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Daemon kept his head turned away fro Now if you’ll ex--"

"Prince? Prince, you must come and see"

Surreal turned toward the sound of the girl’s voice It sounded like silk feels, she thought as the thin, golden-haired girl skipped around the bend and stopped in front of them, her s on the way the sunlight found its way through the leaves--full of high spirits and curiosity

"Hello," the girl said as she studied Surreal’s face

"Lady," Surreal replied, trying to sound respectful and dignified, but she’d heard Sadi’s exasperated sigh and wanted to laugh

"We should be getting back," Dae to turn her toward the private gardens

Surreal was about to slip ahen she heard Dae note in his voice rooted her to the path She’d never heard hiirl, who had planted her feet and refused to be turned

"Jaenelle," he said a bit desperately

Jaenelle ignored him as she studied Surreal’s face and chest

That hen Surreal realized that the Gray Jewel had slipped out from under her shirt when she bent over to exa what she should do

As Daeet her attention, Jaenelle said, "Are you Surreal?" When Surreal didn’t answer, Jaenelle tipped her head back to look at Daeuarded, trapped look He took a deep breath and released it, slowly "Yes, she’s Surreal"

Jaenelle clasped her hands in front of her and se for you"

Surreal blinked, totally at a loss "A e We have to go," Daeth into his words

Jaenelle frowned at him, obviously puzzled by his lack of courtesy, but she obeyed "Titian sends her love"

Surreal’s legs buckled at the sarabbed her "Is this your idea of a joke?" she whispered savagely, hiding her face against his chest

"May the Darkness help me, Surreal, this is no joke"

Surreal looked up at hi she’d never heard in his voice She braced herself and stepped away frohtly

Jaenelle looked even more puzzled "Yes, I know"

"How do you know Titian?" Daemon asked quietly, but his voice vibrated with tension He shivered, and Surreal knew it had nothing to do with the fresh little breeze that had sprung up

"She’s Queen of the Harpies She told hter’s name is Surreal, and she told me what she looked like, and she told ht look like the family crest The Dea al Mon usually wear it in silver, but the gold looks right on you" Jaenelle looked at them She was still pleased that she’d been able to deliver the e, but their reactions made no sense

Surreal wanted to run, wanted to escape, wanted to hold on to this child who didn’t think it strange to be a bridge between the living and the dead She tried to say so, but only an inarticulate sound came out, so she looked to Daeround either

Finally he shook himself, slipped an arm around Jaenelle’s shoulders, and led her toward the private gardens

"Wait," Surreal called She swayed but stayed on her feet Tears filled her eyes, filled her voice "If you should see Titian again, send h the blur of tears was gentle and understanding "I will, Surreal I won’t forget"

Then they were gone

Surreal stumbled to a tree and wrapped her ar down her cheeks Dea al Mon The family name? The people Titian had come from? She didn’t know, but it was more than she’d ever had before She felt torn apart inside, and yet, for the first time since she’d stu dead, she didn’t feel alone

4--Terreille

As Cassandra opened the cupboard where she kept the wineglasses, she felt the dark male presence at the kitchen door, that un, she reached for a wineglass and said, "I didn’t expect you until later"