Page 140 of Riv's Sanctuary

Four words.

Four words that made her breathing stop and her world pause.

She didn’t know how to reply as he searched her gaze

“Riv…”

A loud commotion down the street cut through their exchange and had her turning to look in that direction.

The blood drained from her face and her mouth went dry.

Further down in the direction they were heading, four of the alligator-looking guards turned the corner.

Lauren’s heart sped up in her chest, but she gripped the metal in her hand instead.

She didn’t need to hide from them. Riv had made sure of that.

As she stared, the throng of aliens starting to thin out as the guards neared, she realized it was a procession like the one she’d seen before.

Moving to the side and out of the street, she got out of the way, thinking Riv would follow.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he stood looking ahead, his eyes on the procession. His entire body was rigid, it didn’t even look as if he was breathing.

“Riv!” she whispered harshly, but he didn’t budge.

What the hell was he doing?

Rushing back into the street, she flashed a hand in front of his face but still there was no response.

Anxiety began to build within her.

He had his staring contests, yes, but this seemed different. Either way, it was a helluva time to have one now.

“Riv?”

His eyes were vacant, as if he was no longer there and when she pulled on his arm to move him from the middle of the street, he didn’t budge.

He was like a statue.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the procession was nearing and her anxiety quickened.

It was as if he was looking at a ghost and when she glanced behind her again, she realized why.

The guards were walking with one of those toad-like beings between them. The huge toad was dressed in all white. On its head was a round golden headdress.

Wait.

She knew that Tasqal. Well, she’d heard of it.

Riv had mentioned that headdress before.

It took a moment for reality to dawn.

She knew who it was.

It was the Tasqal who had tried to force him into sex. The one who’d had him working in the mines as a child. The one who’d cut off his tail.

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