Chloe was quiet, letting him rest and focus on bringing in the joy. The negative emotions he’d absorbed were rapidly being overwhelmed. Once he’d sorted himself out, Kaelar started filling his internal joy carrier. He couldn’t wait to deliver it to the children at the hospital.
“I think I’m alright now. Come on, we should go.”
They got outside just as five flying reindeer were landing. They transformed quickly and took control at once.
Marie, who had apparently spoken to Chloe on the phone, started organizing at once. The Zalfa were taken into custody. The ship was cloaked as a truck once more. Any witnesses were gathered up in a group.
“What are you going to do?” Kaelar and Chloe went up to Marie’s side as she counted the people in the group.
“Santa said to take away all memories of the event.”
Kaelar winced. Messing with memories wasn’t something they did often, but if they wanted to keep their secret, sometimes that was the only way.
“You can do that?” Chloe backed up a small step, her eyes wide.
“We can, but don’t worry, we won’t take your memories.”
The mating bond wasn’t visible to humans, but Marie could see it as clearly as she could see Kaelar and Chloe. No one would dare touch his mate.
Chloe turned to look at the other doctors and nurses, her expression concerned. “It won’t… hurt them, will it?”
“No, they’ll be fine,” Marie assured her. “Trust me, this is better. They would have no way to process what they saw. No one would believe them. It’s better to remove the memories entirely.”
Chloe nodded slowly. “I suppose you’re right. So, what’s next?”
“Not much,” Marie said. “We’ve got it from here. You and Kaelar should just focus on making sure the joy is spread out as it should be.”
Kaelar smiled and took Chloe’s hand as he led her inside. He was all set to deliver joy to the children and staff, but as it turned out, that wasn’t necessary.
The joy leaking out of the Zalfa ship must have been more concentrated than he’d realized. There wasn’t a single child who wasn’t giggling hysterically. Laughter rang out through the corridors as nurses and doctors joked with each other.
“It looks like it’s all good here.” Chloe laughed.
“Agreed.” Kaelar grinned. “I should see to the rest of the town though, just to make sure the joy has found its way there as well.”
Chloe nodded, smiling at him. “I’ll come with you.” She took his hand and looked around as if searching for something. “I can’t see it anymore. I did for a while—the red haze you told me about.”
“That’s only because it was so concentrated. You won’t usually see it. Human eyes don’t pick it up.”
It felt different doing his work with Chloe at his side, but different in a good way. Kaelar didn’t think he ever wanted her anywhere but right next to him.
They spent hours wandering around town. Chloe couldn’t see the areas where joy was lacking, but she could see the reaction people had when Kaelar distributed the joy he was carrying. He’d been doing this for most of his life and he never got tired of watching the positive effect he had.
Several times, Kaelar went back to the ship to get more joy. By the time he was done, the joy from the ship had all but dissipated, and he pulled what was left into himself. He’d have plenty to deliver at the hospital tomorrow, though the hit they received today may not have died down by then.
“Sadie just texted.” Chloe grinned as she looked at her phone. “She says everything is great at the hospital. She’s managed to convince the staff that no one has been feeding the kids drugs, that they’re just happy because it’s nearly Christmas.”
Kaelar laughed. “That must have taken some doing. I suppose Marie chose to let Sadie keep her memory. It’ll be useful to have someone else who knows. Keeping the secret isn’t always easy.”
Kaelar looked at Chloe, searching her face. They still hadn’t discussed the fact that she was his mate yet. Chloe didn’t even know. Kaelar knew he needed to tell her, but this just didn’t feel like the right time.
Maybe he should invite Chloe back to the cabin he was staying in. The hospital and the town were both fine. They could afford to take a day off.
Before he could act on this thought, his tablet beeped, and when Kaelar checked, he found a message from Marie. He sighed, knowing he should have expected this.
“I have to go,” he said. “The galactic authorities have arrived and they want to speak to me. I’m the one who discovered all of this and so they’ll need my direct testimony.”
