Page 77 of Riv's Sanctuary

The merkannian was watching her.

As they continued walking, every time he glanced behind them the merkannian was there, his gaze always on the female, never distracted, completely focused.

Riv bristled.

He didn’t know why that bothered him.

He was at the exchange for her to find a new home, wasn’t he?

If the merkannian was interested, that was a good thing.

Merkannians were some of the wealthiest on Hudo III. He wouldn’t be surprised if the male had a good home for the human to go to.

For, despite that he didn’t want her at the Sanctuary, and although he knew all females were poison, he wasn’t cruel.

He wanted whoever took her out of his hands to at least care for her.

Every being deserved that.

Pulling the human a little closer, they continued on.

As they arrived at the central trading station, where aliens congregated looking for odd jobs, long-term employment, and the like, he surveyed the buyers there.

Several of those seeking jobs were trying their best to catch potential employers' attention. Some were lifting weights and displaying their muscles, possibly trying to land jobs as security detail. Some were giving out samples of baked food, possibly trying to land employment as cooks. Some were even interacting with families traveling with young, possibly trying to land jobs taking care of chids.

But through all this, it wasn't lost on him that when they arrived, they’d gotten the immediate attention of several males in the vicinity.

Every bone in his spine stiffened.

He was used to being stared at when he wore his face covering and eye-shades.

But these looks were directed at the female by his side and he didn't need a degree in male cocks to know exactly what they were thinking. What surprised him more was his own response.

His nostrils flared and a rumble began in his throat.

It wasn't until the human jerked an elbow in his side that he realized he was squeezing her arm too hard.

"What sort of being in this?" One of the males approached. A Zedrurian. His mandibles moved with interest as he eyed the human.

Riv's eyes narrowed behind his eye-shades.

He hated Zedrurians. They were always trouble.

"Why do you want to know? What employment do you have?"

The Zedrurian's eyes flicked to Riv's only momentarily. "What can she do?"

The Zedrurian's tone was suggestive and Riv felt the need to grab him by the throat and stuff the words he’d uttered right back down whence they came.

Two more Zedrurian males approached, one adjusting his cock in his trousers without care to be subtle.

Sex workers weren't outlawed but...he didn't like the idea of the female becoming one.

He’d been forced into that life.

He knew what it entailed.

He knew how it could harm a person.