Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

A few moments of silence passed between them and she could feel him watching her.

“I guess, it’s nice to know people have your back out here, you know. I don’t have any family apart from Riv, Lauren, Sohut, and Cleo…no other friends…” She glanced his way. “But I’d like to think I can add you to that list too. A friend, you know.”

He blinked at her and she wished he wasn’t wearing his mask so she could see his face.

Finally, she released a sigh and shrugged.

“You can’t understand me, but maybe that’s for the best. I’m only ranting.”

Ka’Cit stared at her some more before something changed in his gaze.

Without a word, he reached into his pocket and took out the small square device she’d seen him with while in the ship’s underbelly.

He fidgeted with it for a little bit and she couldn’t figure out what he was doing.

“What is that?”

But he only glanced her way at the sound of her voice and continued fidgeting with the device.

For a few moments, she just watched him, trying to figure out what he was doing before he lifted his head and pierced her with his gaze.

Something in his eyes told her he was…smiling? But she couldn’t figure out why.

“Umm…” She gave him a nervous smile. “What’s happening?”

“It worked,” he said before reaching forward and pressing a few buttons on the ship’s control panel.

“Destination input,” the ship’s AI said. “Coordinates: AX#-4–5II3. Estimated time of arrival: Twenty sleks.”

“Huh? Wh—I thought we were heading home.”

He blinked at her but said nothing.

The hairs at the back of her neck rose. “Ka’Cit, what’s going on? Why aren’t you talking?”

But he didn’t respond.

Instead his shoulders set and he rose from his seat.

Whatever he was about to do, just from the way he walked toward the set of interior doors, she knew his mind was made up. When he reached them, he turned to look at her.

“You stay here. You’ll be safe.”

Wh—?!?! Safe from what?

He was leaving her?

“Ka’Cit!” She fumbled with the seat restraints to release herself but the doors were already closing.

As she looked over her shoulder, his gaze met hers just before the doors shut and a red light lit up overhead.

Just what the hell was going on?

* * *

He was gone.

Where?