His horns rise high, and I’m tempted to look lower, but I don’t dare, not with his eyes fixed on me.
“As I was saying. Me, Donna, and the others who work here are The Black and Gold Elves. Elves, as in Santa’s helpers. We give toys to children for Christmas. Some people donate toys they’ve made, or those they’ve found and refurbished. Look here…” I show him one of the tags from a destroyed gift. “This rag doll was going to Suzi Harmar, a five-year-old girl who put her name and wish for a doll on the Christmas tree we set up down at the Point. She’s hoping Santa will bring her a doll for Christmas, but that’s not going to happen since you tore the doll's head off. We, the Black and Gold Elves, were supposed to make that wish come true.”
“A noble cause, but the Brotherhood can and will infiltrate any organization, any activity, if they see a way of using it to their advantage, even one designed to give toys to younglings.”
As he draws the blaster from his side to show me the size relative to the toys he mauled, the leather vest fans open, giving me a good look at the tattoos running diagonally from his right shoulder to his left hip. His body is impressive, there’s no denying that, and a distraction I don’t need. I have to convince him there are no blasters here. Maybe then he’ll leave so I can get back to work.
“The Brotherhood is defunct and the war is over. Even if some of those traitors still exist, they’re not involved with my toy drive. Try one of the barges on the Mon. I’m sure they have plenty of hiding places in all the debris the city hauls away.”
“The Mon?” The tops of his horns twist briefly, then relax. “Ah, yes, the Monongahela. One of the three major rivers. That is what makes Pikksburgh appealing to the Brotherhood. Easy transportation via the waterways.”
I can’t stifle my laugh. “Do everyone a favor. Don’t try to speak Pittsburghese. You’re not a local. The city isPittsburgh, with two t’s.”
“That is not how it was listed in my mission packet.”
“I guess your mission packet was wrong. Like the rest of your intel. Pittsburgh isn’t a center of anything except a bunch of people trying to survive after the military drove off the Coalition. So take your blaster and your knives and get out of my warehouse.”
“I cannot. The information we received led me here, and here is where I will investigate.”
Fucking fabulous. Not only do I have an alien destroying all my hard work, he’s stubborn too. “How can I get rid of you?”
CHAPTER TWO
NOELLE
The alien’s eyes narrow and those horns—damn, but they’re impressive—rise very high, making the male very intimidating. “Why would you want toget rid of me?”
His suspicious tone pushes me beyond my limits and I swing my arms out wide. “Just look at this mess!”
“I will repair what I destroyed.”
All I see is stuffing everywhere, deflated balls, destroyed doll houses and… It will take weeks to fix. I’m going to cry. I can’t have this male, this warrior here, not after all the months I put into this. I pick up a deflated soccer ball and throw it at him and can’t stop myself. All my anxiety and frustration leach out as I pummel him with toy after toy, one for each word as I spout off, “Christmas… is… two… fucking… weeks… away!”
When I stop my little tirade, he steps toward me, one decisive foot at a time, a jump rope tangled around a horn, glitter from a craft set covering his hair and face, and green slime sliding down his left arm. There’s no anger on his face whatsoever. The maleis the epitome of calm, resilience, and from the way those silver eyes that shine like tinsel lock on me… determination.
Fuck me, but I have this immense desire,need, to wipe the glitter off his face and apologize for losing my cool, but he doesn’t give me a chance. He circles an arm around my waist and pulls me in close with barely any effort, a feat considering I’m not a skinny minnie.
With a finger beneath my chin, he tilts my head up until our eyes meet. “I said, I will repair the damaged toys. I did not understand the nature of these items when I pulled them apart.”
“If you had, would you have left them alone?”
“No,” he says without any hesitation. “I still would have searched them, but I would have taken greater care. Human holidays are unique and rather confusing, but younglings are precious. This is why I cannot abandon my mission, even if it means damaging toys. The Brotherhood still exists, female, and they continue to undermine your world…. and mine.”
I can’t argue with his logic, or his intent, but having him here… Fuck, that’s a complication I don’t need.
But he’s really cute, standing there with a jump rope hanging from a horn like tinsel on a blue Christmas tree, and that serious expression of his. Forcing him to leave will only create bigger problems. And I’m not convinced Icouldmake him leave.
“Warrior, if you promise not to tear apart any more presents, I’ll help you in any way I can.”
He nods. “I accept your terms.”
For some odd reason, I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet, like those few minutes before I received my first kiss. That was a horrific experience in the end, and yet I sense kissing this male would be rather pleasant. Problem is, the last thing I need is a zyanthan warrior underfoot.
“Perfect. Let Operation Santa Claus begin.”
“Santa Claus?”
“The figurehead for Christmas. The lore goes that he watches people all year ‘round, to see who’s naughty or nice, and then he makes lists, so he knows who to give gifts to on Christmas.”
