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In a hen Prothvar gave himself to Jaenelle’s webs to help protect the Blood when she unleashed her full power, he had stepped onto the last battlefield of that old war
So Prothvar was gone now Truly gone So were Andulvar and Mephis
Whatever had happened the day Lucivar had caused thatsound to thunder out of his father had changed his life, had changedhim He was sure of that Now he needed to knohy
There was only one person he could ask
He closed his eyes--and felt a single tear roll down his face He wasn’t sure if the tear was for the boy he had been or the faht of that oldsettled over hi else
Surreal pulled Rainier into the town house’s sitting rooet one of these?" she asked, holding out a cream-colored invitation
"No," he replied after he read it
She watched his expression change into a thoughtful frown "What?"
"Well, Jaenelle and Marian both know anyone they invite to view the spooky house will show up--especially anyone from the family--so why set this up like a test of obedience?" He studied her deliberately blank expression "Queens--especially young Queens--so demands that aren’t har on this invitationis for this evening, you’re expected to cancel whatever plans or commitments you had made and obey"
"Maybe they wanted to nored"
"Maybe" But Rainier didn’t sound convinced
It didn’t sound like sootten the jitters about showing the spooky house and hadn’t thought out the phrasing of the invitations
Surreal hooked her hair behind her pointed ears "Doesn’t et there, so I’ve asked for a quick e clothes You talk to Helton and find out where this village is"
"Surreal" Rainier looked a little embarrassed "I wasn’t invited"
"Did you or did you not tell me you would stand as an official escort whenever I needed one?"
"Yes, I did"
"Then it’s settled I’et to the spooky house"
He flashed a s room door She returned the smile as she walked past him Then she bolted up the stairs But she paused when she reached her bedroo of the invitation sounded like a test--especially since the invitation arrived just a few rab a quick meal before they had to leave
What bothered her eventhat she’d recently read or heard about soiven a similar kind of test, but she couldn’t remember where--or why
The eyrie was quiet Much too quiet And there wasn’t a single lah the rain and clouds here in Ebon Rih had brought on nightfall sooner than usual
Leaving the front door open, Marian re Craft, she created a sht, which she tossed into theknife Lucivar had given her She handled knives all the time in the kitchen, which hy he’d decided this was a practical weapon for her to carry
It felt different--because it wasdifferent She could accept that Even eh from the timid hearth witch she had been when she’d first come to Kaeleer that she could--and would--use that knife to protect her fa in front of her, Marian crept toward the kitchen Then she stopped Sniffed Brought the witchlight closer to the floor and studied the telltale spots of dried pee that hadn’t been wiped up She raised her hand and gave the candle-lights inside the lamp on the kitchen table a touch of power
The la out of order
Moving farther into the eyrie, she passed the roo the Prince of Ebon Rih, and continued on into the family rooms
And then she found her husband and son in the room they used as a family parlor--a rooh-and-tu chair Daemonar was on his lap Both were sound asleep
Marian studied the doorway Felt the light presence of power The shield around this room would alert Lucivar to so crossed the threshold And the moment that happened, even before he was fully awake or had opened his eyes, he would be primed to attack
"Lucivar," she called softly on a psychic thread
A change in his breathing, telling her he ake and aware He didn’t open his eyes, but he dropped the shield, allowing her into the rooht back to her hand, then set it in a bowl lass that sat on a table near the doorway
As she crossed the room, Lucivar opened his eyes For a ry with her for some reason but now couldn’t reht hand--and smiled
Puzzled by his amusement, she looked down