Page 23 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

Health insurance.

“Do you have hospitals here?” I asked. “Doctors?”

“Our gods take care of our physical needs,” he said after I explained what I meant. “While we sleep, they rejuvenate us.”

As long as the process didn’t hurt, I’d try it out. Life was about exploring new things. Why wouldn’t I want to see what life on Zuldrux had to offer? Especially if that life came with Xax.

When had I started to like him? Maybe when he protected me and held me through the night and vowed to keep me safe. When he gently cupped the drettire baby. Or when he watched me interact with Cresar. Pride had shone on his face when I spoke kindly to the boy.

He’d listened to my wild conversation while walking in the woods. He’d saved me from the jevecks. He’d rolled me under a big log to keep me from being trampled by big blue triceratops.

Yes, he believed I was his mate, but I sensed he would’ve still done those things for me even if I wasn’t.

Where did that leave me?

I wasn’t sure, but as I followed him out of the shroom elevator, I wanted to find out.

We exited into a big open room with the upper part of the mushroom sloping down on two sides. Partitions projected from the floor to the ceiling on our left, the openings suggesting bedrooms or maybe a bathroom.

From a hook near the door, Xax lifted a strip of leather strung with a crystal like the one I held in my hand. He draped it over my head, the crystal hanging between my breasts.

“God?” he said, watching my face. “Please provide Amanda with new clothing.”

A swish, and a garment similar to the one I wore only untorn and clean appeared on the peg by the doors. He lifted it and handed it to me.

“That’s . . .” I swallowed hard, my eyes widening as I studied the new dress. “Where did that come from?”

“You heard me ask the god to craft it for you. It was woven from plant fibers like all of our clothing. If you’d like, I can turn while you remove your torn tunic and don the new.”

I shook my head, not quite believing what had just happened. “Okay, sure.”

He spun around, and I ditched the ragged garment I’d worn on the ship. After examining the tiny weave of the gown, I tugged it over my head and stuffed my arms through the sleeves, easing it down over my hips. It resembled a tank dress with capped sleeves. “You can look now.” When he faced me once more, he gifted me with a smile that made my insides melt. I tugged on the hem. “It’s pretty.” Peering up at the top of the shroom, I lifted my voice. “Thank you, god!”

A glow erupted overhead and faded.

“Whoa,” I said, reaching out to press my palm against the wall, bracing myself as if we’d just felt the beginning of an earthquake. “It heard me.”

“Why wouldn’t it when you spoke directly to it?”

“This is going to take some getting used to.” I pinched my torn nightie, holding it up. “What should I do with this?”

“Drop it.”

“That’s a guy thing.”

He laughed, though I bet he wasn’t sure what I meant. “Drop it.”

“If you say so.” It fluttered to the floor and was quickly absorbed. Stooping down, I placed my hand on the floor that felt as squishy as the inside of my cheek. “Where did it go?”

“The god took it.”

“Will it come back clean and sewn together?”

“If you ask it to do this for you.”

“You can keep it,” I called out to the ceiling as I straightened. “I don’t need it any longer.” Sashaying in a circle, I splayed the fabric the god had crafted for me wide. “I’ve got a new, prettier plant fiber gown now. Take that, robocops.”

Xax laughed again and urged me to leave the wall and advance into the room.

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