Riv's Sanctuary: A Sci-fi Alien Romance by A.G. Wilde (best books to read TXT) 📕

“Deposit your fluid there,” the alien instructed.

Lauren glanced at Riv again.

“Are you sure you want to do this for me?”

What if he was having some momentary mental crisis and changed his mind later?

“I am sure,” was all he said before giving her hand a little squeeze.

Taking a deep breath, Lauren nodded.

Bending a little, she spat on the disk.

With a whirr that made Grot growl, the disk disappeared.

“Registered. Lauren McDonald of Earth.”

The counter whirred again and another item appeared. It was a smooth metal square with no identifying marks.

“Please take your proof of status and exit to the left,” the alien said.

That was it?

Taking the small rectangular piece of metal, it felt warm under her fingers.

She was staring at it wordlessly as they exited the building and even when they reached the street.

“This piece of metal means I am…free?”

Riv was watching her with a strange look in his eyes. Even Grot seemed a bit unsure.

“Yes. You are free to go wherever you want to go and do whatever you would like to do. You won’t have to worry about being thrown in a cell or a zoo anymore.”

She had to take a moment as the feeling of a huge weight lifting off her shoulders passed through her.

Those were words she never knew she wanted to hear.

Smiling, she looked across the throng of aliens. She was free.

As the feeling settled within her, it hit a bump and froze.

He’d done this for her. Given up half of everything he had…for her. It was the kindest thing anyone had ever done for her in her entire life.

Tears sprung in her eyes as she stopped walking amidst the throng and stared up at him.

“Riv, I… How will I ever repay you?”

Riv’s throat moved. “I didn’t do it with the hope you’d repay me in some way, La-rehn.”

“But…” Her throat was swollen with emotion. “You hate me.”

A sort of sadness she didn’t expect passed before his eyes before his gaze became tortured.

“Quite the opposite, La-rehn.”

Four words.

Four words that made her breathing stop and her world pause.

She didn’t know how to reply as he searched her gaze

“Riv…”

A loud commotion down the street cut through their exchange and had her turning to look in that direction.

The blood drained from her face and her mouth went dry.

Farther down in the direction they were heading, four of the alligator-looking guards turned the corner.

Lauren’s heart sped up in her chest, but she gripped the metal in her hand instead.

She didn’t need to hide from them. Riv had made sure of that.

As she stared, the throng of aliens starting to thin out as the guards neared, she realized it was a procession like the one she’d seen before.

Moving to the side and out of the street, she got out of the way, thinking Riv would follow.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he stood looking ahead, his eyes on the procession. His entire body was rigid, it didn’t even look as if he was breathing.

“Riv!” she whispered harshly, but he didn’t budge.

What the hell was he doing?

Rushing back into the street, she flashed a hand in front of his face but still there was no response.

Anxiety began to build within her.

He had his staring contests, yes, but this seemed different. Either way, it was a helluva time to have one now.

“Riv?”

His eyes were vacant, as if he was no longer there and when she pulled on his arm to move him from the middle of the street, he didn’t budge.

He was like a statue.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the procession was nearing and her anxiety quickened.

It was as if he was looking at a ghost and when she glanced behind her again, she realized why.

The guards were walking with one of those toad-like beings between them. The huge toad was dressed in all white. On its head was a round golden headdress.

Wait.

She knew that Tasqal. Well, she’d heard of it.

Riv had mentioned that headdress before.

It took a moment for reality to dawn.

She knew who it was.

It was the Tasqal who had tried to force him into sex. The one who’d had him working in the mines as a child. The one who’d cut off his tail.

Shit.

Shit shit.

“Riv!” she called harshly, but he didn’t move.

Grot bumped against him, letting out a low boom that caught the attention of some of the aliens to the side.

Their terrified gazes moved from the dog to Lauren then to Riv.

They knew what was going to happen. She knew what was going to happen. Even Grot could sense what was going to happen, as he began to whimper a little.

She had to get Riv to move!

Seeing his former master must have triggered something in his head, especially since he’d not long ago relived the horrors by telling her about it in the hovercar.

He was far away. He couldn’t hear her and if they stayed in the street the way they were, she had no question they would be cut down like she’d seen them murder the parent and child.

“Riv!”

No response.

She tried to pull his arm again.

Nothing.

Fuck!

She needed to do something and she needed to do it fast.

Standing on tiptoe, she did the only other thing that came to mind.

She plastered her mouth against his.

Something nice and inviting was pressing into him.

Something was pulling him back from the void he’d suddenly fallen into.

Zooming back to the present was like taking a breath of fresh air after drowning.

Riv blinked, a barrage of feelings hitting him all at once.

La-rehn.

Sweet, soft La-rehn was against him, mouth phekking him.

With a moan, he pulled her toward him, forgetting about everything and everyone around them.

It was just him and her.

This felt right.

It was right!

His eyes zoned in on her smooth face but as soon as his gaze met hers, she pulled away.

“Fuck! Riv!” She was off him, pulling away and grabbing his hand.

Confused, he almost resisted but he was too caught up in the memory of the feel of her lips against his.

La-rehn.

Vaguely, he felt Grot’s huge frame pushing against him as La-rehn pulled him toward