Page 83 of Riv's Sanctuary

Standing behind the male was the merkannian that had been following them.

It was obvious he’d been the one to make such a ludicrous offer.

Two thousand credits could buy his Sanctuary three times.

It was a lot of money that would have made his pockets really comfortable but Riv knew for certain one thing…and it was a thought that came so forcefully, he wasn’t going to be able to deny it…He wasn’t letting the female leave with any of these fools.

“Two thousand," the merkannian repeated. "More if you have additional females of this kind in your possession."

Riv's eyes narrowed behind his shades. The shades were good cover, hiding his thoughts while he kept his voice unaffected.

"No.”

He pulled the female closer to his side, his gaze locked on the merkannian as the male followed the movement with his gold-ringed eyes.

"She's not for sale," Riv said.

The words came from his mouth and he heard them but he wasn't sure what the phek he was saying.

In that moment, though, it felt like the right thing to do.

He’d find another way to get rid of his chatterbox guest.

* * *

The Grumpster pulled her closer to his side as he left the group of males who were obviously wanting to buy her for inappropriate reasons and a sigh shuddered through her shoulders.

She'd known his intent was to hand her off to someone but—and maybe a year having no real interaction with aliens was to blame—when it had come down to it, she'd been terrified.

She'd seen aliens all the time while in her terrarium, but interacting with them without a protective glass in between was another thing.

And it'd been clear what these males wanted from her. Very clear.

Like more than ten inches clear.

The most acceptable male she’d seen had been the gold-skinned one with the gold hair and eyes. He’d looked like an angel walking on land and she couldn’t imagine he’d be one of the bad ones.

So when the Grumpster had declared that she wasn't going to be sold, the shock had been real.

But now what?

He was leading her back down the market street and instead of looking where he was taking her, all she could do was look up at him, trying to read his mood or what he was thinking.

It was difficult to do so when almost all of his face was covered but it was clear when he realized she was staring at him for his body stiffened and his grip on her loosened a little.

When they stopped in front of a stall with large brown cloaks, Lauren's brows furrowed.

The merchant for the stall appeared a second later. He looked like an old slug hovering on a light blue ring.

Lauren stiffened, her eyes going wide, her entire being suddenly flooded with a singular thought: RUN!

She knew this type of alien.

It’d been his kind that had taken her from Earth.

19

His mood was sour.