Ashley loves living on the alien planet of Beshtast. Nestled in a human outpost, Ashley experiments with all the new and different foods, cares for the chetta and her fellow pioneers, and lives a safe and quiet life. The only disruption to her tranquil life is Tal—the recluse alien who lives in the barn. He barely speaks, and seems more irritated by her than anything else. Still, something about him calls to her. When the seasons change, and the crops run low, Ashley decides to travel to some of the small villages in Beshtast. She hopes she will learn new skills that she can bring back to the HuManor in time for the holidays. She doesn't expect Tal to volunteer to join her. Can she keep her feelings to herself? Tal has never liked other people very much. Since his time on the training fields, he has always preferred to keep to himself. But when he meets Ashley, everything begins to change. She is so tender, so kind, and so damn sexy. He lies awake in the barn, thinking of her. When she decides to journey deeper into Beshtast to explore, he volunteers to accompany her. He has no plan; he just knows he cannot be apart from her. But sharing a bed with her is starting to prove more tempting than he could have anticipated. Ashley and Tal's story is a holiday novella by Juniper Kerry. It is a short story that fits well within the larger Warriors of the Augur Nebula series. This Christmas novella features steamy romance, no cheating, and a happily ever after.