Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
He yanked me into his arms and burst out laughing.
“If you don’t get him out of here this instant, we’re going to have survived an aerial bombardment only for me to kill him with an ano-scanner,” Zyra warned.
All righty then.
I clasped Manny’s arm and tugged. “Come on with you. We’re taking Hurley for a walk.”
“I don’t—” Mangold started.
“Half an hour,” I haggled.
“Make it an hour,” Zyra demanded.
Manny opened his mouth.
But I whispered quickly, “She needs some time. And she needs to know you’re all right, just like you need to know the same for her. You don’t sit on her at home. Give her a modicum of normalcy so she knows you’re all right.”
He shut his mouth and allowed me to pull him out.
Manny’s eyes never left his wife the whole way, like she’d go up in a puff of smoke if he didn’t have sight of her.
I waved to Zyra on the way, relieved that she looked relieved I was trying to take her husband’s mind off things.
Hurley just trotted with us, and since he was so short, he didn’t really catch anything.
When we were in the hall, I said, “You get your coat and I’ll get mine. We’ll meet at the north door. I’ve noticed there are some balls for Hurley to chase in a basket there.”
“Coat?” Manny asked.
“Coat,” I said firmly.
“There’s not even any snow out there,” Manny said.
“It’s still cold.”
“It’s not, lass.”
Oh my gods.
These beings.
No, it was not nearly as cold there as Sigil.
But it was a heckuva lot colder than it was in Nocturn.
“Okay, then let me, the thin-blooded Fallian, get a coat,” I said.
I was gratified by his lips hitching up before he replied, “I’ll take Hurley out the north door and meet you there.”
I reached up to give his bristly cheek a kiss before I hurried up the steps to the ground floor, which held state rooms, reception rooms, entertaining rooms and some family spaces, to the first floor, which held mostly bedrooms along with family spaces.
I was in the closet, exchanging my heels for the cute boots Tanyn bought me when we were at Sigil when my Palm went.
It was a text comm from Tanyn that said, Laura knows.
Okay, good. I hated beings I loved to be in the dark.
I texted back, Thanks, honey.
I then commed Laura.
“Oh gods, are you okay?” she asked as greeting while I stood and went to get my coat.
“I’m fine. Tanyn whisked me away within ten minutes of the attack happening.”
“Good.”
Shrugging on my coat, I told her, “I’m more worried about him, because this shit is relentless and has lasted a lifetime.”
“I can imagine.”
“And, some news, I’m up here for the duration.”
This was met with silence.
“I can’t not be here, Laura,” I said softly as I exited the closet and entered Tanyn’s chamber. “The very idea of leaving him here to deal with this all by himself makes me physically nauseous.”
There was a loaded moment before she said, “I completely understand that. Though, just pointing out, he’s not exactly by himself. I mean, he has friends too. And Aleksei told me those beings who helped raise him—”
“Mangold and Zyra,” I named them.
“Yes, Mangold and Zyra are there.”
“I know, I just can’t—”
“I know. I get you, babe.”
“I need to take Manny out for some fresh air to give Zyra some alone time. And they’re moving her from a medi-case to a bed, and Manny will want to see she’s settled after they do that. So I can’t talk long.”
“All right. Just as long as you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“Good. Do you want me to tell Gayle and Mon about this?”
This was one of those three-besties problems. You took pains not to show favorites.
“No. After I spend some time with Manny, I’ll give them a comm.”
“Okay, honey. Speak soon.”
“We will. Much love and hugs.”
“Back at you.”
We ended the comm.
I arrived at and exited the north door.
Hurley was already racing back to Manny with a ball in his mouth.
I joined them, we walked the grounds, and for my part, I introduced myself to them.
And found, to no surprise, even in the dead of autumn, they were beautiful.
I was at the queen’s desk in the queen’s study at the lapcomp, replying to email and sorting a work schedule for the next two months so the gals could carry on without me.
I didn’t expect to be there two months, but who knew?
I wasn’t good at my job only because I knew great art.
I was good at it because I was organized and never unprepared.
I’d also had a conversation with Lua, putting her in charge while I was away, and perhaps hinting that she might want to do more than her normal good job because there might be a promotion in her future.
Added to this, I had conversations with Monique and Gayle, letting them know what was going on, and that I was okay.