldn’t see the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Shouldn’t you be looking through his stuff by the way? That was your whole reason for all of this, no? Manipulating me into bringing you here, in this shitty submarine.”

“I can look tomorrow. I’d rather be with you right now.”

She swallowed the wave of feelings his declaration brought up. “Fine.”

“Let me tell you why I did it. Let me explain why I lied.”

“Why? So you can lie again?”

He sighed. “If you don’t give me a chance to explain, how am I supposed to make this right?”

It had been a long day. Maple was exhausted, and all she wanted was to be alone and cry herself to sleep. Instead, she had to keep her feelings at bay and put on a brave face.

She sat on the edge of the bed. “How am I supposed to trust anything that comes out of your mouth now?”

He reached for her hand. “I’m asking you to trust me one last time.”

She took it away. “Good night, Salvatore.”

Maple slid under the cover and shivered. She was still cold.

“Let me hold you. That’s the least I can do. Please,” he asked softly, his arms reaching to her.

She hesitated before she said, “Fine.”

She was stuck in this oversized, underwater fridge because of him. The least he could do was make her more comfortable right now.  

He snuggled next to her, her back to his chest. Closing her eyes, she allowed his warmth to envelop her and soothe some of today’s woes.

When she opened them again, hours later, Salvatore was gone. Maple was alone again.

Alone and so, so cold.