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“Mother!” She glared at her mom.

Aculus stood upright. “Thank you.” He nodded to Carol, then leaned in close to her ear. “We will continue ourdiscussionlater,” he whispered, his voice silky smooth and laced with illicit promises.

“Okay.” She bit her lip.

“And we’ll discuss who’s really the playboy.” His lips quirked up in a rotten smile.

Before she could defend herself, he’d taken off down the hallway.

“It’s still you, bonehead,” she hollered after him.

She grinned when he laughed then turned to find her mother standing with her hands on her hips.

“What?” she asked with mock innocence, holding up her hands. “I was taking your advice.”

“Ha,” Carol snorted. “I really can’t say anything, you take after me. And I never could resist pilots either.”

“Mother! Ew, you’re talking about Dad. Come on.” She scrunched up her face and shook her head.

“If you say so,” Carol replied smugly, then winked.

She’s not just talking about Dad!

“Nope. La-la-la-la-la.” She covered her ears.

“I had five children, Nadzia, and we tried for a lot more,” her mother continued torturing her with a laugh.

Obviously she did take after her mother, sarcastic wit and all.

Aculus

This is pointless, he grumbled, attempting to reread the same message for the second time.

He hadn’t accomplished anything all morning. It wasn’t even worth trying, his thoughts were elsewhere. When he found Nadzia in the corridor, he’d planned on talking about last night. Nadzia might not be ready to hear she was his mate, except after staying up all night and toiling over the dilemma he couldn’t figure any way around it. The last thing he wanted was to drive her away, but it was important no one learned she was his weakness. In fact, her well-being depended on it. If she inadvertently mentioned seeing his quick that would be that, the secret out.

We need to be several systems away before the Conclave learns that.He cringed imagining the fallout.

With the difficult decision made, he resolved to approach her this morning. Then before he could say anything, she started talking about what they shared being a one-time thing. She wasn’t an itch he could scratch, or a fleeting curiosity. And he refused to believe she felt that way about him.

So you lost your head and attempted to possess her in the corridor.

It was unbelievably foolish. He knew he wouldn’t be able to hold his shell if he touched her yet he did it anyway. He just couldn’t resist. Something possessed him and he refused to take no for an answer.

You got lucky it was Carol who saw you in your quick.

He would’ve been more ashamed of exposing his quick in front of Matron Carol, if he hadn’t been so elated by Nadzia’s response to him. Aculus groaned just thinking about the way she kissed him and pawed at his chest. And he had admitted she was his weakness. That was progress. She hadn’t freaked out when he told her.

Ugh, you are a bonehead. She didn’t react because she doesn’t understand what that means. You need to talk to her before you get to Osi.

The door swooshed and in walked his Cadi friend.

“Payim.” He nodded to the male.

“Are you free to talk?”

He could tell Payim was curious about something with the way his tail swished. It reminded him a lot of Tarsus.

“Of course.” He pointed to the other side of the table.