Page 71 of My Salvation
“If it’s a bird, I’ll tell Kincaid to lock you in a box!”
“Cas…”
“I’ll have Meryn add you to every Most Wanted list in the country,” she continued, fuming every step of the way.
He sighed. “You’ll see.”
“I eat birds, Priest. They are not my friends.”
He leered at her. “You can eat me later.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You really wanna risk that right now?” she asked, her eyes looking down at his crotch.
He gasped. “Babe! That’s cruel. He didn’t do anything to you. He’s still recovering from the ice water from last night.”
She couldn’t help herself. She laughed.
He smiled.
“You’re not forgiven.”
She kept giving him the evil eye as they walked through the sliding glass doors of the very modern-looking facility.
“Mr. Aerdan! If you had let us know you were coming, we could have made arrangements, lunch at the very least,” a small round woman said, fussing over her mate.
“Danielle, I’d like you to meet my wife, Cassandra,” he said, lifting Cas’ hand to kiss.
The portly woman turned to her and actually dabbed at her eyes with a small white handkerchief. “Oh, bless you. I’ve been so worried about this one, always alone, you know. Such a good boy too. Donates probably more than he should.”
“Donates?” she asked.
“Oh yes! I don’t think we could operate at all without his generosity.” She turned to Priest. “I imagine you’re here for your special friend.”
Priest nodded eagerly. “I’d like to introduce Cassandra.”
Danielle smiled. “Normally, I’d have to educate you on what to do, but I know Mr. Aerdan here will show you the ropes. This way.”
They walked past what looked like small infirmaries, cages, and even a play area with hoops and perches.
Using a keycard, she unlocked the door. “Have fun, you two.” She waved, then walked away.
Priest held the door open, and she eyed him.
“Trust me, my love.”
Stepping through, she didn’t see anything threatening, so she continued walking all the way inside.
“Wash your hands, then use the sanitizer,” Priest instructed from the sink.
Grumbling about slow deaths, she washed and sanitized her hands.
Priest went to the small cage to the left.
“Hey baby girl, did you miss me?”
Baby girl? What was he crooning at?
He opened the cage and pulled out a tiny feather ball.