Page 9 of Adored By the Alien Warlord

“Gods?” The lift of the dark strip of hairs above her eyes told me she was skeptical, but that was to be expected. From what I’d heard, humans didn’t interact closely with their gods like we did.

“Long ago, a ship crashed on this planet. Prior to that, it was just us Zuldruxians living on the surface. Beings descended from the ship, and they sunk into the ground, fusing with the elements around them. Some found homes in the water. Others in the trees. Still others merged with the sand.”

“They were aliens, like me.”

I nodded. “That’s what some believe. Others callthem gods. Through the years, and this was still long ago, the gods and Zuldruxians formed bonds. The gods gifted us with various things, often based on the element they’d fused with, and we praised them.”

“Praise?” Her lips twisted. “Like bowing to them, worshiping them, giving them all your gold or . . . I don’t know, sacrificing children in their honor?”

“Nothing like that. We thank them. That’s all.”

“Huh.” Her face did not smooth. “I sense a but in all this.”

“A disease swept across the planet, killing many Zuldruxians. They blamed the gods and left them, living without their kindness, no longer giving them praise.”

“Did they attack you after that? Get even?”

“They . . . mourned, I suppose. We must’ve. The Zuldruxians did their best to make new lives, while the gods went dormant. Without them, we were lost, and without us, so were they. We need each other. Not long ago, some Zuldruxians decided to live close to the gods again. Those gods still able to hear emerged from their dormancy and when the Zuldruxians praised them, our lives began to get better.”

“I’d like to see your gods one day.” Her sigh slipped out. “Though that will never happen. I’ll remain here until I die. I haven’t accepted it yet, but there’s no way out of this trap.”

I would be her way out, once I’d come up with a plan.

“Our gods are not physical beings unless you count the crystal structures some merged with. The grains of sand beneath your feet.”

She frowned at the floor. “I can’t imagine worshiping sand.”

“It’s a matter of perspective.”

“Hmm. So now your people have a symbiotic relationship with the gods again?”

“This way of life suits us. Most of us. Some Zuldruxians still scorn the gods.”

“How do Talia and I come into all this?”

“Because fewer Zuldruxians are born each generation and most are male, the leaders called traedors went to the central gods and begged them for help. The gods offered to send them mates.”

“You used that term with my sister, saying she’s with her mate.”

“Firion. The gods stole you and other women from your planet and brought you here.”

“Ah, that makes sense.” Fury churned through her eyes, and her hands formed fists on her lap. “I’m sure you guys praised your gods for that action.”

“It’s true that the males who have been gifted women are grateful.”

“Gifted, huh?” Her rage only grew, darkening her face. “We’re not objects to be given to anyone. We belong to ourselves.”

“I agree.”

Her shoulders curled forward and some of the anger fled her face. “Good.”

I didn’t tell her that when the gods decided it was time to gift a female to a male, they sent a sign. Mine wasthe sand in the bar, something that disappeared not long after I felt its crunch beneath my boots.

I didn’t tell her she had been gifted to me, because she was right. She belonged to no one but herself.

And I also didn’t tell her that I would not claim her as my own. A male such as me didn’t deserve love and a mate gifted by the gods.

I would take her from this place. I would bring her to her sister.