Page 77 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

“It is. The Indigan Clan live among crystal gods while our solitary god is known for her splendid vegetation.”

Like the vines he could call for with a hum, the ones that would form whatever he needed—including the “rope” ladder we’d used last night to climb the tree.

I patted the vine dagger I wore at my side; one I’d crafted after he taught me the correct tone to hum. I was still learning how to use it, but I suspected within months, I would be able to use it to defend myself from almost any challenge.

“In the valley below, you’ll find the Celedar Clan, that of the trees. Nevarn is their traedor. We’ll visit them for a day while we’re in the area.”

I was curious to meet the Celedar Clan. Xax had told me they lived inside the trees, something I had a hard time imagining.

“The Indigan Clan even eat some of the crystals,” Xax said, urging me up yet another steep slope, this one crossing a jagged, rocky area.

“Their bodies have learned to digest crystals?”

He shrugged. “I assume so.”

Would we eat them while we were here too? Although, we’d brought plenty of provisions. If we needed to, we could eat our dried meat and make a stew with that and the dried vegetables and herbs. Gerain had shown me a root that grew in perfusion on the bank of the river, and while we could eat it raw, it tasted like a potato when it had been boiled. Since they kept well, we’d brought a clump of those too.

Reaching the top of the last hill, we stopped.

My jaw dropped as I took in the enormous crystal structures arranged in a big circle ahead. They reminded me of smaller versions of the castle I’d seen at an amusement park online.

“Wow,” I said in awe. The buildings gleamed in the mid-day sunlight in every imaginable shade of blue.

“Xax,” someone said from behind us.

I spun, lifting my vine dagger. When Xax thrust himself between us, I couldn’t tell if the person was a threat or not.

Two Zuldruxian males approached us.

When Xax strode forward to meet them, I could finally see the large blue males were about his height and size. Xax and one of them gripped each other’s forearms and grinned.

“Aizor,” Xax said. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

This was his friend? His skin was equally blue, and his hair the same silver as Xax. The Zuldruxians had long ago divided into clans, but they were all the same species.

Xax nodded to the other male. “Nevarn.”

The traedor of the Celedar Clan who lived with tree gods? I couldn’t imagine such a lifestyle. Did they build treehouses or . . .? I’d ask Xax later.

Xax waved for me to join them, and I walked forward, sliding my dagger back into the sheath.

“This is my mate, Amanda,” Xax said with pride. “Amanda, this is Aizor, the traedor of the Indigan Clan, and Nevarn of Celedar Clan.”

Nevarn just gave me a broody look, though I didn’t sense anything slimy in it. Just curiosity. And possibly a hint of envy when he looked Xax’s way? Perhaps. I could be reading him wrong.

“You’re human,” Aizor exclaimed, looking me up and down.

My breath caught. “You know what a human is?”

“Fook eff,” he exclaimed, his tusky smile fading when I only gaped his way. “Sorry. My mate taught me that phrase and when we use it now, it makes everyone laugh. At first, we thought it was an exclamation of joy, and you should’ve heard Vanessa’s laughter whenever we said it.”

“Fook eff,” Nevarn echoed with a lazy grin. I loved my mate, but this guy . . . I could see where many would find him attractive.

Hold on.

“You said Vanessa?” I gaped at Aizor, unable to comprehend this. “That sounds like a human name.” But what did I know? It could be common on Zuldrux.

“Vanessa is also from your Earth.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s going to be very surprised to see you.”

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