An Alien Easter: Zerconian Warriors

By Sadie Carter

It's Easter time...
But like all things on Zerconia, holidays are never simple. There's mayhem and danger. Chocolate and mystery.
And Jack dressed as a giant rabbit.

Please note: This is not a standalone. To fully enjoy this novella you need to have read the previous books in this bestselling series. Some storylines in this book continue on in Alien Conquest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sadie Carter
• Release date: Apr 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393019268

Book preview

1

Ellie and Racar

I need to speak to Ellie! It’s a national emergency!

Ellie froze, in the middle of icing a batch of cupcakes. Worry filled her. A national emergency? Why would the Empress be in her bakery, asking for her, because of an emergency? She wiped her hands down on her apron and raced into the front part of her bakery.

She still couldn’t believe she owned her own bakery. With the help of her friends and Racar, she’d achieved a dream she hadn’t thought possible. Life had certainly changed in these past few months. A business of her own, doing something she loved, a safe, stable home, and the universe’s hunkiest man as her mate.

Life couldn’t get much better, right?

Only now there was some sort of national emergency and the Empress needed her help? What was going on?

Empress Zoey? Is everything all right? she asked, staring over at the blonde woman. Zoey looked hot, uncomfortable, and very, very pregnant.

She didn’t say that, of course. That would be rude.

Whoa, are you sure there’s only one baby in there? Blue blurted out from where she stood behind the front counter.

Ellie turned to glare at her. What was she thinking? Did she really need to point out how big the Empress’s belly was? Ellie didn’t usually let Blue work the front counter. She didn’t have great people skills or any people skills at all really, but Sophie’s little girl had had a tough night, so she’d asked for the day off. Of course, Ellie had said yes. Sophie was an amazing employee and friend. She just hoped her little girl Marnie was feeling better.

The Empress suddenly burst into tears. Ellie froze. Oh God. Shit. Crap. Her heart raced. Blue had made the Empress of Zerconia cry. The Emperor was going to kill them all. Slowly. Torturously. Everyone knew how much Zerconian males hated when their mates cried.

She took a slow step back and gestured frantically at Blue, who was staring at Zoey with equal parts shock and fascination.

Are you trying to get us killed? Ellie hissed at Blue.

It was an honest question. She could be pregnant with twins. Blue eyed Zoey. Or triplets.

Zoey wailed louder. Blue’s eyes widened and the few people who were in the bakery left hastily.

Maybe. . .I’ll just. . .head out the back. . . Blue took a few steps back.

Ellie turned and pointed at her. Freeze!

She whirled around and looked over at Zoey’s dark-skinned bodyguard worriedly, wondering if he was about to arrest them, drag them back to the Emperor, and have them tortured. He just stared back at her impassively. He could have been a statue for how much emotion he showed.

Have they all gone? Zoey whispered.

Um, what?

Ellie blinked. Who, Empress?

Zoey raised her face from where she’d had it buried in her hands and looked around. She let out a deep breath and wiped her cheeks clean. Ellie turned to look at Blue, who stared back with wide eyes, shrugging her shoulders. She had no more clue about what was going on than Ellie did.

Good. They’ve all cleared out. I didn’t want anyone else around. Zoey turned to frown at Boris. Her hands landed on her hips as she tapped her foot. You’re losing it. What happened to the terrifying glare that would send people running within a three-block radius?

The man didn’t even move. As far as Ellie could see, he didn’t even blink.

Is he okay, Empress? she asked, keeping one eye on Boris.

What? Who? Boris? He’s fine. He’s probably just contemplating ways of murdering me and getting rid of my body. What he doesn’t realize is that his life would be incredibly boring without me in it.

Hm. Boris didn’t look convinced of that.

And call me Zoey. After all, you’re about to become my new best friend.

The dark-skinned man snorted. The Empress turned to glare at him. Hush, Boris. Your input isn’t necessary.

Ellie’s eyebrows rose. Zoey was the Empress of Zerconia, but still, Ellie thought she was either really brave or really foolhardy to speak to Boris that way.

Your new best friend? Isn’t Mila your best friend? Nothing has happened to her, has it? Was that the national emergency? But how would that have anything to do with Ellie? She barely knew Mila and Zoey.

Mila? Why would I be here if something was wrong with Mila? Zoey asked. She had no idea, but then, she also had no clue what was going on. Mila is fine. I mean, Dex is having a conniption over the way Quentan has claimed Elodie, so if Koran wasn’t his best friend, he may have already deported them all, but otherwise, she’s good.

Deported them? Holy shit.

Is that why you, ah, wanted everyone to leave? So, you could talk about this national emergency? What is it? Are you all right? Ellie asked her. And how the hell could she help? Then something occurred to her. Zoey must be close to giving birth. Did she need a healer? Do you want me to get Racar? But Moroco was the Empress’s official healer. Wouldn’t she contact him?

Not unless he knows how to make chocolate, Zoey told her.

Chocolate?

Um, I don’t believe he would know that.

No, I didn’t expect he would. That’s okay, because you have a plan for Easter, right? Zoey asked, rubbing her hands together above her big belly.

Easter? Ellie asked, trying to catch up.

Wait, is this national emergency about Easter? Blue asked incredulously.

Zoey frowned and Ellie sent Blue a chiding look. She’d already made the Empress cry once. Although now it seemed as though Zoey had turned on the tears to clear out the bakery.

This was all rather confusing. But from what she understood, things often were confusing when the Empress was involved.

Yes, this is about Easter. Okay, so it’s not officially a national emergency, but it’s an emergency to me. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m pregnant.

Oh, they’d noticed.

And I’ve run out of chocolate.

Okay, she was beginning to see the issue.

"And it’s nearly Easter! So I’m just checking you’ve got a plan in place to create some Easter eggs. Chocolate Easter eggs, none of those eggs made from icing bullshit, and I want to be first on the list to buy some. There’s got to be some perks