Page 169 of Sky’s Edge

He sighed, kissed it, and when he lifted his head, he asked, “Are you going to get up now? Or do you want to doze?”

I wanted to know if Tanyn learned anything at Gehenn yesterday.

I wanted to get Zyra and Mangold settled in their room.

I wanted to meet Barret and Camaryn to put their minds at ease that I wasn’t going to do a hatchet job on the staff at Berg Castle.

I wanted a report on the citadel to learn what the attack did to the progress of the renovations (no, it wasn’t all about it being ready for Mom and Dad when Dead Winter came, but yes, that was on my mind—not to mention, continuing to focus on the furnishings was a good thing to occupy Zyra’s time when she was forced to be away from home rather than taking the trip she wanted to take to Nocturn).

So, no, I didn’t want to doze.

“I’m getting up,” I told him.

And then I didn’t get up.

My male pulled me out of bed with him.

He also pulled me into the shower pod with him.

So I didn’t quibble.

I was hells on wheels ticking things off my to-do list that morning.

Manny and Zyra were settled in their room, the clothes I ordered for them had arrived, and they were currently outside with Hurley, Zyra getting some exercise and working newly healed bone and muscle.

I’d requested a report from Jorda on the citadel, sharing this wasn’t priority, just when she had time to provide it.

She told me she knew they were still investigating and currently repairing or replacing some of the anti-aircraft stations that had been damaged during the attack.

News: she also shared Tanyn had ordered another build on the isle. This being a base where a flight of Red Wing could be stationed in case of future attacks.

I hated that, in the current circumstances, this was a good idea, but it was a good idea.

Last, she assured me she’d share the damage report and what was happening on the renovations when she knew.

I’d still sent some new saved items for Zyra to approve when she got back indoors.

And now I was doing what was up next.

There were coffee and pastries set out on the table in the seating area in front of the burning fire.

And a member of staff had just announced the arrival of Barret and Camaryn.

I rose from my desk to greet them.

Barret had some silver threading through her black hair. Her eyes were violet. Her frame was slender. I’d gauge her at a few decades older than Mom, though demons had slightly elevated lifespans (it used to be a lot more elevated, until improved human medical and health practices increased their lifecycles).

Camaryn was surprisingly young. Maybe a few years older than Tanyn. He had a sturdy, robust frame, those cheeks that always seemed chafed from cold, light-brown hair and hazel eyes.

They were openly guarded.

Therefore, I smiled and said, “Come in. Sit down. I know you’re both probably busy, but I thought we could take a bit of time, have coffee and get to know one another better.”

They glanced at the coffee, then to each other, and neither hid their shock.

Though, they did sit down.

I sat with them and began to pour. “How do you take it?”