Page 20 of Prize for the Alien Grumpus

But still. The future? With a seven-foot-tall blue demon who eats roller skates?

"That's your solution?" My voice cracks. "Just abandon my entire life and zip off to... when exactly are you from?"

"TA millenia from now."

"Right. Perfect. Just hop eleven centuries into the future. No big deal." I cover my face with my hands. "I knew I was going to regret it."

CHAPTER 8

KRAMPUS

The sweet scent of cocoa tickles my nose. Strange drink. Not bad though. Better than the slop they served in the prison camps.

"So you won't leave Earth?" I ask.

"No. This is our home." Mel cradles her mug, the steam rising between us. "Sam has school, friends. I have a job."

"A job with aliens," I say. "who want to kill you."

"Point taken.," she says "But running away isn't the answer."

The soft glow from the lamp catches the gold in her hair. Such a delicate creature, yet she faced down a seven-foot monster with nothing but a baseball bat. Impressive.

"Tell me about these Grolgath." Her brows climb high on her face. "And why they had you on ice."

"The Grolgath are... complicated." I take another sip. "In my time, they're our allies against the Trident Alliance. But that's centuries from now."

"Then why were you their prisoner?"

"Because I wouldn't play by their rules." The mug creaks in my grip. I set it down before I break it. "The alliance between Odex and Grolgath? Built on lies and corruption. The elite getricher while common folk starve. I started targeting the ones responsible."

"You were like a vigilante?"

"More like a terrorist, according to them. Couldn't execute me."

"Why not?" she asks.

"Because on my homeworld, I am a hero. The Odex would have left the Coalition." I shrug. "So they stuck me in cryo, sent me back in time where I couldn't cause trouble."

"But now you're free." Her eyes narrow. "Thanks to me."

"Yes. And I owe you a debt." I lean forward. "Let me protect you. Both of you."

"Without leaving Earth?" She asks.

"Without leaving Earth. For now."

The question burns in my mind. A female this strong should have a mate to watch her back.

"Where's Sam's father?"

Mel's shoulders tense. Her fingers clench around the mug until her knuckles turn white.

"You don't need to answer if you do not wish," I say.

"No, it's fine." She sets the mug down with a sharp click. "Tom was... dedicated. To his work. To his hobbies. To his secretary."

My claws dig into my palms.

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