Page 248 of Sky’s Edge

“I don’t mean about our official coming out. That’s done. This is just a formality. What I mean is, the last time we were at the palace together, there was a troll attack.”

He released a big breath and looked forward out of the skyscreen.

“I can’t say I’m not on edge.”

For now, Arnaud was still in custody.

For now, he’d been granted a reprieve from further samples of blood being taken and truth serum being given, as his attorneys made a humongous fuss and pushed an appeal to a higher court. Our males elected not to fight this in order to be certain not to give Arnaud any foothold in future to launch a successful defense.

Though, the prisoners at Gehenn were regularly having their bloods drawn, and so far, the agent was still in their system.

It had been a while since the attack on Sigil, and a longer while since the death threat against me.

However, this wasn’t the kind of thing where the alarm dulled over time.

At least not for Tanyn.

“I’ve gone over the RS’s plans on security, twice. I can’t see any holes. Nayden’s gone over it too. Same thing. That said, no aspersions on this celebration for Laura and Aleksei, but it’s simply a matter that I’ll be glad when the night is at an end.”

“Are you normally a party person?”

“My mates and I getting together, eating junk and watching a ring ice game. Yes. Wearing this fucking suit, being on show, having to make small talk. No.” He gave me a squeeze. “You?”

“I love to dress up. I love to eat and drink and be merry. And I enjoy being around beings, even a crush of beings.”

“So that would be a yes.”

I smiled at him. “Yes. It would be a yes.”

“Then I guess I get to enjoy you enjoying it.”

“And in the end, we’ll go home.”

“And in the end, we’ll go home.”

After he said that, he bent to touch his mouth to mine.

When he lifted his head, the pilot told us, “We’ve been cleared to jump the queue for VIP arrival. Landing in five minutes.”

I saw the Celestial Palace on the Sceptred Isle all lit up and felt the sense of pride I always felt as a Night’s Fallian when I spied its ostentatious beauty.

I also saw the dragons on the guard posts, sitting at attention, scanning for a threat (and I was no shifter, but I felt pride at that too).

And as we hovered, I saw the defense bots patrolling.

There were a fair number of them.

We’d be safe.

Tanyn would endure.

(So would Laura.)

I would have fun.

And then we’d be home.

After we landed, when Tanyn alighted the LuxeCraft, I saw the blinding light of flashes and heard the cacophony of cambeings and reporters clamoring for his attention.