Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

She had no idea.

He was still in the ship, of course, but no matter how many times she pressed the button to open the interior doors, the red light remained lit and the doors remained locked.

She was pacing for maybe ten or fifteen minutes, completely losing her mind, when structures began appearing in front of them as the ship slowed down on its own.

Huge metal structures that looked like pins and needles stuck together materialized, it seemed, out of thin air.

“What the…” Nia froze, her eyes widening as more of the structures came into view.

The structures were gigantic, dwarfing the shuttle in their magnificence.

She didn’t know what to think but her feet pulled her toward the view screen.

There were lights blinking on some of the structures and some of the others looked like space debris.

Why did the ship stop here?

Drawing closer, she pressed her palms against the view screen as she looked out.

Far, far below, was a planet.

A round planet with vast orange landmasses.

She knew what she was looking at without anyone having to tell her.

It was Hudo III.

Home.

So he hadn’t changed their destination. But where the hell had he gone?

Spinning, she rushed back to the doors and, for probably the hundredth time, she slammed her hand against the button next them.

The ship’s response didn’t change.

A loud beep denied her entry.

She was acutely aware of the ship finally coming to a stop beside one of the huge metal giants.

There was a creak as it came to a stop and then silence.

“Ka’Cit? What’s going on?”

Could he even hear her behind the doors?

She got an answer, but not the one she’d expected.

The vessel’s AI spoke, so loud that she jumped.

“Airlock opening.”

Nia’s eyes flew to the doors. “What? No!”

But the doors didn’t open. They remained closed.

Maybe the ship made a mistake?

She crept closer to the view screen and looked out.