Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

As the cloak settled over her shoulders and she put her underwear back on, Nia slipped into her shoes and took hold of what was now her blaster.

She hid the weapon underneath her cloak once more and with the hood over her head, she stepped with Ka’Cit into the lift.

“So this is it, huh?” she said. “Life goes back to normal after this.”

They’d spent time together, shared a lot, and it even felt like…like she didn’t want it to end. But she knew that regardless of what they’d shared, it didn’t mean that life changed for either of them now.

She wasn’t about to demand anything from him—just as he wasn’t demanding anything from her.

She could admit though…there was a sense of loss when she thought of hardly ever seeing him again and that was something she had to think about.

He never visited the Sanctuary.

As the lift opened to the lounge, Nia expected the room to go silent this time and she wasn’t disappointed.

She kept her head low under the hood as they walked forward toward the bar.

The bartender greeted them and Ka’Cit ordered some food, but she hardly heard any of the exchange.

All she could think about was…him.

She liked him.

A lot.

The short time she spent with him felt like much longer and, inside her, something had changed.

It was hard imagining returning to the Sanctuary and continuing life as usual.

Waking every day, feeling alone even with other people around her.

Fuck.

It dawned on her.

She was falling for him…or she’d fallen already.

When had that happened? She wasn’t sure.

Nia gulped as she risked a glance up at him.

His gaze was focused on the steaming meals the bartender had placed before them and he seemed to be caught up in his own thoughts.

“Zeregga meals?” She kept her voice low but loud enough for him to hear.

His gaze focused and he nodded. “More well done this time. You should be able to chew it.”

Nia nodded and smiled.

Why did she feel so sad inside?

What was wrong with her?

She was just about to put a mouthful of the food in her mouth when new patrons entered the lounge. She wouldn’t have noticed them if they were not so loud and when the color drained from the bartender in front of her, a bad feeling sprung up in the pit of her stomach.

More of those terrible aliens that had grabbed her the other day?

Ka’Cit glanced back and stiffened immediately before turning back to face the bar.