Decorated: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Rebels of Sidyth Book 2.5)

by Sabrina Kade

  “Hey!” she calls, jogging to Azan without a care in the world. His eyes widen. Damn, he almost looks afraid of the tiny blond coming towards him. “It’s not raining too hard right now, right?”

  Azan, wearing his mask, doesn’t say anything, but his eyes lift and find me immediately. As quickly as I can waddle over, I’m close to his side.

  “Some of the girls want to go beyond the fields,” I say.

  “It is late,” Azan says shortly.

  “Tomorrow?” Phoebe tries. “Please? The girls want to make gifts for the guys for Christmas. It’s all part of the celebration. Right, York? This would make you happy too, right? Making a gift for your man?”

  I’m still in shock with Phoebe’s behavior. And Azan’s watching me. He knows how much Christmas means to me. And though I know there’s no way he’ll let me get too far from the lair, there’s a chance he’ll take some of us outside because he knows how much it’ll mean to me. I almost feel bad that he’s so easy to read.

  “We won’t go far,” I say to Azan. “And it’s only going to be a few of us.”

  “How many?” His chin lifts.

  “Just me,” I say.

  “And me!” Phoebe squeaks.

  “And me.” Layla materializes next to us. “I’m going to make something for Exer and a few of the others.” She looks carefully at Azan. “Maybe something for Dolan.”

  “Anyone else?” Azan rumbles.

  “Me.”

  My eyes widen, and I spin around. Sloane’s standing there with pink cheeks. And though she doesn’t say anything else, I know why she’s going. She’s going to make something for Exer too.

  Game on.

  “Tomorrow then.” Azan doesn’t give any more of the girls a chance to try and come with us. “The morning mists should not be terrible.”

  “Tomorrow then!” Phoebe says. “Sounds like fun!”

  “Tomorrow.” Layla shoots Sloane a strange look.

  She doesn’t answer.

  Oh yeah. Lots of fun.

  ***

  It’s almost kind of funny how confident Phoebe has become since a creepy, frog-like Toda struck her. For a while, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was worried about her, but she seems to be back to her normal, cheerful, if not slightly over cheerful self. Azan keeps an eye on her, and though it’s a little jarring, I’m sure he has his reasons. Maybe he’s worried she’s going to jump at him like some overexcited kid. Maybe he thinks she’s going to leave the field and make a break for… I’m not even sure. Either way, with me, Phoebe, Layla, Sloane, and Azan, we make an odd-looking group in the open field.

  “What are your plans?” Azan rumbles, taking a seat. He hasn’t bothered to remove his shorts, and I’m kind of happy for that. It’s drizzling, but not pouring and Phoebe is practically bouncing around despite the wet earth soaking her skirt.

  “We’re going to make Christmas gifts!” Phoebe digs her long fingers into the wet earth to gather some mud. “Isn’t this fun?”

  “Seems a bit primitive, if you ask me.”

  “Grouch,” Phoebe says to Azan, winking at me.

  “How exactly is mud going to work as a Christmas gift?” He frowns at Phoebe, who is continuing to work her fingers through the mud, and finally, it dawns on me that she doesn’t have an idea yet.

  “Well…” she trails off, looking a bit puzzled. “We could use the mud to make some cups and mugs… but I don’t have one of those pottery machines.”

  “And you’re just realizing this now?” Layla asks, snickering. I’m sure I know what she’s thinking. That Phoebe, for all her cheer and excitement, isn’t the smartest girl here. She’s young though, and it is fun to be outside, so we kind of let it go by without sarcasm.

  My gaze drips around our surroundings, taking in the massive dark purple palms and light purple haze. There has to be something we can use out here. My eyes land on a frayed piece of bark and I jump to my feet, tugging the piece away before Azan stops me. Seven-foot alien or not, man is damn protective of his woman.

  “Look!” I say, holding out the long strand to him.

  “It is a piece of tala,” he explains.

  “Tala…” I look at Azan as the rest of the girls come to stand beside us. “This tree, it’s called a tala?”

  He nods. “Very strong. What are you planning to do with that strip?”

