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"They never should have taken you away fro at melass coven in Hayll has been failing since then, just like he said it would No one breaks a contract with the Priest and survives"

"You were supposed to go to hiht Jewel You were so proud that he was going to be there, even though the Birthright Cere like it usually is They planned it that way, planned to th would be at its lowest"

"After you had your Birthright Red Jewel and were standing with yourfor the okay to walk out of the cere and kneel to him in servicethat’s when that wolass, that paternity was denied, that he couldn’t have sired you, that she’d had her guards service the Dhemlan witch afterward to ensure she was seeded It was a warot so cold, so awfully cold Dorothea had all the Hourglass covens there, dozens and dozens of Black Widoatching hi for him to walk into the circle and break honor with them"

"But he didn’t He turned away"

"You al, screauards ere holding your arers clenched around that Jewel There was a flash of Red light, and the guards were flung backward You hurled yourself forward, trying to reach the edge of the circle He turned, waiting One of the guards tackled you You were only a hand span away froer had crossed that circle, he would have swept you aith hiood for you to live with him, or to live without your people"

"You didn’t "

"So he left Went to that house you keep visiting, the house you and your mother lived in, and destroyed the study Tore the books apart, shredded the curtains, broke every piece of furniture in the rooe out When I finally dared open the door, he was kneeling in the et soot up and made me promise to look after you and your mother, to do the best I could And I promised because I cared about you and her, and because he’d always been kind to me and Jo"

"After that, he disappeared They took your Red Jewel and put the Ring of Obedience on you that night You wouldn’t eat They told me I had toto waste away They locked Jo up in a metal box, put hiet food and water when I got you to eat When I got you to eat two days in a row, they’d let him out"

"For three days you wouldn’t eat, no ed I don’t think you heard ht, when I’d go out and stand as close to the box as I was allowed, I’d hear Jo whi that hot ed you out oneandpunished because you were a bad boy and wouldn’t eat, and if he died I would hate you forever and ever"

"I didn’t know Dorothea had run your mother off I didn’t knoas all you had left But you knew You felt her go"

"You did what I said You ate when I told you, slept when I told you You were host than a child But they let Jo out"

Manny wiped the tears froe of her apron She took a sip of cold tea

Daeone to that cru for answers as he did every time he was in this part of the Realm Memories, so elusive and traitorous, always teased hih the rooms But it was the wrecked study that really drew him back, the room where he could almost hear a deep, powerful voice like soft thunder, where he could almost smell a sharp, spicy,arms around him, where he could almost believe he had once been safe, protected, and loved

And now he finally knehy

Daeently "You’ve told me this much, tell me the rest"

Manny shook her head "They did soet him They said if you ever found out about hi "I couldn’t let them kill you You were the boy Jo and I couldn’t have"

A door in his an to open

"I’m not a boy anymore, Manny," Daemon said quietly, "and I won’t be killed that easily" He made another pot of tea, put a fresh cup in front of her, and settled back in his chair "What wasis his name?"

"He hasat her cup

"Manny" Daeht for patience

"They call him the Seducer The Executioner"

He shook his head, still not understanding But the door opened a little wider

"He’s the High Priest of the Hourglass"

A little wider

"You’re stalling," Daeainst the saucer "What’s my father’s name? You owea bastard Did he ever sign the register?"

"Oh, yes," she said hurriedly "But they changed that page He was so proud of you and the Eyrien boy He didn’t know, you know, about the girl being Eyrien Luthvian, that was her nas were removed He didn’t know until the boy was born She wanted to cut the wings off, raise the boy as Dhemlan maybe But he said no, in his soul the boy was Eyrien, and it would be kinder to kill his She cried at that, scared that he really would kill the babe I think he would have if she’d ever done anything thatlittle cottage in Askavi, took care of her and the boy He would bring hiht together It was hard to tell which Then she got scared She told h Priestess, told her he only wanted the boy for fodder, wanted a supply of fresh blood to sup on So she gave the boy to Prythian to hide, and ran away When she went back for hihed at her, and--"

"Manny," Daemon said in a soft, cold voice "For the last time, who is my father?"

"The Prince of the Darkness"