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He hadn’t found the Red-Jeweled person who had guided him there when he’d probed the inn on his arrival That’s why he was still standing on the landing place, even though he knew Lia’s life was trickling aith every htDecide before she takes a breath and then doesn’t take another

Jared raked his hands through his hair and brushed at his clothes He srimly He doubted the owner or the custo to look out of place

All right He’d rent a room where he could safely tuck Lia while he tried to find so that, he’d use the healing skills he had Failing that

Jared straightened his shoulders He wouldn’t fail Noto just sit back and watch her die

He added an aural shield and a psychic shield to the sight and protective shields already around Lia so that the others wouldn’t detect her psychic scent or hear any sounds she ht make The shields would make her completely invisible to anyone ore less than the Red Even another Red would only pick up a faint outline

Jared took a deep breath As he breathed out, he wrapped psychic threads around hier and violence With his Red Jewel hanging in plain sight, those projected feelings should be enough to keep everyone at a distance All his efforts to prevent anyone fro if soht behind him, Jared strode to the inn

Balls and sass, he repeated under his breathBalls and sass

The door opened onto the co room To the left was a partially open door that led into a small, private room

A heavy silence descended as everythe bushy-bearded, Green-Jeweled Warlord standing behind the bar--a h to wrestle with Garth and co in the doorway Jared looked at every face No one but the innkeeper met his eyes for more than a second Except for the innkeeper, the hter-Jeweled Warlords or Blood males ore no Jewels at all

Jared sloalked to the bar relieved that the er and violence that swirled around hiold e, Jared placed one on the bar and looked the Green-Jeweled Warlord in the eyes

The innkeeper calmly returned the look, but Jared noticed a flicker of so else in the depths of the man’s eyes Relief?

"What’s your pleasure, Warlord?" the innkeeper rumbled

Jared let the silence spin out a little before he answered "A rooood whiskey"

"Have a room that shares a bath with one other All the others use the co rooain in the innkeeper’s eyes "It is"

Dahtly away fro the other roo to the upstairs rooms and the inner wall of the small, private roolass of red wine

The prickling started between Jared’s shoulder blades as two things struck him: Wine wasn’t usually served in a place like this, and all theon this side of the rooet too close to that table

He had to get Lia out of this roo at that table returned

"I’ll take the rooold mark He set a bottle of whiskey and a key on the bar "There are glasses and a jug of water in the roo the number, Jared slipped the key into his pocket and picked up the whiskey

He took a couple of steps toward the stairs and stopped, clutching the bottle with suddenly nuer unoccupied

Dae salute

Balls and sass, Jared muttered silently as he walked over to the table, careful to keep Lia hidden behind him Balls and sass

"Prince Sadi," Jared said politely

"Lord Jared," Dae him looked deceptively sleepy That deep voice flowed over hiht have been carved fros you here?" Jared asked, feeling sweat trickle down his sides He didn’t have time for thisLia didn’t have time for this "It’s not the sort of place I’d expect to find you or your Lady"

"You’re right about my current Lady This wouldn’t be to her taste" Daemon sipped his wine "But I soe from a court"

"Then you’re alone?" Jared couldn’t h

"My Lady and I have reached an agreement I spend a few days away froet in return?"

The Sadist smiled