  I’m not sure, but Sloane takes one end and thumbs it over, obviously thinking hard. I want to crack a joke about how I don’t want her to hurt herself, but I don’t want to be cruel like Alaska and Dakota, despite words dancing in my head.

  “What if we used it as a garland?” Sloane squeaks at last.

  My eyes widen. “A garland?”

  “Yes! We could use smaller strips of this to make loops for ornaments and use the long pieces to either drape around the room, or on the main tree in the Gathering Room!” She beams, looking at Layla. “Pretty cool idea, right?”

  Layla frowns for some reason, even though it might be the most brilliant thing Sloane’s ever said since arriving on Hethdiss.

  “Not bad!” I say before Layla has the chance to voice her grumpiness. “I like it!” I turn towards Azan. “Will it hurt the tree if we rip off a couple pieces of bark?”

  He shakes his head. “Talas are strong. It should not be a problem.” He narrows his eyes at the long strip in my hand. “And you are going to use these to make the Christmas lights you enjoy so much?”

  “Well, no, I hadn’t thought of that, but that could work too!”

  “You would need lights, yes?”

  “Yeah!” But I frown slightly. “Not that we’ve thought of anything yet that will work for lights other than shards of broken sun rayers.”

  “Something will come to you,” Azan says simply. “All of you please stick together while I gather some shards of tala. How many would you like?”

  “A bunch of long ones and some short ones to loop ornaments through!” Phoebe smiles at Sloane. “This is such a cool idea. Much better than trying to make pottery. We may be living with aliens, but things aren’t exactly primitive here. Right?”

  “Right.” Sloane nods. “Right, Layla?”

  “Sure.”

  She doesn’t say anything else but jogs to follow Azan and help him strip some of the talas of their bark. The color is pretty and since Azan is able to rip it so concisely, I can see now why Sloane immediately thought it would work as garland. Having a few of these long strips wrapped around the main Christmas tree along with some pieces in the Gathering Room? It’s going to look downright festive.

  We all continue to work outside after the bark has been stripped, making some of the shards into loops, and locating makeshift ornaments thanks to nut-like shells scattered under a few of the lighter colored palms. Azan watches the scene unfold with obvious interest, but his attention occasionally drifts to our cave and even beyond the hillside. Sloane’s made an interesting garland with thick blades of grass.

  “Hey, Azan?” she asks suddenly. He grunts in response. “Are you guys like snakes?”

  “Snakes?”

  “They’re creatures back home,” she explains. “You know, snakes shed their skins from time to time. I was wondering if you ever shed any of your scales.”

  I blush for some reason and Azan looks fucking scandalized by the question.

  “I have been known to shed scales or lose them from time to time.”

  “Does it hurt?” Sloane asks.

  “It is not unpleasant.”

  “What’s with all the freaking questions, Sloane?” I ask.

  “Oh!” she squeaks. “I guess I didn’t explain. All of the guys have different color scales here, but they’re all so pretty. Like Christmas balls. It would be kind of cool to string them to the bark, wouldn’t it? Think of the light from the sun rayers hitting them. Kind of like Christmas disco balls. That’s all.”

  A silence falls over the group. Brilliant. It’s so fucking brilliant. I chastise myself for not coming up with
the idea myself. The most beautiful things about Hethdiss are the inhabitants… especially their scales. And all the while I’ve wanted to melt Azan’s juice into a candle so I can burn it, Sloane’s come up with a good idea.

  Another one.

  She’s on a fucking roll.

  “Great idea!” Phoebe jumps up and runs towards Azan. I half expect him to sprint in another direction or bat her away like an annoying fly. “Azan, could I have some of your scales? Or some from the others? Korben has pretty scales! His are the most like a rainbow. And Hujun’s are the biggest.”

  “Azan has the most,” I say stupidly, not wanting anyone to forget that my man is special too.

  “So he won’t mind losing a few!” Phoebe’s all but squeaking again as she leans closer to Azan and brushes her fingers against a scale on his knuckle. “Do you do anything with them when they fall off? Does it just happen? Can you remove them yourself like a hangnail?”

