Page 71 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

“I have a surprise for you.”

We left my shop and strode around to the back, entering the woods on the trail we’d taken a few days before with Gerain and Floosar. The path was wide enough for us to walk side-by side. Sunlight peeked through the purple canopy overhead, and it was warm enough here that I was thinking of asking Alexa to make me some tank top style sundresses. Crisp, clean air filled my lungs, and I couldn’t imagine a better day than this one.

“Are we going to the pretty rock formation you made?” I asked, taking his hand.

“Not this time.”

“After Gerain and Floosar left yesterday, it occurred to me that I should try again to talk them into taking me into the woods with them. I know you don’t mind hunting for meat to trade for herbs, but I’d like to forage myself. It might be fun.”

“Don’t go into the woods alone.”

“I’d take Maverick with me.”

He smiled down at me, stroking the drettire’s spine. “He would be useless in a fight, and you can’t protect yourself. You’re tiny and fragile.”

“I’m stronger than you think. I’d be careful. I’d hear the triceratops coming long before they arrived and could hide. I could climb a tree or slide beneath one like you and I did the day we met.”

He appeared skeptical.

“Teach me how to form a weapon,” I said. “You’ve already seen I’m good at protecting myself.”

“It would take time for you to learn how to use such a blade, but I plan to.” His gaze scanned the area.

“I can understand why you’re hesitant about this, but I don’t want someone hovering over me all the time. I love that you’re protective. My foster parents did what they could, but I learned long ago that I had to watch out for myself, that I couldn’t rely on anyone to do this for me.”

“I can’t help it. I love you, and I want to make sure you’re safe. Please let me do this for you.”

His words made me feel melty inside, but I had to stand up for myself.

“I’m going with Gerain and Floosar soon to learn all I can from them, and then I’m going to take short trips into the woods alone.”

His eyes widened, and his lips twitched—not with humor—and I could tell he was struggling not to forbid this. “Alright,” he ground out.

“Thank you,” I said. I didn’t need to thank him for something he should give freely, but he was motivated by his caring for me. If our positions were reversed, I’d want to follow him around everywhere to make sure he was safe on Earth too. I was as unfamiliar with how to survive here as he would be on the streets of the city I’d grown up in.

Facing me fully, he took both my hands and squeezed them before kissing each of my knuckles. “This isn’t easy for me.”

“I can tell. I appreciate it, though. I promise I won’t do anything foolish, and I won’t take chances. I want to stay safe too.”

“I’ll take you into the woods daily and teach you what to watch out for, and . . .” He sucked in a breath and released it. “And I’ll leave you alone each time and allow you to make your way back to where I’ll be waiting in the village. I’ll be terrified until I see you, but I’ll wait as patiently as I can.”

Probably not as patiently as I’d like, but I wasn’t going to call him out on this. I appreciated that he was willing to listen to me and give this a chance.

I smiled up at him.

“Anyway, your surprise awaits,” he said, taking one of my hands and urging me through the forest.

We walked about five minutes before light bloomed ahead through the vegetation.

Emerging from the woods, we walked out into a big open area.

He took me over to the edge of a fence. “I’ve been working on this for you.”

“A corral?” There were no creatures inside the enclosure, but I could tell he’d worked hard on this, and he’d done an amazing job. I pushed on the railing, and it held solid. “What will you put here?” And why was this a surprise for me?

“I’m going to travel to the Indigan Clan and trade communication stones for a mated hepadon pair.”

I fingered the stone I wore at all times. “What’s a hepadon, and why do you want to trade some of your precious stones for a pair?”

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