Page 263 of Sky’s Edge

“But, do you know what this is?” I asked.

Because, yes, on the bigger display, I could see what caught my eye.

The background of the pic of us was indeed out of focus.

But there was a space that was something else.

It was like a shimmer.

Tanyn studied the display. “What am I looking at?”

“This,” I pointed. Then I enlarged the pic so that weird stationary flicker was even bigger. “Do you see it?”

“A glitch in the pixels?” he asked, still studying the image.

“Maybe,” I mumbled. “But I’ve never seen anything like it.”

When Tanyn moved his attention to me, I explained.

“I’ve studied photography. I know artists who manipulate their pics in a variety of ways. But this isn’t a piece of art. A member of the media snapping shots for society panes wouldn’t manipulate the photo outside contrast, touch ups, so you could see their subjects better.”

“Maybe there was a smudge on the lens,” Tanyn suggested.

That might explain it.

I looked back down at the snap.

“If it’s troubling you, sweetheart,” Tanyn said. “I’ll have someone examine that.”

“I think I’m just overreacting,” I said, shutting the tablet down and sliding it back into my tote. “I felt something strange last night too. My demon instincts suddenly rose up out of nowhere and without reason.”

I felt the acuteness of Nayden’s attention even as I watched Tanyn’s shift to the same thing.

“Your demon came up?” Tanyn asked quietly.

I shrugged. “It was nothing. I had a good look around. No one else sensed anything. And Estra was right beside me. If it was something, she would have felt it too.”

“Let me see that pic,” Nayden ordered.

He was already crossing the space toward where Tanyn and I were sitting.

I pulled out the tablet, engaged it and handed it to him.

He stared at it a long time.

“Any ideas?” I eventually asked.

He handed my unit back to me but said to Tanyn, “I’m having that analyzed.”

“Obliged,” Tanyn grunted.

Nayden returned to his seat and got on his Palm, but one could say the vibe in the cabin of the jet was now way off.

“I don’t want to freak anyone out,” I told Tanyn. “I think I’m just being sensitive.”

“We’re operating on the better safe than sorry rule, baby.”

I could see that. I even championed it.