  “Ahhh…” Azan’s hissing behind his mask and I quickly find my place next to him to get Phoebe to back off. Tiny or not, the girl has no problem getting in his personal space, and Azan is beyond uncomfortable.

  It’s kind of funny, but I’m also kind of possessive.

  “I’m sure we can figure something out, Phoebe. Chill out.”

  “Sorry!” she stumbles back a few feet. “Sloane’s had so many great ideas today! This is going to be the best Christmas ever!”

  Despite everything, it’s hard not to smile at Phoebe’s innocent enthusiasm. She’s right, despite having no snow, no balsam firs, no smoke-scent candles, and no Swarovski crystals, this is slowly shaping up to be one of the most fun Christmases I’ve ever had. It’s hard not to think of the girls around me as a family, and my handsome man is standing by my side, making sure everything is exactly as I want it.

  And as the afternoon settles into the evening, and most of the girls are still working hard before we all have to go inside, Azan leans close, whispering into my ear.

  “Are you happy, my Chosen one?”

  “Yes.” I turn around, smiling before I wrap my arms around his neck. “I wish you weren’t wearing the mask, babe. Makes it kind of difficult to kiss you.”

  “That is something we will have to remedy later,” he hisses lowly into my ear.

  “Oh my God, you two.” Layla frowns. “Chill out. We’re almost done for the day.”

  “Why should they have to chill out?” Phoebe asks. “They’re in love. It’s cute.”

  “It’s nauseating.”

  “You’re just jealous.” Phoebe continues working the last pieces of bark into knotted loops. She doesn’t see Layla’s death glare before she shakes it off, trying to look casual.

  “I’m not jealous,” Layla says.

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. I’m sure.” Layla’s dark eyes flicker to Azan and me. “I’m not looking to take York’s man. Uh, no offense, York.”

  “None taken.” I nuzzle closer to Azan as Layla continues to glare in Phoebe’s direction. But she either doesn’t care or doesn’t notice because she continues to work at a leisurely pace. But I can tell Layla’s mind is racing. She’s probably wondering how many of us know about her one-sided crush on Exer. She’s wondering how many people know Exer only has eyes for Sloane, but Sloane is too dumb to notice. I’m suddenly so happy with how easy things are with my man and kiss his neck a few more times, despite his attention locked on the hillside again.

  “It is getting dark,” a new voice rumbles above us, unfamiliar to me at first.

  I lift my head in surprise.

  Exer.

  The rest of the girls lift their heads, but Layla is the first to stand.

  “Didn’t think you’d want to come out here!”

  Exer shakes his head, staring at Sloane who remains sitting in the dirt next to Phoebe. I can tell her cheeks are pink, and her fingers curl nervously around the strip of bark she’s working on.

  “I am simply here to tell you that Korben says the women have been outside for long enough.” He turns his entirely too human-like glance at my man. “We should gather before the sun is gone behind the mountains.”

  “I apologize, Brother. My mate has a way of making me forget the time.”

  “I do not!” I squeak, starting to stand, but it only takes a moment before Exer and Azan are both helping me rise to my feet.

  “Here.” He holds out his hand towards Sloane. “Let me.”

  “I’m okay.” Sloane gathers her creations instead.

  “I could use some help.” Phoebe takes the offered hand instead. “That’s nice of you to come. I figured Hujun or Dolan would be the one who came to bring us back.”

  “I volunteered.” Exer’s talking while still looking carefully at Sloane. “I see this afternoon has proven productive.”

  “Sure was,” Layla says.

  “Sloane?” Exer asks, keeping his eyes on her. “Has this afternoon proven successful?”

  Layla pouts, turning back to the lair. Exer doesn’t seem to mind or even notice for that matter. It’s hard not to feel a little bad for her, but let’s face it. The human-like Sidyth has a thing for Sloane and that’s all there is to it. When she’s around, it’s like no one else exists. His golden-brown eyes are locked on her red hair, and already, he’s stumbling forward to take some of the items out from her hands.

  “It’s okay,” she stammers. “I got it.”

  His eyes narrow momentarily, but eventually, he backs off. “As you request.” He takes some of the bark from Phoebe’s hands instead. “These are interesting. Um, may I ask what these are going to be used for?”

