Page 210 of Sky’s Edge

My male gazed at them both fondly.

Oh yes.

He was totally in his element, his family becoming part of a bigger family.

“Fortunately, you’re sitting at a table full of females who can sort that out, no problem,” I told her. I then turned my attention to Manny. “There isn’t a lot of time, but we do have a ton of pull, so we can get you fitted for a tuxedo too.”

“Just what I always wanted,” Mangold muttered.

Zyra elbowed him.

Tanyn chuckled.

And fortunately, we entered a phase of the dinner, the first in our togetherness, where there was a détente.

Sure, Cormac remained broody and often eyed up Sirk like he wanted to rip his head off, but he kept it together.

And Aleece wasn’t all that great at stopping herself from checking out Bainon in a way I wondered if she’d had a crush on him even before she knew they were fated mates.

But Bainon proved charming.

Sirk was his usual hilarious. So was Manny.

Zyra was sweet. And as always, so was Laura.

And I had to admit, in a detached female sort of way, Cormac’s intensity was all kinds of attractive.

Tanyn was, as ever, wonderful.

And obviously, my gals were mega.

So in the end, this, the first meal together of royals and their future queens, all of them friends whom I hoped would remain friendly forever, didn’t go too badly.

In fact, in the end, it took some effort…

But it was fun.

I was ready for bed, fresh-faced and in a nightgown covered in my long cashmere robe.

And I was making my rounds.

First up, Aleece.

I knocked on her door.

“Come in,” she called.

I went in.

She was in a cami and sleep shorts, sitting cross-legged in the middle of her bed, her shining hair up in a ponytail, a lapcomp open on the bed in front of her, a tablet in her hand.

Apparently, even a princess’s duties never ceased.

She looked a lot younger than her years, almost girlish, something I’d never thought about the carelessly stylish, always together Aleece, Princess Royal of Night’s Fall.

“Just checking to see you’re okay,” I said as I wandered in.

She gave me a half smile. “That’s sweet, but I’m all right. I mean, I’m still pissed some male made crucial decisions for the both of us and I’ve been unknowingly living under a spell for over a decade. But, whatevs…right?”