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A little embarrassed, he stepped back "May the Darkness embrace you, Prince Sadi"

Daemon cupped Jared’s face in his hands and kissed him softly on theafter Daelass, then set it down untouched

Taking one last look around, Jared left the traveler’s inn

It was tio to Grayhaven

It was time to take the risk

Chapter Forty-two

"Excusecloser to the kneeling woman and bit back his i around the Grayhaven estate, following the vague directions he’d been given Lady Lia, he’d been told, was out gathering a few plants Just follow the path there and he’d come to her by and by

He’d followed that path and several offshoots Every person he’d seen along the way had cheerfully pointed him in a different direction

Well, the woman who hadn’t answered hi closer Maybe she was a servant who had acco his eyes over the shabby clothes and the wide-brimmed straw hat that looked as if it had been run over by a couple of heavy wagons

"If I could have aa Queen should dress better--

The woman stood, pulled off her hat, and turned around

Jared stared at the flowing gray hair, at the gray eyes, at the Gray Jewel hanging fro, he saidyour pardon, Lady I didn’t elding snorted, and backed away as far as it could

"You must be Lord Jared," Grizelle said coldly

Jared sed hard "You’ve heard of e and honor helped a young Queen survive a dangerous journey" Grizelle’s voice becahter cry"

Jared hunched his shoulders, but his heart leaped in hope He kept his eyes focused on the ground between thelanced up

Grizelle studied him from head to toe "It see in her expression or her voice

Jared felt a shiver start in the soles of his feet and work its way up his body This was the Gray Lady, as still the Queen of Dena Nehele and who could banish him from her Territory

And this was the family matriarch ould decide if he could even try for the future he hoped for

"Why are you here, Warlord?"

"I--" Jared took a deep breath "I came to see Lia"

Grizelle narrowed her eyes "Are you planning to leave again and add a fe bruises to an aching heart?"

"No!" He forced himself to meet her eyes Better to kno before he hoped too much "I was a pleasure slave, Lady"