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PROLOGUE

He laid his hand on the cover of his latest book, closed his eyes to shut out the world around him, and savored this new reality that was still so painfully sweet

They had eston They had read his thinly veiled discovery about hiht more copies of that book than any other

He was one of thee for sohis true nature only by accident, now he could stand anificant--had thought hih to be a casual acquaintance because his writing skills had earned him fame and wealth, had earned him invitations to parties and literary discussions that would otherwise be closed to a landen

Now they would welcome him simply because of the power that flowed in his veins

He’d been overwhelmed by his discovery and had kept it a secret for all these months Well, an open secret, since he’d put it down on paper for all to read But noas ready to walk aed by them Not just by the society sparklers, but by the true aristos He’d even taken the first step to indicate he would welcome just such an invitation

He could see hi table at SaDiablo Hall, one of a suests with a stories, and he would flirt with the Lady--but not so much that he would offend his host He’d heard rumors about a fool who had offended Daemon Sadi inthat way

Had Sadi really burned out thePerhaps…

There was so much to learn now that he was one of themSo much And there was so er shackled by landen law So much he couldn’t have tried before Except in stories

For a long ti with him thatpoured into his stories Now he knew that violence was simply part of his nature

Oh, yes He was one of them now One of the ones alked the Realer an insignificant landen, chained by someone else’s rules

He was Blood

PART ONE

ONE

"Hell’s fire"

Surreal SaDiablo stared at the page she was currently reading, then let the book drop into her lap "A body in a closet? What kind of idiot leaves a body in a closet?"

"Soe furry friends who think ‘hu?" Dae sohts still on the papers spread out around hiht have been insulted by that lack of i theat Daemon Sadi wasn’t a hardship at any time, but at the moment, he was comfortably rumpled, which made the picture even more delicious His thick black hair was disheveled froh it while he read reports and s he wanted to discuss with Dhemlan’s Province Queens His white silk shirt was partially unbuttoned, giving her a view of toned olden brown skin, as well as little flashes of the Red Birthright Jewel that hung froold chain around his neck His bare feet rested on a pillow he’d tossed onto the low table in front of the sofa

His deep, cultured voice always had a sexual edge that old eyes promised pain instead of pleasure He had a face too beautiful to be called handsome, and he had a temper typical of his caste

Since he was one of the two males in the entire history of the Blood to wear a Black Jewel, he was as lethal as he was beautiful And, may the Darkness help her, he was family

It was that last part that assured her she’d have his full attention before er It was the nature of Warlord Princes to be protective and territorial--as well as violent and deadly--so it was prettyto pay attention to the wo her gold-green eyes as she considered why he was settled in the sitting room of the family’s town house in A paperwork in his own study at SaDiablo Hall Where he belonged

"Hell’s fire, Sadi," she growled "Now that you’re the Warlord Prince of Dheh details to keep you occupied without keeping track of oing to be filling up the sitting room if he was still there in an hour

He set aside his papers and looked at her, his gold eyes full of warmth and amusement