Page 60 of Riv's Sanctuary

It was so strange to hear a conversation in his house that even though he was scowling in her direction, he couldn't help but stop and listen a little.

A female hadn't graced his dwelling in, well, forever.

His brother, Sohut, didn't invite females over and he certainly didn't, so hearing a female inside his space was a little jarring.

Slipping a loose tunic over his shoulders and pulling on a fresh pair of trousers, he walked slowly toward the sound of her voice.

She was sitting by the table, arms crossed as she spoke to Grot, who, surprisingly, was laying by her feet, listening to her speak.

How he could stand the constant chatter, Riv didn't know.

He paused by the doorway, frowning at her.

Of all the things Geblit could have brought to him, why this?

Geblit must have known he'd bought an intelligent being; he must have known she wouldn't fit in with the other animals in his Sanctuary.

It wasn't as if he could put her in one of the enclosures...could he?

She looked in his direction then, big brown eyes widening slightly as she saw him standing there.

No. He couldn't put her in one of the enclosures. Even if he wanted to.

That would be cruel.

He was many things, but he wasn't cruel.

He'd let her stay in the spare room for one more dark-cycle then he'd take her to the exchange and find someone who would take her off his hands since Geblit wouldn’t return for her.

It took him a few moments to notice she was still staring at him and the realization made him stiffen a little.

Even when she wasn’t speaking, it was as if he could hear her anyway.

That, and she was looking at him strangely.

Her eyes were the most expressive he had ever seen on any being and whenever she was focused on him, it felt as if she was looking through his soul.

She better not.

She wouldn’t like what she saw there.

Right now, though, he couldn’t quite make out what she was thinking.

Not that he wanted to know.

Anything she was thinking could be kept to herself for all eternity.

But even as he moved toward the cook room, her eyes followed him, and as he neared her, he saw something in her eyes that he did recognize.

Lust.

He knew that look. He’d seen it many times and never had it come from a good place.

Riv stiffened and his skin bristled as he passed the female and entered the cook room.

He should turn back and go to bed, leave her unfed.

The fact she was looking at him like that…

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