Jett: Alien Adoption Agency #8 Read online

  Mate, the dragon insisted once more.

  But Jett wasn’t so sure.

  5

  Madeline

  Madeline watched as Jett opened the door to her new home.

  After the long journey it was hard to take in yet another new idea - the idea that this whole house would belong to her and Taj.

  Back home on Terra-13, there were a few wealthy business owners who owned substantial property. But a person like Madeline could never have expected to own property at all, let alone her very own standalone house with a pretty garden, right next to the church and across the street from a park.

  Warmth greeted them and the first thing she noticed was a crackling fireplace, flanked by built-in shelves overflowing with old fashioned holo-readers and pretty pottery.

  She stepped onto the wide plank floor and spun around, unable to believe her eyes.

  There were big cozy chairs and colorful rugs, and a kitchen open to the rest of the space, with shining appliances. Above the main rooms of the cottage were two loft spaces, one open with a nursery set up in it, and another that was closed off. A catwalk along the left side of the house joined the two.

  “It’s small, but it should have everything you need,” Jett said.

  “It’s incredible,” Madeline breathed. “This is just for us?”

  “For you and the baby, yes,” he agreed.

  “What about you?” she asked.

  “While he’s small, I’ll sleep on the floor of his nursery,” Jett said. “When he’s old enough, I’ll set up a tent outside so I can still keep a sharp eye out.”

  “Outside?” Madeline echoed in horror. “It’s freezing on this moon.”

  “I’m a dragon,” he said, shrugging. “The cold doesn’t affect me much. Are you hungry?”

  “Starving,” she groaned. It had been a long day, and they’d done a lot of walking. She could worry about him wanting to sleep outside another day.

  “Go get acclimated,” he told her, holding out his arms for the baby. “Taj and I will start supper.”

  “Really?” she asked. He was a soldier, here for the baby. It didn’t feel right to let him handle dinner. But she also couldn’t pretend that she wasn’t exhausted, starving, and a terrible cook.

  “It’s my pleasure,” he said, chuckling.

  She soaked in his rare smile. She had known it would be beautiful when it emerged, and she was right.

  “Go, check out your room,” he urged her.

  She handed the baby over, and headed for the spiral staircase that led up to the closed loft.

  At the top, she opened the door to find a bedroom out of a storybook. A large bed with blankets and pillows in shades of white took up the center of the room. A wall of windows at the back and a large skylight let in the fiery twilight. A small table with two chairs and a small bookshelf against the near wall completed the room.

  She opened the door next to the bed and found a bathroom with a closet attached.

  Unable to resist the lure of a shower after her long day, she slung her bag onto the bed and pawed through it for a change of clothes.

  A few minutes later, she padded downstairs again, feeling clean and fresh.

  The whole house smelled heavenly, and Jett’s deep voice was speaking softly.

  As soon as he stopped talking, Taj let out a string of happy nonsense.

  Madeline smiled to herself. She could get used to this life.

  If only there wasn’t a church next door and a teaching job she knew nothing about.

  Was it possible to teach toddlers without training? How much could they possibly know already? Not enough to trip her up, hopefully. And maybe the shelves in the living room held at least one book about early childhood development?

  “Ready for dinner?” Jett called to her as she got to the bottom of the steps.

  “Very ready,” she agreed, deciding not to worry about anything else tonight. “It smells amazing.”

  “Thank you,” he told her. “I wanted something quick, so I whipped up an Invicta specialty.”

  “Are those pancakes?” she asked, joining him in the kitchen and admiring the golden-brown cakes in the pan.

  “We call them flat cakes,” he told her. “But yes. Along with eggs and stewed fruits, they are easy to prepare in the field, and nourishing.”

  “Can I help?” she asked.

  “Everything is almost ready,” he told her. “Just relax.”

  “Taj and I can set the table,” she told him.

  “Taj already had his supper and a fresh nappy,” Jett said. “I think he’s ready for bed.”

  Sure enough, the little one chose that exact moment to yawn.

  “Come on, my love,” Madeline told him. “Let’s get you to bed.”

  “The nursery set up looks just fine,” Jett said. “If you want to take him, I think he’ll cooperate.”

  “Of course,” Madeline said, taking the little one.

  He rested his head in the crook of her neck as she snuggled him close.

  Was she really supposed to put him in a cradle? It didn’t seem right to leave him by himself. Surely it was better to curl up with him and snuggle him close all night.

  But everything the agency had taught her implied that the baby needed to learn the skill of sleeping by himself.

  “You’re just so small,” she murmured to him as she carried him up the stairs to his nursery.

  Soft furs lined the cradle, but she was relieved to see it was a modern model with sensors and alarms, in case he managed to pull a fur over his head or try to use it to climb out. It also had a full soothing component.

  She sat in the armchair beside the cradle and soaked in the feeling of the little one in her arms for a bit longer.

  At last, she brushed a kiss on the top of his sweet fuzzy head, and lowered him into the cradle.

  He whimpered, and his lower lip stuck out and trembled.

  “Oh, my darling,” Madeline said. “I’m here, and I will stay with you until you feel relaxed.”

