Page 12 of All You Need is Alien Love (Tentacular Tales #4)
CHAPTER SIX
Vardox laid siege to his opponent, his eyes blazing red with Masnok battle rage but his mind was icy cold and calm as he studied the movements of his enemy.
He’d not become one of the most talented and successful warriors among his people by letting his emotions overrule his strategic logic.
Being able to identify and analyze an opponent’s greatest weakness, even in the midst of battle, was often the key to defeating them.
Using only his tentacles at first, Vardox did not bother to grab his blades just yet. His ten deadly appendages were giving Khamos plenty of trouble on their own. The foolish Katnu space pirate had enough sense to recognize just how lethal the poisoned tips were.
Khamos was armed with two curved ritual combat blades, known as Kerrath Fangs.
Forged from a strong meteoric ore found on the Katnu planet, they were sickle-shaped, with serrated edges on the inner curve.
He lashed out at Vardox’s tentacles as they continued their relentless onslaught.
Vardox needed to learn what these weapons could do before he made his next move.
Khamos laughed maniacally as he managed to lop off the barbed tip of one of Vardox’s tentacles, but Vardox barely registered the pain.
It was nothing compared to the training he’d undergone in his youth.
Besides, the tip of his tentacle would grow back.
Learning what his opponent and his weapons were capable of was more important at the moment.
No, for now, Vardox’s approach was to both tire his enemy and learn his movements and drain his stamina. While his weapons were certainly dangerous, Khamos’s skill with them was limited and his movements began to falter with each new attack that Vardox was able to deflect successfully.
When Khamos was panting heavily, Vardox, barely winded, grinned at him. Now, the real battle would begin.
— The Tentacular Tales of Captain Starblade , Ch. 161
Kai
Galactic gods, what can’t River convince me to do?
At this point, I honestly can’t imagine there’s much he wouldn’t be able to talk me into.
We’re at our house preparing for the what River calls a Family Bonding Night. He proposed this to Melody and Chris as a weekly event to help rebuild their relationship, and as his husband, I needed to be part of things as well.
Naturally, I offered to make myself scarce if River wanted the time alone with his parents, but he’d just given me a kiss on the tip of my nose, as if I had said something ridiculous, and told me that he wanted me by his side.
My tentacles liked when he said that. Very much.
So there was no way I was going to let him down, no matter what.
I study myself in the mirror and wince. “Was this… absolutely necessary?”
His green eyes sparkle with merriment. “Of course, silly! Tonight is our Christmas-themed FBN.”
My lips twitch. “And must all FBNs have a theme?”
He gives me a slightly pitying look. “Boo, have you learned nothing from me in our time together? It’s way more fun with a theme. Duh.”
“How could I not have known that,” I deadpan.
He tweaks my nose lovingly. “The holidays are coming up, and with everything that’s been going on, we’re majorly behind on putting up our tree and decorating the house.
” He bounces on his toes. “I thought it would be super fun for us to decorate with my parents. Then we can have food while we watch a Christmas movie together.” He gives me a sly look.
“I even made the sugar cookies you love, with extra frosting.”
I try not to salivate at that thought and instead continue to stare at myself in the mirror. “And this outfit was essential to the festivities because…?”
He sidles closer and hip-checks me playfully. “Because we look so freaking adorable in our matching reindeer onesies, honey-boo.”
I want to tell him that he looks ridiculously cute in his while I just look… ridiculous. But I can’t. By now, I don’t even fight it anymore. River has a rather intense obsession with onesies. Believe me, I resisted at first, but River eventually won me over with his enthusiasm.
My tentacles curl around themselves, full of contentment inside me. They love supporting my mate.
I tilt my head as I consider my reflection, and the brown felt antlers on my head move with me.
Nope. Still ridiculous. Ah, the things we do for love.
I turn and give River my sternest look. “No pictures this time.”
He bites his bottom lip. “No promises.” Then he twirls and races away, reindeer tail bobbing behind him, before I can grab hold of him.
I growl but feel the sides of my mouth curving up into a grin.
Galactic gods, the things this man does to me.
The doorbell rings and I hurry to meet up with River as he lets his parents inside. They’re also dressed in matching onesies, but theirs are snowman-themed.
