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“Oh yeah, it’s the chair’s fault for getting in your way,” she snorted. “You’re really too big to be in here.”

Momma acknowledged her with a glance then continued her inspection.

How did you get in here?she wondered then noticed she’d left the balcony doors open.

The gargantuan bird stopped abruptly when it reached the table and warbled excitedly, its feathers ruffling. Momma frantically started pecking at the sparkly tablecloth, tearing off the jeweled flecks resembling sequins.

“Hey, no!” she hissed at the bird, but was totally ignored. “Jesus, you and your fetish for shiny shit.”

Her brow furrowed as Momma mangled the tablecloth, growing concerned as the overgrown ostrich attempted to swallow a strand of glittery bits.

Oh, that can’t be good for her.She whistled, hoping to distract the exuberant creature.

Momma’s head popped up, colorful fragments falling from its beak as it cocked its head and stared at her. Nadzia whistled again when Momma glanced back at its treasure. This time the raptor approached her, blinking curiously. She whistled repeatedly, luring Momma further away from the table, still keeping a healthy distance. As gentle as the immense ostrich had been with her, when it came to a creature this size, that term was relative. Her bruised ribs were proof of that.

The curious bird spied the bed and made a bee line for it. Momma sniffed the blankets then, satisfied with whatever she smelled, started to fluff and pile up the blankets with her giant hooked beak. That done, Momma turned away from the bed.

“If you’re good you should probably go,” she suggested, backing out of the way as Momma approached.

Momma kept coming toward her, its big dark eyes blinking.

“Whoa, wait a minute,” she said anxiously as she squeezed tighter against the wall. “Remember, we’re friends,” she nervously said as Momma’s sharp beak got closer.

But instead of capturing her in its mouth, the bird used its massive head to nudge her toward the bed.

“Are you herding me toward my nest?” she snorted with a mix of amusement and relief.

Figuring she better comply with the oversized mother, she climbed into the rumpled bed. Momma made a snuffling trill, her wings wiggling, apparently now content, then headed for the patio. Nadzia shimmied down the bed to get a better view as the raptor left. Her eyes widened when the bird extended its wings and lifted into the air.

“Holy crap!”

She thought the ostrich was huge before, but she hadn’t seen its impressive wingspan or the way it flew. She hopped out of bed and ran to the balcony in time to see the magnificent creature soar toward the wildlife refuge. From a distance it looked like an angel glowing in the night sky.

That was weird.Nadzia shook her head.I think I was just tucked into bed.

She wandered back inside, making sure to shut the doors, then headed to the washroom.

Oh, holy hell!She looked at herself in the reflecting screen.

Nadzia tugged her hair out of the ponytail, tossed her shawl aside then yanked off her shorts and t-shirt.

Maybe it’s a good thing I couldn’t see Aculus quite yet.She stepped into the shower.

She washed her hair and body, luxuriating in the warm soothing spray. The water felt good on her tired muscles. It had been a long day for so many reasons. Exhausted, she finished bathing, dried off and headed out of the washroom to find something to wear.

“Aculus!” She jumped seeing him standing in the middle of the room.

The imposing man silently stared at her, his red eyes glowing inside the hood that shielded his face. The man reminded her of a medieval assassin, buff and bad ass. His gaze raked up her nude body then landed on her forehead.

“Torment!” The heated look in his eyes instantly shifted to concern.

Aculus marched forward, palmed her behind and lifted her off her feet. She gripped his bicep and held on as Aculus headed into the hidden passage.

“You’re drunk,” she snorted when he zigzagged down the corridor.

With a grunt and a slight nod, he confirmed her suspicion. Aculus entered his suite, set her on the bed then disappeared into the washroom. When he reemerged a moment later, he was holding a container of the healing salve. He took a second look at her and grimaced, pain flashing in his red eyes, and rather than returning to the bed, headed toward the table in the middle of his suite.

Shit. She frowned when he grabbed the large bottle that was obviously booze before joining her again.