Ka'Cit's Haven: A Sci-fi Alien Romance (Riv's Sanctuary Book 3)

by A. G. Wilde

  Movement to her side caught her attention and she realized Herza was trying to pull a blade from her hip.

  Nia trained the gun on the female.

  “I’ve already dealt with the guards in the next room. One wrong move and I’ll have to take care of you too. I don’t want to do that.”

  “You what?” Ka’Cit asked, his voice growing incredulous.

  Herza dropped her hands to her sides but the look in her eyes spat venom.

  Nia turned her attention back to Ka’Cit and began heading his way to release him, but there was movement in her peripheral vision once more.

  Herza moved quickly, but not quickly enough.

  It was pure instinct at this point. Reflex.

  The gun swung in her hands as she fired, hitting the female Merssi in the side.

  Herza let out a scream and clutched the spot where the bullet had seared her flesh.

  The blade she was carrying fell from her hands to clank on the floor as her body fell beside it, writhing.

  Nia let out a sigh. “I told you not to move.”

  “Phek,” she heard Ka’Cit say. “This isn’t a hallucination. Nee-ya is really here.”

  That made Nia turn in his direction and she marched right up to him.

  “You.” She pointed the gun at his head but the look in his eyes was so filled with awe that it didn’t seem to register.

  Awe and longing.

  Suddenly, all the pent-up emotions from the past few weeks came crashing down and she only managed to stifle a sob as she plastered herself against him, wrapping her arms around his torso.

  “Nee-ya,” he said.

  “You asshole.” She gripped him tighter.

  “I—What?”

  She simply sniffed against him and held on to him.

  For a few moments, he stiffened against her before she felt him struggling against his restraints.

  She was just about to help him out of them when his arms closed around her.

  Nia stifled a chuckle this time. “You could have gotten out all along?”

  “From those restraints? Yes. From out of the rest of this mess…I’m not so sure.”

  Nia nodded and still gripped him and he pulled her close.

  “Nee-ya,” he breathed. “What the phek are you doing here?”

  “I came for you…”

  He held her away from him as he studied her, his gaze searching hers.

  “How did you… Why?”

  Nia sniffed again. Why did she feel so freakin’ emotional? “Isn’t it obvious?”

  He gulped so hard she heard it.

  “You’re wearing my mask…”

  “Yes.”

  “It suits you.”

  “Good. Because I’m planning on keeping it.”

  “But…it was at my home…you…don’t tell me you went there.”

  Each word he spoke sounded as if he was still in a dream. As if he couldn’t believe he was really speaking to her.

  “I saw the dead guards. I knew you were in trouble.”

  He held her away from him enough that his pointed gaze bore into hers.

  In that moment, it didn’t feel like they’d spent weeks apart.

  His touch still sent tingles through her skin, being so close to him made her heart beat in a different way, and she could feel something pushing her toward him.

  “Don’t ever do that again,” he growled.

  “Don’t go to your house?”

  His gaze was incredulous. “Don’t come after me! What if…what if…”

  His gaze became pained as he pulled her against him once more.

  A groan filled the room and brought them back to reality.

  Herza was still writhing on the floor.

  “We have to go.” Nia clutched Ka’Cit’s hand and began heading toward the door.

  “Wait,” he said, pulling her back toward him. “I can’t. I can’t go with you.”

  Nia blinked at him.

  Did she just hear correctly?

  “What do you mean you can’t go?”

  Ka’Cit let out a breath, his gaze moving to the door. “If I leave, they’ll go after someone I care about a lot. I need her to be safe. I need to know that she’ll be safe.”

  Nia squeezed her eyes for a moment. “Lucky girl, isn’t she? I bet you care about her a lot.”

  Ka’Cit’s gaze met hers and for a few moments, he said nothing. Then, “More than she’ll ever know.”

  Nia took a step back till she was right in front of him. With one hand, she caressed the side of his mask.

  “I do know, Ka’Cit. I know everything.”

  His gaze grew alarmed.

  “I got your present, Ka’Cit. I’m safe.” Rolling up her sleeve, she flashed him the tattoo on her wrist. “Geblit did his job. Now it’s time for me to do mine.”

  For a few moments, he simply stared at her.

  “What’s that?” His voice was barely above a whisper.

  “Take care of you. It’s about time you know how that feels.”

  She couldn’t read the look that passed through his gaze, but his body moved, following her, when she tugged on his hand once more.

  44

  As he followed behind her, Ka’Cit could only stare.

  This felt surreal.

  Maybe it was the woogli smoke wafting through the room that was affecting his sense of reality.

  Was she really here? His ta’ii? Nee-ya?

  But her small palm squeezed against his as they made their way through the room toward the back, and that contact felt very real.

  A little Poxmo appeared, his eyes widening as he took in the carnage within the room. Carnage his Nee-ya created.

  For him.

  She’d come for him.

  He didn’t know how she’d managed to do it, but for her to put her life in danger just for him…even after he’d ceased contact…

  He couldn’t begin to conceive it.

