Page 7 (1/2)
As soon as they were settled by the fire, Jaenelle pinned Saetan to his chair with those intense sapphire eyes "Can you teach ht if I asked" Saetan’s world was destroyed and rebuilt in the space of a heartbeat He allowed nothing to show on his face There would be time for that later "Teach you Craft? I don’t see why not Where is Cassandra staying now? We’ve lost touch over the years"
"At her Altar In Terreille"
"I see Come here, witch-child" Jaenelle rose obediently and stood by his chair Saetan raised one hand, fingers curled inward, and gently stroked her cheek Anger instantly skimmed her eyes, and there was a sudden pulse in the Black, within hi her jaw and brush against her lips, all the way around and back He didn’t try to hide his curiosity, interest, or the tenderness he felt for most feers and waited A hts were his own again Just as well, because he couldn’t stop wondering why being touched ry "I’ll make you two promises," he said "I want one in return"
Jaenelle eyed him warily "What promise?"
"I promise, by the Jewels that I wear and all that I am, that I’ll teach you whatever you ask to the best of my ability And I proht this over "What do I have to promise?"
"That you’ll keep me informed of any Craft lessons you learn from others Craft requires dedication to learn it well and discipline to handle the responsibilities that co you learn has been taught correctly Do you understand, witch-child?"
"Then you’ll teachI know" Saetan let her think this over "Agreed?"
"Yes"
"Very well Give ht-brown ones "I’ain "I won’t hurt you, witch-child"
Saetan carefully reached with his mind until he stood before her inner barriers They were the shields that protected the Blood fros, the more barriers that were passed, the more personal the hts The last barrier protected the core of the Self, the essence of a being, the inner web
Saetan waited As much as he wanted answers, he wouldn’t open her by force Too much now depended on trust
The barriers opened, and he went in
He didn’t ruhts or descend deeper than was necessary, despite his curiosity That would have been a shocking betrayal of the Blood’s code of honor And there was a strange, deep blankness to her mind that troubled hi very different He quickly found what he was looking for--the psychic thread that would vibrate in sympathy with a plucked, same-rank thread and would tell hiht Cerehtest rank, and worked his way down, listening for the answering hu He hadn’t expected anything until he’d reached the Red, but he’d expected a response at that depth She had to wear Birthright Red in order to wear the Black after sheto the Darkness Witch alore the Black
Without thinking, Saetan plucked the Black thread
The hum came from below him
Saetan released her hands, aet his heart out of his throat "Have you had the Birthright Cereently lifted her chin "Witch-child?"
Misery filled her sapphire eyes A tear rolled down her cheek "I f-failed the t-test Does that ive the Jewels back?"
"Failed the-- What Jewels?"
Jaenelle slipped her hand into the folds of her blue dress and pulled out a velvet bag She upended it on the low table beside his chair with a proud but watery sainst the back of the chair, and sincerely hoped the roo He didn’t need to look at them to knohat they were: twelve uncut Jewels White, Yellow, Tiger Eye, Summer-sky, Purple Dusk, Blood Opal, Green, Sapphire, Red, Gray, and Ebon-gray
No one knehere the Jewels had come from If one was destined to wear a Jewel, it siht Cere, receiving an uncut Jewel--a Jewel that had never been worn by another of the Blood--was rare His Birthright Red Jewel had been uncut When he’d been gifted with the Black, it, too, had been uncut But to receive an entire set of uncut JewelsSaetan leaned over and tapped the Yelloith the tip of his nail It flared, the fire in the center warning him off He frowned, puzzled The Jewel already identified itself as fe bonded to a witch and not a Blood male, but there was the faintest hint of maleness in it too Jaenelle wiped the tears frohter Jewels are for practice and everyday stuff until I’ The room spun in every direction Saetan’s nails pierced the leather arht, and may the Darkness be merciful!
Thirteen uncut Black Jewels, Jewels that already glittered with the inner fire of a psychic bond Having a child bond with one Black Jeithout having her h, but the inner strength required to bond and hold thirteen of theh his veins
Too much power Too much Even the Blood weren’t meant to wield this much power Even Witch had never controlled thisQueen This daughter of his soul
With effort, Saetan steadied his breathing He could accept her He could love her Or he could fear her The decision was his, and whatever he decided here, now, he would have to live with
The Black Jewels glowed The Black Jewel in his ring glowed in answer His blood throbbed in his veins,his head ache The power in those Jewels pulled at hinition
And he discovered the decision was an easy one after all--he had actually et these, witch-child?" he asked hoarsely
Jaenelle hunched her shoulders "From Lorn"