Page 246 of Sky’s Edge

Party

“So, this is the deal.”

It was the next night.

Tanyn and I were in the back of a LuxeCraft supplied by the Sky’s Edge embassy (it was emblazoned on the doors with their seal: a crimson falcon with wings of fire flying over a black background shot with red lightning).

We were on our way to the Celestial Palace for the engagement party.

He was staring at my body with such avid attention, he didn’t acknowledge I spoke.

I fought smirking.

But I wasn’t surprised.

The gown Lancet designed for me was, indeed, perfect. Made of little mirrored rectangles, the silhouette was simple. Straight skirt. Strapless.

But the way the mirrors were placed made me look like I had a tiny waist and midriff (and Lancet’s special touch? There was a super slender silver belt there which augmented the effect), and it fanned up in a stylish, unusual and stunning array at the bodice.

Since I appeared downstairs after getting ready, Tanyn could barely take his eyes off me.

I knew, of course, the gown was fabulous.

But it didn’t hurt to have that confirmed.

“Tanny?” I called. “Did you hear me?”

He dragged his gaze up to my face.

“Pardon?”

“Stop being adorable. We need to be on our game tonight.”

“Am I being adorable?” he asked.

“Your brand of it, yes.”

“What’s my brand of it?” he inquired curiously.

“I refuse to put it in words. It might break the spell.”

In the craft lights, I saw his eyes flare with humor. “Now who’s being adorable?”

“You,” I said impatiently. “With that question.”

His lips twitched. “Right. I’ll cease doing that immediately.”

After saying this, he gave me a crooked grin.

I’d never seen that grin.

I could see it on a little-boy version of Tanyn.

That little-boy version being our son.

In other words, that grin was spectacular.

Onward from that, I realized the more I got to know him, the more I learned about him, the more I learned to love about him, and this happened in a manner it seemed I’d never stop learning. He was like a daily discovery on a voyage of marvels. And I wondered if the rest of my life was going to be spent enjoying this expedition.