Page 111

“Well, I followed the rotten kitten into the passage where I found him playing with three chicks. One of them got trapped by a rock and I helped it. Then Momma bird came charging to the rescue.”

She paused, expecting Aculus to comment on the aggressive endangered bird charging her, but he didn’t. His breathing was steady so she glanced up, and discovered he was fast asleep.

“I guess I’ll finish the story some other time,” she chuckled and kissed his chest. “Sweet dreams, handsome.”

It was barely evening, but it had been a long day already and she was tired. Snuggled up against Aculus, she should’ve been able to drift into oblivion. Except between Aculus’ injury, his family discovering their relationship, and the same vile reptile that hurt her sister wanting to kill Aculus, her mind was racing.

There has to be something I can do besides idly watch.Aculus was right, the helpless feeling was horrible.

Nadzia eased from beneath Aculus’ arm and got dressed.

Don’t know why I’m bothering. Half the Sanctuary saw me in my bra already.She shook her head as she slipped on a clean shirt.

On her way out, her gaze was drawn to the veranda doors. She double-checked they were locked before heading into the hall.

The last thing we need is another visit tonight.

“Matron Nadzia,” the guard on duty greeted her.

“Hello. Could you go sit with Aculus, please?”

“Of course.” The guard nodded and went into the suite.

She wandered the hall and headed down to the grand foyer, walking off some of the restless energy. When she reached the bottom of the rotating escalator, she noticed one of the Conclave staring out the window. As soon as she realized it was Axilla she debated going back upstairs.

“I will have someone bring you evening meal,” Axilla said.

Nadzia closed her eyes.Too late to escape now.She pasted on a smile as she turned back around.

“That would be nice. Aculus will probably be hungry when he wakes up,” she replied.

“That’s a good look for you,” Axilla commented then looked back out the picture window.

“Pardon me.” She frowned.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say that smile was genuine,” the matron added.

“Seriously?!” she asked, taken aback by the remark. “I’m sorry if my comments earlier offended you.”

“No, you’re not.” Axilla cast her an impassive glance. “And that wasn’t meant as an insult.”

Well it certainly wasn’t a compliment, but—“Okay?” she said, morbidly curious where this was going.

“Today you were abducted and escaped, confronted the leaders of a preeminent nation with your chin held high, then tamed the fauna of a foreign planet to save a member of the ruling family. And though I’m certain you’re overwrought you adopted a smile when that was the last thing you felt like doing.”

Nadzia stared at Axilla with her mouth open. Surprisingly that actually did sound like a compliment. And if she wasn’t mistaken there was gratitude in the woman’s eyes when she acknowledged she’d saved Aculus.

That had to be hard for her.

“Thank you.” She gave Aculus’ mother a genuine smile. “Well, I should probably check on Aculus.”

“I do love him,” Axilla added, as Nadzia turned to leave.

She stopped and turned back around. “I do, too.”

“I also know there’s more to him than the duty to his people. Believe me, I know,” Axilla chuckled.

Hearing the woman laugh, she was surprised for the second time that evening. She glanced sideways at Axilla, wondering if she was imagining all this.