“You guys look great, and you’re right on time.”
River ushers them in, and I fervently hope that his parents don’t disappoint him. If they do, I might snap.
My sweet mate has been pretty quick to let Melody and Chris back into his life and forgive them for what happened in the past. But I’m still quietly seething with anger on his behalf.
Talking with my own family helped. I do understand why they did what they did.
At least at first. Although why they kept up the ruse for as long as they did still remains a bit incomprehensible to me.
Even after a few years, surely Melody’s Quintharian relatives would have long forgotten about her, and it would have been safe for them to return to Earth.
But I suppose that’s purely conjecture on my part.
I’m not privy to all of the more private details of what happened after they faked their deaths and left River behind with his Uncle Benji.
However, I do know that River suffered a great deal in the more than ten years his parents weren’t part of his life while he believed they were dead.
Honestly, I’m torn. I want to protect him, and part of me can’t help but view his parents as a potential threat to his happiness. On the other hand, I also need to let River make his own choices and support him however he needs me to, even if that includes forgiving his parents.
Nevertheless, I’m going to maintain a watchful eye, because I won’t let them hurt him a second time.
“Let’s decorate the tree first,” River says.
We already have our artificial tree set up in the corner of the living room, but its branches are completely bare.
In the dry desert climate of Las Vegas, having a real tree for Christmas involves a lot more work than either River or I wanted to deal with.
An artificial tree is one we can reuse for many years to come, and we don’t have to worry about fire hazards.
River opens up two huge plastic totes he brought out from a storage closet. They’re full of Christmas decorations and he and his mom begin pulling out ornaments, oohing and aahing over them as they start to decorate the tree.
Chris and I set to work stringing garland along the fireplace mantle and the staircase banister.
“Thank you for including us,” Chris says quietly. “It means a lot to me and Melody.”
I shake my head. “It was all River’s idea. He wants to rebuild a relationship with you, and I’ll support him if that’s what he truly wants.” I shoot him a dark look. “But if you do anything to hurt him, all bets are off.”
Chris twines the garland along the banister in silence for a moment. “I completely understand. He’s fortunate to have a partner as caring and supportive as you.”
I shake my head again as I tie some of the red bows to the garland.
“No, I’m the lucky one. River is utterly amazing and truly one of a kind.
I’ve never met anyone who can make me feel the way he does.
He brings light, laughter, and love to my life every single day.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that he’s more precious to me than anything or anyone in this entire universe. ”
Chris smiles. “So you’re a romantic, huh?”
I chuckle. “Only with River. He brings out sides of me I didn’t know existed.”
Chris nods, his soft gaze turning toward his wife. “I know exactly what you mean. Until Melody came into my life, I didn’t know what true love was. It’s like I was living in some kind of black-and-white television episode until she turned my world into Technicolor. It was that profound.”
Oddly, I completely understand.
“River does seem to share a lot of similar traits with his mother.”
Chris’s lips twitch with amusement as he studies them both. “That he does. They’re both fun, feisty, and full of energy all the time. But I think I most love the fact that he inherited her gorgeous curly hair.”
Now that’s a sentiment I can get behind. “Those curls are hard to resist.”
We share a look of mutual understanding.
River starts his Christmas playlist on a low volume, bopping to the music while he and Melody cover the tree in so many ornaments and lights I’m worried it might not be able to handle the weight.
In an hour, we’ve turned our living room into a festive holiday space, and River beams with satisfaction.
River and his dad eventually head to the kitchen to make dinner, shooing me and Melody to go sit and relax.
I quickly realize this was all part of River’s plan.
He blows me an air kiss and sends me a sassy wink as I leave him and Chris in the kitchen.
Melody chuckles as she joins me on the couch. “I think this is River’s not so subtle way of trying to have us get to know each other better.”
I grunt in agreement.
She unzips her onesie a little and fans herself. “These things are toasty.”
“River loves them. He has us wear them for date nights.” I smile. “Even our wedding.”
Melody’s expression turns wistful. “It’s something we used to do when he was a kid.”
I freeze, a sinking sensation in my chest.