Swallowing down the lump in her throat, Nia moved forward to take it and her fingers brushed against his.
Electricity shot through her at the touch of their skin and she had to force herself to breathe normally.
She wasn’t just imagining this, was she?
She couldn’t be the only one affected by this.
He must feel it too.
He must!
But… “Bye, Nee-ya.”
Her tear-filled eyes met his one last time as he moved his hand, breaking their contact.
“Bye, Ka’Cit.”
As the hover car moved backward, turned, and began shooting across the plain, Nia watched it go.
Bye, Nia.
His words echoed in her ear.
It didn’t sound like a temporary farewell.
That…that sounded like goodbye.
Terse.
Frigid.
Final.
37
It turns out that Sohut and Cleo hadn’t gone on their assignment because they’d been too worried about her.
If not for the call she’d been able to make from Ka’Cit’s watch when she’d been in orbit, they’d have spent the entire time clueless and worrying.
“So tell us what happened? How did Ka’Cit find you? Where did he find you? I swear, we didn’t stop looking for you. We looked everywhere.” Lauren’s eyes were starting to water again and Nia reached across the table to squeeze the woman’s hand.
They were all sitting in the main room, which they’d designated as the living and dining room, and everyone’s attention was on her.
Luckily, they hadn’t asked why she seemed so sad. At least, not yet. If anything, she’d just say it’s because she was a bit tired.
Hopefully, they’d buy it,
Cleo had made some sort of sweet tea from some herbs she and Sohut had brought back after one of their excursions, and there was a steaming cup of it in front of her.
It smelled good but she couldn’t even focus on the drink.
All she could think about was those last few moments by the edge of the property.
All she could see was Ka’Cit’s hover car zooming away, again, and again, and again.
“Was it the Hedgeruds? The Tasqals? Did they somehow pull you away from us?” Lauren continued. “We didn’t see any guards. It’s like you disappeared. I swear I almost went into labor from the shock.”
Riv growled something, clearly displeased about that part.
Nia forced a smile. “It’s stupid how it happened. I got caught in the crowd and couldn’t push my way back. The Niftrills did it. Thought I was one of them.”
Riv cursed underneath his breath.
“Niftrills?” Lauren asked.
“Yea. My cloak resembled theirs. I’m a similar size to them and they couldn’t understand me. Thought I was with their group and they sort of just pulled me along. I tried calling out to you guys but the noise of the Exchange…” Nia shrugged. “You couldn’t hear me. But it’s fine now. I’m here.”
“Niftrills work for merchants. Why didn’t the merchant let you go when they took you to the ship?” Riv growled.
A huge sigh left her body and Nia closed her eyes for a second. “The merchant was a crooked one. She scanned my bracelet. Figured out it was fake. She wouldn’t let me go after that. She locked me up.”
“Locked you up?” Lauren frowned. “To take you to the authorities or something?”
It was hard to meet Lauren’s gaze and she really didn’t want the woman to feel worse about the whole situation than she already did. It hadn’t been Lauren’s fault.
“She wanted to traffic me.”
Lauren’s hand flew over her mouth. “Oh my God.”
Nia hurried to add, “It isn’t as bad as it sounds.”
She knew she was simplifying it all but Lauren didn’t need more stress, especially in her condition.
And, well, talking about it made her relive it, and all she could think about was him.
“But Ka’Cit found you. How?” It was Sohut that spoke. Cleo was parked in his lap and he had to lean around her so he could make eye contact.
Nia shrugged, her gaze falling to the tea in front of her. “I don’t know how he found me. But I was lucky that he did.”
Lauren’s fingers brushed over her hand. “Nia, you’re acting…different. Is there something you want to tell us? Did something happen to you out there?” She paused, her gaze darting to her mate’s and then to Cleo’s. “You’re safe with us. You know that right? I know we messed up and I don’t know how we’re going to make up for that but…you can tell us anything. We’ll try to fix it.”
Nia shook her head once more.
“You didn’t mess up.” She looked around the group. They were all looking at her with regret in their eyes. “You really didn’t. Think of it as a…free trip I got up into space.”
Lauren’s eyes widened then and she realized they hadn’t known she’d actually left the planet.
“Long story.” Nia smiled and that smile was interrupted by a yawn.
“You must be tired,” Cleo murmured. “It sounds like a lot. You should go rest. We’ll continue this conversation later.”
Nia nodded.
“You’re sure you’re all right?” Lauren was still studying her with concerned eyes.
Nia nodded again. “It’s nothing. Cleo’s right. I am really tired. But to answer your question, nothing happened out there. Ka’Cit helped me off the ship. I saw those aliens who took us from Earth.” That got a collective gasp. “Ka’Cit fought them. I helped where I could. Turns out there are more humans out there somewhere.”
“What?” That was also collective.
Nia huffed a laugh through her nose. “Yea. Long story but they’re safe now, I think. Tell you about it later.”
She didn’t have the energy to speak about it now.
At the moment, she only wanted to go into her room and lay down on her bed in the darkness.
“But, yea, nothing happened apart from that.”
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
She could still hear the others moving about the house, but Nia stayed in bed, listening to the rain pummel the roof.
In another time, it would have been a soothing sound that would have lulled her to sleep. But right now, it only heightened her sorrow—a bit like listening to sad love songs when heartbroken and ugly crying
