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There’s nothing you can do to disguise that voice,Daeht

Then she perked up, looked nize his voice, but it’s not likely that anyone else will Not now that it’s altered a bit"

Which hen Lucivar walked into the study, carrying Daerip that indicated they’d already had one discussion about whether the little beast could run free in the Hall

"I’ly encouraged to leave home," Lucivar said "So here we are"

"We can take hiray spear thread

"You’ve got plenty of shields there and nothing breakable?" Lucivar asked

"Oh, yes"

"Well, you’re just in ti at her brother and nephew "Listen to this"

"Bwaa ha ha"

Daeet free "Granpapa! Granpapa!"

Not daring to look at anyone, Daean to understand his father’s fascination with footwear

Jaenelle sighed "All right I’ll work on it"

Lucivar studied both of the away "We’ll just wait in the hall"

"Ba ha! Ba ha!" Daemonar shouted "Granpapa, ba ha!"

Once Lucivar and Daemonar were safely on the other side of the door, Jaenelle said, "Do you think Daeet?"

Not a chance"Of course he will He’s little"

She gave hi evening, then said ruefully, "Thank you for lying"

He rested his hands on her waist "You’re welco curiosityto do if he’d refused?"

Jaenelle looked at him and smiled

Butterflies filled his sto into heavy, sinking stones

"Well," his darling said, "you have a wonderful deep voice too So if Papa refused, I was going to ask you"

Saetan walked into the sitting room where he’d asked Geoffrey and Draca, the Keep’s Seneschal, to meet hi, compliments of Prince Sadi Since it came from the wine cellar at the Hall, I can assure you it is a very fine vintage, one best enjoyed when shared"

He called in three glasses and opened the wine

Draca said nothing until he handed her a glass "What iss the occassion?"

Saetan grinned "My son has just realized how much his father loves him"

SEVEN

Daemon walked out of the bathroom in the Consort’s suite, noticed the look of apprehension on his valet’s face, and approached the clothes laid out on the bed with a heightened sense of wariness He studied the gold-checked shirt and dark green trousers, which werenot his usual white silk shirt and black jacket and trousers Then he looked at his valet

"What are those?" he asked

"Casual attire," Jazen replied "You said you alking down to the village For exercise"

"I said I was going to walk to the village instead of taking a carriage because I could use the exercise" Which, in hisdown to the village to talk to Sylvia The Queen of Halaway At her request"

"But you’re walking So you’ll need these" Jazen held up a pair of shoes that were not Daeo with the casual attire"

Daehtly scratched his chin with one black-tinted nail "I’ve been an adult for quite some time and have handled all kinds of personal details all by myself I am now the ruler of a whole Territory, which means I make decisions that affect the lives of thousands of people So why aot married"

He studied Jazen’s face "That wasn’t a smart-ass remark, was it?"

"No, Prince The Lady thinks you look stunning in your usual attire, but she felt a change of pace once in a while would be good for you"

"I see"

While Jazen went into the bathrooot dressed There wasn’t much to tidy, but he didn’t need an audience when he dressed or undressed--unless it was Jaenelle--and Jazen, who had been viciously castrated when he’d lived in Hayll, didn’t need to see a whole male and be reminded of what he had lost

By the time Jazen came back into the Consort’s bedroo full of broken biscuits that had been left beside the clothes

"No!" Jazen said a old eyes narrowed "Since they were here withattire, I assumed these were treats for the walk"