Page 16 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

“You’ll like it in my village,” he added.

With an unwelcoming traedor?

“Do you have any spare shrooms available for visitors?” I asked. “Hotel Shroom. I could stay there until I figure out how to return to Earth.” Could I talk his god into sending me back?

“We only have enough shrooms for those in our clan.”

“I thought you said you were trying to get others to move to your village. Where would they live?”

“If anyone chose to join our clan, we’d plant spores and their shroom would grow. Once it was ready for them to live in, we’d help them hollow it out and move inside.”

“How long does it take for a shroom to mature?”

“A full slice of the moons.”

Was that a month? I’d assume so. “Your shrooms must grow quickly.”

He shrugged.

He’d said moons, not moon. I peered up but only saw dense vegetation with sunlight slanting through it. “How many moons does Zuldrux have?”

“Two. One’s the color of your skin.” He pressed his finger into my arm, blanching the surface. “The other is darker, about the color of our lake.”

“Purple if I remember correctly.”

He nodded.

“Like the plant you’re still carrying.” It looked pitiful with its stem bent and its blossom starting to fade, but he appeared determined to hold onto it.

“The plant is a sign from our god. I intend to carry it to my village.”

“You need to put it in water.”

He frowned down at it. “It is a sign. It doesn’t need water.”

“I’m no florist, but last I heard, limp plants need to drink.”

“You don’t understand our gods.”

He had that right. I let it go. After all, he lived here. His was the clan of vegetation. Back home, I couldn’t even keep a houseplant alive.

The idea of growing houses instead of building them fascinated me, however, and I couldn’t wait to see what he was talking about. “Tell me more about the shrooms. I assume they’re a plant of some kind, since you mentioned spores.”

“They’re also a gift from our god.”

“I’m sensing more plant involvement here.”

He flashed me a tusky smile that made heat coil across my belly. “You’re correct.” Was his silver hair as soft as it appeared? I hadn’t thought to touch it the night before. I wanted to slide my fingers through it and stroke the nape of his neck. Tug his head down to—

My heart flipped, and I tripped over nothing, tumbling toward the ground.

He swept me up in his arms before I could crash and tear what was left of my tattered robocop nightie. “Take care, mate.”

“Yeah, I will. You can put me down now, mate.” I was joking. Mostly.

His face remained serious. “Do I have to?”

“I’d like you to.” Actually, my stupid body was saying it enjoyed being held by Xax’s. But when he placed my feet back on the purple leaves mulching the forest floor, I didn’t protest.

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