Page 4 of All I Want For Christmas Is An Alien
“Afraid I’ll have you climb the tree to put the star on like last year?” Ruby asks.
“I’m a warrior. There’s nothing I won’t do for you and our youngling. But this is Havok’s home. He should have the honor.”
Ruby rolls her eyes. “Translation, he got splinters last year. My big brave warrior has no trouble throwing himself on a bomb or jumping fromThe Relentlessbefore it reaches the ground, but climb a tree and risk a little splinter? Forget it.”
“That was more than a little splinter.”
I laugh. I know what they’re doing. Distracting me because Havok is late. I always worry when he’s late, but usually he sends me a message.
“Are you sure he’s okay?” I ask Torin, who’s not only married to my sister, but he’s my mate’s commander.
“Do you think if he were in trouble, I’d be sitting here talking about dangerous trees and even more dangerous cooking?”
No, he wouldn’t.
I listen to the kids playing outside, running and making noise. I don’t want to ruin the holiday for them. Tell them their father might be late. They’re expecting him by Christmas tomorrow, but he’s already three days late.
Tears stream down my face and Ruby pulls me into her embrace. “He’s fine. Late, but fine. You know what this means, don’t you?”
“He better have one hell of a present for me to excuse being late?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of great make up sex, but sure, we can go with a present.”
From behind, Torin slides Ruby’s red hair to the side and whispers, “My presents are waiting for you when you’re ready.”
I turn away, not wanting to witness them flirting. I’m glad the kids are outside, at least.
But there’s something about how Torin interrupted us that’s bothering me. “Are you sure Havok’s okay?”
Ruby breaks away from him and cups my cheek. “Stop trying to be the perfect sholani and holding all those emotions in. You’re worried. I get it. We all face this every time one of our mates leaves on a mission. Why are you more on edge this time?”
“It’s our first time having everyone here. He knows how important it is to me. He would move entire planets to avoid being late.”
“Unlike me.” Torin nonchalantly rubs a dark purple voki, the closest Zyan has to an apple, against his shirt and takes a bite.
“You, my brave sholan, relish being late so you can make an entrance,” Ruby says. “That doesn’t count.”
Her words from earlier finally sink in. “Why do you think I’m hiding my emotions?”
She points to the half-eaten cookieI’m holding.
“So?”
“You ate half the cookie. You’re eating out of nerves. And I’ve been watching you all morning, rushing around, cleaning, making up the extra beds, making sure we have everything to be comfortable.”
“Someone needed to do that. And the cookie’s good. I mean, really good.” I hold it up for her to take a bite.
Torin crunches loudly on his voki. “My mate took a while to recover from the last, um, what is the word I’m looking for in Common, sholani?”
“Dessert?” Ruby offers.
“I was thinking poison, but dessert will do.”
“Poison is more accurate,” Ruby mumbles beneath her breath as Emily reappears, holding a tray of drinks, which she sets down before she returns to the kitchen.
“I thought you were giving your female cooking lessons, Mak?” Torin asks his brother. He’s so quiet, watching and listening to everyone. I nearly forgot he was sitting on the chair closest to the tree. Havok’s favorite chair.
Mak shrugs. “Cooking does not come naturally to my Em, but she is a wonderful mate and superb mother to our younglings.”
