Page 161 of Sky’s Edge

Hurley just trotted with us, and since he was so short, he didn’t really catch anything.

When we were in the hall, I said, “You get your coat and I’ll get mine. We’ll meet at the north door. I’ve noticed there are some balls for Hurley to chase in a basket there.”

“Coat?” Manny asked.

“Coat,” I said firmly.

“There’s not even any snow out there,” Manny said.

“It’s still cold.”

“It’s not, lass.”

Oh my gods.

These beings.

No, it was not nearly as cold there as Sigil.

But it was a heckuva lot colder than it was in Nocturn.

“Okay, then let me, the thin-blooded Fallian, get a coat,” I said.

I was gratified by his lips hitching up before he replied, “I’ll take Hurley out the north door and meet you there.”

I reached up to give his bristly cheek a kiss before I hurried up the steps to the ground floor, which held state rooms, reception rooms, entertaining rooms and some family spaces, to the first floor, which held mostly bedrooms along with family spaces.

I was in the closet, exchanging my heels for the cute boots Tanyn bought me when we were at Sigil when my Palm went.

It was a text comm from Tanyn that said, Laura knows.

Okay, good. I hated beings I loved to be in the dark.

I texted back, Thanks, honey.

I then commed Laura.

“Oh gods, are you okay?” she asked as greeting while I stood and went to get my coat.

“I’m fine. Tanyn whisked me away within ten minutes of the attack happening.”

“Good.”

Shrugging on my coat, I told her, “I’m more worried about him, because this shit is relentless and has lasted a lifetime.”

“I can imagine.”

“And, some news, I’m up here for the duration.”

This was met with silence.

“I can’t not be here, Laura,” I said softly as I exited the closet and entered Tanyn’s chamber. “The very idea of leaving him here to deal with this all by himself makes me physically nauseous.”

There was a loaded moment before she said, “I completely understand that. Though, just pointing out, he’s not exactly by himself. I mean, he has friends too. And Aleksei told me those beings who helped raise him⁠—”

“Mangold and Zyra,” I named them.

“Yes, Mangold and Zyra are there.”