  The Poxmo led them to the back and opened the final door for them and as they walked through, Nee-ya turned to the little being.

  “Thanks for your help,” she said. “You and your friend.”

  The Poxmo nodded energetically before shooing them away. “Hurry,” he said. “Before more come. Hurry. Hurry.”

  Nia smiled and gripped his palm. Ka’Cit had to look down at the contact.

  He still couldn’t believe it and as she led him through the debris behind the entertainment houses, he could only follow in silence.

  She’d come for him.

  Phek.

  “Nee-ya,” he finally managed to say as they came to a stop at the intersection of two of the buildings.

  “Hmm?” She barely glanced his way. “Do you think you can fit through there?”

  She gestured to the gap between the buildings and he nodded without even looking.

  He couldn’t pull his gaze away from her.

  And that didn’t change as they made their way through the gap and into the street.

  It didn’t change as she gripped his hand and led him through the exchange.

  He didn’t see the aliens parting to give them space as they ran down the busy street.

  Didn’t notice their gasps.

  Didn’t notice their fear and confusion.

  All he could see was his Nee-ya.

  She’d come for him.

  It was only when she arrived at the hover car bays and that she stopped walking to glance around.

  She pinpointed which vehicle was hers and headed in that direction.

  Riv’s hover car. He recognized it.

  As she got in, she motioned for him to do the same.

  Her eyes kept darting in the direction that they’d come from, but apart from that, she was as calm and sure as all the other times he’s seen her before.

  As she spoke to the car, telling it to take her home, he remained silent, afraid that if he opened his mouth, he’d break the spell and this dream would end.

  He’d dreamt about seeing her again
many times, and all those dreams had felt so real, he’d woken up having spilled over himself.

  He wasn’t sure he could trust his own mind.

  The vehicle hummed and rose into the air and soon they were zooming away from the Exchange.

  Ka’Cit looked back.

  Was this really happening?

  He wasn’t dreaming?

  This was not how he’d seen this ending at all.

  He turned to stare at her as the vehicle began to cruise through the streets on its way to the plain.

  “Nee-ya?”

  She turned to him then and he couldn’t read whatever was happening behind her eyes.

  Reaching to her ears, she released the mask and took it from over her head.

  His life organ swelled and thumped in his chest.

  She was even more beautiful than he’d remembered.

  She reached toward him then paused.

  “Can I?” she asked.

  Ka’Cit gulped then jerked his head in a slight nod.

  As she placed her hands on either side of his head to release his mask, he closed his eyes.

  He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until he felt the wind brushing against his skin and when he opened his eyes and his gaze met hers, something popped and overflowed within him.

  “Nee-ya,” he whispered.

  She was in his embrace then, her arms wrapping around his neck as she settled against him.

  “She was wrong,” she said.

  “Huh?”

  “Herza…she was wrong.”

  He didn’t understand. Actually, the entire situation was unbelievable to him. “What was she wrong about?”

  She eased off him a little so she was looking into his eyes. “I want you.”

  His life organ stopped beating. “What?”

  “I…Riv told me what this means.” She brushed a finger over his face and he fought not to let the sudden surge of emotions within him take over.

  “He told me why you’ve probably pushed me away.” Then she froze. “Unless this is a huge misunderstanding and I’ve been a fool. Unless you really don’t want me and this has nothing to do with you thinking I wouldn’t want you.”

  She started to pull away from him, but he held her fast.

  His life organ was hammering so hard, it felt as if he was starving for oxygen.

  “You risked your life to come after me because you…want me?” He almost choked on the words.

  It wasn’t something he’d ever thought he’d be asking a female.

  Nia nodded.

  Behind her, the lights of the city were a blur and it created a painting that was being etched into his memory forever.

  This was a moment in his life that he didn’t want to ever forget.

  But that didn’t mean it was going to change his mind.

  His voice was hoarse when he finally managed to speak. “I don’t think Riv explained it all to you… I’m not… A female like you deserves…”

  “You?”

  Ka’Cit hung his head, resting his forehead against hers.

  She didn’t understand.

  His heart broke, shattering within him.

  This was what he’d been running from all those weeks before.

  This was why he hadn’t told her everything.

  He could take rejection from any other female…but not from her.

  He didn’t want to see the scorn in her eyes.

  He didn’t want to hear her say it—to say he wasn’t worth it…to hear those words would kill him.

  “Not me,” he finally managed to say.

  He could never give her everything she deserved.

  He would never be enough.

  “You deserve better. I’m not… I’m not human. I’m hardly even Merssi.”

  There was a reason he didn’t talk about this and if his eyes could leak water like hers did when she was feeling deep sorrow, he was sure they’d be leaking now.

  “Ka’Cit…I don’t care…”

  He held her away from him then, his gaze forceful. “You don’t understand. I am defective. I will never be able to give you children. Did Riv tell you that?” Everything was ripping apart within him. “You can never have a family with me. My seed does not produce young.”

