Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

Walking with him was nothing like walking with Riv and Lauren.

Instead of beings constantly bumping into her as she walked, the way was being cleared before them.

People were automatically walking out of their way. It was hard to believe she was walking in a crowded thoroughfare.

Nia glanced up at Ka’Cit but his eyes were straight forward.

If he did realize the effect he was having on the beings around them, he gave no indication that he did. Or…maybe he didn’t care.

Ka’Cit wove his way through the crowd, his hand a constant presence at her back, and she took some comfort in that.

Her fake tattoo was gone. She still had the bracelet though but, it hadn’t really helped her much last time.

They were soon passing that stall she’d seen with Lauren, the one with the strange floating holographic creatures.

It caught her eye again as they passed and she let out a sound of surprise.

There was one with a tilgran that looked just like Morpheus.

“Morpheus!” She grinned at the image.

“Who?”

Nia shook her head. “Just…reminds me of one of the tilgrans at the Sanctuary.”

She sobered.

Thought of the Sanctuary didn’t bring the feelings it should.

There was no warm fuzziness.

No anticipation to return.

Just…sadness.

As if she was losing something, though, she couldn’t tell what that thing was.

“You named the animals at the Sanctuary?” There was some humor in his voice.

“What?” Nia openly smiled. “You don’t name yours?”

“The animals I deal with don’t deserve to be named.”

Ah.

True.

He wasn’t a farmer, was he.

They were out of the Exchange in the next few minutes and Ka’Cit led them to the hover car bays.

Nia glanced around as they walked. She hadn’t even thought about how they were going to make it back to the Sanctuary.

Her whole focus had been making it back to Earth…or rather, Hudo III.

“You left your car here all that time? Weren’t you scared of someone…I don’t know…stealing it or something?”

Ka’Cit scoffed a little. “Would be funny if they tried.”