Page 308 of Sky’s Edge

It still sucked.

I finished with putting the last sweater on a newly fitted shelf, moved to the double doorway to peek in at my efforts with Tanyn’s clothes that had been moved from his old room (and new ones I’d purchased besides), then I walked into the bedchamber.

Zyra was there, fluffing the gold-fringed bolster pillow on the tester bed.

I had to admit, with no humility, the room was smashing.

Thick, richly colored rugs on the refurbished wood floors. Fabulous bedclothes and hangings in a coffee, burnt orange, burnished gold and sap green paisley. Two big, slouchy armchairs angled toward the fire with a carved footed table between them, wide enough both Tanyn and I could set down our drinks, our books, tablets, whatever. Old-fashioned plug-in lamps scattered for illumination, but also to create a mood.

Tanyn had seen our efforts, and he’d approved with a long, juicy kiss (that was for me, the one for Zyra was on her cheek and it wasn’t long or juicy).

Now, Cormac would sleep in Tanyn’s old room.

Gayle was in mine.

And three other rooms had been completed so we could all be there. One for Aleksei and Laura (where my parents would stay during Dead Winter), the other two for Aleece and Bain.

Zyra noticed my arrival in the bedchamber, turned her head and smiled at me.

“We done good, didn’t we?” she asked.

“We sure did,” I replied.

She placed the bolster and straightened from the bed. “I knew this was going to be fun, but watching it all come together, it’s a lot more fun than I thought it would be.”

She was correct, and I could see she was glad to be home.

“And now you get to watch it all come to fruition in person,” I noted.

Her smile turned radiant. “I will. I love having this many beings here. It’s never been like this. It’s so…” She was at a loss for words.

“Alive?” I supplied.

More radiance. “That,” she agreed. The glow faded as a shadow crossed her face when she went on, “Darynda would have loved this, especially that Tanyn has it.”

I’d never met the female.

I still knew Zyr spoke true.

I went to her and gave her a hug, we held on tight, and when she stepped away, she was swiping the scarlet tears from her face.

“I think I have something to do in the kitchen,” she muttered her lie.

I let her have it and I let her go.

After she’d gone, I walked into newly refinished solar that Zyra and I had outfitted with an intimate table where Tanyn and I could eat if we wanted to do so upstairs, and not do it holding our plates in front of our faces. This was joined by a chaise longue gracing one window, and another seating arrangement of two comfortable chairs facing out in the direction of the chunks of ice floating on the surface of the Borea Sea.

I walked to the windows, looked down, and an unexpected giggle rolled up my throat and through my lips.

This was because, in the snow at the base of the plateau, a gorgeous pink dragon was cavorting in the powder, rolling, prancing and sending up great sprays of flurries.

Sitting in the blanket of flakes beside her was a large, proud beast of black and purple, webbed wings, claws and spikes, watching her with a terrifying expression on its face.

Laura and Aleksei.

Or, more to the point, their beasts.

Lex’s beast’s expression wasn’t alarming. It had RTF (resting terrifying face). Actually, it was more aptly described as PTF (permanent terrifying face).