Page 67 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

“He’s kind of your boss, right?” Amanda rolled over to face me. “You’re the second, and he’s the leader. I don’t want to endanger your position here in your clan.” She nudged my chest. “Go. I’ll make breakfast, and I’ll serve it to you when you come back.”

I stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry. I want more time for us.”

“We have plenty of time.” She gave me the sweetest smile. “I’ll clean up in the bathing area and chat with Alexa. I have some ideas for later. Go take care of whatever Tribon wants you to do.”

“I doubt he needs much. He knows you’re here with me, and I imagine he hates it.”

“I don’t like that your traedor can declare I’m his and take me.”

“I declared you were mine, and you seem happy enough with the fact that I’ve taken you.”

She poked my chest. “I wasn’t happy when we first met.”

“No,” I breathed, my grin sliding into place.

“I didn’t know you then.”

“Once a mate is fated, it doesn’t take long for each to care, to crave the other.” I lifted my hand and was disappointed not to find a mating mark there yet. We were perfect for each other. Why hadn’t our god made that clear to everyone around us with a sign?

“Xax,” the person bellowed again. “Tribon’s waiting!”

“I need to go,” I said. “Wait here.”

“As much as I love the idea of lounging in bed all day, I’m going to get up and get moving. There are things I can do in my tea shop, and . . .” Shadows flitted across her face. She must be realizing that my mother could return today with news from the island gods, though I suspected we wouldn’t see her until tomorrow.

I was confident the gods would say they’d chosen Amanda for me, but I could understand her fear. She didn’t know our gods like I did.

And if they didn’t?

No one was going to take her from me. I’d find a way to make sure we remained together, no matter what that took.

Would I consider leaving my clan? As much as it would hurt to do so, yes. I’d ask Amanda to go with me. We could travel to another clan where we’d be welcome, where we could live together in peace. We could start over, far from those who tried to tell us how we should live.

It felt good to come to this decision, one I’d share later with Amanda. We were going to face whatever came for us together.

Dressed in a loincloth, I left the room, stopping quickly in the bathing area before gliding down through the stem to the ground and exiting.

“Where is he?” I asked Julop, peering around.

“In the first field.” He pointed in that direction.

“Ah.” Now I knew what he was questioning. “Thanks for coming to get me.”

“Yes, no problem.” Julop peered up at the top of my home. “Will Amanda be serving tea today? I’d like to try some.”

I was sure he would, as would every eligible male in the village. “Gerain and Floosar are going to bring her some herb samples today, but I don’t think Amanda is ready for customers yet. She’ll be down later, however, and you can ask her.”

Funny how yesterday, I was jealous of any male seeking her favor, but now . . . I’d treasure what we’d shared this morning, what we might share later today, and the bond we were building that . . .

I scowled at my hand, still finding smooth, unmarked skin.

I didn’t need a mating mark to prove she was mine; that knowledge blazed across my heart. But it would help with this situation with Tribon.

“I’ll look for her later, then,” Julop said. He frowned at his spear. “I’ll hunt in between then.”

And no doubt offer her meat. My mother couldn’t return soon enough for me. Once she announced that the god looked upon my mating with Amanda favorably, the others would give up. If they gifted me with Amanda, they might send a mate for other males as well.

I strode down the trail and emerged in the open meadow, finding Tribon stomping around, ripping down what I’d started.

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