Page 22 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

“Ah.” He nodded slowly. “Some sort of sign, then.”

“The sign.”

“Do you want to swim in the river with me sometime, Amanda?” Cresar asked, and I was grateful he was taking Bork’s attention away from the bare back of my hadn.

“I’d love to.” She shot me a smile that made my heart flip over. “As long as there are no jevecks in the depths to bite my toes.”

“Not at all,” he said. “A few little fish might nibble on your feet, but most will leave you alone.”

“How big a fish are we talking about?” she asked.

Cresar lifted his hands, holding them a forearm’s length apart. “About this big.”

“Oh.” Her breathing hitched. “Will you protect me if one of them bites?”

Cresar’s chest puffed. He was still rather scrawny when compared to a full-grown male, but he’d broaden as he aged. “I will.”

“I will as well.” I’d stand guard on the shore while she swam, then walk with her and Cresar back through the forest. I’d remain with her until she was safely inside our shroom once more.

“I’d love to go swimming with you,” Amanda said.

“Thanks,” he breathed.

So few paid much attention to Cresar. He was a youngling, someone to be disregarded in favor of an adult. The fact that she took time and listened to him meant a lot to me.

It would be very easy to fall in love with Amanda.

Chapter 8

Amanda

“Bork and Cresar are nice,” I said. I shifted the communication crystal to my other hand, squeezing it tight. Wouldn’t want to lose it.

“Despite Cresar questioning your appearance and my gruff traedor, you will be welcome here.”

For how long?

I shrugged off my worry about being kicked out of the village. If Xax felt I’d like it here, I’d trust in that. He knew his clan where I didn’t.

Since he seemed concerned about Cresar pressing me about my appearance, I gave Xax a smile. “Cresar’s sweet. Children speak what’s in their hearts. They don’t filter their words. They rarely lie, well, unless they eat the last cookie in the jar, but who can blame them for hiding something like that? My point is, I respect his honesty. I like him. And I can’t wait to go swimming with him.” As long as we could avoid the foot-long fish.

Unless a mafia boss was trying to kill me, I wasn’t the nervous kind. I’d faced down guys with switchblades on the streets. Outran someone trying to grab me. A few fish wouldn’t scare me.

“I appreciate you saying that.” He tapped on the shroom stem again, and when the door was revealed, he urged me to enter ahead of him.

I was surprisingly eager to see what his home looked like, and not only because this place fascinated me. I was curious to see how Xax lived. Did he leave dirty dishes around or did he keep his place spotless? Oh, yeah, right. He said his god cleaned up after him.

Now I wanted to see how that worked.

“Does your god have a physical form?” I asked as I stepped inside the stem. The walls were creamy white and appeared squishy like the inside of a slice of cake, but when I touched them, they felt like the flesh of an apple. Firm yet moist. I wasn’t sure how I felt about being inside a living plant.

The outer doors closed, leaving us in muted light. At least it wasn’t totally dark. The floor shifted, and we gently rose.

“It’s an elevator.” I explained what that was. If I remained here, would I eventually forget about computers, cell phones, and extra bergamot Earl Grey tea? I’d miss the latter most of all.

Although, I wouldn’t miss the nine-to-five grind, let alone a boss who wanted to kill me.

If I remained here, I wouldn’t have to worry about saving for retirement or paying bills.

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