Chloe’s aura dimmed slightly. There was still joy in her, but not as much as before.
“I understand,” she said.
Kaelar squeezed her hand. “I’ll be back. It should only take a few days.”
She smiled sadly at him, and Kaelar got the distinct impression she didn’t expect him to come back. She was handling this so well, he sometimes forgot what a big shock this must all be for her. Finding out about aliens, having to fight them as they stole joy from children… It was no wonder she expected him to disappear like a phantom.
Kaelar would have to correct that impression. With his free hand, he tilted her chin up and kissed her tenderly. Warmth suffused him as their lips met. Chloe’s eyes widened slightly, then slipped shut as she sighed into the kiss. Her body melted against his, and Kaelar put an arm around her waist, holding her close.
When they finally broke away, her aura had turned a softer, warmer color that he’d have to explore more thoroughly later.
“I’ll be back,” he promised.
Chloe smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”
After getting Chloe a cab to return home, Kaelar walked back to the hospital. He was impressed that the galactic authorities had acted as fast as they did—Santa had probably pulled some major strings once he got the news that the Zalfa had been captured.
As important as all that was, Kaelar found his mind wandering back to Chloe. His heart pinched at leaving her behind, but he knew he had no choice.
He’d get through this as fast as he could. Then, he would come back to her and explain everything.
Chapter 20
Chloe
Chloe sipped her hot chocolate. She had the day off from work and was spending it at home, just relaxing and trying to process everything that had happened in the last week.
It had been three days since Kaelar had left, and it seemed like everything had gone back to normal. People were cheerful again. The Christmas spirit was in the air. Things were calm at the hospital. The staff was having a well-deserved, quiet Christmas.
Apparently, the concentrated shot of joy didn’t wear off as fast in kids as it did in adults. Even now, days later, they were all much happier than usual, though at least the high seemed to have worn off a bit.
Even little Brad had stopped crying at night. Hannah was no longer in the ICU, and Janet was set to be released tomorrow. Chloe was hoping to get the others home for Christmas too. As it was, things were looking bright. And if anything happened, she was sure she could ask Kaelar to bring them some extra joy.
She hadn’t heard from Kaelar since he went to speak to the galactic authorities. She wasn’t sure what to think. He had promised to come back, but when?
The memory of the kiss with Kaelar kept intruding in her mind. Chloe had been kissed before, but somehow, none of her past kisses had ever been as tender or loving or filled with desire as the kiss Kaelar had given her.
She sighed as she slumped down on her new couch. If she was being honest with herself, she was falling for Kaelar and falling hard. It should have been a wonderful thing, but instead, it just made her sad.
Kaelar was a completely different species. How could things ever work between them? Maybe he wasn’t even coming back for real. Maybe he was needed for something else, on the other side of the universe… wherever reilendeer came from.
He had important work to do, and Chloe c
ouldn’t expect him to stay in one town forever when his job was to spread joy far and wide.
It had been great being able to talk to Sadie about all this. While Sadie had no advice for her on the alien-front, at least Chloe had one friend she could confide in about this whole mess.
Chloe sighed. She had just taken another sip of her chocolate when someone knocked on the door. Her heart leaped and she couldn’t help the lurch of hope in her stomach.
Maybe it was Kaelar. Surely, it had to be him.
She nearly ran to open the door. But instead of Kaelar, she found Matt standing on her doorstep.
Trying not to let him see her disappointment, Chloe smiled. It wasn’t his fault that she was hoping for someone else.
“Hi, Matt,” she said. “How are you doing?” She felt like she knew what this visit was about, but she let Matt say whatever he wanted to say without interruption.
“Hey, Chloe.” He scratched his head sheepishly. “Look, I’m really sorry about my dad. I think—I think there has been a gas leak at our house or something.”
“A gas leak?” Chloe cocked an eyebrow.
