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"Then I’ll join you before I retire for the afternoon" Saetan opened the door

Slipping into his black jacket, Daemon stepped into the corridor and stared at the door to the Consort’s bedroom

Saetan crossed the corridor, opened the door, and stepped into the roo for a command to stay out When it didn’t come, he followed his father into the roo to the bathrooave the rooht as he noticed the lack of psychic scent A hint of his presence was still there under the scents of soap and polish, but less than usual Less than a cleaning would account for

"Well?" Saetan asked quietly

Better this way That lack of presence was better

The rooain And he wouldn’t

He looked at the bed

Mine!

"Dae Daemon"

The whiplash coh, but he leashed the desire--and felt disgust rising in its place

He forced himself to say the words, to admit what he wanted to deny with all his heart "The Sadist was in that bed with her last night"

"Yes, he was," Saetan said quietly "And I i there"

He studied his father, not sure how to interpret the words

Saetan sighed and rubbed two fingers across his forehead as if trying to ease an ache "It’s unfortunate that this happened last night when you were churned up with memories of Terreille, but, Daemon, it would have happened Because of who you are Because of who Jaenelle is This would have happened"

"No"

"Yes You’ve twisted a part of yourself into a powerful weapon, honed it to the point people have given it a different naiven it a different name But it’s part of your nature, Daemon It’s part of your caste It’s in every one of us"

"What is?"

"There’s no name for it It’s not like the rut, which is a kind of physical insanity that can be recognized by anyone who knohat to look for This is eerous when it happens It’s the thrill of being feared while you seduce your lover to the point where she doesn’t want to refuse And at the sa able to reveal that side of your nature to a lover and know you’re still trusted" Saetan lowered his hand and stared at the bed "It’s a potential for violence that is transforentleness"

"If this is part of our caste, why isn’t it recognized like the rut?" Daemon asked And why have I never heard about it?

"Because it’s soht--or so as it takes you to feel that moment of possession, that moment when you look at a woman and think, Mine, and know it’s true

"The potential to possess The desire to possess Warlord Princes are do, territorial, and possessive Most of the time those traits are seen in relation to other males, to possible rivals" Saetan looked him in the eyes "But so, who stands so deep in the abyss--you look at the wo"

Saetan rubbed his hands together, then looked at the Black-Jeweled ring on his right hand "We’re guests most of the time and on our best behavior because of that We come to our lover’s bed, and even if we share that bed ninety-nine nights out of a hundred, it’s still her bed Our beds are for sleep, for rest, for solitude But the rare times e take a woman into our bed, it’s different It feels different NoIt’s not even sex It’s possession Her body belongs to you for that night, and you play with it You bring her to a climax--or you deny her that co a description of the Sadist in hisa description of what he’d done last night And he was hearing so at his father and seeing aa e Saetan had played those gaht, Mine, which should have told s and my own"

Daemon hesitated, but curiosity pushed aside caution "Sylvia?"

Saetan closed his eyes "Yes, Sylvia There were a few times while ere lovers when she ca in the room They both had to step away from it, shake it off For now But he would have to circle around the subject with Jaenelle and find out if she’d found the Sadist thrilling or frightening If she’d found hier to everyone around you

Since he could see Saetan trying to shake off the feeling as well, he cast around for so else to talk about

"Where’s Theran?"

A flash of ae With Vae"

"Vae?" Daemon stared at his father "You sent hi Sceltie who’s such alittle bitch that Khary used up every favor owed hie for a month?"