Page 57 of The Alien Who Saved Christmas
Xane arched a brow at Sadie. “Justonenew pilot?”
“No.” Sadie reached into her pocket. “Here, Lord C’don. This will open the prisoners’ chains.” Sadie tossed him the key that they’d stolen from Elf. “We’ll get the gate to the mine open. Then, you go in and free Jynn and the others. That’s it.”
“Oh, is thatit?” He snarked. “You say that like it’s not the most dangerous and important part of the plan. What will the Rtaharion be doing, while I’m risking my neck.”
“Killing every single guard with my bare hands.” Xane informed him flatly. “Would you like to trade roles?”
Lord C’don did not want to trade. Instead, he gave a mopey sort of scowl.
“You’re doing this for Jynn.” Sadie reminded him.
“Very well. I will accompany you on this brutish mission, for my heir and the future of my noble house.” He sighed in heroic self-sacrifice. “It is my nature to give.”
“We could find another pilot anywhere.” Xane assured Sadie.
“How? It’s not like the crew of theEnterpriseis sending us their resumes.”
“Half the men on this planet are pilots.”
“Andallof those men want to kill us.”
“Hewill probably try to kill us. The Vipri are diabolical.”
“Yeah, but he’s a duckling, so I think we can take him in a fight.” Lord C’don was a douchebag, but at least he was small. And available. They didn’t have time to recruit anybody else.
Lord C’don gave a lofty sniff. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go to the galley and find some food capsules that aren’t painted red and green. If I’m going to die, at least I’ll die on a full stomach.” He went stomping out of the room, his beak in the air.
“On Earth, we eat ducks.” Sadie mused, when he was out of earshot.
Xane made a face. “I would rather starve than consume Vipri meat. It is undoubtedly tough and bitter. There are far better species to hunt, if you wish to pursue cannibalism.”
“Ducks aren’t people on Earth. They’re just birds.”
“Humans have stripped Vipri of their rights? Then why did you bother saving this one from slavery?”
“Birds aren’t slaves! They’re free. …Unless they’re in a cage.”
“How is a cage different than slavery?”
“Because they’rebirds. On Earth, birds aren’t these big, thinking, talking creatures.” She paused. “I mean, I guess they sometimes are. Ostriches are big. And parrots can talk. And crows are really smart.”
Xane arched a brow. “Those are all types of enslaved ‘bird’ cultures?”
Sadie sighed. “Never mind.” Shit. She was never going to be able to enjoy chicken nuggets again.
“Perhaps Earth is not as pleasant as you remember.” Xane became fascinated with the Christmas tree, again. “Perhaps returning there wouldn’t be your best option. What if the other humans choose to eat you next? Perhaps you should consider a new plan.”
Sadie looked at his oh-so-casually averted face. “I’m considering a lot of plans.” She promised, and it was the truth. Once they were off Corono, her future started, and Xane needed to be a part of it.
Leaving him behind was impossible. The more she thought about it, the more depressing and awful it seemed. Returning to her apartment and her job and her old life…? It would all be so lonely, now. Everything would be lonely without Xane. There was no way she could give him up. The big guy had won her heart, and there was no changing it.
So, she’d just have to come up with a plan to keep him.
Chapter Sixteen
Peace on weird planets and mercies mild,
Humans and monsters reconciled.
