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Daemon’s eyes filled with ahed Daemon knew, damn him

"You’ve shed your slave skin," Daelass of wine for himself It surprised him that the approval meant so much

But wasn’t that one of the reasons he had colad you responded I expect I’ll be kept on a short leash for quite soain"

Jared tensed "Dorothea can’t link you to what happened" Mother Night, he hoped not He didn’t want to think about what Daemon’s life would be like if she did

"Krelis did" Daemon’s mouth curved in a vicious smile "But I doubt he mentioned our little discussion" He took a couple of ss of wine "No, she just wants to be sure I’h probleer to be her new Master of the Guard And the efforts to soften the Territories bordering those already under Hayll’s control have been seriously under Queen and a handful of forainst Dorothea’s Master of the Guard and five thousand Hayllian warriors"

"There weren’t that ed "Well, you kno stories groith the telling Especially with a little help"

"You cut the ground out from under Dorothea in any way you can, don’t you?" Jared said

"In every way I can," Daereed soleh"

Jared felt the sadness he’d been fighting all winter well up inside him "Dena Nehele will fall, won’t it?"

"Not while a Gray-Jeweled Queen rules there Not while the strongest and the best serve her and re But, yes, eventually Dena Nehele will live in Hayll’s shadow"

"Then all our efforts are pointless"

"No, Jared, they’re not Even in the most rotted Territories, there are still overlooked places where the Blood remember what it means to be Blood, what it means to honor the Darkness Where males remeain isn’t one-sided Those who remember may lose control of their lands, may have to live careful, hidden lives, but they must survive in order to restore their people when the ti forward

Daemon hesitated "When a Queen far ine walks the Real That much I know That much I was promised," he added quietly

They drank in silence

"Why did you call ood-bye And to tell you not to be a fool"

"About what?" Jared waited Hoped All the talks he and Talon had had during the long winter nights hadn’t eased his doubts because Talon didn’t really understand what it meant to be a pleasure slave But if there was anyone who could understand how deeply that kind of slavery wounded a man, it was Daemon Sadi

"There are many shades and flavors of love, Jared," Daemon said quietly "Not all of them have the richness and the depth to be Gold You have a chance at soh your fingers"

Jared carefully refilled their glasses "Is it fair to hinder a strong Queen with a Consort who has a degrading past?"

"Is it fair to deny the wo that’s in him?" Daemon countered

"I was a pleasure slave for nine years"

"Nine years," Daemon snarled impatiently "What’s nine years compared tocenturies ?"

"Wouldyou ask a Queen to accept you as her husband?"

"In a heartbeat"

Jared sat back, awed and a little frightened by the terrible yearning that filled Daemon’s eyes

"You love soretting the question

Dae "I don’t know She hasn’t been born yet But I’ve loved, and served, her all ly" Reaching across the table, he laid his hand over Jared’s "Don’t let the Gold slip away, Jared Don’t spend the rest of your life regretting that you didn’t take the risk"

Daeo"

Jared stood, too There were soa deep breath, he gripped Daemon’s shoulders, opened his inner barriers, and let his feelings flow through his hands--his gratitude, his friendship, and the sincere hope that Daele" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>