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He turned his head, slowly His eyes focused on her--too slowly

Checking to uards around at the moment, she leaned toward him as much as she could "Uncle Saetan, this isn’t exactly the tiot to think of a way to get out of here"

"I’m sorry you’re here, Surreal," he said in a worn-out voice "Truly, I ath, and I can handle ot the experience to coth to our best advantage"

He just looked at her The sently bitter "Sweetheart I’ve gotten very old in the past two days"

She could see that, and it scared her Without hi a door open, she ihtened up and looked away from him

"Hell’s fire," Dorothea said irritably, "what’s that smell?" She stepped between the posts that held Saetan and Surreal

Surreal clenched her teeth She wore a Gray Jewel; Dorothea wore a Red It would be easy enough to slip under Dorothea’s inner barriers and weave a death spell--soered, the screaet away

She began a careful descent so that no one would notice it, but before she reached the depth of her Gray Jewel, another door opened

The vile s

Daemon Sadi strolled out of the prison hut, his hands in his trouser pockets He kept hted area He didn’t look at the eyes were focused intently on Lucivar, who stared back at him

No one dared move

Finally, Daemon looked toward the prison hut and said pleasantly, "Marian, darling, come out and show your foolish husband the price for s floated out of the hut into the light An hour ago, they had been a wo in an effort to keep her stoht

Marian’s fingers and feet were gone So was the long, lovely hair Daeone, as well as his hands and feet Their wings were so crisped, the slightthat cold, cruel smile, the Sadist released his hold on Marian and Daean screa Marian landed on the stumps of her feet and fell When she landed, her skin split, and

Not blood, Surreal realized as she stared with nu juices oozed out from those splits in the skin

The Sadist hadn’t just burned them, he hadcooked them--and they were still alive Not even demon-dead,alive

"Lucivar," Marian whispered hoarsely as she tried to craard her husband "Lucivar"

Lucivar screaed to an Eyrien war cry Chains snapped as he exploded away froht at Daemon When he had covered half the distance, a hard psychic blow knocked hied to his feet, rushed at Daeain

When he couldn’t get to his feet, he crawled toward Daemon, his teeth bared, his eyes filled with hate

Sadi reached down, grabbed Daemonar’s arm, and twisted it off the way another ot Lucivar to his feet When he charged this time, he slammed into a Black shield and went to his knees

Daeh the shield, tried to sh it, battered hiainst it, crying

"Daemon," he pleaded "Daemon show a little ently With predatory speed, he stepped on Daeshell

Dae, still trying to crawl Even over Lucivar’s anguished howls, the rest of them could hear the bones snap when Dae Daeantly at the two bodies, all the while watching Lucivar and sh to make the transition to demon-dead," he said pleasantly "It’s doubtful the brat is going to rehts of you How kindly will she re you were the cause of this?"

"Finish it," Lucivar begged "Let the has a price, Prick Pay the price, and I’ll let theo"

"What do you want from me," Lucivar said in a broken voice "Just tell me what you want from me"

Daeood boy Crawl back to the post"

Lucivar crawled

Two of the guards who had been standing beyond the lighted area, watching, approached Lucivar and helped him to his feet while two others replaced the broken chains

They were very gentle with him when they secured hirief-dulled eyes "Satisfied?"

"Yes," Daemon said too softly "I’m satisfied"

Surreal felt a flick of dark power, then another She reached out to Marian, alet an answer But there was nothing,no one, left