“Yeah.” Matt shook his head. “A few days ago, I swear we saw a spaceship flying over the trees. We hadn’t been drinking then, I swear. Not even my dad. But I mean… Aliens. That just can’t be real, right?”
Matt looked like he doubted his own words, but Chloe just nodded noncommittally.
He cleared his throat. “Anyway, so the flying reindeer thing… It probably didn’t happen either. We’re having our house checked for any leaks and I just wanted to apologize to you. For my dad and—”
“Don’t worry about it,” Chloe said. “It wasn’t your fault and I—”
Her response faded off as she caught a glimpse of someone past Matt’s shoulder. Tall, dark, and handsome. Kaelar was walking straight toward her cabin, his antlers contrasting magnificently with his plain blue jersey and jeans.
Chloe’s feet reacted before her brain, and she dashed out around Matt, wearing only her socks on the snowy ground. She threw herself into Kaelar’s arms, kissing him enthusiastically. The moment their lips met, fireworks exploded in her belly and she lost herself in his arms.
A moment later, she pulled back, suddenly embarrassed at her bold action.
Kaelar didn’t seem to mind, though. He was smiling at her, pure happiness shining on his face. He pulled her in for another soft kiss. They only broke away when Matt cleared his throat.
Still, Chloe only had eyes for Kaelar. “You really came back.”
“Of course, I did.” His golden eyes sparkled with joy. “I’ll always come back for you.”
Matt cleared his throat again, and Chloe turned to him, blushing. “Matt, this is Kaelar.”
“Nice to meet you.” Matt’s eyes went curiously to Kaelar’s antlers as they shook hands, but he didn’t ask. “I should get going. Again, I’m so sorry, Chloe.”
“Really, don’t worry about it, Matt. But please, keep your dad off my land in the future.”
Matt nodded seriously. “I promise he won’t enter without permission again.”
“Thank you.”
Matt had barely turned his back when Chloe started pulling Kaelar inside, smiling so widely her cheeks felt ready to burst. The two of them settled on her new couch, nestled close to each other.
“Did everything go alright with the Zalfa?”
Kaelar nodded. “It was a fairly routine operation. The galactic authorities made me go over it a few times, but that’s a matter of protocol. Santa has given me the rest of the season off. Apparently, there’s so much joy here after you opened that tank that there’s no need for a reilendeer in the area.”
Chloe felt her face fall. “Oh.”
So, it was as she had thought. Kaelar was leaving.
But Kaelar only smiled. “Since I’m not working,” he said, taking her face between his hands. “I thought I’d take the time to get to know my mate a bit better.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. “Your mate?”
“You, Chloe,” Kaelar said, pressing his forehead against hers, carefully avoiding his antlers. “You are my true mate. The only woman in the universe for me.”
Chloe felt her cheeks heat up. She stared at him. “Your true mate? How do you know that?”
“My antlers.” He tilted his head and ran a hand along one. “When you touch them, I can feel you. That only happens for a true mate. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before—there just never seemed to be a good time, with so much going on.”
Chloe shook her head in disbelief. “Just give me a moment,” she said. Her head was spinning, but one hopeful thought made itself present above all. “Does this mean I get to keep you?”
Kaelar chuckled. “You’d be hard-pressed to get rid of me.”
Chloe’s lips spread in a wide smile. A feeling of warmth suffused her.
“Not that I’d want to,” she said.
She reached up to touch his antlers, watching his eyes as she did so. Kaelar groaned slightly as her fingers brushed across them and his eyes closed.
“Chloe...”
He seemed to give up on words and pulled her in for a kiss. This one was less gentle and more fierce. Chloe sucked in a breath and their tongues entwined. Heat pooled between her legs and she wrapped her arms around Kaelar.
“I wish you could see yourself like this,” Kaelar said, his voice hoarse. “Your aura glowing with joy and desire.”
Chloe blushed. She may not be able to see auras, but she could see the desire in his gaze—and feel the hardness of his arousal against her body.
