Page 50 of Alien in the Attic

Chuckling, he shook his head. “No, but to borrow an Earth phrase, the guy who tried to kill us apparently sang like a canary as soon as he woke up from that fist-induced nap.”

She nodded. “Do what you have to do.”

Beside her, Sofia raised her eyebrows. “Is everything okay?”

“Just a bit of follow-up on the incident earlier today. Nothing we have to be worried about.”

She nodded. “No mass assassinations planned like that one fantasy show you liked to watch? That was at a wedding, too, right?”

Carmen rolled her eyes. “I was trying not to think about that, thank you very much.”

Arccoo returned by the time the first course arrived. He took his seat, looking grim.

Taking his hand, she leaned against him. “What did he say?”

Arccoo sighed. “He was one of Rocco’s loyalists. Apparently, some consider me to be the false heir and think I set my brotherup in the hopes of seizing power. The one who was supposed to pretend to attack us was found tied up in a closet. He’d been drugged but was otherwise fine.”

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He nodded. “I apologize. Today is supposed to be a day of celebration, but I fear the attack earlier has soured my mood somewhat.”

“I don’t blame you.” She brought the back of his hand up to her lips and kissed it. “It’s enough to shake anyone.”

“You seem to be handling it well.”

“They don’t call me the queen of compartmentalization for nothing. Besides…” She paused and kissed his cheek. “If I let Rocco ruin my day, I’ll be letting the terrorists win. Fuck Rocco. This is our day, and he’s taken up enough of it.”

His lips met hers in a fierce kiss. “How did I get so lucky to have you?”

She giggled. “Hey, that’s supposed to be my line.”

Beside her, Sofia and Elena started making exaggerated gagging noises. Sighing, the lovers parted. She punched Sofia in the arm and then reached over and thumped Elena on the back of the head, not enough to hurt but enough to make her point.

“Elena, I can’t believe our sister is abusive,” Sofia said.

“She’s a cruel, cruel monster,” the youngest replied.

Carmen rolled her eyes. “You guys are idiots.”

Sofia grinned and punched Carmen back. “Yeah, but we’re your idiots.”

After they’d had their fill of the banquet, it was time for the traditional couple’s dance. She and Arccoo had been choreographing it for weeks, blending tango with the Thryal equivalent of a waltz, the refra.

The music picked up as they approached each other from opposite ends of the ballroom. Meeting in the center, they moved in an elegant rhythm. He twirled her out and brought her close again.

“Thank you,” he said, dipping her.

She came up with a giggle, and they returned to their refra starting position. “For what?”

“All my life, I’ve been bound by duty. My life was only ever going to be spent in the service of my people, but you showed me that I could also want things for myself. I don’t always have to compromise my happiness in favor of duty.”

Carmen felt tears prick in her eyes. “I should be thanking you, too. Before I met you, I never truly felt desirable. I learned to love myself but thought I might be forever alone in that. Most people I dated told me to lose weight or made it seem like they were doing me a favor by dating me. You’re the first person who made me feel beautiful and wanted like no one else had before.”

Abandoning the choreography, he pulled her into a kiss. For a moment, the world faded away, and not for the first time, Carmen wondered if she was in a dream. But when they parted, she hadn’t woken up. She was still there in the ballroom with her sisters and her husband, feeling happier than she’d ever felt.

Chapter 21

Arccoo

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