Page 160 of Riv's Sanctuary

His arms were crossed casually but he kept rolling his neck.

It reminded her of the calm before the storm, when he’d suddenly lashed out at the males at the market.

One of the guards laughed, its tongue churning within its mouth as it regarded Riv.

“Trespassing?”

The other guards were stirring now and Lauren gripped the rake tighter.

With them all awake, she hoped they didn’t attack again. Grot was injured and it would be eight against three.

“This Sanctuary is protected by the Interplanetary Union undersigned by Ambassador Geblit Cakhura.”

Lauren’s eyes widened.

Geblit?

Geblit was an ambassador?

Suddenly, him knowing what species she was when they’d first met made a whole lot of sense.

One of the guards spat.

“We don’t care about your stupid farm. We’re here for the human female you harbor illegally.”

“I’m not here illegally.” She stepped forward, rake in hand.

The guard paused before glancing at the others and they all began to snicker.

They could understand her.

Of course, they could. They worked for the same people who had abducted her.

“You belong to our master,” another guard said.

“I don’t belong to your master,” she continued.

“She belongs to me.” Riv stepped beside her. “And she’s a protected refugee under the Union. The Union knows she was trafficked. Maybe you want to bring your master to the high court? A Tasqal has never appeared there for any crime before.”

The guards glanced at each other, and unsaid conversation occurring between them. But she couldn’t even focus on that.

All she could hear repeating in her head was what Riv said.

She belongs to me.

The guard who’d woken first regarded them with cold eyes.

“You must be a fool to have sponsored a Class Four being like this,” he finally said.

“Maybe, but that’s none of your phekking business.” Riv took a step forward. “Now,” his gaze traveled over the group of guards, “get off my land.”

* * *

As soon as the guards teleported away, Lauren’s shoulders sagged.

She’d had no idea she’d been holding on to tension the entire time that she’d waited for the guards to leave.

“Do you think they’ll be back?” she asked as she watched Ka’Cit examine one of the blasters they’d taken from the guards.