Page 52 of Cherished By the Alien Outlaw

He grunted, his gaze seeking that of the male sitting beside him. “Perhaps we should visit this island.”

“The gods won’t release the women until they choose, and they’re not clear about when that might be,” I pointed out. “You can see them, but you cannot touch them, and you must not make demands of the gods.”

The male nodded slowly. “As it should be. You’re right to warn us about this. No one wants a mate who isn’t willing, one who won’t love him as much as he’ll love her.” The longing in his gaze when he looked at Talia hit me hard in the guts. I’d looked like that at my brother’s mate when he visited.

And now I had Talia.

“I felt I should tell you this,” I said. “Please consider traveling to the clans that live with the Indigans and stay with them for a while. See if a life like that would ever appeal to you.”

“We could still migrate,” the elder said softly, her gaze widening with wonder. “Perhaps, and I cannot even imagine such a thing, though I’d consider it, we could spend some time there before wandering the desert once more.”

“No one would expect you to do something you don’t want to,” I said. “But it’s a chance to be with others ofour kind. A chance to raise our younglings with those their own age. Each clan has a few females who aren’t yet mated.”

“Would they consider males from a different clan?” someone asked with excitement.

“They wish to mate as much as we do,” I said.

The male stared at the fire, dreaming perhaps, and grunted. “This . . . It’s not something any of us have considered before.”

“We’ll talk about this as a clan when I return from traveling with you,” Davon said gruffly. “We leave soon for the northern oasis, but when we travel back this way, it’s not much farther to continue to the forest. We’d truly be welcome there?”

“My brother, Nevarn, is traedor of the forest Celedar Clan, and when we pass through that area, I plan to visit with him. I’ll tell him he might see your clan there one day, and he’ll not only make you feel welcome, but he’ll also take you to the Indigan lands and introduce you to them.”

“Hmm,” was all Davon said.

But the others whispered among themselves, and I suspected one day soon, Nevarn would have a few visitors.

Chapter 27

Talia

We set out at dusk, moving south, me and Firion sitting on the tan-colored creature unlike anything I’d seen before in my life, called a mundrek. Davon rode the second with our packs strapped behind him.

The mundrek beneath me swayed with a rhythm that was both alien and soothing. Firion’s arm wrapped protectively around my waist, anchoring me to his chest as much as to the creature. Warmth from the mundrek’s lightly furred hide seeped into my legs, and its cloven hooves kicked up small puffs of sand as it loped across the dunes. I marveled at how these animals could navigate the ever-shifting terrain with such speed and agility.

When we spoke, we kept it soft, not wanting to draw attention.

The desert at night created a symphony of humming insects and trilling night birds. It also held a subtlebeauty, and I couldn't stop tipping my head back to rest it against Firion's chest and just stare around. Unfamiliar constellations made me feel both small and somehow connected to my new home. Two moons slowly rose high into the sky, casting a milky glow across the landscape. Their light danced across the sand, turning it into a shimmering silver sea.

Firion pointed out various stars and constellations to me, weaving tales of Zuldruxian lore about heroes, epic battles, and impossible love stories. Each was a precious piece of his culture and a window into his soul, and I cherished every word he said.

Cool air nipped at my skin, and I was grateful for the warmth of Firion’s body against mine. While Davon said nothing, Firion and I spoke quietly, our voices blending with the soft rustling of the wind across the dunes. The mundreks moved almost silently, giving away their presence only by the shuffle of their cloven padded feet on the sand.

As we traveled toward our new future, the desert came alive with nocturnal creatures. The distant call of something that sounded like a cross between a wolf’s howl and the haunting melody of a flute made me shiver, and Firion pointed out that while the beast was loud, it was small, barely larger than his fist. A few birds startled from alien cacti as we passed, shrieking before landing and cutting off their cries. This place was both eerie and enchanting, and I didn’t want to close my eyes and miss one single second.

The night wore on, and the moons climbed higher,casting long shadows behind us. We paused now and then to let the mundreks drink from the water skins Davon carried, and we ate and stretched our legs while they rested. Devon moved with confidence, showing how easily he lived in harmony with this harsh environment.

As the first hint of dawn painted the horizon in hues of pink and orange, the landscape began to change. The endless dunes gave way to patches of scruffy grass that stubbornly clung to the sandy soil. In the far distance, the dark outline of a forest waited, so starkly different than the open desert.

Firion’s grip on me tightened, and I knew he was as eager as I was to reach the trees. We'd survived the mine and the desert, but once we reached his brother, this scary part of our lives would be over.

As the sun crept above the horizon, bathing the world in golden light, we urged the mundreks into a brisk trot. The promise of a new day, and the hope of finding my sister Maggie, pushed me forward.

The grass beneath the mundreks' hooves grew more solid with each stride, changing from sparse, dry tufts to a vibrant purple carpet brushing against their legs. My heart soared. So close. So close! The scruffy grasses soon mixed with the first signs of trees, spindly, wispy things with leaves that glinted like amethysts in the sunlight.

Firion's voice, low and filled with warmth, whispered past my ear. “We're almost there, precious one. The forest is just ahead. Isn’t it beautiful?”

“It’s amazing.” So welcome.

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