36. Epilogue

AMANDA

" Y ou're sure they won't attack us?" I asked. A touch of fear wound down my spine. I could protect myself. I wasn't alone. My love, my Xax, strode beside me. But what if they told us to go away?

"They wouldn't dare," he said with complete confidence.

Tribon and the two other males had left our clan two weeks ago, and we hadn't seen or heard from them since. While I wasn't sad to see them go, Xax mourned the loss of three hunters. This left our clan precariously small with only twelve members including me. If we couldn't find mates for the eligible males or encourage others to join our clan, we'd fade away.

This worried us both, and we'd decided to travel to the nearest clan to see if they had suggestions.

We left Maverick with Cresar. The boy and drettire were good friends, and I knew he'd take good care of my pet .

We'd been walking for two days, stopping to camp overnight along the bank of a broad river. For safety, we'd slept high in a tree like we'd done when we traveled from the lake to our clan. He'd sat with his back to the trunk and me on his lap, my body wrapped around his. We were warm enough, but it was hard to sleep with creatures roaring and crying out nearby, let alone the thumps across the ground when a herd of beasts stomped by right below our tree. It reminded me all over again that I lived in an alien world, that I was never returning to Earth.

The best thing about that realization was that I was okay with the future offered on Zuldrux. My life was here with Xax and my fellow villagers, and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

With renewed confidence in my steps, I followed him up a steep hill along a narrow trail that was so indistinct, I would've wandered off it within seconds myself. Somehow, Xax could remain on it. He'd assured me numerous times that we were not lost, that he knew exactly where we were going.

When Xax came to an abrupt halt, I nearly ran right into him. His low growl rang out, and he hefted his weapon.

I peered past him and gaped at the enormous Zuldruxian standing ahead of us on the path. His entire body was tense like he was a wild creature about to bolt into the deep brush.

His gaze traveled to me, and I swore it softened before he looked back at Xax. After giving us a sharp nod, he melted into the woods.

"Who was that?" I asked, still stunned.

"Davon. He's ranged far from his home. I'm surprised to see him here."

"He's not part of Aizor's clan?"

"No. I don't know if he belongs to any clan. He's wild. Untamed. The beast some used to call me."

"You're anything but beastly."

Shooting me a sultry smile, he squeezed my hand. "Perhaps I am at times."

My face heated. Only when I wanted him to act that way.

"Do you know anything else about him?" I asked.

He shook his head, and we continued walking. "He won't harm us. As feral as he is, I believe he's also gentle, though I've only interacted with him once. He joined me at my campsite one night while I was traveling to the Veerenad city. He shared the meat he'd hunted, and I contributed roots and grains to our meal. He didn't say much that night, and when I woke in the morning, he was gone."

Huh. If Xax said he wouldn't harm us, I believed him.

We strode up the hill.

"Though it's been over a year since I last saw the Indigan Clan's traedor, Aizor, he knows me well," Xax said. "He's kind and smart, and I'm sure you'll like him."

"He sounds great."

We planned to remain with the Indigan Clan for a few days. Xax wanted to visit with the other clan for a few days to give him and Aizor time to talk about options.

When we reached the top of the hill, we paused to catch our breath. Me, that is. Xax had the stamina of a . . . well, maybe a triceratops. He'd proven it yesterday when he outran a herd of them while carrying me.

A flatter area waited ahead, and we wove among a stand of spindly trees. Because they appeared so different from the enormous purple trees around the village, I stopped to touch one of the spiky branches. My breath caught. "It feels like crystal."

"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."

Xax just stood beside me, grinning. He knew. Somehow, he knew, and he'd brought me here not only to talk about his plan but to surprise me with another woman from my home planet.

"Vaness is . . ." Nevarn swallowed hard. "Formidable."

Aizor snorted. "That she is. I adore her."

"As you should," Nevarn said with a growl.

Aizor just smacked the other male on the shoulder and the two gave each other foolish grins I had no way of interpreting.

There was another woman on Zuldrux?

My eyes stung, and I leaned into Xax's side. I couldn't wait until we were alone so I could thank him for bringing me here. Well, after I'd visited with Vanessa.

"Did you arrive here from Earth in a cylinder pod?" Aizor asked me. "That's how Vanessa came into my life. The gods sent a sign, a crystal spear, telling me she would soon arrive." His chest puffed, and he tapped the hilt of the crystal sword sticking up behind his neck. "She was quite receptive to my courtship." His low laugh burst out. "That's a joke."

"You're not teasing, right? I'm not the only one here?" I burst into tears.

Digaray had mentioned that she had something else to share with us, but that the gods had forbidden her from saying anything until we'd returned from our Indigan Clan visit. Did this relate to the women I'd seen on the ship? They could be here on Zuldrux.

Xax growled, though I didn't know what he was snarling about. He tugged me into his arms and held me, stroking my back while I sobbed.

Needing to know more about this than I needed comfort, I tugged away and stared at Aizor. "Please tell me. Are there more women here?"

"As I said, Vanessa is my mate," Aizor said. "But she—and now you—are not the only ones. There are others still sleeping in their pods on the godly island." He grunted. "We tried to make the gods release them, but they refused. They have plans for each one, I suppose, and who can argue with deities when it comes to something like that?"

"If they're trapped inside their pods, we need to free them," I said. "Where are they?" I pulled my dagger again, prepared to fight for each and every one of them.

"We tried to convince them that the women should be free, and you're welcome to do the same yourself, but I suspect the gods will refuse you also." Aizor's voice came out kind but firm.

