Page 288 of Sky’s Edge

Then I heard a bark and doggie feet on the floor.

We both turned to the closet where Hurley, who was probably in search of us, was racing out.

I made note that when Monique was gone, it seemed her spell went with her.

Tanyn crouched and caught him, straightening with Hurley in his arms.

I crowded them, holding on to Tanyn with one arm around him, my other hand bumping into Tanyn’s as we both pet him.

“It’s okay, boy. It’s good,” Tanyn murmured as Hurley nearly manically licked Tanyn’s face and my own.

This was gross, considering the blood all over me (and Tanyn had some on him too, I belatedly noticed, just not as much).

Tanyn caught my gaze.

“You, shower pod,” he ordered.

His eyes were still red, and I had the feeling this wasn’t about being alert and ready to fight.

Now, he was getting pissed.

So I didn’t demur.

I pushed up on my toes, leaned in and gave Tanyn a kiss (mine was on the lips, Hurley was bathing his jaw). I then did the same to Hurley’s head.

I let them go and rushed to the closet, calling, “Lights, closet and bath, fifty percent.”

The closet and the bathroom beyond lit.

When I hit the bathroom and saw myself in the mirror, I couldn’t control my strangled scream.

Oh yes.

I was covered in blood.

Worse, my hair was an absolute mess.

I shucked my nightgown (I hadn’t bothered to put on panties after Tanyn and my earlier activities, which meant I went to battle commando).

This thought almost made me laugh hysterically, because I was this close to full-on hysteria.

Instead, I jumped into the shower pod and let the multiple jets of water sluice away the blood from my hair and body.

Through the windows around the pod, I saw Tanyn come in with a pile of clothes for me, Hurley trotting close to his side. He’d already changed.

They were both there when I finished.

Very there, because Tanyn was standing outside the pod, holding a towel for me.

When I took it, he bit out, “Only you would go into battle in a slinky nightgown.”

Okay.

Hang on.

Was he mad…at me?

Toweling off, I pointed out, “I didn’t really have a choice, Tanyn.”