Page 30 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

“I assume you reproduce like humans do on Earth with a male and a female and sex with that big thing between your legs and . . .” She glanced down. “You know.”

“You’re correct.” My cock kicked, pressing against my loincloth. I told it to behave, though it didn’t appear to be listening. “Our people are dying. Some of the other clan traedors joined together and went to the central island where the strongest gods still live.”

“Lots of gods here. Do they ever argue?”

“Why would they?”

“I don’t know. I picture storms and lightning when they do.” Her yawn stretched out again.

“Lightning comes from the clouds.”

“You’re right. I was teasing.” She flicked her hand my way, suggesting she was letting go of that train of thought. “Why did the traedors go to the central gods?”

“To ask them to intervene.”

“And that resulted in robocops grabbing me.”

I wasn’t sure what they were, and I suspected it no longer mattered. “The gods said they would help us. They told the traedors they would send us mates and when the mates arrived, we’d be given a sign.”

“And you think the purple plant is your sign.”

“It impaled itself into the ground in front of me not long after I’d rescued you from the lake.”

She looked to where it lay on the floor. “Romance doesn’t work like that. Where I come from, we have courtship before we decide to marry—mate.”

“We do the same thing here.”

“You’re not courting me. You’re telling me that a plant spontaneously sprouted in front of you, and that means I belong to you. It could be a random event and not a true sign.”

“It didn’t sprout. It plunged from the sky fully formed.”

“Was it uprooted and carried to you by a stiff wind?”

“I felt no wind; did you?”

“No but this can’t be true.”

I gestured to the plant. “Examine it. I’ve never seen anything like it before and as one of the Ulistar Clan, I understand vegetation. We grow up learning about every plant in the world around us.”

Rising, she approached the plant tentatively, like one would a wild beast. She didn’t touch it. Bending down, she examined it. “It’s not like your trees or the plants I saw while we were walking here, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

“Describe it.”

“It’s purple and—” She reeled backward so fast, she would’ve landed on the floor if my god hadn’t quickly constructed a chair beneath her. With her feet lifted and her body in recline, she continued to stare at the plant. “It moved like it’s a pet, not a flower.”

“See?” I said. “It is a sign from the goods. When it plunged into the ground by my feet, I knew you were mine.”

Chapter 12

Amanda

I’d like to think I was dreaming or that I was trapped in a nightmare, but all of this was real. I didn’t believe in plant or crystal gods, but I believed in science. From his tale, I pieced it all together.

Two species lived on this planet, the Zuldrux warriors in their clans, plus the crystal, stone, wood, and plant beings who, for some reason, enjoyed dwelling in shrooms, making chairs, and washing dishes.

They couldn’t be real gods, however. They must be an alien species like the Zuldruxians.

Leaving the plant lying on the floor, I walked over to stand near Xax. My aching body reminded me I’d walked about a billion miles today. My bones creaked with each step, and my muscles kept spasming. “I have a feeling we’re not going to settle this tonight.” Through the opaque panels spaced along the outer wall, I could tell the sun had set and it was night. God talk was something I’d rather face in full sunlight. My mouth stretched in a yawn. “I’m tired. I can’t think straight. I need to go to bed.”

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