  “It was Sloane’s idea!” Phoebe chirps, falling in line as the rest of us walk back to the lair. Sloane and Layla have already stormed ahead, and Azan’s keeping me close, so poor Exer is left to talk with the over and easily excitable Phoebe. “She started talking about stripping the bark, and then she had this great idea about using scales as ornaments! Isn’t that great?”

  “Sloane came up with these ideas?” Exer rumbles softly. He doesn’t even seem to mind that Phoebe’s mentioned using their skin for Christmas decorations.

  “Yes. She’s so smart, isn’t she?”

  “She’s brilliant, yes. In the most unconventional of ways.”

  “I agree.” Phoebe beams, and finally, there’s a silence lasting all the way back to the lair.

  Ellis and Hujun aren’t at the opening which is still a jarring sight, but no one comments on it. Layla and Sloane are both out of sight and Exer had all but dumped the bark back into Phoebe’s arms now that we’re inside again. He says nothing else but walks away and it doesn’t take a genius to know where he’s headed.

  That night, I’m so happy to be back in my man’s arms. I don’t want to go to the Gathering Room tonight, despite how much I love the glow of the makeshift lighting. I’ve spent plenty of time in there and with the girls, and I know I’ll spend even more time with them tomorrow.

  Tonight? My ankles and feet are swollen, my stomach’s grumpy and my eyes are droopy. I snuggle next to Azan in bed, wishing we had a TV or something to watch, but I can’t complain too much because the longer I relax, the readier I feel for another type of entertainment.

  Azan leans closer, no longer wearing his mask and presses his full lips against mine, groaning softly into my mouth.

  “I’ve been waiting to do that all day.” His voice is low. “The other women… they are noisy. Complicated.”

  “Are you saying I’m silent and simple?” I tease between kisses.

  “I would never say anything that isn’t complimentary about my mate.” Azan lowers his mouth, kissing my neck and my collarbone. I shiver with each gentle kiss. Will I ever get sick of our verbal teasing with physical intimacy? It’s a brilliant combination. Just one of the many reasons why I love him so much. Which is why I want more of the others to have what we’ve already found. Ellis and Hujun could have this so easily. Exer and Sloane. Whoever Phoebe’s pining away for. Ugh, I think sh
e said something about grumpy-ass Iriel.

  “How are you doing tonight?” Azan rumbles.

  “Good.”

  “And our baby?”

  “You already know the answer.” I smile as sexily as I can manage, and it does the trick. Azan’s rolled me onto my side and pressed his enormous cock against my swollen belly. “Someone’s excited tonight.”

  “It is difficult to spend a day with you, and not be able to touch you like this. The other women, they watch me so closely. They fear I’m going to hurt you – one way or another.”

  I frown. “They don’t think that, babe. They’re jealous.”

  “Jealous.” His tone sounds honestly shocked as he wraps a thick arm around my waist and pulls me closer to him. “What could they be jealous of?”

  “How much you love me. How much I love you.”

  His eyes soften. His cock twitches against my stomach. Azan isn’t exactly great at hiding his feelings, and I’m still shocked he gets like this whenever we talk about how I feel about him. Doesn’t he get it? Is me carrying his child not enough for him to understand how much I love him and want to be with him always? Does he not see the others looking at us and all but moaning for what we’ve found in each other?

  “I do love you, York. I am beyond lucky to have you here in my arms, carrying my sprog.”

  “And I’m just as lucky, you idiot.” I kiss him deeply. “And I’d feel a lot luckier if you’d… ahem… let me help you relieve that.” As though to prove my point, I thrust my stomach a few times against his swelling length. A drop of pre-cum settles into my bellybutton, but I don’t mind. The scent of sage and pine is already perfuming the air.

  He doesn’t get it. He never will. Azan will never truly understand how much I love him and how happy I am with him. How happy I want to make him.

  My hand lowers, gripping Azan’s cock, lazily stroking it a few times.

  Azan hisses. He groans and fists my hair.

  He may never understand how much I want him. And that’s fine. I have no problem working to get there.