Page 52 of Sky’s Edge

One could say the citadel had not been designed in any organized way. The halls (such as they were) were narrow and windy. The stairwells, the same. I was sure the design was strategic, in case of attack and the enemy managed to gain access to the inside. If they didn’t know the layout, they could easily be cornered or ambushed, while inhabitants could fight back, hide or escape.

But I still figured I could manage to get back to the lounge on my own.

Thus, I nodded again.

He did too, just once, before he left me at the window, Hurley, who’d been taking the tour with us, following him.

I did not want to be disappointed he didn’t even drop a kiss on my cheek before he went.

But I was disappointed.

I turned to the window and asked, “What’s happening to me?”

Without Tanyn there, taking my mind from my anger with offers of a free hand at interior design in a magnificent citadel by the sea, as I wandered the rest of the space (unintentionally returning to two rooms where I’d already been), my fury rose.

So, by the time I got back to the lounge, I walked right out onto the balcony, got blasted by the cold air, ignored it (because I needed it to cool me down and sharpen my focus away from my anger), at the same time I ignored the glorious view spread out before me, and pulled out my own Palm.

I needed a conference comm with my gals.

I needed to hash out what I’d learned about Tanyn’s mom’s death. All the things he’d said to me in the dining room. How it appeared he’d grown up happy and loved. The nearly uncontrollable anger I was experiencing at witnessing his father’s calculated neglect (I mean, he holoed into his school studies, not able to interact with his fellow students, make friends, participate in activities).

I needed to figure out what I was feeling.

Because yes, I had to admit, I found him interesting (very interesting).

And yes, it felt nice that it was clear he was attracted to me because I was me.

Also yes, I very much wanted to do more with him in his bed than sleep, which in turn was going to make it virtually impossible to be crap in bed.

Further yes, to my stunned surprise, I found his constant calm demeanor appealing and was starting to recognize how well it worked with my fiery one.

Last, yes, I was more and more drawn to him the more time I spent with him.

However, none of this negated the fact that I did not want to live in Abyssinia, even if living there meant living in a royal abode. I did not want to be queen. I wanted to do what I was doing, managing an art gallery. I did not want to leave my family or friends, even if I could requisition a soni-route to get to them.

And unless you were fated mates, you couldn’t know you wanted to spend the rest of your life with someone after a few meetings, a few comms, a few days spent together and a really great kiss.

So, mm-hmm.

I had a lot to go over with my gals.

I just didn’t know if I had the time because I didn’t know how long whatever took Tanyn’s attention would last.

My decision was made for me when I sensed movement in the room behind me.

I turned, thinking it’d be Tanyn.

It was Mangold.

He came to the door, opened it, stuck his head out and demanded, “What are you doing out here without a hat and coat? You’ll catch your death from cold.”

Considering someone unmistakably very loved had done the same thing, I shoved my Palm back in my pocket, moved to the door, he got out of the way, and when I entered the room, he closed the door.

“Is everything all right?” he asked, his eyes thinned and taking in my face meticulously.

“No,” I pushed out. “Everything. Is not. All right.”

His eyes widened at my tone.