Four Beneath the Mistletoe

Sara Jean pulled on her knee-high boots as she prepared to head out. She had ten minutes to get her ass down to the foreign dignitary's reception suite, known as the DRS, a good fifteen-minute walk from her own quarters. As usual, she would be late. She would have liked to say it was because she'd overslept; to be honest she hated playing tour guide to the masses of alien visitors that arrived at the invitation of the federation. Most were rude and spoke to her as though she were a servant.


Giving one last quick look in the mirror, Sara Jean grabbed her ID and exited, with no clue who she might be meeting. Most of the time, the chief liaison officer provided her with paperwork when she drew this duty, so Sara Jean could easily prepare for whomever needed to be shown about the space station. She would know whether to look them in the eye or keep her head lowered, if she was allowed to speak directly or needed to hold her tongue. The heads-up would also clue her in on whether she needed to dress like a nun covered in layers of heavy fabric, as with some of the visitors from planets where the females were subservient to the males. Unfortunately, for this unplanned visit she had nothing.


The corridors were already packed as she hastened to her destination; with the holiday season upon them most people were out searching for gifts for their significant others and family members. Sara Jean was alone here, which might be why she drew this duty on Christmas Eve.


She had spent her entire life on the various federation space stations, so it'd seemed an obvious choice to sign on for service when she reached the age of eighteen. This was her third station in the past eight years since her mother's death, and for the most part she found one station pretty much the same as the next. A self-proclaimed introvert, Sara Jean spent most evenings watching life rather than jumping in with both feet and becoming an active participant. It was safer to be alone than risk being left behind when the federation called friends or family to service elsewhere. Her mother's sorrow and torment at her husband's choice to leave his family behind had taught her that.


This particular station had been her so-called home for three years now. When the position as junior liaison and supply services officer opened up at the midsized security station, Sara Jean thought it might hold more opportunity to eliminate the restlessness she'd felt; too bad that turned out not to be the case. If anything, she was more restive than ever before.


Pushing her way through the hallways, Sara Jean grumbled under her breath. She hated the feeling of being squished like a sardine in a can, and with over three thousand on board a space station designed for housing only twenty-five hundred it was a pretty good analogy. The only thing good about being stuck with so many people was it allowed her to experience a multitude of cultures continuously. Christmas was a prime example. The halls and common rooms, decorated to express the beliefs of various people, sported holly, trees, and multiple candles. Several of the rooms also contained small groups of children playing with dreidels while snacking on milk and small jam-filled donuts known as sufganiyot.


Passing the level five club, the alcohol and party location for those who called this level home, Sara Jean peeked in on the festivities and sighed, wishing she could just drop by for a shot or two of holiday comfort, maybe even find a warm body to spend the evening with. However, duty called as always, and she continued on her way.


When at last she reached the entry of the DRS, she glanced down at her watch; yep, late again. Running her hands through her shoulder-length hair and painting on her best smile, she ran her ID across the sensor and stepped through the doorway. Coming to a quick stop just inside, Sara Jean caught herself before allowing her mouth to drop open and a curse to escape her. Three large male Reignites stood talking to Commander Blake.


Reignites were notorious warriors known for vicious brutality to their enemies, but the fact they drank blood made people most fearful. Thankfully, they were federation allies. Still, the fact these men were walking about the station would be enough to keep some people from venturing far from their personal quarters. They were the living, breathing vampires of earth folklore, but without the aversion to sunlight or crosses. Of course, they were also some of the sexiest beings in the known universes. All of them were large and muscular, with features that rivaled the ancient Greek gods.


They were gorgeous, deadly, and all looking at her as if she were the feature entrée on the dinner menu.


"Ah, finally," Commander Blake said, shooting her a disapproving look, which he did regularly. "Lord Azek, may I present Lt. Sara Jean Yeager. She will serve your assemblage on your visit with us. If you need anything, simply ask. Lieutenant, this is Lord Azek, and his omegas, Turku and Pharos. They will be visiting with us for the next three days. I have assigned you to serve as their liaison."


A cold chill ran up Sara Jean's spine as the Reignite leader eyed her up and down with a slow, sensual grin on his lips. His bulging muscles and rugged good looks were everything a woman could want and then some. Too bad he showed those nasty sharp fangs when he smiled. She hadn't planned to play nursemaid for three days. So much for her plans to spend the Christmas holiday holed up somewhere, stuffing her face with cookies and complaining about her job.