Page 144 of Sky’s Edge

“I’m going to point out what I hope is the obvious for my peace of mind, but you all are scrambling to alleviate that weakness, am I right?”

And he pulled me even closer. “Yes, baby. There’s an inter-realm task force doing just that, and this task force was put in place soon after the troll attacks.”

“I take it they’re not learning much of anything, though.”

“It’s been less than two months since the attack. It takes more than a few weeks to make inroads into covert factions like this.”

This made sense too.

“Right.”

“In the meantime, we’re being very vigilant.”

They were doing that.

I felt better. Not a load better, but better.

“Right.”

“I do know one thing. Polls from the Edge that showed Arnaud had support in our realm were greatly exaggerated. We don’t hang on every poll up here in the Edge like they do in the Fall, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important to consistently take the pulse of the populace about issues that matter. Since it’s important, we do that. And we’ve found these ideas are not supported by a huge group of beings.”

That was good too.

His voice dipped low and soothing. “My beautiful Cat, I’m sure you know, throughout history there have been tyrants and despots that have forced their beliefs on their beings. These regimes might have lasted due to the backing of their might, but they always collapsed. Always. Beings on the whole do not like to be told what to believe, how to live their lives. You have to balance laws that benefit most with liberty for all. If that balance is broken, shit goes down, and it usually ends with the crown falling off a head that’s been severed from its body.”

Gross.

But accurate.

“Do I need to eat you to make you come again so you’ll sleep?” Tanyn queried.

This idea held merit.

“For fuck’s sake,” he muttered good-naturedly as he slid down my body.

“I thought you liked the taste of me.”

As answer to that question, he shoved my leg aside, dipped in, and fed.

Definitely.

My male seriously liked the taste of me.

And I was super happy he did.

“Baby.”

My eyes fluttered but didn’t open.

“Gayle is okay. She’s at Spikeback. Safe and home.”

That opened my eyes. “She’s good?”

“I’m not sure about good. But she’s with Laura, and as you know, Monique is spending the night there.”

“Cormac?”

“As far as we know, he doesn’t know she’s gone yet.”