Riv's Sanctuary - A.G. Wilde Page 0,44

Sohut replied.

"No idea of the species?"

"No idea."

Great.

Riv's gaze flicked to the human. She was still standing beside Grot, who was now resting with his eyes closed, but her gaze was on him.

He hadn’t realized she’d been staring and the realization set off a strange feeling crawling over his skin.

She couldn't stay.

He'd have to be the one to take her to the exchange, then.

Groaning within, he looked behind her and out the window.

He always had to mentally prepare before he went to such a crowded place as the exchange.

He’d have to do so now while he fed the animals and got ready to leave.

If he hurried, he could get them to the exchange before the dark-cycle and then return home.

Gaze flicking back to the human, she was still looking at him and there was some irritation behind her eyes.

Good.

He could live with that.

He could take her anger, her irritation, her disgust…

What he couldn’t take was what he thought he’d seen in her eyes the last dark cycle.

Concern.

The last thing he needed was her concern.

Riv’s brother looked like his twin, only a little younger.

She found herself looking from one to the other, noticing the similarities and the differences.

Where Riv had frown lines, Sohut had none.

She couldn’t imagine why.

There was something startlingly different between them, though, and she’d noticed while they’d been conversing.

Sohut had a tail.

Riv didn’t.

She didn’t know much about aliens. As a matter of fact, she knew nothing about aliens, but she’d have thought because they were brothers they’d both have the same types of body parts.

It seemed strange for one to have a tail and the other not to.

And they were blood brothers. The facial similarity was too uncanny.

Sohut wore his hair up and away from his shoulders in a sort of man-bun and the locs and gold rings present in Riv’s hair were missing from his.

He was also slightly smaller than Riv—more lithe, as if Riv lifted the heavy weights while Sohut did work that required running and moving quickly.

She was listening to them speak while she studied them both when the conversation moved to her temporary stay at the Sanctuary.

Lauren gulped when Riv’s gaze fell on her.

She couldn’t read his eyes and he didn’t say anything, but it was clear her welcome had expired.

Great.

Now she had to steel herself and prepare for going back to that market.

A spike of anger filled her as she frowned.

She’d been getting used to the idea of staying at the Sanctuary, even though she’d known he didn’t want her living there.

That was her fault. She couldn’t feel bad.

It wasn’t like there’d been a promise of anything permanent.

Stepping backward, she perched on the edge of the floating bed, her eyes downcast.

She’d be leaving again soon.

Suddenly, the same dilemma she’d had with Geblit was rearing its head again so soon.

She’d be taken back to the market, no doubt, and sold.

Memory of the tall aliens with blades on their bodies returned to her and she shivered.

There had to be a better way to live than this.

For a moment, she contemplated running away. It wasn’t the greatest of ideas but it wasn’t the worst either.

Biting her lip, she was deep in thought when she realized Riv was leaving the room.

Her head lifted as he exited, leaving his brother behind.

Sohut was studying her with the same green gaze of his brother and that uncanny feeling hit her again. Only, his gaze wasn’t as hard as Riv’s. His gaze was more curious.

“Which planet are you from?” His gaze was intense and unreadable like his brother’s.

“Earth.”

A light frown marred the smooth skin of his forehead.

“Never heard of it.” His frown disappeared. “Did you come to Hudo III through the hyperspeed tunnel?”

Lauren blinked. “Hyperspeed tunnel? No. I caught a cab,” she answered bitterly and immediately felt bad about it.

Her mood was suddenly sour. And it might be because his brother was planning on sending her away or the fact it didn’t feel like she belonged anywhere anymore but it felt as if the sun was going down on her.

It was a chilling feeling knowing your life hung in the hands of other beings.

Sohut blinked. “I do wish I could understand you. I can’t.”

Lauren huffed out a laugh. “Nope. Better you don’t hear what I feel like saying right now.”

Sohut frowned a little once more as he continued studying her. “I’d head to the exchange to get your language download but if you’re not staying for long, I don’t see why I should make the trip, unfortunately.” He frowned a little more.