Page 3 of Married to the Alien Mountain Man

“He is taking care of Nali. He is a good boy,” I said quickly, suddenly feeling the need to defend Killian from Tasha’s judgment. Like Garrek, I, too, loved Killian. He could be a tiny tornado of a Zabrian at times, but once he decided you were part of his family, he was prepared to protect you by any means necessary. Even violent ones.

Hence the rock.

There was more loyalty in his little body than that of many Zabrian males three times his size – and age.

He had value here. I wanted Tasha to see it.

And, a part of me wondered if, one day, Killian might like a chance at his own human bride. He did not deserve to be written off when he was a mere child. With someone like Garrek as his guardian, and someone as sweet as Magnolia in his life, I had no doubt he’d be a fine example of a Zabrian one day.

“I’m sure he is,” Tasha said softly. Then, with a wry arch of her brow, she added, “Even if he did threaten to kill me last time.”

“He won’t,” Garrek grunted.

Unfortunately, Killian did not exactly lend credence to that statement, as he suddenly came careening towards us from Nali’s enclosure at a pace that could only be described as terrifying.

The reason for it soon became apparent as I spied the tips of light pink ears bobbing swiftly between long blades of grass ahead of him.

“Grab her!” Killian shouted.

I broke into a run. Nali bleated defiantly and changed course away from both Killian and the rest of us. But she was soon trapped by the small stream that ran near Garrek’s newly-built cabin. She was not yet large enough to hop from stone to stone on the natural path that made a sort of bridge across the water.

Killian got to her before I did, first catching her around the back leg with his tail, then hoisting her up into his wiry arms.

Blast. I’d gotten slow since my injury. I paused beside him and put most of my weight on my left foot as Tasha, Warden Tenn, Magnolia, and Garrek caught up to us by the stream.

“She is too clever by half,” Killian was saying, his angrily spitting tone completely at odds with the gently protective way he held Nali nuzzled against his chest. “She wanted to come out. I told her she could not. But she did not listen!”

“Wonder what that’s like,” Garrek said dryly.

Killian ignored him, caressing Nali’s pointed pink ears. Now that she was the centre of attention and not locked away in her enclosure, she seemed perfectly content to remain in Killian’s arms and made no further attempts at escape.

“She kept giving me these big, pleading eyes. But I was strong, Oaken,” Killian said gravely. “When I was on my way out of the enclosure, and she knew she had not succeeded in manipulating me, she tried to piss on my leg. When I dodged, she made a run for it.”

Killian clutched her closer.

“I was worried about a grass ardu. I was thinking I should make her some boots like mine.”

“I am not sure wearing boots would be good for her development,” I said gently. “She already refuses to climb and jump on the rocks I’ve brought her.”

She had no mother anymore. Not unless you counted the streaks of blood and pink fur I’d discovered near the place I’d found her bleating loudly, panicked and alone. There was no gortu to teach her how to walk and climb properly as she was meant to do. Wearing tiny Zabrian boots certainly would not help.

But I could not blame Killian for the idea. He’d watched Magnolia nearly die from an ardu bite once. It did not surprise me he wanted to protect little Nali from something similar.

“Oh,nowhe cares about wearing boots,” Garrek said with a sigh and a flick of his tail.

“It was a good idea, Killian,” Magnolia said, giving him a pat on his shoulder before stroking the back of Nali’s head.

“It was. That was very thoughtful of you,” Tasha agreed, giving Killian a penetrating look. Her eyes seemed a bit shiny.

Killian regarded Tasha warily, angling his body so that Nali was out of her reach, as if the human-Zabrian liaison would snatch the orphaned gortu right out of his hands.

Tasha noticed, but she did not seem offended. In fact, she smiled at the young convict-ward, then said, “I’d like to see the rest of the property. Killian, why don’t you lead us on the tour?”

“Fine,” Killian said loftily. “But I am keeping Nali with me. I’ll carry her.”

“She might still urinate on you yet,” I warned him.

“I am ready for anything,” Killian declared before marching away, followed by the others.

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