Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

Ka’Cit shrugged. “Can’t be sure.” He studied her. “But we have to get out of here. This space is too small. If they charge in here…”

She understood.

It would be asking for death to happen.

She began heading toward the lift when Ka’Cit’s hand grasped her arm.

His concerned gaze moved over her.

“I underestimated you. When we first met. I know you’re good with that.” He glanced at the blaster. “But, are you sure you want to do this?”

Nia smiled.

She’d never felt more alive.

“I think I was made for this, baby.”

“Baby?” Confusion swam in his eyes and, despite the situation, Nia giggled.

Reaching up on tiptoe, she placed a kiss on his mask. “Let’s go.”

* * *

The lift opened with Ka’Cit on one side and she on the other.

Blasters already pointed, it wasn’t hard to hit the first target, a Hedgerud rushing toward them.

One down, Nia slipped from the lift and rushed for cover behind one of the huge ships.

She heard a blast go off somewhere behind her and she knew Ka’Cit had taken down one more of the alligator-guards.

Movement caught her eyes, and she saw one creeping up on her from the left.

He had a blaster but didn’t shoot, probably thinking he could catch her without the need to use his weapon.

Well, he made a mistake. A fatal one.

Nia raised her gun and realization dawned on the gator-guard’s face a little too late.

He was down in the next second and she was dashing around the ship before he hit the ground.

One more blast from her gun and she took another down from behind.

Fuck.

The ship bay was crawling with them. Just what sort of vessel did they travel in…

And then she saw it.

Or, at least, she glimpsed it.

A section of the roof opened and a huge dark ship caught her eyes before another set of Hedgeruds began descending on what looked like a transparent disk that hovered in the air.

“Incoming!” she shouted for Ka’Cit’s benefit as she unloaded her weapon in the enemies’ direction.

She hit three of them and they fell off the disk, leaving about four more, but when she tried to fire again, her gun didn’t work.

A look at the weapon and she realized the energy bar was empty.