The Alien Reindeer's Christmas Package Read online

  At least I’d still be able to see. Selene, Faraway’s larger moon, hung nearly full in the sky, and its smaller partner Diana raced along its orbit. Both moons up at once made for a bright night, though clouds on the horizon promised to block them later.

  Climbing a rise, I realized I’d reached my destination. A crater marred the white expanse below me, charred metal scattered around a long furrow the impact left in the snow. And at its end, lying at an awkward angle, what remained of a spaceship hissed as it cooled.

  I gripped the steering wheel tight enough that my knuckles went pale, blinking back tears. On the one hand, yay, a spaceship. On the other…

  “Well fuck,” I said out loud. “That’s never going to fly again.”

  It wasn’t a human ship. Even wrecked it looked sleeker and more elegant than the giant boxes we’d taken to the stars. It wasn’t one of the invaders’ either, or at least it looked nothing like the warship that I’d escaped from.

  Unlike that brutal, bulky thing, this ship had style. I wished I’d seen it at its best, but even wrecked I saw the beauty in its wings and contours.

  Staring at it and dithering wasn’t going to get me anywhere. Either I left, put some distance in before anyone else arrived to investigate the crash, or I risked going down there and looking for salvage and survivors.

  Getting out of here would definitely be the smarter move. I knew that. The crashed ship would distract anyone chasing me and I’d build up my lead again. But someone down in the crater might be hurt.

  I should leave.

  I had to leave.

  “Damn it.” I sighed and stopped pretending. Of course I wouldn’t abandon anyone who’d been injured in the crash. My parents had raised me better than that. “Thanks, Dad. You know you’re going to get me killed, right?”

  The icy air didn’t answer, though I knew that if he were here he’d be smiling. Great. My parents would be proud. Fat lot of good that’ll do me if I get caught again.

  I pushed the throttle forward, carefully descending the slope towards the crashed ship and looking for signs of life. The only movement was blue fabric blowing in the wind, tethered to a snowdrift. A parachute, it looked like. So someone had tried to eject.

  He might be alive.

  Pulling the rover to a halt, I checked the locker next to the door. Sure enough, survival gear waited inside. Jackson’s coat was too big for me, and his boots were almost comically oversized, but they were better than the high heels the aliens had given me.

  Wrapping the coat around me, I popped the hatch and swung down. The boots crunched into fresh snow as I trudged towards the parachute.

  It was tethered to a large chair, buried in the snow and empty. Okay, so someone had ejected and been in good enough condition to move away. That was good. What wasn’t so good was that I had no idea where the pilot had gone once he’d gotten clear.

  He’d disturbed the snow near the chair getting out, but beyond that his trail ended quickly. Whoever it was had some impressive hunting skills. He was probably watching me, I realized, feeling an itching between my shoulder blades.

  I stood up, shading my eyes and trying to spot him against the snow and ice. Instead, I saw something much worse.

  An alien flier, like the ones the invaders used in Nicholasville. Almost silent, I hadn’t noticed its approach until it was too late. I cursed myself for not paying more attention.

  No time to get upset, I need to get out of here. The too-big boots made running impossible, but I moved as fast as I could.

  It wasn’t enough. The skimmer zoomed in, kicking up snow as it came to rest between me and the rover. Three invaders grinned down at me, nothing kind or welcoming in their expressions at all.

  “Two for one,” the biggest of the trio said. “I told you this would be a good call. We get the Commander’s escaped slut back, as well as the reilendeer cargo.”

  My face heated at his words and I swallowed. Nope, these assholes weren’t going to take me back without a fight.

  They dropped down from the skimmer, advancing towards me. A fair fight against even one of them was out of the question — and I didn’t have a weapon to even the odds.

  My only chance was being underestimated. If I got aboard the rover I might escape. All I needed was a clear path and a head start. If I forced them to choose between me and whatever cargo they were here for…

  I shrank back as they approached, doing my best to look scared. It didn’t take much acting skill. My breathing came in shallow pants, I trembled, my eyes were wide.

