Page 55 of The Alien Who Saved Christmas
“Holiday shopping took a backseat to getting space-napped and killing that guy in the casino.” Sadie admitted. “But, that’s okay. Escaping the hell planet will be our gift.”
“Oh, you gave me a gift this afternoon.” Xane assured her, his mouth curving at the edges. “It was much appreciated.”
Sadie sent him a repressive look, but she was struggling not to laugh. His relaxed, teasing attitude was kind of adorable.
Xane’s smile grew, seeing that he’d made her grin. “I must giveyoua present, now. I will deliver it to you before the end of Christmas.”
She lowered her voice. “Technically, you got me something this afternoon too, right before I got you something.”
“And I will get you something else. Because you deserveeverything.”
Sadie’s insides melted like ice cream in the purple-desert sun. Once they left Corono (because theywereleaving Corono, damn it) how could she say goodbye to Xane? How could she go back to her old life without him?
Why would she even want to try?
Lord C’don gave an affronted scoff, like he’d somehow been slighted. “Vipri exchange gifts on the second solstice of our sun. It would be the height of bad manners to ignore a guest on such a significant holiday. I can only assume thisChristmasisn’t so important to you, as I am empty-handed.”
Sadie shook herself from her thoughts. “Christmas is a holiday for friends and family to celebrate together. You don’t even want to rescue your own son from a prison mine.”
“I didn’t say Iwouldn’tparticipate in this brutish mission. I simply said my true talents are being wasted.” He smoothed down his already-smooth yellow feathers. He swore they’d been mangled in captivity and liked to draw attention to his downy injuries. “I should really be the one in charge.”
Sadie rolled her eyes, sick of his crap. “Didn’t you say the Vipri have psychic powers?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. There are no such things as psychic powers.” Lord C’don scoffed. “We merely share a mental connection with our progeny.”
“How is that not psychic…?” She broke off. “You know what? Doesn’t matter. You can ‘mentally connect’ with Jynn.Which means you can quickly find him. Which means you have to be the one to gointothe mine, so we can get himoutof the mine.”
Lord C’don knew she was right, but he still pouted.
“Now, can you get the ship ready to fly before we go?” Sadie continued, moving on to the next item on her checklist. “Come on. Test out the navigation system or whatever. Make sure we’re good for takeoff.” Everything needed to be squared away before the big prison break. They wouldn’t have much time to figure it out afterward, with the entire planet after them.
Of course, the entire planet wasalreadykind of after them.
Lord C’don sighed in annoyance. “I’m one of the greatest pilots in the history of my people. I know how to prep a ship, woman.”
“Great. Do it, then.” She pointed towards the panel of switches and buttons.
He trudged over to halfheartedly poke at the main console.
Xane snaked an arm out and caught her around the waist. “I find your ruthless badgering of our prisoner to be very attractive.” He murmured, tugging her body up against his. “I enjoy being married to a tyrant.”
“I amnota tyrant, and he’snotour prisoner. He agreed to be a member of our Rebel Alliance team, because we rescued him from the Lego cantina. It’s exactly like one of theStar Warsshows that didn’t suck.”
“Did I have a choice except to ally with you?” Lord C’don grumbled, checking dials on the sort-of-computer. “It was either throw my lot in with rabble or return to servitude.”
“Or we bury you in the desert.” Xane reminded him without even looking his way. He was too busy playing with Sadie’s hair.
“You can’t keep threatening to kill the duckling, big guy. We have to work together and Lord C’don is…” She hesitated. “Lord C’don, do you have-- like-- a first name?”
“Not that I’d allowyouto use.”
Xane picked up a small can of paint leftover from the ornament making and absently pegged it at Lord C’don’s head.
It slammed into his skull hard enough for Sadie to wince in sympathy.
“Ow!” Lord C’don grabbed his wounded head and turned to give Xane an angry look. “That hit me!”
“Yes.” Xane agreed without a drop of remorse.
