Page 49 of Craved By the Alien Beast

“It’s a long story. When you’re up for a scary tale, I’ll share it.”

She said so many confusing things, yet I found her exciting to speak with. I wanted to hear all about her world and talk to her about mine.

“You thank your gods and that makes them happy,” she said with a sigh. “How can you tell this makes them feel good?”

“They glow.”

Her breath caught. “I don’t believe I’ve seen that.”

“You did last night.”

“You mean . . . That’s right. I thought it was something like the northern lights.” She explained what she meant.

“I believe, my pretty mate, you will see these lights again tonight.”

“I can’t wait.”

I had six days left, and she was eager to experience things in my world.

It was a start.

Chapter 25

Vanessa

We bathed and returned to our home, finding the bedding tidied, Aizor’s loincloth he’d tossed on the floor last night . . . absorbed. And snacks waiting on a crystal plate.

“I believe your people are the true gods here, not the other way around.”

His bright laughter rang out.

I slumped on the bed furs, gaping up at him. Damn, he was gorgeous when he laughed. Why hadn’t I seen how handsome he was right from the start? The attacking creature may have distracted me, but Aizor . . .

I’d thought him beastly, and I supposed he was in an alien sort of way. But he was my beast, a very sexy one. I was glad I could see it now. I wasn’t ready to make my decision—it hadn’t been enough time—but boy, it would be tough to leave Zuldrux. No, it would be torturous to leave Aizor.

“We’re not the gods here,” he said, still chuckling.

“They cater to your every wish.”

“Not all. We ask, and many times, we don’t receive what we wish for.”

“Why not?”

“They decide.”

“Okay.” Could I learn what the crystal aliens provided and what they didn’t and find a way to fill the gap? Not with disposable items. Who needed trash lying around in this pristine world? But . . . “If I stay, I can’t sit around doing nothing.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” He joined me on the furs, placing the bowl between us. He picked up and ate a pink crystal ball the size of a large marble, crunching through it. He laid other bowls holding small, odd crystal objects in various colors near the first bowl.

I lifted and licked one, finding it tasted vaguely like a grape. When in Rome . . . I popped it into my mouth and ground it with my teeth, enjoying the burst of flavors enough to grab a thin blue thing half the length of a pencil and about as thick. “I had a job back on Earth. I was a cook. You don’t need a cook here, not when your gods will craft any dish you ask for.” My shoulders slumped.

“We do prepare our meat dishes, but that’s Muzzire’s favorite task.”

“He’s the grumpy one, right?”

He nodded.

“I wouldn’t want to encroach on his territory, but I love to prepare meals for people,” I said. “I was studying to be a chef. I had this big old dream about one day owning my own restaurant, of crafting exquisite dishes my customers would rave about.”

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