  Two of the trio spread out, keeping their eyes open for more serious threats than one panicking human. Their leader reached for my arm contemptuously, his attention more on the crashed ship than me.

  At the last moment I ducked under his arm, throwing myself forward in a lunging punch. I’d never learned how to fight, but there was one target I knew would hurt a guy.

  My knuckles sank into his crotch and the pig-faced alien let out a howl of pain. I didn’t try and follow up, instead dashing past him as fast as my oversized boots would allow.

  My hand hurt, hurt badly. A quick glance down and I saw blood dripping from my knuckles. Shuddering, I tried not to think about what the aliens had in their pants.

  I nearly made it back into the rover. My injured hand closed on the door handle, leaving bloody marks and aching as I tried to pull it open. Just as the lock released, a crack like a branch breaking cut through the air. Sudden pain shot through me, burning and stunning, as though a swarm of bees had stung me all at once.

  Back arching, I screamed and fell to the ground. The whole world was pain, unimaginable pain, and moving was impossible.

  It only lasted seconds, but they were the longest seconds of my life.

  The alien stalked towards me, walking in a wide-legged waddle that might have been funny if he hadn’t been intent on getting revenge. He kept his agonizer trained on me, finger on the trigger and ready to shoot. My nerves on fire, I tried to pull myself up, to get away, to do something.

  “You think you can hit me and get away with it?” The alien sneered, looking down at me. “I’ll teach you better. You can repay me for that before we hand you back to the Commander.”

  The others snarled, but they didn’t try to stop him. Heart pounding, I squirmed back over the icy ground and my tormentor followed with a laugh. His companions didn’t seem enthusiastic about damaging their Commander’s new human pet… but that didn’t mean they’d step in to protect me.

  “Here human, come here,” he crooned, as though I was a skittish animal he could lure close enough to grab. “If you come back I won’t have to hurt you again. We’ll just have a little fun.”

  Yeah, right. The sadistic glee in his piggy little eyes gave the lie to his words, and even without that clue he wouldn’t have fooled me. The invasion had brought misery and pain to the whole Nicholasville colony, and while their Commander kept the troops under some control in town, any human who disobeyed was fair game.

  I glanced around to my rover. It was in arms’ reach, but it might as well have been back on Earth. Even if I got in the door before the invader grabbed me, he’d shoot me before I started the engine.

  Still, I’ve got to try. It’s better than just letting him have his ‘fun.’

  I forced myself to relax, shoulders slumping in defeat and hoping he’d be stupid enough to underestimate me twice. The tusked face shifted expression into something that my captor probably meant to be a reassuring smile. It came across as a leer instead, and I shuddered at the thought of his hands on me.

  When he bent down to grab me, I took my chance. I twisted out of his way, throwing a handful of snow and ice into his face with all the strength I had left. Not much of a weapon, but the shock was enough to make him pull back and fire the agonizer wide. His outraged yell filled the air as I took the chance to scramble to my feet and leap for the rover. For a moment I thought I might make it, but he recovered too quickly. A massive hand grabbed my neck and slamm
ed me against the door.

  I tried to fight, stamping down on his instep, but the alien’s thick boot protected him. Another hard slam against the rover left my head ringing, and his rough brutal hands pawed at my coat, tearing the zipper open.

  “Feisty,” he growled. “I like that in a female. So much more satisfying to break.”

  “Leave her, Eber,” one of the other aliens called over to my captor. “She belongs to the Commander, and anyway we’ve a bigger prize to skin.”

  Yes, that’s right, listen to him, I thought, tasting blood and trying to stop the planet spinning. But Eber had other ideas.

  “She hit me,” he shouted back. “Can’t let a human get away with that.”

  “Then snap her neck and come help us get this thing open. We’ll tell the Commander she slipped on the ice.”

