Invaded (Alienated, #2)(3)

“Merry Christmas!” Mom called, waving from her seat atop Dad’s lap. They had settled on the magnolia-festooned living room sofa, and Dad wore a jolly red sweater that clashed with his orange hair. It was a cornucopia of tackiness, but Cara had never beheld a more beautiful sight.

If she listened closely, she could just make out Bing Crosby’s buttery voice crooning “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” which was kind of ironic, considering. She returned the greeting along with Troy, then held up her nutrition bar. “Did you finish dinner? I thought we could eat together.”

“Oh,” Mom said, “we got takeout from the Szechuan place down the street.” Her cherry lips curved in a smile, but she couldn’t hide the sadness in her voice. “Didn’t seem right, cooking a big meal for just the two of us.”

Cara wilted and tossed aside her packet. “I hate these protein bars anyway.”

“I can barely see you,” Mom said. “Why are you sitting in the dark?”

Troy pulled his laptop closer and adjusted the settings to brighten the screen. “They’re pretty frugal with energy here.”

“Good for them,” Dad piped up. “Now lean in so I can get a closer look.” Cara and Troy obeyed, pressing their cheeks together to let Dad scrutinize them. Dad nodded in approval until his gaze settled on Troy. “When’re you going to cut that hair, Rapunzel? I can’t believe your CO lets you wear the uniform when you look like that.”

Troy’s hand darted to the loose black curls—identical to Mom’s—that brushed the tops of his shoulders. His hair was almost long enough to wear in a low ponytail like the L’eihrs did. Wrinkling his brow, he argued, “When in Rome…”

“Get a trim,” Dad said, then turned his attention to Cara. A grin broke out across his face. “Pepper, I can’t get used to the sight of you in that L’eihr getup. You remind me of those little fan girls who wear costumes and dye their skin brown.”

“L’annabes,” Mom supplied with a soft snort.

“Yeah, that’s it.”

Self-consciously, Cara smoothed down the front of her tunic. She couldn’t get used to wearing the uniform, either, or pulling her auburn waves into the same low braid every day. She missed her jeans and scoop-necked sweaters, not to mention her leather riding boots and double-barrel curling iron.

But saving Earth was worth the sacrifice. And so was Aelyx.

Clearly Dad’s thoughts traveled on the same wavelength. “You hear from Aelyx lately?”

“He called a couple days ago,” she said. “He’s staying with the ambassador in Manha—” She cut off as a miniature white ball of fur pattered into the hologram and hopped onto Mom’s lap. It looked like an overgrown hamster. Cara extended a finger. “What’s that?”

Mom cuddled the fluffball against her cheek and made smoochy noises at it. “Say hello to your new baby brother, Linus. He’s a German-Malty-Doodle-Poo.” Then she spoke directly to her furbaby. “Who’s Mommy’s little sweetums? You are! Yes, you are!”

What in the ever-loving hell was a German-Malty-Doodle-Poo?

“We adopted him from the shelter,” Dad explained, not sounding pleased. “I think your mother’s got Empty Nest Syndrome.”

Mom elbowed him in the ribs while Cara exchanged a puzzled glance with Troy.

“But I’m allergic to dogs, remember?” Cara said. “What happens when we come home to visit?”

Mom waved a dismissive hand. “That won’t be for ages.”

“Uh, actually…” Troy began, then stopped to clear his throat. “I’ll be home sooner than I expected. Colonel Rutter’s calling me back to Earth. I got orders yesterday.”

Cara almost sprained her neck whipping around to face him. “What?”

Troy took a defensive tone. “I only came to L’eihr because of the student exchange program, and now they’re saying it’s over. The other two humans won’t come because they’re scared. The Marines want me to report back to—”

“When?” Cara demanded.

He couldn’t meet her gaze. “Two weeks.”

Cara wiped her sweaty palms on her pants. No, this couldn’t be right. The Marines had agreed to station Troy here for two years, until the original exchange students—herself included—returned home. If he left now, she’d be alone. The only human on a planet full of mankind-loathing L’eihrs. She had exaggerated on the blog when she’d referred to her “friends.” Only one clone aboard the transport gave her the time of day, and that was Aelyx’s sister.

Troy was undeniably a horse’s ass, but he was her horse’s ass, and she loved him. There had to be a way to keep him with her. He could go AWOL. What were the Marines going to do, court-martial him from Earth?

“No,” she told him with a firm shake of her head. “You can’t go. The program isn’t over. I’m still here, and…” I need you.

“But that’s the thing,” Troy said. “You’re an official colonist now, not an exchange student. When the year’s over, you’re staying on L’eihr. Like, forever.”

“Pepper,” Mom said tentatively, “if you’re not happy there, you can come home with your brother.”