Page 12 of Sky’s Edge

Wretchedly, it was Tanyn.

Making it more wretched, it was in that moment the first tear fell.

Demon tears were red. They weren’t blood, just crimson-streaked water.

Therefore, he could not miss it as it traveled in what felt like slow motion down my cheek.

And he watched it glide along my skin.

All the way.

Once it dropped off my jaw to soak into my slim-fitting, sleeveless, black, to-the-knee dress (with its slender, black patent leather belt—black was one of my colors (or non-colors, as it were), but I’d purposefully selected it for its funereal properties for this meeting), his gaze lifted to mine.

“That wasn’t how I wanted that to go,” he said quietly, his deep silky voice feeling silky against my skin.

I ignored it.

“Well, that’s how it went,” I replied. “Now, if you’ll release me, my pilot will be here shortly.”

“Allow my detail to take you home.”

“At this juncture, I’ll have to pay if I cancel the Fly.”

“I’ll reimburse you.”

“I’d rather be alone.”

“You’ll have a pilot in a Fly.”

“I think you understand what I’m saying.”

“Catla—”

I twisted my arm and gained my freedom. “I have to go.”

“I don’t leave for Sky’s Edge until tomorrow. Have breakfast with me?” he requested.

I shook my head. “Thanks, no. It seems I’ll be away from the office quite a bit in the coming weeks, and out of town soon, so I have things to do.”

“Catla—”

The front door opened for me as I approached it, but I turned to him.

There was no remorse in his face, no empathy. He was watching me, intently, but another thing I knew in the very little I knew about him, he kept his cards close to his chest…always.

I was to be his wife, and he wasn’t giving me anything, even now, not having missed I was feeling too much.

Why do you even want me? I’m all wrong for you.

I wanted the answers to this question, but I didn’t ask. Not now. I was still fighting emotion. I couldn’t take more.

“I’ll comm you,” he said.

“Of course,” I replied.

Then I turned and walked out of my parents’ cube of a multi-million-mark house to the Fly, which, thank Hecate, had perfect timing and was coming in for a landing as I marched down the steps.

The king of Sky’s Edge stood in the open door to my parents’ house, arms crossed on his wide chest, watching me fold in.