Page 251 of Sky’s Edge

“The glorious Catla Truelock,” he said, offering his hand.

At this creepy opener, I nevertheless took his hand, gave it a firm squeeze, quickly let go and asked, “And you are?”

“Dinyn Climbright. I’m one of Night’s Fall’s representatives in the Center.”

“Ah,” I said.

He might be Fallian, but he was a demon.

“I was born in Blood Pass,” he told me, referring to a region in Sky’s Edge. “Like yours, my family immigrated to Night’s Fall. But we did it when I was six.”

That wasn’t quite like mine, since my family did it four hundred and eighty-one years ago.

“Obviously, the Fall worked for you,” I noted.

“Yes. Welcomed us with open arms.”

I felt him before he arrived, turned and looked up at Tanyn just as his hand came to rest warm on the small of my back.

Climbright dipped a bow and greeted, “Your Majesty.”

“This is Dinyn Climbright,” I introduced. “He’s a⁠—”

“I know who he is, my love,” Tanyn said blandly, which made me focus more attentively on him. “Faring well, Dinyn?” he asked like he didn’t care.

“As ever, Your Majesty,” Climbright replied.

“I’m sorry, but I see my female needs a fresh cocktail,” Tanyn said.

At this abruptness during our conversation, I started before I assessed my drink.

Tanyn’s assertion was a lie.

“So we’ll leave you to it. Nice to see you, as always,” Tanyn lied again.

“And you,” Climbright lied in return.

Tanyn guided me away.

When I knew we were out of earshot (which meant, a long way away from Climbright, considering he had demon hearing), I asked under my breath, “What was that about?”

“His mother was good friends with Tatra.”

That surprised me.

Simply because that female had friends, of course.

But more, that Calisa and Laura would invite her offspring to this particular party.

“They had a falling out,” Tanyn carried on, possibly explaining it. “As far as I know, they haven’t spoken in years.”

“Okay,” I said, because this wasn’t a surprise.

“And Dinyn is aptly named,” he said.

Stopping us across the vast room from Climbright, and nowhere near a fresh cocktail for me, I turned to him.

“What does that mean?”