  Okay, no, I changed my mind. Don’t listen! I squirmed and struggled, but his grip was too tight. Foul breath on my neck, he pulled my coat open, fabric tearing.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for one last futile attack. If I put all my weight behind my elbow, I might be able to stun him long enough to struggle free.

  One. Two.

  Thr—

  My attacker’s weight vanished as something pulled him backward, his startled squawk almost comical. I staggered, surprised by my sudden freedom, my aborted attack leaving me confused.

  Eber lay on the ground choking, his neck crushed. And over him stood a giant.

  Okay, technically not a giant, but he looked like one to me. Well over six-foot-tall, broad shouldered, bare chested, muscles bulging as he advanced on my captor. I blinked, shook my head. Despite the cold he wasn’t wearing anything on his torso and my god he looked amazing.

  I stared at him, certain somehow that he wasn’t human. No human would go out in this weather dressed in just some super-tight pants. But human or not, he wasn’t in league with the invaders.

  “Anyone who threatens her dies,” he said, voice deep and resonant. The impact of it knocked the breath from me: it spoke directly to my hindbrain, bypassing conscious thought. Listening to that voice read the dictionary would have turned me on.

  Hearing him defend me, threaten my attackers? My body practically melted on the spot.

  Steady on, Megan, the distant, rational part of me said. He’s probably just stealing you for himself. Take the chance and run.

  Icy cold bit into me through the torn remnants of my coat and I pulled it closed around me as I stepped back towards the rover’s door. Snow crunched under my boot.

  And all hell broke loose.

  One of the invaders brought his gun up towards me. The newcomer moved, and I’d never imagined someone so big could cover ground so quickly. A shot rang out, the hot crack of an agonizer echoing, but my rescuer took the hit instead of me. It barely slowed him down. His hands caught the gun, twisting it from the attacker’s hands and flinging it aside. The invader let out a strangled scream, though the newcomer’s body blocked my view of what had happened.

  The remaining attacker spun, pulling a blaster and blazing hot light at the big man.

  He twisted out of the way, red beam slashing through the space he’d been in moments before and cutting into the snowbanks. Steam rose as he leaped forward, leaving the body of the first attacker falling to the snow, his neck at a strange angle.

  The fight was over too fast for me to follow it, my rescuer charging into the last invader. I’d have felt sorry for them if they hadn’t been the bastards who’d invaded my home, kidnapped me, and shot me with an agonizer.

  As it was, I watched with horrified satisfaction as the newcomer took them apart bare-handed. The fight was over in seconds, leaving the three pig-faced aliens lying broken in the snow. Green blood pooled around them, steaming in the frigid air.

  Their killer stood over the bodies, giving me a clear view of the muscles of his broad back, the firm ass that his super-tight pants clung to. Dragging my eyes away wasn’t easy, but I forced myself to.

  What’s wrong with me? Stop staring at him and run, I told myself, backing away from my huge rescuer. Reaching behind me I fumbled at the rover’s door.

  The newcomer turned to face me as I found the switch and the door popped open. One quick leap and I’d be inside, with a comforting metal hull between me and danger.

  Instead I froze, staring. My pulse pounding, my breath fast. Framed against the darkening sky, lit by Selene, my rescuer looked at me. And he was gorgeous. Now, without the threat of death hanging over me, I took the time to fully appreciate him. The contours of his muscles gleamed in the silvery light, making it impossible to look away. Powerful arms, a strong torso, a six pack that ought to be on a classical statue. His face was a work of art, too: wonderful blue eyes that stared right into my soul, sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, long dark hair.

  He belonged in a museum. One that didn’t mind women throwing themselves at the art, overcome with lust. With a nearly silent groan I looked down his body, seeing how the tight pants clung to his legs and did nothing to hide the lovely muscles of his thighs.

  Or his massive bulge. My cheeks heated and I bit my lip, trying not to stare. Trying and failing. God, he’s huge. My hand went to my mouth and I couldn’t help wondering what he’d look like without that thin covering of leather.

