Ka'Cit's Haven: A Sci-fi Alien Romance (Riv's Sanctuary Book 3), A.G. Wilde [surface ebook reader TXT] 📗

a part of him had enjoyed beating up the henchman and after what they’d been planning to do to her, she couldn’t find it in her heart to feel sorry for the Niftrill.

“Tough phekker though. Was like hitting rock.”

The way he said it, the utter nonchalance in his voice, made her stifle another chuckle.

“Happy my pain gives you such pleasure.”

Her gaze darted to his. “No. I—”

But there was a twinkle in his eye and she found herself hiding her smile.

She was done now anyway. Securing the last bit of her makeshift bandage, she started moving back to her spot when the ship suddenly lurched.

If she wasn’t so low on the ground already, she’d have stumbled and fallen, but the effect of the movement caused her to fall awkwardly against him.

There was another loud sound in the engines and her body stiffened.

It was a stark reminder that she was far from safety.

For a moment there with him, she’d forgotten where she was.

The ship lurched again and the rhythmic clanking in the background slowly died.

“What…what’s happening?”

Ka’Cit cursed under his breath and checked the huge band on his wrist.

“Phek,” was all he said as she scrambled off him and he sat upright.

“What? What is it?”

“Herza just killed the engines.”

She stared at him, alarm making her heart beat hard in her chest.

What the hell did that mean? Had they arrived at wherever the ship was going?

“She’s cheaper than I thought…” His gaze met hers.

She had no idea what he meant with those words.

He must have seen the question in her eyes because he continued.

“She killed the engines,” he repeated. “We are…drifting.”

The way he said it, made it sound incredibly bad.

Drifting in space for a few moments could work in their advantage, right.

It meant they were no longer blasting away from Hudo III. The trip back should be shorter.

But the look he was giving her didn’t spark any confidence within her.

Instead, there was a fear that was steadily growing along her spine and she was sure something bad was about to happen.

A surety that only grew as Ka’Cit, for the first time since she’d been around him that evening, lost that unbothered look he usually had.

He was crouching now, his shoulders tense and his entire frame alert.

“I’m sorry, ta’ii.”

16

“Wait here.”

He studied Nee-ya as he crouched once more.

Worry shone in her eyes but she nodded.

He was hesitant to leave, lest she start hyperventilating again, but he had to check something.

When her breathing didn’t start acting up, Ka’Cit turned and crawled back through the tunnel. He’d left her the light because, well, he didn’t really need it to see where he was going and he knew it would give her some comfort while she waited alone.

As he made it back through the darkness, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed—not at Herza for cutting the engine in the middle of the void, but at himself for not seeing it coming.

Most merchants were cheap, trying to wheedle their way through jobs and bargains while saving as many credits on each transport run as possible.

Herza was no different.

The most frugal merchants often cut their engines while in the void, usually so they could save on credits by purchasing fuel from passing smuggler ships.

Such fuel was usually half the price of what they’d get it for on any surface and for good reason.

The quality was hit or miss.

As he reached the opening where the tunnel met the ladder, Ka’Cit glanced behind him.

The light he’d left in the nook didn’t spread very far and the tunnel was masked in darkness.

With the engines off, it would start to get cold, very cold, and he didn’t have the heart to tell Nee-ya.

This trip up the ladder was only to check if he could get them out of their hiding spot safely…and he hoped…he really hoped he could.

But as soon as he climbed up the ladder and reached the top, he could hear the steady footfalls above.

Light leaked through the cracks above him, telling him that the crew was still busy. Herza had them working hard. Either that, or they were still looking for Nee-ya.

Possibly, they even found the Niftrill he’d tied up and locked in the supply closet.

They’d know he was on the ship too then…

Phek.

This situation was only getting worse.

As he headed back toward the nook, he wondered how he was going to break the news to the small female waiting for him there.

How could he say that they were drifting and that was cause to be alarmed?

That with the engines off, the cold would set in soon and the underbelly of the ship was the worst place to be when that happened…

That there wasn’t a way for them to go above. That they had to wait longer…

That she was going to be so cold it would hurt…

Phek. Him.

The warm glow of the light disk greeted him first then Nee-ya lifted her head.

Her eyes were wide and expectant and it only worsened the feeling in his chest.

Ka’Cit ran a hand through his hair as he crouched before her.

She studied him and glanced back toward the darkness of the tunnel.

“We can’t go…not yet. It’s too dangerous for you.” He answered her unasked question.

“Den weel wayt.” She gave him an encouraging half-smile. “Noh prohblehm.”

Ka’Cit released a heavy breath.

She had no idea.

He was already beginning to feel the cold creeping in.

In the void, it always surprised him how quickly the cold ate through any warmth.

Reaching for her cloak, he adjusted it on her shoulders and pulled the hood over her head. She tensed a little as she watched him do it.

“It’s going to get cold.”

Nee-ya nodded. “Oh-kay.”

“Very cold.”

She nodded again. She didn’t seem as concerned as she should be.

What he was trying to tell her was that it was going to get unbearably cold.

He watched as she further adjusted her cloak and pulled up her legs underneath her.

“Ai gess wee wayt.”

Ka’Cit blinked.

Either she was ignorant of just how dire their situation was…or she was putting on a courageous front.

But…he already knew she was brave, so