  She brushed her thumb over his forehead and smiled down at him reassuringly.

  He burst into real tears and made running motions with his arms and legs to show her he wanted to come out.

  “Now this won’t do,” she told him sternly. “Get yourself together. You’re an Atwater now, and Atwaters don’t cry.”

  She and her sister had offered each other that same advice so many times over the years.

  But it didn’t work for Taj. The poor angel didn’t have a twin to help him be brave. He was all alone.

  Tears wet his eyelashes as he cried like his heart was broken.

  “I don’t care what those idiots at the agency said,” she said to herself, lifting him out. “Babies are meant to be loved and comforted. You’ll go to sleep when you’re ready.”

  He calmed down immediately when he was in her arms, and burrowed into her neck again, grasping her apron in his chubby fist, as if to ensure she couldn’t put him down again without a fight.

  “Ah, but you don’t know your daddy’s special trick,” she told him.

  She was pretty sure their dinner was getting cold, but holding her son felt good, better than any meal.

  “Go on and eat without me,” she called down to Jett. “We just need a few more minutes.”

  “Everything is in the warmer,” he said. “Take your time.”

  It was hard not to notice that he hadn’t even raised his voice slightly. The place had good acoustics. But they would have to stay quiet at night if they didn’t want to wake the baby.

  After a minute or two, Taj loosened his grip on her, and his breathing evened out. Though Madeline couldn’t see his face she was pretty sure he was sleeping now.

  She held him just a bit longer and then eased him into the cradle again, keeping her hand on his belly so he wouldn’t feel lonely and wake up as he wiggled into a cozy position.

  “Gentle sleep,” she told the cradle.

  It promptly began to slowly rock. The sound of rain issued from invisible speakers. Hopefully, this would mean she and Jett could eat and clean up their supper without waking the boy.

  She tiptoed back to the staircase and descended quietly.

  “Sorry,” she said to Jett, who was washing up the pan. “It doesn’t feel right to let him cry.”

  “Of course not,” he said. “Whelps need to feel safe and comfortable.”

  She smiled at him.

  He gazed at her with the strangest expression for a moment, then turned to the warmer.

  “I hope you’ll enjoy your dinner,” he said, pulling out two plates.

  She took hers from him, and they headed over to the small table and sat.

  The cottage was quiet, save for the soft sounds of Taj’s cradle soothing program.

  “It’s so peaceful,” Madeline said, still unable to believe that this was now their home.

  “Do you think you can be happy here?” Jett asked her. His dark eyes were intense again.

  “Of course,” she said. “Who wouldn’t be happy here?”

  He only scowled at his dinner.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  Even as the words left her mouth, it was as if she already knew. There was something between them, almost like they had a history, though they had only met today. What was happening to her?

  He looked back up at her, his gaze intensifying.

  It had been so long since she had really wanted a man…

  “I need to talk with you about something important,” he said. “But first, I have a few questions.”

  He was so handsome, even his deep voice stirred something inside her.

  “Questions about what?” she asked, begging her brain to follow instead of melting along with her body the longer she looked at
him.

  “Your… apron,” he said. “That means you are more than just a believer. You have made a promise of some kind?”

  Great rings of Salamonn, the stupid apron. She was shivering in a puddle of unrequited lust while he asked about religion.

  “It shows my dedication to the good faith,” she said, looking down at her plate.

  “You have agreed to certain… restrictions then?” he asked carefully.

  “I cannot marry,” she recited, remembering her sister’s words. “I am married to my duty to serve others, to honor the works of the saints.”

  He nodded once and then took a bite of his dinner.

  She watched in awe as he took another bite and another, and then washed it all down with a swig of water. Then he scooped another serving of eggs onto his plate.

  “So, what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked, when it was clear that he was finished asking questions.

  He looked up at her, his eyes smoldering.

  Then he blinked and turned his attention back to his plate.

  “Nothing,” he said, and then took another bite.

  She looked down at her own plate. Suddenly, all the golden cakes, fresh eggs and stewed utaberries didn’t seem so delicious anymore.

  Taking over her sister’s identity and adopting Taj had felt like the right idea from the moment the thought occurred to her. She had harbored no doubts throughout the training program, or the arduous journey here.

  She wasn’t Maggie, and she didn’t have her history. But dedicating her life to Maggie’s legacy felt right. Why shouldn’t Madeline do some good in the world? Why shouldn’t she dedicate herself to the little boy up in the cradle?

  Madeline might not have her sister’s pure hearted goodness, but she had never done anyone deliberate harm. She had been looking forward to redefining herself in light of her new life.

  But somehow, Jett’s quick assessment of her made her see all the ways in which she had been wrong.

  He seemed to sense the lie in her, and he was obviously disappointed by it.

  And he didn’t even know she was lusting after him. It was as if the only thing she had to do to start noticing men again was put on the apron.

  But why would he care if she married or not? Maybe he thought she should marry to provide for the boy, but it looked like they had an enviable set-up already. There was no need for another income.

  She glanced up from her plate, trying to guess at what was troubling him.

