Page 212 of Sky’s Edge

“So now I have to deal with him spelling me without me knowing, and we both know how fucked up that is. Also, I have to deal with Dad and Aleksei having this intel and not telling me. And facing a life with Queen Delanta and Princess Anna in it, which does not fill me with glee.”

Queen Delanta was two very steep steps down from Tatra in the imperious department, but she was still an elitist bitch.

And Princess Anna’s apple did not fall far from that tree.

“You’ll get there, because bottom line, like you said, destiny didn’t deal you a bad hand.”

She shrugged.

Then she reached out and grabbed my hand, gave it a squeeze, and let it go before she said, “Thanks for checking in on me.”

“Again, always here to talk.”

“And thanks yet again.”

I got up. “Now I’ll leave you to it. Goodnight.”

“’Night, Cat.”

I left her room and went down the hall to Gayle’s.

I knocked.

She opened the door just enough to look out, but when she saw me, she fully opened it.

“Hey,” she greeted.

“You doing all right?” I asked.

“No ill effects from the spell, so you can stop worrying, even if it’s sweet you are.”

“Okay then. So it’s obviously working.”

She smiled, and on the one hand, it was nice to have my Gayle back to the Gayle I knew.

On the other hand, knowing it was the effects of magic didn’t thrill me.

“Tomorrow, can we talk?” I asked.

“What about?” she asked back.

I wanted to show her Selediel’s portrait, but I didn’t want to do it right before she was going to bed.

“History,” I prevaricated.

“What?”

“It’s not a big deal.” Okay, that was an outright lie.

“Okay. But I have to deal with my bosses and my schedule first thing. Can we do afternoon?”

“Sure.”

“Mega.”

“All right. I’ll let you be. Love you. Sleep well.”

“You too.”