Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

Even the other patrons had seen it coming. They were already running for cover.

The Hedgeruds weren’t nearly as fast, too complacent because they were the big guns in the room.

Funny, because she had a big gun too.

In one movement that almost seemed rehearsed, she and Ka’Cit aimed.

Twin shots found their target in the gator-guard who’d pointed the strange weapon in her direction.

Straight through the head, she saw the light die in the guard’s eyes before his body crumpled to the floor.

Two more shots, one from each of their blasters, and two of the other Hedgerud fighters slunk off their seats to fall dead to the floor.

“Nice!” Ka’Cit looked down at her and she couldn’t help but smile.

There were two other fighters still alive and the surprise wore off.

They launched themselves to their feet and time stilled for just a moment as she locked eyes with Ka’Cit.

“Do your worst, ta’ii.”

There was screaming, screeching, yowling, and clamoring from the hiding patrons as the two remaining guards sought to find cover.

One of them flipped a table and it came right at her before it split into a million pieces, shot down by a blast from Ka’Cit’s gun.

The force of the blast threw the hood of the cloak off her head, even as he shielded her body with his own. Still, it was enough time for the remaining guards to see her and she heard one of the Hedgerud’s exclaim, “It’s one of those jekins. A yoo-man!”

Well, so much for keeping hidden.

Ka’Cit fired another blast, splitting another table as she darted to the side, releasing a blast of her own.

She caught one of them on the tail, dismembering it, and his cry filled the room.

She felt no remorse.

These beings were the same ones that she knew had tortured humans on the slave ship. Raped them. Murdered them.

This was vengeance.

Between the chaos, her gaze locked with yellow ones and realization dawned in the alien’s eyes.

He was about to die.

Nia held his gaze as the blast left her gun and as soon as the bullet reached her target, she heard the unmistakable sound of Ka’Cit letting out a curse before a blast left his own gun.

Five guards down.

This was almost too easy.

Across the room, Ka’Cit’s gaze met hers and she knew she was right.

“There are more of them, isn’t there.”

He nodded slightly. “This one,” he stepped over the body of one of the guards and ignored the whimper of an alien hiding underneath the table, “just sent a distress signal to the ship in the hold.”

They walked toward each other as they spoke and around the room, heads popped up only slightly to watch them move.

“How many do you think?”