Page 85 of Riv's Sanctuary
Those weren’t there right now and that surprised him. It made him feel lost a little.
With the female so close, he’d thought that’d be the only thing he’d be feeling.
But those feelings were missing and for the first time in a long while, he felt…unladen.
He could feel La-rehn calming down against him. Her breathing was evening out as her body relaxed. Just a little, for there was still tension in her bones.
It took a while before her body stopped shaking and he wrapped the cloak around her shoulders, raising the hood so her face was mostly hidden.
Was it the males that were making her react like this?
He hadn’t known her for long but he’d never seen her so …vulnerable…and it tugged at something within him.
He could hardly find his voice as he spoke.
“Wear this. Then they won’t be able to see you easily.” He swallowed and continued. “You can choose who deserves your attention then. With the cloak, no one will know you’re a new species here.”
The female sniffed and wiped her eyes.
She eased off him but she didn’t meet his gaze.
“T-ank yoo butt izz not dat.”
For the first time, he really wished he could understand what she was saying.
She wiped her eyes again and finally met his gaze.
Her eyes looked slightly red and he opened his mouth to ask about it before closing it again.
Her shoulders were still stiffened and she seemed extremely wary, her eyes moving back to the merchant.
Riv turned to look at the merchant too but the old Isclit wasn’t paying them any attention.
“Let’s go,” he said and the human nodded, moving by his side.
Whatever had caused that reaction lingered, for as they walked, her shoulders remained stiffened and though he couldn’t see her face now because of the cloak, he could see her head move as she surveyed the crowd of shoppers.
Whatever had set her off was still in her mind and she hastened her steps beside his, as if she couldn’t wait to leave the exchange.
He couldn’t wait either, but her response was sending alarms bells ringing all throughout his mind.
It was not until they reached the tech centre, where most of the stalls had gadgets and off-world technology, that the human stopped walking suddenly and grabbed his hand.
Her other arm shot out of the robe as she pointed across the street at something.
A specific stall.
As he allowed her to weave him through the throng toward the stall, Riv fastened on her hand holding on to his.
Her skin was pale against his blue, a contrast that kept him staring at their skin touching.
He should pull away. He should break this physical contact.
He just…couldn’t.
And he didn’t know the phek why.
La-rehn stopped in front of the stall and pulled the hood of her cloak back.