Page 1 of Grumpy Dragon Christmas

JADE

“So.” The big purple Honok male looks me up and down. “You’re the female.”

“Last time I looked.” I sigh before adding. “I’m the female. Draco sends his regards.”

A half smile appears on the face of the Honok. “Draco.” He repeats.

This seems to be the usual reaction to the Sarkarnii everywhere we’ve stopped in the galaxy.

Only this is my last stop.

“I’ve been space sick.” I state. “I need to spend time on a planet, or at least that’s what my doctor…my medic…informs me.”

“And you chose Kitchik?”

I want to yell at him. I want to get so mad, to smash things, to do something to alleviate the terror squirming in my stomach.

Which is not the only thing in there.

“You were the closest planetoid to the Sarkarnii flight path.” I say instead. “The Sarkarnii will be back, eventually.”

Ice forms around my heart. I miss my friends with the force of a thousand burning stars. The only humans within light yearsof this galaxy and I chose to leave them. Only I had no choice. My choice was taken from me.

Something chimes on the Honok’s desk. The mayor of Kitchik is a busy…alien I suppose. He stares at me for a while and then looks down.

“Ah, Draco.” He says with a slight grimace. Again, another usual reaction. “He says you are staying for a while.”

I go to touch my stomach and think better of it, shoving my hands in my coat pockets instead.

“Is that a problem?”

“He has provided a stipend for you,” the mayor smiles, “and all are welcome here on Kitchik. I will assign you a companion…”

“I don’t need a companion.” I say hastily.

I don’t need friends. I don’t deserve them. I abandoned mine because I couldn’t live with what…with what will happen. I couldn’t bear their pity. I couldn’t bear their compassion.

“Non-negotiable.” The mayor says, holding up a pudgy purple hand with only three fingers. “We want you to be comfortable and happy here, and having a companion will assist. Everyone is welcome on Kitchik.”

“You said that, but…” I look at his round face and the smile. This is not a battle I’m going to win. “Fine.”

“Is there any way of getting in touch with Draco? I have an…issue…I’d like to discuss.” The Mayor asks.

“Maybe, I’m not sure. They’re busy, which is why I was dropped here via cargo ship. You can try to get in touch via long range space-comms, whether you’ll be successful is another matter.” I respond.

I won’t miss the Sarkarnii. Big, scaly with a habit of impromptu barbequing. Like big boisterous toddlers half the time. The only way most of the males are kept in check is by Draxx banging their heads together.

This decision was right. I will convince myself some day soon. But all I want is to get through today, and tomorrow. And the next day.

“You are safe here on Kitchik, Jade.” The mayor says, drawing my attention back to him.

Back to his office, a place half way between a Victorian mansion and a space ship.

“I’m not safe anywhere.” My voice breaks.

I realised I was pregnant a few weeks after being rescued from a horrible spider species called the Bogarok. A species who took me to order on behalf of the enemies of the Sarkarnii.

A species who decided I was expendable…and experimentable. Their experiment is growing within me. I try to tell myself at least I don’t remember anything. But it only makes it worse.

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