Page 214 of Sky’s Edge

“Without threats of fisticuffs in the antechamber and rogue dowager queens on a rampage, that is,” I added.

“Yes, it will be nice when all that shit is done.”

“Since it’s not. I talked with Aleece. She’s coming to terms, and she’s decided to stick with our quartet. She’s still going to put Bainon through it, I fear. But she’s coming to terms. And I talked with Gayle. No ill effects from the spell.” I hesitated for effect. “So far.”

“That’s good.”

“Thanks for taking her back.”

His hand smoothed over my ass, and he used it to pull me even closer. “No problem, baby.”

“And how are the boys?” I asked.

“Sirk is settled. I like him. He’s a good male. Very funny.”

“He is that.”

“And it says a great deal about him that not long after a breakup, he’d come to Gayle’s aid.”

That did say a great deal about him.

“But his mission is accomplished. He’s leaving first thing tomorrow.”

“That’s probably good,” I mumbled.

“I know she’s taken the spell, but I fear that was a mistake for an unexpected reason.”

This change of mind was interesting.

“I thought you were all for it.”

“I was, until I saw Mac react to her around another male.”

“Oh,” I whispered.

“I need to carve out time to see if I can get him to share. Because whatever is holding him back, it is absolutely not that he doesn’t want her.”

My lips parted in shock.

“You didn’t see it?” he asked.

“It seems he’s struggling with something,” I allowed.

“He’s holding back, for reasons unknown, but I don’t think he wants to hold back. I think he has to.”

“He told her he doesn’t want a half-human, half-fae Fallian as his bride and eventual queen.”

“He lied.”

Tanyn seemed very sure about that.

So I asked, “How do you know?”

“Because you don’t lose your shit that a female you don’t want is with another male.”

“But the fated mate thing…”

“Her merest whim, she voices it, he backs down.”