Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

His sat-watch beeped again.

Phek.

There wasn’t enough time. They had to get inside and they had to get inside now.

He didn’t have time to warn her, he simply worked on instinct.

As soon as her head disappeared into the hole, Ka’Cit slid in behind her, only to realize she hadn’t gone very far.

She’d stopped.

Frozen.

He had no choice but to grip the side of the ladder and lower himself down, essentially lowering himself over her small frame.

It was a tight fit, but he tried not to brace any of his weight on her. It wasn’t his intent to crush her.

She made a sound in her throat but didn’t say anything more, and he was thankful she didn’t try to push him off because he had to slide the cover back in place and close the entryway.

As soon as his feet found a rung below her, he used one hand to steady himself and the other to reseal their hiding spot.

And it was just in time, too.

As soon as the cover slipped into place, he heard the doors of the upper and lower sector opening.

Feet thumped on the ground above their heads, and Ka’Cit gripped the ladder to steady himself. He had no choice but to lean into the human.

“Don’t make a sound,” he whispered just loud enough for her to hear. “They’re right above us.”

It was dark, but he could see that she jerked her head to let him know she understood.

She had her face pressed against the cool metal of the ladder and she was still shaking.

The sound of feet hitting the floor didn’t stop, and he tilted his head a little, his ears perking.

He could pinpoint that there were at least twenty Niftrill in the corridor.

Just how many of them did that maniac, Herza, hire?

It sounded like she had a whole horde.

“Find it!” It was Herza’s voice.

She was phekking angry.

“Don’t tell me you let it loose in my ship! Qrakking idiots!” It sounded like she hit one of the Niftrills over the head. “If you see it, kill it.”

Ka’Cit tensed.

“But…I thought you wanted to sell it for credits,” one of the Niftrills was brave enough to speak up.

It sounded like Herza scoffed. “I did some searching. It’s a species called yoo-man. Originally smuggled by the High Tasqals. If they catch me with it, I’m as good as dead. That thing is trouble, and I don’t want anything to do with it. Kill it on sight. We’ll dump the body somewhere in the void.”

A growl started in Ka’Cit’s throat and he promptly pushed it down.

He couldn’t afford to give their hiding spot away.

Hard footfalls came down the corridor. They were different from the others, heavier, more confident, and he didn’t have to wonder who they belonged to.