Page 128 of Riv's Sanctuary

Phek.

It was just one problem after another.

He knew Sohut could handle himself. He'd been the one to teach him how to fight.

That didn’t make him feel better, though.

If his brother had indeed found another human, he wished he would leave her alone.

From his experience, humans were nothing but trouble.

They secretly invaded then wheedled their way in until they became entwined in every aspect of your life.

Speaking of humans…

Riv looked down the corridor at the human’s door.

He needed to check on her.

The way he saw it, she’d almost killed herself by working too hard, even though he’d made a point to do ninety-percent of the work himself.

He should just enter the room and check quickly.

It was his house. Why was he hesitating?

She was probably asleep, anyway.

He could slip inside the room, check on her, and slip back out without her even realizing.

He was hovering in front of the door before he could change his mind.

Punching the locking mechanism, the door opened with a soft hiss and Riv stood in the doorway, his eyes adjusting to the light in the room.

But the gasp that reached his ears had him freezing as he took in the sight before him.

For a moment, he didn't know what to do or say.

His eyes had already adjusted to the light in the room and he couldn’t look away.

She was awake and looking at him, her eyes wide, her entire body rigid.

She was only in her tunic and her legs were splayed—long, pink, naked legs wide open with her hand between them.

The world slowed down as he realized what she'd been doing, what he'd interrupted, and his throat suddenly became dry.

"La-rehn?"

Her throat moved but no words came forth.

Shock had them both caught in its web.

He didn't know he was moving till he smelled her arousal and realized he'd moved to stand by her sleeping pad. The thick, sweet scent coming from between her legs was like a thick dose of her pheromones.

It was exactly how he'd imagined she would smell.

Still, she lay frozen. She'd clamped her legs shut but her arm was clamped between them.

"Riv? What are you doing in here?"