  I managed, after what felt like an hour, to pull my gaze back up to his face. He didn’t seem offended, thank god. In fact, he stared at me with the same intensity. Ice-blue eyes traced their way down my body with an intensity that froze me in place.

  It was as though my thick winter coat wasn’t there, as though he could see straight through it. I shivered, not with cold but with excitement, and as though that was a signal he stepped forward.

  Strong arms were around me before I reacted, muscles like steel cables lifting me without effort.

  “You are hurt,” he said, voice rough, low, and oh-so-sexy. I shivered again as the sound vibrated through me. With a care and precision that seemed out of place in those big hands, he peeled back my torn coat before I realized what was happening.

  “Hey!” I slapped at his hands, instinctively objecting even as my pulse raced. “Hands off.”

  He ignored my struggles and protests, pulling my coat open. The freezing air cut through the skimpy gift wrap underneath and I gasped, but it wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. My rescuer’s bare skin radiated warmth, and I tingled all over as he pulled off the coat and examined me.

  Perhaps I should have fought back, but it didn’t occur to me. Not that I could have resisted if I’d tried — not against the strength that had so casually disposed of my enemies.

  More important, I didn’t want to. My face burning, I let this stranger spread my coat on the snow and push me down onto it with only the mildest protest.

  He bent over me, breath warming my skin, and lifted my aching hand to his lips. A rough tongue darted out to lick my skinned knuckles and I gasped again — the stinging of the broken skin vanished, replaced by a warm tingle that spread up my arm and across my body. As I watched, the skin knitted itself together without a mark.

  “What the hell is happening?” I gasped the question. He looked up at me, a grin on his full lips.

  “You are injured,” he said again, as though it was too obvious to be worth saying. “I am healing your wounds.”

  “By kissing them better?” My words came out as an outraged squeak, but the results were impossible to argue with. Pain faded to nothing, skin healed, and soon there wasn’t a mark on me.

  4

  Dhannar

  I should have been moving. The scroogians had fallen easily enough, but more might arrive at any time and my cargo still lay waiting defenseless in my ship. Scroogians! I should have guessed they were behind this. The psychic vampires were the ancient enemies of my people and took a special joy in disrupting Christmas.

  Nothing should be more important to me than protecting my cargo from them. They would seek it out to ruin it and feed on the twisted emotion
s that remained. I had a sacred duty to prevent that, I’d sworn an oath, and my brethren were relying on me.

  But that had been before I saw her.

  I gazed at the human female, unable to look away. She lay back on her coat, a delightful blush spreading across her face and down to her breasts as I looked at her. The strips of fabric bound around her with ribbon were more like wrapping paper than clothing, but they’d been designed to accentuate her curves and it worked. Not that she needed it. I couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful woman.

  Flame red hair framed a heart-shaped face, green eyes gazing back at me. A splash of freckles across her cheeks added character to her pale skin, and I longed to taste her crimson lips.

  Her curvaceous body trembled with the same need I felt, a longing to be one. A sensation I’d only ever heard about, one I’d given up on experiencing.

  The pull of my fated mate.

  I’d thought it bad luck that I had to make the journey all the way out to this distant colony, so far from my people’s home base on Earth. Now it turned out that the joke was on me, that fate and Santa had chosen this destination for good reason.

  She would know nothing of my kind. We hid our existence from the humans, all apart from the few who matched with our kind. Of all the billions of women on Earth, none had matched with me. And now I’d found her, the first human I met on Faraway. Fate was a joker, but I didn’t mind being the butt of this jest.

  True, my ship lay in ruins. And yes, my mission was in danger. I’d even been shot, though only with an agonizer. None of that mattered, not when I’d found the female fate had linked me to. I bared my teeth and let out a low, hungry noise that sent a shiver through the human’s body.

  “Wait!” Her hand rose to push at my chest as I bent over her again, and I caught her wrist, pulling it aside. Pinned her to the snow. “Wait, we can’t…”