Page 155 of Riv's Sanctuary

The word didn't translate and she looked up at Riv, who squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

The male in front of them said nothing for a second and she realized immediately why they were friends.

This Ka’Cit was a strange one, too.

"Greetings La-rehn," the male finally said. "I have the offending guards. What am I supposed to do with them?"

"What?" Riv sounded alarmed, his gaze drifting to the hovercar behind his friend.

Sure enough, there was a tail hanging over the side and a reptilian foot poking up on the other side.

Lauren’s eyes widened in shock.

The alligator-looking guards. He’d killed them?

“Oh my God. Are they dead?”

She felt the male’s eyes on her again and when he lifted the mask from his face, she didn't know what she'd expected to see.

Long dark hair fell over the man's shoulders as his ice-blue eyes hit her squarely.

He was the same species as Riv because he, too, had the small line of bumps along his nose, over each brow, and down his chin.

“Ka’Cit, what have you done?” Riv glared at his friend.

"It’s temporary. They live." Ka’Cit glanced at Riv. "For now…” He muttered, before, “I told you I’d take care of it."

Riv stiffened a little. "Yes, but not like this..."

The other male shrugged, patting Riv on the shoulder. "My services are yours, brother." Ka’Cit glanced toward the house. “Sohut here?”

Riv shook his head. "He’s on a mission."

“Hmm.” Ka’Cit frowned a little. “I need an isotope pulser.” He motioned to the hovercar. “I wiped the idiots’ memories. Now I need to reprogram them before they wake. Make them believe they came out here and there was absolutely nothing.”

Lauren was shocked. The had technology that could do that?

She didn’t know what to say so she kept her mouth shut. They were going through all this trouble because of her.

"There’s one inside. I’ll go get it.”

Riv squeezed her shoulder again before he let her go.

“Be right back,” he murmured. “He won’t hurt you.”

The fact he had to reassure her of that made her gaze grow wary.

But Ka’Cit only smiled at her.

As Riv walked off, she turned her full attention to his friend.

Ka’Cit was watching her intently now and she wondered what he was thinking.

"I am happy Riv has found you."

It wasn't the words she'd expected coming from him. He didn't look happy at all.

There was a smile on his face, but there was a lingering sadness underneath...