Page 77 of Sky’s Edge

Lilith, she was so cute.

Since she’d already been woken up and I wasn’t a fan of that, I snapped, “Come!” toward the door.

It opened, yet another member of staff filled the doorway, and I stood, because, to my surprise, behind her was Laura.

“May I announce Madam Laura Makepeace, the True Bride!” the staff member grandly proclaimed.

I frowned at this.

All right, so I’d been in Queen Calisa’s court for two years, so I did know etiquette and protocol, and of course, one of my besties was engaged to the True Heir, therefore, lately I’d spent quite some time hanging around royalty.

But this whole place seemed over-the-top.

I mean, how many beings did you need milling about, bowing and scraping to you?

She stepped aside and bobbed a curtsy as Laura rushed in.

I rushed to Laura.

We hugged.

When we broke, we stayed close, holding each other’s arms.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

At the same time, she asked, “Are you okay?”

Mom was near, and Laura let me go to give her a hug and a cheek peck, while I said, “I’m perfectly fine. But what are you doing here?”

“Could we have some tea?” Mom called to the staff being still standing there.

The female nodded.

“And if you would, close the door,” Mom said.

The staff being nodded again and disappeared, closing the door behind her.

We moved to the seating area in front of the fire, Laura and I taking the couch, Mom taking a silvery velvet upholstered armchair.

“It was the craziest thing,” Larua said. “I was on set. They were shooting. Then Aleksei shows out of nowhere with about twenty RS agents and spirits me away. He said you were threatened?”

“Kinda, sorta,” I replied.

“How can you kinda, sorta be threatened?” she asked.

I got up, went to the desk, grabbed my Palm and brought it back, showing her the text comms.

“Holy Hecate, that’s terrifying,” she breathed, staring at the display.

“I think Tanyn is overacting,” I declared.

Laura shot me big eyes.

“Definitely overreacting that he commed Aleksei and you both dragged yourselves up here for whatever reason,” I continued. “I mean, again, why are you here?”

“Because, late last night, Tanyn commed Aleksei to share what happened with you. And this morning, Cormac commed him to share that he’s, essentially, kidnapped Gayle and taken her to Land’s End.”

I gasped.