Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

“You never said you were taking care of a human.”

Ka’Cit sighed. “I’m hardly taking care of her. I try, but she’s more bad at ass than I am.”

Nia frowned at his back before his meaning caught up to her and she stifled a chuckle.

“Badass, Ka’Cit. Badass.”

He chuckled too then shrugged. “Close enough.”

Ka’Cit stretched out the device he’d taken from the enemy ship toward the robot and the robot took a step forward.

She didn’t know why she expected his steps to be heavy, like iRobot or something, but they weren’t.

His steps were even more silent than Ka’Cit’s.

V’Alen took the thing in hand.

“This will work,” he said. “This will get them out.”

Nia took a step forward then. “You mean the other humans?”

The robot’s gaze met hers once more and she could swear his pupil moved in his eye like a camera lens.

“Affirmative,” he said.

“How…” She was almost too afraid to ask. For one whole year, she’d thought she was alone. Then she’d met Lauren and then Cleo. Now she was being told there were others. “How many other humans are there?”

The robot’s face was impassive as he spoke. “Over two stleks. My scans cannot penetrate the hold completely.”

Nia frowned, confused, and glanced up at Ka’Cit.

“More than twenty-four,” he said.

Nia’s heart thumped in her chest and she had to grab on to Ka’Cit to keep steady.

“And,” she pointed at the device the robot was now holding, “this will help? This will help them?”

V’Alen’s head moved almost imperceptibly. “It will save their lives.”

She didn’t know why but tears filled her eyes at that thought.

The danger they’d put themselves in had been more than worth it. If they were able to help even one other human, it would have been worth it.

“You are…overwhelmed.” It was the robot’s voice and she looked up to see both males staring down at her. “My presence unnerves you. I will go now.”

He turned to leave and Nia reached out to him, the tips of her fingers brushing against his metallic body. “Wait!”

He paused and his gaze fell to her fingertips.

She pulled them away when she realized what she’d done but pushed forward with her question.

“Will they be all right…after you get them out of this…hold?”

The robot studied her for a bit then something almost like a smile made his lips twitch a little, she wasn’t sure.

“They will be. They are with us. We will keep them safe. Just as he,” his gaze moved to Ka’Cit, “will keep you safe.”

Nia nodded.