And with that, he stalked out.

I stared at his back and then at the open doorway he’d disappeared through.

Both Jasmine and Hera filled that doorway, Jazz with her head turned, undoubtedly glaring in the direction of the departing Cassius. Hera had eyes to me.

“Quickly, for I’m getting that if there are delays, his mood will deteriorate,” Finnie said, and I looked to her, wondering how Cassius’s mood could possibly deteriorate from where it was now. “Woman to woman, long-time wife to a sister who’s learning the ropes.”

The ropes?

“Have a mind,” she continued. “This is not a question of your skill or abilities and what he feels about them or how you disagree about you using them. This is about where his head is at and that is not a good place. In other words, my friend,” she leaned closer, “in choosing battles, this is one to set aside and instead channel your energies into looking after your man.”

I studied her.

Then I looked to Circe, who nodded.

My eyes moved to Hera, who dipped her chin.

Jazz’s attention was now in the cabin and even she indicated her assent, which was a shock (then again, her ongoing affair with Mac was getting serious, I’d noted, not to mention Cassius was not a man to dislike, when he wasn’t being an ass, and she’d learned that).

I then took in Frey and Lahn.

Lahn just stared at me with his dark, intense eyes.

But I sensed he agreed.

Frey was the only one who spoke.

“My wife is no fool and our marriage remains strong over decades solely because of it.”

“That’s not true, my handsome husband,” Finnie replied. “You’ve nurtured our marriage too.”

“Only as taught by you,” he returned.

Well then…

That was sweet.

“We best vacate the premises before they jump each other,” Circe suggested to me, and it was then I felt the current between The Drakkar and his Ice Princess, not to mention saw the heat of his gaze on his wife, and I moved to exit the daybed, considering it was their bunk.

As I left the room, Jasmine and Hera positioned close to my sides.

“That doesn’t mean going forth into that wasteland not fully armed,” Jazz muttered under breath.

“Absolutely,” Hera agreed.

I drew in a good deal of air.

And we all headed to Cassius and my cabin so I could prepare myself to meet this part of my destiny.

Fully armed.

But with a focus on the needs of “my man.”

Dear goddess, help me.

Sky Bay was not a wasteland.

I noticed this immediately when I came up to the deck.

I noticed it more as I rode at Cassius’s side through the black paved streets with my lieutenants and his men surrounding us so close, our legs and boots brushed.

It was austere, yes.

But the architecture was astonishing.

I thought the height and breadth and grandeur of Birchlire Castle was a spectacle, a visual feast. And when I had been there, I’d thought the golden domes and white-washed buildings and avenues of Go’Doan were a marvel, blinking blindingly clean and beautiful in the sun.