Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

Since those three rainy days that followed his departure, it had been pretty dry conditions.

The sun was shining as usual and the wind was a soft caress.

Nia rubbed the pebbles she had in her hand and absentmindedly threw one toward a bucket far away.

It hit the bucket so hard, the thing toppled over.

Taking another, she threw again, hitting the bucket one more time.

That one was hard enough to dent the side of the container.

Her accuracy had improved in the past few weeks; she was pretty sure she could hit things now with her eyes closed.

Anger was a fuel she never knew she’d find useful.

She flexed her wrist to throw another pebble when her gaze caught something approaching in the distance.

Nia froze and her heart thudded in her chest.

As she rose to her feet on top of the hay bale, she squinted and focused.

A hover car.

But even from the distance, she could tell it wasn’t his, and she felt her heart sink—a feeling that was promptly followed by anger at herself for even hoping.

The hover car that was approaching looked new. It had smooth curves and a paint job that made it glisten in the light.

Hopping off the hay bale, Nia moved farther down the path and put up a hand to shield her eyes from the sun.

As soon as she recognized who it was, she turned and shouted toward the house, “Riv! Geblit is here to see you.”

A few moments passed before Riv stuck his head through the door with Lauren following close behind him.

The two were inseparable, especially now that Lauren looked close to popping.

Riv scowled and Nia turned to see the hover car pulling up at the barrier.

Geblit Cakhura’s four eyes found her before darting to Riv. “Well, aren’t you going to let me in?”

“Geblit, on Raxu’s name, if you’ve brought me another human…”

Geblit looked affronted and his four arms crossed, his green skin turning slightly gray. “I want nothing to do with any more of those troublesome humans. I can assure you, I am here on official business.”

Riv growled and disappeared inside the house.

A few moments later, the electric barrier stopped zinging and Geblit’s hover car slowly advanced into the property.

“Hiya Geblit.” Lauren smiled at the alien and, as she stepped down the path to stand beside her, Nia saw the exact moment when Geblit’s gaze fell on the woman’s belly.

His four eyes moved from being narrowed to slits to becoming large round pools in his head.

“You…you…you’re multiplying.” He almost fell backward in shock.

Lauren chuckled and rubbed her belly.

“Yep, you’re going to be an uncle.”

“Absolutely not!” The big protrusion at the back of Geblit’s head pulsed. “If adult humans bring so much trouble, I cannot imagine what immature spawns of your species will do to my life.” He made a face then the color drained from his skin. His gaze fell on Riv, who was now coming down the path toward them. “Phekking qrak, it will be a hybrid.”