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"I propose an alternative," Cassandra said quickly, pressing her fists into her lap She didn’t even glance at Saetan "Jaenelle could live with me Everyone knoho--and what--Saetan is, but I--"

Titian twisted around in her chair "Do you really believe no one in the Shadow Realm knows you’re a Guardian? Did you really think your er flared in Cassandra’s eyes "I’ve always been careful--"

"You’ve always been a liar At least the High Lord has been honest about what he is"

"But heis the High Lord--and that’s the point"

"Thepoint is you want to be the one who shapes Jaenelle just like Hekatah wants to shape Jaenelle, toher be what she is"

"How dare you speak to me like that? I’m a Black-Jeweled Queen!"

"You’re not my Queen," Titian snarled

"Ladies"Saetan’s voice rolled through the room like soft thunder He took ahis attention back to Draca

"Sshe will live at the Hall," Draca said firmly "It iss decided"

"Since you haven’t discussed this with any of us until noho decided this?" Cassandra said sharply

"Lorn hass decided"

Saetan forgot how to breathe

Hell’s fire, Mother Night, and ued No one made so"Could I talk to his he h Lord"

Saetan looked up at the Seneschal of Ebon Askavi

"The time hass not yet come for you to meet hihtly It was as much deference as she ever showed to anyone Except, perhaps, to Jaenelle

They watched her leave, listening to her slow, careful footsteps until the sound faded away completely

Andulvar let his breath out in an explosiveffooooh "When she wants to cut soot an iainst the chair and closed his eyes "Doesn’t she though?"

Cassandra carefully rearranged her shawl and stood up, not looking at any of them "If you’ll excuse ht

Titian also excused herself But before she left, she gave Saetan a sly s at the Hall with Jaenelle will probably be difficult, High Lord, but not for the reasons you think"

"Mother Night," Saetanto the otherthe waif she has to leave isn’t going to be easy You don’t have to do it alone"

"Yes, I do, Mephis," Saetan replied wearily "I made her a pro to break it"

He said good night and slowly h the stone corridors until he reached the stairs that would take hi the

He had promised her that she could stay He hadproht before he joined her in the private garden connected to her suite She gave him a sleepy, relaxed sers through hers

"It was a lovely party," Jaenelle said as they strolled through the garden "I’lad you invited Char and Titian" She hesitated "And I’ave her a considering look through narrowed eyes

She acknowledged the look with a shrug

"Howis rude," she said primly

"An answer that neatly sidesteps the question," he replied dryly

"I didn’thear anything But Ifelt you all gru"

Saetan drifted closer to her She smelled of wildflowers and sun-drenched meadows and fern-shaded pools of water It was a scent that was gently wild and elusive, that captivated a male because it didn’t try to capture hi it was a Warlord Prince’s natural response to a Queen he felt e he would never cross the distinct line that separated a father’s affection from a lover’s passion, he still felt asha the sharp re she was But it was Witch who looked back at hihtened on his so that he couldn’t break the physical link

"I suppose even a wise ht voice

"I would never--" His voice broke "You knoould never--"

He saw a flicker of amusement in her ancient, haunted eyes