  Gods, but he was handsome.

  A horrible thought hit her like a boulder falling out of the sky.

  What if he did know that she wanted him?

  Dragons were supposed to have heightened senses. What if he judged her for lusting after him in spite of the vows she told him she had made?

  He stood up suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and his expression as gruff as before.

  “I’m going to get some rest,” he said.

  She watched him wash out his dish and jog up the spiral stairs to join Taj in his nursery.

  There was nothing to do but clean up after herself and head up to bed.

  She wiped down the kitchen and then headed upstairs, taking her time unpacking her few items and changing into her pajamas.

  Secretly, she hoped Jett might knock on the door and talk to her about whatever it was he wanted to discuss before. Even more secretly, she hoped he would pay her a visit that didn’t involve talking.

  But after a few more minutes, she was still alone.

  So, she lay in her new, too-comfortable bed and gazed at the stars through the skylight.

  Terra-13 was so far away that she could never hope to identify it among the glittering bodies in the velvet sky.

  Suddenly, the stars disappeared behind a curtain of clouds and the windows began to rattle.

  She slipped out of bed and scurried to the bank of windows overlooking the plains and the mountains beyond.

  A massive storm had descended, Snow swirled, and she couldn’t see the plains, let alone the Chocolate Mountains.

  Like the Invicta warrior resting in the loft opposite hers, Atropos was unpredictable and dangerous. And no matter how beautiful the village and the view, Madeline was going to be living at the whim of its towering nature.

  She watched the storm until the window frosted over.

  Then she padded back to bed, where she stared up at the snow-covered skylight for a long time before sleep finally took her.

  6

  Madeline

  Madeline waited outside the wooden doors of the church again the next morning as Jett stood on the street below, looking up at her with a sleepy Taj in his arms. His posture told her he was in full warrior mode, alert to any danger.

  But the cozy little town seemed to have no real dangers to speak of, except maybe the chance of slipping on an icy walkway.

  Or the danger of everyone finding out she was a total fraud and sending her away in shame. But she didn’t think the burly dragon warrior could protect her from that. In fact, she thought he might be the one who would blow the whistle on her, if he ever learned the truth. He seemed to be a pretty by-the-books kind of guy.

  She pushed those thoughts aside and glanced around.

  A layer of crisp snow was underfoot this morning, but given how harsh the storm was last night, the aftereffects in the village were surprisingly few.

  Madeline suspected the ridge that separated the town from the plains might have shielded them from the worst of the winds. Which she figured was probably why the settlement had been built here in the first place.

  The doors creaked open, and Peerta slipped through them to join Madeline outside.

  “You don’t need to come to the main door tomorrow,” Peerta told her. “Come on, I’ll walk you around to the school entrance.”

  They headed down the stairs together, Madeline offering Peerta her arm.

  “Thank you, dear,” Peerta quavered. “The snow and ice are dangerous for my old bones.”

  When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Peerta stopped to address Jett.

  “Hello, young man,” she said. “I’m glad to see you, but that baby of yours is too young for school.”

  “Good morning, madam,” Jett said politely. “We’re just here to be sure Madeline finds her way to work.”

  “Come on, then,” Peerta said. “You might as well see the classroom.”

  The church’s pretty garden was covered with a few inches of bright snow this morning, but a woman ahead of them was already shoveling a narrow path through it.

  They caught up to her as she was about to clear the last foot or so before a brightly painted yellow door.

  “Oh,” the young woman said in a surprised way. She wore a coat as red as the blade of her shovel. “Hello, there. I’m Irmaht.”

  “Nice to meet you, Irmaht,” Madeline said. “I’m M… Sister Atwater.”

  “Oh, I know who you are,” Irmaht said immediately. “And that’s your boy you adopted. And that’s…”

  “Jett,” He supplied helpfully. “I’m the baby’s guard. His name is Taj.”

  “Taj,” Irmaht cooed. “You’ll be coming to school here in not too many more years.”

  Taj leaned his head back against Jett’s chest, shyly observing Irmaht with his big eyes.

  “Well, I guess you want to get inside and see what you’re working with,” Irmaht enthused to Madeline.

  “Yes, that sounds great,” Madeline told her.

  In fact, the classroom was about the last place in the system she wanted to be. But she couldn’t think of any way to avoid it, so there was no use fighting it. She figured if she could just stay out of the way and follow the usual teacher’s lead, everything would be just fine. How hard could it be?

  Irmaht opened the yellow door with a flourish, revealing the most cheerful space Madeline had ever seen. It was almost pleasant enough to make her forget that she didn’t belong there.

  Almost.

  Inside, pale wood floors were covered in colorful rugs and mats with numbers and letters on them. Small tables and chairs had been lined up against a wall of windows. The opposite wall was covered from corner to corner in brightly painted wooden shelves that housed toys, games, costumes and other equipment.

  Though there were doors marked as bathrooms, there was also a large counter with a sink in it right in the classroom.

  “There’s a convection box too,” Irmaht said, noticing Madeline’s eyes on the sink. “We like to bake and cook with them sometimes.”