Page 84 of Riv's Sanctuary

The exchange.

The males.

Their attention.

It was all rubbing him the wrong way.

Stopping by a cloak merchant, he set to buy the female one of the garments when he realized that she’d suddenly stiffened.

Her eyes wide, she was taking small steps back into the throng, her gaze fastened on the merchant.

Riv frowned, his attention moving from her to the merchant and back.

She was looking at the Isclit as if it was a phantom.

Quickly transferring credits for the cloak, he moved to the human’s side and it seemed she didn’t even realize he was there.

Her chest was heaving, her forehead damp. Her eyes were wide but it was clear she wasn’t seeing anything there and now. She was seeing something else in her mind.

Something far away.

Something gone a long time ago.

“Female,” he said, but that didn’t seem to break her from her trance.

“Female!”

Nothing.

An uneasy feeling began to grow within him and he grasped the female by her shoulders, bringing his face close to hers. “La-rehn?” He shook her lightly. “La-rehn!”

It took a few moments for her to focus on him.

“Riv?” she said.

Her eyes nictated like wild googloos as she searched his face.

“Riv,” she repeated before gripping his hands holding her shoulders.

Before he could move away, she moved into him, pressing her face against his neck as she inhaled deeply and her shoulders shook.

Riv stiffened, his eyes going wide, his heart ceasing to pump life-blood.

Every principle he’d taught himself, every rule he’d followed were being broken right at this moment.

His life code told him to push her away, but every neuron in his brain said no.

She was obviously affected by something. Something was very wrong. And though he knew females were deceptive, this didn’t seem like an act of some kind.

This seemed real.

Swallowing hard, he found he couldn’t move.

Instead, he let her bury her face against him as the world slowed down around them.

He could feel moisture against his neck as her hot breath warmed his skin.

He could feel a lot of things—everything except anger and irritation.