Page 173 of Sky’s Edge

Time…

And my temper…

Did not mix.

Especially when I had no one around to let it all hang out so I could get over it.

And obviously, I couldn’t rant at a recovering Zyra and her hovering husband.

So when I got a text comm from Tanyn that said he, Nayden and Uly were in the antechamber of the dining room having drinks before dinner, and he’d like me to meet them there, I did not hesitate to storm from the queen’s study, where I was flipping through wallpaper samples, to the antechamber.

Uly was not in uniform.

In fact, they were all in jeans and sweaters.

Both he and Nayden, along with Tanyn, were kicked back in armchairs, sipping from squat etched-glass tumblers, when I arrived.

The only male who got up was Hurley, and he greeted me, as I did him.

And I’d had too long to let the knowledge I’d learned that morning fester in my head.

Therefore, I planted my hands on my hips and announced to Tanyn, “Tatra abused the staff. And underpaid them. With your permission, I’ll be rectifying the latter. Outside of treating them like breathing beings with thoughts and feelings from here on, I can’t do much about the former.”

Tanyn stared up at me, and I saw the red seeping into his eyes.

“She abused them?” he asked quietly.

“I didn’t request details. But I sat down with your steward and head housekeeper, and the reason you don’t see the same being twice unless some time has lapsed in between is because, as Camaryn described it, they had to heal their wounds before being sent back into battle.”

“You seem to need a drink,” Nayden commented.

“Damn straight,” I replied.

“Martini. Vodka. Olives,” Tanyn ordered for me.

As Nayden headed to the drinks cabinet, I threw myself in a chair, crossed my arms and legs and announced, “I know the line is long, but when we get our hands on that bitch, I call a spot so I can slap her silly.”

Uly made a noise, I turned to him and tardily realized I was not making all that great of a second impression.

“Sorry. I’m not usually this much of a drama queen.”

“Yes she is,” Tanyn refuted.

I glared at him. “Hardly.”

“You took twenty minutes just to select a pair of boots to not go hiking in.”

“It wasn’t twenty minutes,” I retorted.

“It felt like it,” he muttered.

“Regardless, is that drama?” I asked.

“Yes,” all three males said at the same time.

I was seeing another drawback of being removed from my gals. I was clearly going to be ganged up on.

Nayden handed me my drink; I thanked him and took a fortifying sip.