Page 7 of The Alien Who Saved Christmas
Octopus-man wasn’t taking “no” for an answer. “You must have a price in mind! What is your kind even going to do with a Rtaharion? You specialize in exotic species, not brutes like this one.”
Sadie seriously didn’t like Mr. Tentacles. He reminded her of her ex-boyfriend, who’d been just as slimy, but way less menacing. She began to turn, trying to come up with an excuse for not having visible internal organs and ready to tell him to get lost.
Xane wouldn’t let her move, though. His grip on her arm tightened, preventing her from facing the octopus. Over the top of her head, his turquoise gaze fixed on the other man, and he gave a rabid snarl of warning. It sounded like a salivating hellhound mixed with a chainsaw.
Sadie flinched at the horrifying noise. She instinctively tried to back away, but Xane wasn’t letting her go. He yanked her closer to his body.
The Octopus-guy stopped in his tracks at Xane’s menacing stare.
“Leave.”Xane intoned.
Octopus-man fled. It was a Christmas miracle!
Sadie grinned for the first time in weeks. “Good work!”
Xane ignored that. He grabbed the end of the chain leash and shoved it into her hand. “Walk.” He ordered wrathfully. “Keep your head down and your mouth shut. Do not draw attention to yourself.”
Sadie’s smile faded. “I’ve been doing that this whole time. You’re the one making noise and scaring everyone.”
“Move.”
Sadie moved, marching forward again and tugging him along. Not that he needed any tugging. Xane was now stomping right beside her. “I just saved your life, you know. You could be a little less grumpy.”
“Quiet.”
“Do they have manners on your planet?”
“Do they have survival instincts on yours?”
Sadie rolled her eyes and headed into the main part of town. Off to her left, the cyclops alien was dragging one of the fluffy ducklings towards a shack with an iridescent roof. She’d lost track of the other little yellow guy, but one would do for now. “Hey, do you know what that building is?”
Xane barely spared it a glance, busily scanning the crowd like he was a secret service agent watching for terrorists. “A tavern. Why?”
“Because I’m going to have to break into it later.”
He gave his head a shake, like he was trying to focus. “My translator is having difficulty with your language. Either that or you’re saying nonsensical things.”
“Also, you’re drugged.” Sadie reminded him. “Do you want to rest for a minute?” They were farther away from the auction now, and every step seemed to drain more of his energy. She felt the urge to try and care for him. “Let’s take a break, so you can catch your breath.”
“No. Keep moving.” Xane was clearly staying on his feet through sheer effort of will, but he refused to slow down. “It’s not safe for you here alone. Why are you here alone? Who allowed it?”
“No one ‘allowed’ it. No one even knows I’m on this planet.”
“That will not last for long.” He intoned. “We need to get somewhere, before this situation becomes untenable. Somewhere hidden.”
Sadie shrugged. “Will my spaceship do?”
Chapter Three
Let aliens’ hearts, give humans room,
They don’t need to be enemies.
They don’t need to be enemies.
They don’t --They don’t!-- need to be enemies.
(verse repeats many, many times)
