Page 97 of Sky’s Edge

I squared my shoulders and declared, “Avoid me at official events. Alas, even though I never want to see you again, I’ll be supporting my gals when they need me to do so. Thus, on occasion, I’ll be forced to endure your presence. But I never want to speak to you again.”

“Cat.”

I said no more and was moving swiftly to the door.

He didn’t call my name again.

He did not come to the queen’s chamber to speak with me in order to right his wrongs he’d done to me while I packed my oh-so-many cases. Nor when I was writing the digi-note. Nor when I went to his room to place it on his bed.

He didn’t show at the landing bay to say goodbye either.

I took off in a royal UtiliSport without seeing him again.

Because King Tanyn said it was over.

And it was over.

Just like that.

Tanyn

Late that night, when Tanyn was heading to bed in order, he knew, not to sleep (because that wasn’t going to fucking happen), but at least try to rest, was when he saw the digi-note sitting on his pillow.

He picked it up, opened it, and read:

Tanyn,

I wasn’t given the opportunity to express how deeply sorry I am that you lost your mother—and your father—the way you did. I can imagine this is very difficult for you. As it was surely difficult for you to share the news with Zyra and Mangold. And I do not envy, not only you all having to deal with how this makes you feel, but whatever the fallout of it will be.

You should further know I deeply regret my insensitivity in the face of what you learned yesterday. I’ll make no excuses because it was inexcusable.

Obviously, I don’t know what will come of all of that, what more you’ll learn, what other treacheries you’ve been living under the whole of your life. But I hate that you have to live with the knowledge of your mother’s final moments, the decades your father endured, and all that the three of you lost in between.

One thing I know, you’re a strong male and you’ll find a way to cope, as you’ll find a way to rule Sky’s Edge and heal with your beings.

Take care.

Best~

~C

He reread the note.

And he re-reread the end of the note.

Best.

Just…

Best.

“Fucking hell,” he growled.

And, with a vicious side arm throw with which he used his demon strength, he threw the digi-note, shattering what was probably a priceless mirror that hung across the room, and it not only went through that, but embedded itself in the stone under the snowpack.

Then he strode out of the chamber to go to his study.

Because…