We'd see about that.

"Come," he said, striding past us and toward the crystal structure. "Let me introduce you to my mate. You're welcome here at the Indigan Clan." His sharp gaze met Xax's. " All of you are. You know this. I've told you before. "

"Our home has always been with our own god and shrooms," Xax said. "But . . ."

Aizor's gaze met mine. "I respect this, but shrooms can be planted elsewhere."

"Yes," Xax said. "We have much to discuss."

"Very well."

"This is where we part, my friends," Nevarn said, his heavy gaze still on me. "It is wonderful to meet you, Amanda. I wish you and Xax well."

"Thank you."

"We'll see you another time?" Xax asked.

"The gods willing." With that, Nevarn strode down the hill, taking the path we'd recently climbed.

"He's traveling soon to visit with the Dastalon Clan," Aizor said softly. "Now that he's no longer banished, he said he'd like to establish a relationship with his former clan."

"Will he move his clan back with them?" Xax asked.

Squinting down the hillside, Aizor grunted. "I don't know. I believe he misses those he lived with but he loves the clan he's formed in the valley."

I slid my vine blade back in its sheath and walked with Xax behind Aizor.

We crossed the open area, approaching one of the crystal structures. A few Zuldruxians paused to watch us pass, whispering as they pointed at me.

My heart was on fire. There was a woman here. I hoped the Indigan Clan was treating her nicely. If not, we'd talk her into coming home with us, not us moving here. We had three empty shrooms that would welcome new members to our clan.

"Vanessa?" Aizor shouted.

"Aizor," someone cried out, rushing from one of the crystal structures. A woman with brown hair leaped into Aizor's arms.

He caught her and kissed her while her arms and legs wrapped around him. I knew right then she would not want to move to our clan.

They parted, and he turned so she could see us.

Her eyes widened, and she scrambled out of his arms, flinging herself toward me. She stopped before touching. "You're from Earth. You're from Earth!"

I nodded, my eyes stinging. I sniffed and, aw hell, I started crying again.

We barreled into each other, both of us sobbing with joy. We hugged before leaning back in each other's arms.

"I'm Vanessa," she said.

"I'm Amanda, and it's so nice to meet you. When did you get here?"

"It's been almost a month."

"For me too."

"Damn crystal gods," she said with a laugh. "But they brought me to Aizor, and how can I complain about that?" Her gaze sought Xax.

I stepped back, taking his hand. "This is my mate, Xax. He's traedor of the Ulistar Clan. They're a clan with a god of vegetation. You should see what Xax can do with vines. What I can do." I tapped the hilt of my dagger.

"The Indigan Clan has a thing for crystals," Vanessa said ruefully, her hand sweeping toward the structures. "As you can see."

"These are your homes?"

She nodded.

"We live inside . . . well, they're called shrooms." We both laughed, but that faded fast. "They look like huge mushrooms. They're amazing, and I call their god Alexa."

"Perfect."

She couldn't stop grinning; neither could I. "Are you here for long?"

"A few days. Xax wants to talk to Aizor about us adopting a few hepadons." Among other things that we'd hold off discussing for a day or so.

"I imagine he can be talked into something like that." Vanessa shook her head. "I can't believe I'm talking to another human. Let me show you around." She stepped back, right into Aizor's arms. "I think you're going to like it here. We have hot spring spas inside the mountain, and our gods do all the cooking and cleaning. Well, other than special items I cook myself like bread and cake and cookies."

"You bake?" I breathed.

"I sure do. Aizor built me an oven. I'll show you that too." Aizor's arms went around her, holding her snug. "You know . . ." Frowning, her attention traveled from me to Xax and back again. "There's a lovely flat, grassy area nearby. That's where Aizor built my oven. You said your homes are giant mushrooms?"

"Yes." I took Xax's hand and squeezed it, suspecting where this conversation was going. It wasn't unwelcome; that was part of the reason we were here. Our clan was too small to survive on its own. We'd accepted we might need to join another. "We plant spores and cultivate the shrooms until they're fully grown, then we move inside."

"What would your clan think of cultivating some shrooms in our meadow?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I looked up at Xax. We had a good life in our small village. We knew where to hunt and what things were edible inside the forest. But . . .

"We're only here for a visit . . . for now," Xax said.

As we'd discussed before we left our clan, we'd see how this went before we talked about possibly moving in with this clan. There were others we could consider also, though I wasn't excited about living in a clan who made their home on islands suspended in the air and flew on giant birds. Some women might love it, but not me.

"Come with us to the central dining area," Vanessa said. "I baked cakes yesterday, and we can sit down with a big slice. Chocolate or vanilla?"

I'd died and gone to heaven. "A slice of both?"

She grinned. "You and I are so alike. Wait until you taste my bread. I even have butter."

Oh my. "What about tea?"

"I haven't had that here yet, but the coffee's decent."

"Would your village welcome a tea shop?"

"I don't see why not." She studied my face. "Are you hoping to open one?"

Yes, yes, I was .

"Perhaps," was all I said.

As we followed Aizor and Vanessa up the hillside, I squeezed Xax's hand.

He leaned over to kiss my cheek, whispering by my ear. "This is going according to plan. What do you think, mate?"

"That I love you, and my place is by your side, no matter where that might be."

"Love you, too mate."

When Vanessa led us inside their dining area, Xax and I parted. The two males grinned at each other before their loving gazes landed on us.

All was right in my world, but I suspected it would only get better.

If we combined our clans, could two gorgeous male Zuldruxians share the role of traedor?

I suspected they could.