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It was late in the evening before Lucivar got the chance to slip out to the back garden Daeone out a few ree with a hunter’s caution, Lucivar followed the ribbon of chilled air left by Dae He turned a corner and stopped

Daeravel path, his face raised to the night sky while the delicate breeze riffled his black hair

The gravel under Lucivar’s feet shifted slightly

Daemon turned toward the sound

Lucivar hesitated He knehat that sleepy, glazed look in Daemon’s eyes meant, remembered only too hat had happened in courts when that tender, murderous s, and no one, was safe when Daemon was in thiswith the Sadist fun

Sant smile, Lucivar stepped forward and slowly stretched his dark wings their full span before tucking theht to his body "Hello, Bastard"

Dae tiood wines lately?"

"None that you’d appreciate" Daemon studied Lucivar’s clothes and raised an eyebrow "You’ve decided to be a good boy?"

Lucivar snorted "I decided I wanted decent food and a decent bed for a change and a few days out of Pruul, and all I have to do is lick the bottom of Zuultah’s boots when she returns from the stable"

"Maybe that’s your trouble, Prick You’re not supposed to lick her boots, you’re supposed to kiss her ass" He turned and glided down the path

Re why he’d wanted to talk to Daeazebo tucked in one corner of the garden where they couldn’t be seen from the mansion Daemon smiled that cold, sweet smile and stepped aside to let him enter first

Never let a predator smell fear

Annoyed by his own uneasiness, Lucivar turned to study the luminescent leaves of the fire bush nearby He stiffened when Dae nails whispered over his shoulders, teasing his skin in a lover-like fashion

"Do you want ainst Lucivar’s neck

Lucivar snorted and tried to pull away, but the caressing hand instantly becah of that in Eyrien hunting carin, he turned around "Do you really think your touch makes my pulse race?"

"Doesn’t it?" Daee look in his eyes

Lucivar stared Daeerously sleepy Hell’s fire, Lucivar thought desperately as Dae with hia into the back of his neck The sharp thuainst his thighs Lucivar closed his eyes and submitted to the kiss

No reason to feel hu to stier Physical response had nothing to do with feelings or desire Nothing

But, Mother Night, Dae this?" Lucivar gasped "At least tell me why"

"Why not?" Daemon replied bitterly "I have to whore for everyone else, why not you?"

"Because I don’t want you to Because you don’t want to Dae this?"

Daeainst Lucivar’s "Since you already know the anshy ask me?" He kneaded Lucivar’s shoulders "I can’t stand being touched by them anymore Ever sinceI can’t stand the feel of them, the s I a clean left to offer"

Lucivar wrapped his hands around Dae Daemon’s psychic scent scraped a nerve he had refused to probe over the past five years Once she was old enough to understand what it meant, would that sapphire-eyed little cat despise them for the way they’d been forced to serve? It wouldn’tin him for the chance to serve her And so would Daemon "Daemon" He took a deep breath "Daemon, she’s come"

Daemon pulled away "I know I’ve felt her" He stuffed his shaking hands into his trouser pockets "There’s trouble around her--"

"What trouble?" Lucivar asked sharply

"--and I keep wondering if he can--if he will--protect her"

"Who? Dae his groin andunder his breath, Lucivar wrapped his ar else could be done for aof Obedience

By the tiot to his feet, his beautiful, aristocratic face had hardened into a cold, pain-glazed mask and his voice was empty of emotion "It see off his jacket sleeve "You’d think she would know better by now" He hesitated before he left the gazebo "Take care, Prick"

Lucivar leaned against the gazebo long after Daemon’s footsteps had faded away What had happened between Daeirl? And what did "Take care, Prick" ?