Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

She didn’t seem to have any claws or his tunic would have ripped already from how tightly she was gripping it. There was no poison seeping from her skin, no weapons poking from her body, no camouflage covering her skin…

This couldn’t be defense.

As he set himself down, she still clung to him and he had no choice but to place her so she straddled his lap.

Her entire body was heaving, and he wasn’t sure she even realized they weren’t moving anymore.

“Ta’ii?” His voice was low and measured.

He didn’t want to scare her, but she didn’t respond.

She still gripped on to him, her face buried into his chest as she hyperventilated.

His ears perked once more and stiffened.

He knew animals that did this—curled into a ball and shuddered while in danger.

If she kept this up, her life-organ was going to go into arrest.

Her body was already in shock. It was only a matter of time.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a light disk, activated it, and set it on the floor beside them.

It bathed the little nook in a warm glow and lit up the human’s face.

Her brows were still knitted, her nostrils flaring, and her mouth was slightly open as her chest heaved with every breath.

Phek.

“Ta’ii…”

No response.

For the first time in his life, Ka’Cit felt completely helpless.

He had no idea what to do…

No idea what affliction had befallen her…

No idea how to help.

She gripped him tighter and his own life-organ thumped as if trying to escape its cavity and help her somehow.

What was he supposed to do?!

There must be something humans did in times like this.

The way she held on to him, he had no choice but to put his arms around her and pull her closer.

Maybe she needed to feel his strength…to know that she was not alone and no longer in danger?

Phek.

Maybe he should have visited his friends more often. He’d have been able to observe Riv and Sohut’s human mates—see what their species was like.

The only problem was, his friend’s mates were the main reason he hadn’t visited Riv’s Sanctuary much in the past few months.

Seeing them with their mates reminded him that…