Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

Phek.

“Did they force you?” The growl that came from his throat startled her, he could see. She jerked a bit and her gaze focused on his fangs, but it was too late to hold back his reaction.

Ka’Cit closed his eyes for a bit, forcing himself to look away from her.

“Did they force you?”

There was silence in the nook.

“Answer me.”

“Noh.”

That sounded like a negative answer. His gaze met hers again and he studied her.

Her body language said she wasn’t lying.

Ka’Cit stretched his neck a little and rolled his shoulders.

There was tension there.

If those Niftrills had…

Phek.

He hadn’t been planning to leave any bodies behind, but if they had forced her…

Well, let’s just say Herza would have more than cargo to dispose of.

Wiping a hand across his face, he shook the thoughts from his mind.

Nee-ya was fine.

She hadn’t been hurt.

She was okay.

“Yohr hahnnd.” She crawled on all fours and moved closer to him, a frown on her brow.

Without hesitating, she took his hand in hers and turned it over on her palm.

“Waht hahp-end? Yohr hahnd?”

Her gaze was studying his, and it was filled with such concern he was momentarily taken aback.

But he couldn’t understand what she was asking.

“Yohr hahnnd!” She pressed, jerking his hand in hers.

He looked down then and saw the bruises on his knuckles.

Oh.

That.

He didn’t remember receiving those.

“It’s nothing.”