  Her gaze studied him as he continued. “In our past, momors and sarans used to sacrifice males like me to the gods…They thought the gods were angry at them for giving them chids like me. Those who weren’t cast out like I was met that end, but my momor was too weak. She spared me and sent me away. I’ve been alone since then. I’m destined to be alone. It is a curse I do not wish for the one I love most to bear. I—”

  Nee-ya’s lips against his cut off the rest of his speech and despite that he knew he should push her away, his body melted against her lips.

  This was why he’d stayed so far away. This was why he hadn’t even called.

  He couldn’t resist her.

  He’d never be able to.

  “Nee-ya…”

  “Shh…don’t speak.”

  As her tongue dipped into his mouth, brushing over his fangs before stroking against his, Ka’Cit let out a groan.

  The hover car was just on the edge of the plain now and he knew that soon, he’d have to say goodbye one more time.

  The thought made his insides clench and twist.

  He didn’t know how he was going to do it again.

  So he held her.

  He pulled her to him, his mouth crashing against hers.

  She somehow found her way into his lap and he gripped her hips. He could feel her sweet soft body underneath her clothes and all he could think about was that time on the service satellite, her body beneath his, the taste of her in his mouth.

  Oh how he wanted to take her right here, right now—to drink on her sweet nectar till he was sated.

  “Ka’Cit,” she breathed his name on his lips.

  “Nee-ya,” he whispered.

  “I love you too.”

  His entire body stiffened.

  The only thing that still swelled and jerked was within his trousers, straining to reach her.

  Had he heard correctly?

  “S-say that again?”

  “I love you. I don’t care what your society thinks is right or wrong. To be honest, it seems pretty fucked up to me.” She rested a palm against his cheek. “You are perfect. Everything about you. I know you want me. I can tell that now. I was a fool to think otherwise, too caught up in my own ego and too scared to go for what I wanted at the same time. And I want you too. I don’t need babies or a big family. I need a man who isn’t scared to give up everything to come after me. A man who allows himself to get captured just to protect me. A man who loves me with his all. You, Ka’Cit. I want you.”

  He could only gulp again.

  What she was saying…

  Phek.

  He was dreaming.

  “Nee-ya, I—” What could he even say?

  That she might think she wanted him now, but he’d seen what pain can do to a mating.

  That he’d seen it in his own mother’s eyes, the slow dying as his saran and momor had fought constantly because of him.

  That he didn’t want to be the cause of the sadness in her eyes when her life became incomplete?

  That seeing such a thing would hurt more than her rejection ever could?

  “It’s not just a family I can’t give you. I…” A breath shuddered through him.

  Phek.

  Now, this was harder than anything he’d had to face so far.

  “…The life I lead…it’s dangerous. I have enemies…”

  Nia smiled and it broke his concentration. “I have enemies too. As a matter of fact, it looks like we have some of the same enemies. Does it look like I’m scared of them?”

  Ka’Cit blinked.

  Some people called him crazy, but he was beginning to wonder if she was just as crazy as he was.

  “You watch my back. I’ll watch yours.”

  Ka’Ci
t’s mouth opened to respond yet no words came.

  As the autopilot adjusted the speed of the hover car and the wind around them picked up, all he could do was stare at her.

  All the arguments he’d used to convince himself as to why he should stay far, far away from her crumbled to dust.

  Suddenly, nothing made sense and he dared to hope.

  But…

  Still…he had to make it clear.

  A part of him still didn’t believe she understood.

  “La-rehn is bearing young. I saw her rounded belly. I am happy for Riv, but…” his gaze fell, “I could never give you that. I will never be able to…”

  Her hand found his chin and lifted it so he was looking into her eyes once more. Then she smiled.

  “You’re such a badass out there, in the cosmos, yet, right now, you’re opening yourself to me. It’s the first I’ve seen you so vulnerable. And I appreciate it.” She planted a kiss on his lips once more. “Is it that you want babies. Is that why you’re being so hard on yourself?”

  Ka’Cit felt his throat move.

  Yes.

  The answer was yes.

  More than anything in the world.

  He wanted to see little versions of himself and his gnora running around. It was one of his life’s greatest wishes.

  Nee-ya rubbed his cheek, her touch gentle. “What about adoption?”

  “A—what?”

  “You know, becoming the parents of a child who has none.”

  His life organ thumped hard.

  “You would rear someone else’s seed with me?”

  Nee-ya nodded. “I would.”

  Ka’Cit had to inhale deeply.

  “That’s not something Merssi females do…I…I’d never considered it before.”

  “I’m not Merssi. Back home, my father basically adopted a shit ton of kids that became my extended family. It’s normal where I come from.”

  Hope was beginning to flare within him and he wasn’t sure if he should let himself trust that everything would be okay.

  “And…you would do this with me? You would give up your happiness to be with me.”

  Nia shook her head. “No.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “These past few weeks have been the hardest in my life.” She brushed her thumb over his cheek. “I missed you. A lot. I wouldn’t be giving up my happiness. You are my happiness.”

  “Nee-ya.” It was the only thing he could say before he pulled her into him, his mouth crashing against hers.