Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

He was watching her with that intense gaze of his again and she had to look away, otherwise she’d forget that she was staring.

She focused on tending to his hand. She only had the makeshift bandage; she couldn’t do much, but she hoped it would help.

“He went to Syria, you know. My dad. Some years ago. Fought there. He was lucky to return but when he came back, he’d…changed, you know.” She glanced at the alien again. He was listening to every word she said, as if he could understand her, and that thought was comforting. She hadn’t spoken to anyone about her life back on Earth. At least, not the intricate details.

Lauren and Cleo knew she’d been a nurse and that she’d done a lot of community work. That was about it.

Ka’Cit was silent so she assumed he didn’t mind her continuing.

“I remember when he came back. It was like looking into the eyes of a stranger. It took a while for him to…return, if you know what I mean. But when he did come back, mentally I mean, he started volunteering. Building houses in the neighborhood for free. Helping single mothers with their kids, like taking them to school and such. He did a carpool. And then, eventually, he started the after-school club. The kids loved him. They looked up to him. Wanted to be a soldier like him. So he taught them what he could. Like martial arts, discipline, and what it took to be a soldier. The boys looked up to him the most. It gave them something to do after school and their mothers knew they were safe. And it gave my dad some purpose again. I think…I think after Syria he realized just how short life was. He saw his friends die. He wanted it to matter more.”

Nia cleared her throat and shook her head. God, why was she ranting? She didn’t even tell the animals on the Sanctuary about her past and they could listen to her for ages.

A blush warmed her cheeks as she looked up at him.

Those green eyes of his felt like they could strip her bare.

“I’m almost done. Not much I can really do down here without supplies. You’re just lucky it doesn’t seem to be infected.”

He made a sound in his throat.

Then he opened his mouth as if to say something then closed it.

“What? Tell me, what were you going to say? I can understand you, remember?”

He opened his mouth again then stopped.

He didn’t even wince when she began wrapping the wound. Her cloak had an inside layer and she was using that part. It was the cleanest bit she could find.

“I guess you’re wondering what did this to my hand…” His words brought her head up.

“Well…yea…but you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

He seemed to be trying to determine what she’d just said.

“Yes,” she nodded, “tell me.”

He understood the nod, she realized, because he began speaking. “Some poor Niftrill got in my way when I jumped down through the hatch.”

Nia paused and looked at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. So, that’s how he got into the ship? He’d snuck on board.

“Phekking Niftrill was going to talk. I had no choice but to quiet him.”

Nia shook her head, a smile finding its way to her lips.

“I really didn’t,” he said. His voice held not one ounce of regret.

That made her chuckle.

Something told her that a part of him had enjoyed beating up the henchman and after what they’d been planning to do to her, she couldn’t find it in her heart to feel sorry for the Niftrill.

“Tough phekker though. Was like hitting rock.”

The way he said it, the utter nonchalance in his voice, made her stifle another chuckle.

“Happy my pain gives you such pleasure.”

Her gaze darted to his. “No. I—”