Page 53 of Mated to the Alien Rogue

“Of course it is,” I muttered. “I get the plain old building instead of the giant flowers.”

“Give me time, my soul’s breath, and I’ll give you all the flowers you could want.” His lips twitched as he pulled me across the platform. “In the meantime…”

“Is that a butterfly?” I trotted forward.

It washuge, with twelve-foot purple wings and an iridescent blue body.

“It is,” Wrin said. “It’s also our ride.”

“No.” I spun around, gaping at him, but he was serious.

He pulled out his phone and tapped something in. A Sjisji sitting several feet away waved, and Wrin helped me onto the butterfly’s back. He took a seat behind me, his big thighs bracketing mine.

When the butterfly leaped off the edge of the platform, it pushed me back into Wrin, and his arms wrapped around me. We flew up and out, going weightless in the center of the asteroid, which had gravity on the inside of the inner walls due to spin, but didn’t have it right in the middle.

Joy caught in my throat as I leaned over the side, craning my neck, trying to see everything.

“Don’t go too far,” he said, his voice a deep rumble.

I flashed a grin over my shoulder. “I’m not worried. I know you’ve got me.”

His hands flexed on my sides, and he gave me one of his precious smiles. I’d pleased him telling him I trusted him.

And I did. I trusted him with my life.

From what the other women had told me, this fated mate thing didn’t have to mean love—though they’d both waited until they loved their males before completing the mate bond—but it still meant commitment. Wrin would remain by my side for life, no matter what he felt about me.

I couldn’t decide if that was comforting or distressing, because to be that close to someone andnothave them love you would be excruciating.

His hand slid around my stomach as the butterfly dipped, and he pulled me to him, his chest firm and warm against my back.

Bird aliens and butterflies flew through the air, the dots that had looked small from the platform becoming larger once we were in their midst. Flowers glided past below, the yellow ones fascinating. I pointed to one of the platforms with food carts arranged around the flower’s center and people at tables spread across the petals. “Is that an outdoor restaurant?”

“Yes. I’ll have to take you to one. The Tula are excellent with meat marinades.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” I leaned back into his chest. “I kind of like having my own personal chef.”

“You flatter me,” he said, but pleasure suffused his voice.

The butterfly landed on the wide, flat roof of a government building and trotted over to where several long straws stuck up from a bright orange circle. We slid from its back as it uncurled a proboscis and stuck it in the closest tube.

“They hold flower nectar,” Wrin said. “The Sjisji feed the mounts after each flight. It takes a lot of calories to fly and the reward keeps the butterflies motivated.”

“Captain Lee!” Cara strode toward us, beaming, Gravin following like a hulking blue shadow. Taller than me, she leaned over to give me an enthusiastic hug.

“It’s Vivian,” I said, taking yet another step toward making something different than we’d had on Earth. Speaking with her over the last few days had made it clear Cara was a leader like I was, even if her official role was peacekeeper instead of an officer of the crew. I could dominate her using the position of my command, or I could lift her up and let her shine, let her strength stand beside mine to help all the women.

I chose the latter.

She pulled back and looked at me. “I’m so glad we found you.”

“Me too,” I said. “And thanks for the cookies.”

She laughed.

“Thank frek you’re here,” her grumpy mate said, clasping Wrin’s shoulder. “I don’t know how you deal with politicians without wanting to punch someone.”

“Who says I don’t?” Wrin’s lips twitched.

---