Page 276 of Night's Fall
So fargingloved him.
He lifted his head. “You’realso my star.”
I got up on tiptoe to touch my mouth to his.
WhenIsettled back on my heels,Isaid, “Webest go.”
He didn’t want to,Icould tell, but he nodded.
He tucked my hand in his elbow, so it was me who slid it up to his biceps and leaned into him as we walked to the door,Alekseibeing careful to close the cats in behind us.
As we made our way to the stairwell,Inoted, “Iknow we’ll get into it later, butItake it from the little you said in regard toArnaudandErrol, and the fact all the princes are here,Arnaudis behind all of this, and something not-so-fun is brewing.”
“Tanyn has some spies inArnaud’sinner sanctum.Whenthings started to go down with you and me, he directed them to ferret out ifArnaudmight be behind it.Unfortunately, they learned of the plot to take out a member of your detail only minutes before it happened.”
That was unfortunate indeed.
However, since time travel hadn’t been invented yet,Icouldn’t do anything about it, soIhad to set it aside.
We continued walking even as he said, “We’llhave this conversation now, since there really isn’t much moreIcan tell you, because most of it is tactics, diplomatic discussion and details, and althoughI’minterested in that, for most, it would be boring.Though, if you’re interested in the details,I’llshare them.”
I had a feelingI’dbe part of that “most” becauseIcould get down with the detail in every stitch of an elaborate gown from theDarkEpoch, butIwasn’t sureIcould get fired up about details of tactics and diplomatic discussions.
“Tanyn is poised,Laura, should he need to take action,”Alekseiinformed me. “BainonandCormacare on board.Theyall have few doubts, if something sparks inSky’sEdge, all their reps will vote to supportTanyn, and this has been confirmed because many of the ones those males can trust have been polled, confidentially.”
“Good,”Imurmured.
“It’s just that we can’t be sure what elseArnaudmight get up to in the meantime,” he warned. “Andhe’ll be in thisPalacetomorrow night.Sowe must be wary.”
“Great,”Ipushed out sarcastically.
“They’ve lost their tie to us and our family, love.Hewon’t know it, until we share the memories that were scrubbed after it’s over, butErrolis our agent now.Whatevercomes inSky’sEdgemay be ugly, but it shouldn’t last long.”
I was a lover of history, and not just the clothing part of it, soIknew many had said that before, and something ugly lasted far longer than anyone could expect.
I didn’t share that.
IfAlekseiwas going for optimism,Iwas going to stick with him.
By the time we made it to where we were to have pre-dinner drinks (it wasn’t the parlor this time),Iwanted to throw my shoes out the nearest window, but the vibe of the place took my mind off my feet.
The king and queen were there.
He looked tired.Shelooked drawn.Theywere both talking to theVinestrongs, withAleece, who probably took some time with a spa-visor because she appeared her normal self, but her eyes were haunted.
This was expected.
What was unexpected was thatCatwas alone on a couch, arms crossed over her chest, poison in her eyes aimed atPrinceTanyn, who was talking toMr.Truelock, as well asPrinceBainonandPrinceCormac.
Gayle andMoniquewere in another group, speaking toMrs.Truelock, and althoughMoniqueappeared normal, high color was inGayle’scheeks, and her eyes seemed unnaturally bright.
If this wasn’t enough, havingTanyn,CormacandBainonin the same room withAlekseiwas too much for your average female to bear.
I’d seen pics of them too, of course.
But likeAleksei, the real thing packed one serious wallop.
Tanyn was tall, with that lithe, muscular demon frame, and elegant features.Histhick hair was a lustrous dark brown.Hisexpression seemed like it was never anything but different degrees of very serious, which was somehow hot.Andhe had electric-blue eyes that weren’t even aimed at me, andIfelt the sizzle.
