Page 46 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

“When I lived on Earth, it was my dream to open a tea shop. I pictured selling my handcrafted blends, plus treats like muffins and scones. Cookies, cake, pie, and . . .” She shot me a sad smile. “Funny how much I loved sweets. How much I miss them already. I just realized I didn’t know how long your gods kept me asleep, how long I traveled. Maybe Earth as I know it no longer exists. My landlord must’ve held a yard sale to get rid of my precious things. Someone else paid the lease on the building I was renting for my shop. And all that stuff I ordered . . .” She released a soft sigh. “That probably got thrown out or sold as well. Everything I was, everything I am, is gone forever.” She cupped her face with her palms and tears leaked around her fingers.

Cresar looked up at me before staring at Amanda. He shuffled closer and put a hand on her shoulder. “Please don’t be sad.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be crying,” she said through her tears. “I’m alive. All of you are nice. I have no reason to complain.”

He glanced back at me. “Xax and I are going to help you. We’re going to create the best tea shop in the village.”

I didn’t point out that there was no other tea shop on Zuldrux, let alone inside our small village.

Chapter 20

Amanda

Cresar and Xax were amazing. They clipped the grass down low to the ground and then arranged the stumps in a pattern under my direction. Once I had “tables” and “chairs,” they trooped into the woods. In a short time, they returned with enormous tree trunks perched on their shoulders. They collected a bunch of them and slowly constructed walls and a roof over my new shop. They even laid a row of small logs over taller stumps to create a counter in the back.

“Come wait over here.” Xax took my hand and led me out of the shop and a few feet away. “One more thing, and your shop will be complete.” Leaving me, he strode into the center and stopped, closing his eyes. His hum rang out.

I frowned, staring at the woods around us, wondering if more vegetation would perform at his command.

Cresar grinned, looking between us. He’d worked as hard as Xax to build this for me, and that made my throat ache. He barely knew me, but he was still eager to do something to please me.

Vines snaked out of the woods behind the structure, and I backed away, fear climbing my spine on needlelike claws. The vines engulfed the building, consuming it.

“Xax,” I bellowed, rushing toward the shop. I grabbed onto the vines covering the front and started flinging them away.

Cresar thrust his arm between me and the next vines I intended to attack. “Wait. Don’t. Xax isn’t being harmed.” He took my hand like Xax had and led me back to where I was standing before, remaining beside me. “We control the vegetation.”

“That’s not possible.”

He grinned. “It is. Watch and see what Xax does. He’s a master with vines. I want to be that good when I grow up.”

The vines continued to squirm all over the building, weaving in and out of each other. Finally, they came to a stop.

I gaped, taking in the doorway and windows on the front, the only openings I could see from where I stood.

Xax remained inside, a big smile on his face. “Come in, lovely one.”

“Go ahead,” Cresar said, nudging my side. “I’m going to find my grandfather and tell him what we’ve done.”

When Xax curled his finger my way, I could no more resist him than I could a big slice of chocolate cake—and I had a feeling Xax would taste even better.

I stopped in the doorway, peering inside. “Is it safe to enter?” I studied the mesh of vines covering the front wall that were both intricately woven and surprisingly pretty. Before my eyes, tiny strands burst from the stalks. Purple blossoms delicately opened, releasing a heady perfume into the air.

“Very safe.” Xax’s smile didn’t falter. “I’m ready to show you your new tea shop.”

After sucking in a deep breath and releasing it, I walked through the opening and over to stand in front of him. “How did you get the vines to do that?”

“It’s a skill all of us are taught from the time we’re young. Do you like what they did?”

I took in the walls on either side, each holding one window opening. Flowers weren’t blooming within the structure, but their scent floated through the air from outside.

“I love it,” I croaked, flinging myself into his arms.

He tumbled back onto the ground—on purpose, I was sure.

I straddled his waist, propping my palms on his shoulders. “I can’t believe you made me a tea shop.”

“I didn’t make you sad, did I?” Xax asked. “That’s the last thing I wanted to do.”

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