Ka'Cit's Haven: A Sci-fi Alien Romance (Riv's Sanctuary Book 3) by A.G. Wilde (best novels for students .TXT) 📕

“We have to go.” Nia clutched Ka’Cit’s hand and began heading toward the door.

“Wait,” he said, pulling her back toward him. “I can’t. I can’t go with you.”

Nia blinked at him.

Did she just hear correctly?

“What do you mean you can’t go?”

Ka’Cit let out a breath, his gaze moving to the door. “If I leave, they’ll go after someone I care about a lot. I need her to be safe. I need to know that she’ll be safe.”

Nia squeezed her eyes for a moment. “Lucky girl, isn’t she? I bet you care about her a lot.”

Ka’Cit’s gaze met hers and for a few moments, he said nothing. Then, “More than she’ll ever know.”

Nia took a step back till she was right in front of him. With one hand, she caressed the side of his mask.

“I do know, Ka’Cit. I know everything.”

His gaze grew alarmed.

“I got your present, Ka’Cit. I’m safe.” Rolling up her sleeve, she flashed him the tattoo on her wrist. “Geblit did his job. Now it’s time for me to do mine.”

For a few moments, he simply stared at her.

“What’s that?” His voice was barely above a whisper.

“Take care of you. It’s about time you know how that feels.”

She couldn’t read the look that passed through his gaze, but his body moved, following her, when she tugged on his hand once more.

44

As he followed behind her, Ka’Cit could only stare.

This felt surreal.

Maybe it was the woogli smoke wafting through the room that was affecting his sense of reality.

Was she really here? His ta’ii? Nee-ya?

But her small palm squeezed against his as they made their way through the room toward the back, and that contact felt very real.

A little Poxmo appeared, his eyes widening as he took in the carnage within the room. Carnage his Nee-ya created.

For him.

She’d come for him.

He didn’t know how she’d managed to do it, but for her to put her life in danger just for him…even after he’d ceased contact…

He couldn’t begin to conceive it.

The Poxmo led them to the back and opened the final door for them and as they walked through, Nee-ya turned to the little being.

“Thanks for your help,” she said. “You and your friend.”

The Poxmo nodded energetically before shooing them away. “Hurry,” he said. “Before more come. Hurry. Hurry.”

Nia smiled and gripped his palm. Ka’Cit had to look down at the contact.

He still couldn’t believe it and as she led him through the debris behind the entertainment houses, he could only follow in silence.

She’d come for him.

Phek.

“Nee-ya,” he finally managed to say as they came to a stop at the intersection of two of the buildings.

“Hmm?” She barely glanced his way. “Do you think you can fit through there?”

She gestured to the gap between the buildings and he nodded without even looking.

He couldn’t pull his gaze away from her.

And that didn’t change as they made their way through the gap and into the street.

It didn’t change as she gripped his hand and led him through the exchange.

He didn’t see the aliens parting to give them space as they ran down the busy street.

Didn’t notice their gasps.

Didn’t notice their fear and confusion.

All he could see was his Nee-ya.

She’d come for him.

It was only when she arrived at the hover car bays and that she stopped walking to glance around.

She pinpointed which vehicle was hers and headed in that direction.

Riv’s hover car. He recognized it.

As she got in, she motioned for him to do the same.

Her eyes kept darting in the direction that they’d come from, but apart from that, she was as calm and sure as all the other times he’s seen her before.

As she spoke to the car, telling it to take her home, he remained silent, afraid that if he opened his mouth, he’d break the spell and this dream would end.

He’d dreamt about seeing her again many times, and all those dreams had felt so real, he’d woken up having spilled over himself.

He wasn’t sure he could trust his own mind.

The vehicle hummed and rose into the air and soon they were zooming away from the Exchange.

Ka’Cit looked back.

Was this really happening?

He wasn’t dreaming?

This was not how he’d seen this ending at all.

He turned to stare at her as the vehicle began to cruise through the streets on its way to the plain.

“Nee-ya?”

She turned to him then and he couldn’t read whatever was happening behind her eyes.

Reaching to her ears, she released the mask and took it from over her head.

His life organ swelled and thumped in his chest.

She was even more beautiful than he’d remembered.

She reached toward him then paused.

“Can I?” she asked.

Ka’Cit gulped then jerked his head in a slight nod.

As she placed her hands on either side of his head to release his mask, he closed his eyes.

He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until he felt the wind brushing against his skin and when he opened his eyes and his gaze met hers, something popped and overflowed within him.

“Nee-ya,” he whispered.

She was in his embrace then, her arms wrapping around his neck as she settled against him.

“She was wrong,” she said.

“Huh?”

“Herza…she was wrong.”

He didn’t understand. Actually, the entire situation was unbelievable to him. “What was she wrong about?”

She eased off him a little so she was looking into his eyes. “I want you.”

His life organ stopped beating. “What?”

“I…Riv told me what this means.” She brushed a finger over his face and he fought not to let the sudden surge of emotions within him take over.

“He told me why you’ve probably pushed me away.” Then she froze. “Unless this is a huge misunderstanding and I’ve been a fool. Unless you really don’t want me and this has nothing to do with you thinking I wouldn’t want you.”

She started to pull away from him, but he held her fast.

His life organ was hammering so hard, it felt as if he was starving for oxygen.

“You risked your life to come after me because you…want me?” He almost choked on the words.

It