Kaelar captured her mouth again, hot and urgent, and Chloe kissed him back with just as much fervor. She leaned into the kiss, letting Kaelar lay her out on the couch. He hovered above her, their bodies touching everywhere. She reached for his shirt and tried to pull it over his head. That didn’t go so well with his antlers.
“Like this,” Kaelar said with a smile, starting to unbutton his shirt. “That’s why I wear buttoned-up shirts.” He winked as he unbuttoned his shirt fully and cast it aside, leaving Chloe free to explore his muscular chest and back with her hands.
Kaelar’s heart beat in time with the throbbing between her legs. It had been so long since Chloe had been with anyone. She suddenly felt like a hunger had been awakened inside her that had to be satisfied.
She bucked her hips up, trying to get some pressure on her clit. Kaelar ground down onto her in response, and Chloe gasped as his cock rubbed against her clit. His cock was already hard, but it seemed to harden even more at the delicious friction.
Kaelar started undressing Chloe, his breath hot in her ear. He pulled off her sweater and flicked off her bra, exposing her breasts. The gaze in his eyes was hungry, and he bent down, pressing kisses on her upper body, moving from her collar bone to her breasts and nipples.
“Beautiful,” Kaelar murmured between kisses. “My mate.”
Chloe squirmed under his ministrations, feeling his hot kisses on her skin. Her hands moved to his jeans and she opened the button, tugging them down. Kaelar helped her along and pulled them down fully, freeing his cock.
It was big and veiny, and Chloe’s eyes rounded at the sight. She could feel the wetness between her legs and she rubbed her thighs together in invitation.
Kaelar picked her up from the couch, carrying her to the bedroom as if she weighed nothing. There, he laid her down on the sheets of her bed.
He started pulling off her pants, and when they were both naked and panting against each other, he kissed her again. Their tongues danced together until Chloe had to break away to catch her breath. Kaelar pushed a knee between her legs and she parted them eagerly for him.
Her hands found his antlers again and Kaelar gasped. She loved the sounds he made when she caressed his antlers and resolved to elicit more of those sounds. Moments later, she forgot all about this resolution, because Kaelar was slowly pushing a finger into her core.
Chloe pushed eagerly against him, urging him deep
er.
“Another,” she whispered, her voice hoarse.
“My mate is greedy.” Kaelar smiled. He kissed her again before adding a second finger.
Chloe moaned as he started pumping in and out of her. Her clit throbbed and the friction felt so good. She moved her hips with him in an increasingly desperate rhythm, the pleasure building up inside her.
She whined in protest when Kaelar pulled out, but he didn’t leave her empty for long. He positioned himself so that his cock was right at her entrance. His eyes met hers, sparkling with heat, and Chloe nodded.
She gasped as Kaelar started to push into her. He filled her oh, so deliciously, and she thought that she might faint with pleasure. Slowly, he started thrusting in and out of her, one hand holding her butt to bring them closer and another teasing her nipples.
He took her mouth in a fervent kiss again, and Chloe clamped her legs around him. She was making helpless grunting noises that weren’t at all attractive, but she couldn’t help it. He felt so good inside her.
Kaelar moved his hand down to her clit. Electric sparks moved along her spine, and Chloe cried out loudly, her muscles tightening. She knew she was going to come soon and she wanted Kaelar to finish with her.
Reaching for his antlers with both hands, she ran her thumbs firmly up and down as much of them as she could reach. Kaelar groaned in pleasure, picking up his speed as he thrust into her, all the while rubbing circles on her clit.
Pleasure built inside Chloe, and soon, she was hanging on the edge. He thrust into her one more time and she could feel herself careening over it. Her inner muscles contracted deliciously on his cock, and she came with a gasp.
Kaelar followed right after her, shouting as his cock pulsed inside her.
Chloe clutched his shoulders as the two of them came down, sweaty and sated. She wriggled into a more comfortable position in his arms and rested her head on his shoulder.
“My mate.” Kaelar kissed her on the forehead, a satisfied expression on his face.
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