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"Why is it an error? If she offered you so of value to--"

"Like my freedom?" The wariness was back in his eyes "Like a century of not having to kneel and serve?"

Cassandra pressed her lips together This was going wrong, and if he turned against her again, he wouldn’t relent a second ti to us, Prince, and she ?" He s lived as I’ve lived, being what I a for his whole life? Do you think nize what she is, what she’ll beco in an endless desert"

Cassandra stared at hier washed over her at the next thought "She’s just a child"

"That fact hasn’t eluded lass "Who is ’us’?"

"What?"

"You said ’the girlto us’ Who?"

"Me" Cassandra hesitated, took a deep breath "And the Priest"

Daemon’s expression was a mixture of relief and pain He licked his lips "Does heDoes he think I mean her harm?" He shook his head "No matter I’ve wondered the saasped, incensed "How could--" She stopped herself If they had presumed that about him, ould he not presume the same about them? She sat at the kitchen table He hesitated and then sat across from her "Listen to me," she said earnestly "I can understand why you feel bitter toward him, but you don’t feel half as bitter as he does He never wanted to walk away from you, but he had no other choice No matter what you think of hi is true: he adores her With every breath, with every drop of his blood, he adores her"

Daelass "Isn’t he a little old for her?"

"I’d say he was experienced," Cassandra replied tartly

"She’ll be a powerful Queen and should have an older, experienced Steward"

Daelanced at her, amused "Steward?"

"Of course" She studied hi?"

Daemon shook his head His lips twitched "No, I don’t have any a"

"Well, then" Cassandra’s eyes widened Now that the chill was gone, now that he was a little more relaxed"You really are your father’s son," she said dryly and was startled by his iht--that’s wicked!"

"Is it?" His golden eyes caressed her with disturbing warmth "Perhaps it is"

Cassandra sone, he really was a delightful man "What does she think of you?"

"How in the narowled His eyes narrowed as she laughed at hi point? Exasperate you until you want to scream? Make you feel as if you can’t tell froround or fall into a bottomless pit?"

He looked at her with interest "Do you feel that way?"

"Oh, no," Cassandra said lightly "But then, I’rowled

"That’s a fa hihten her the way Saetan did "You and the Priest ht have more in common than you think where she’s concerned"

He laughed, and she kneas the idea of Saetan being as bewildered as he that amused him, consoled him, linked him to them

Daeladto have met you, Cassandra I hope it won’t be the last tih his and walked with him to the outer door of the Sanctuary "You’re welcome anytime, Prince"

Daehtly

She watched hi to the kitchen and washing the glasses

Now there was just the delicate littleto his father

5--Terreille

There are soht wryly as Cassandra snuggled closer to hi anxious little circles up and down his chest Before tonight he’d politely refused to stay with her, wary that she ive But she, too, was a Guardian, and that kind of love was no longer part of her life There were, after all, some penalties to the half-life Still, it pleased hiainst skin, to caress the curves of a feet to the point and stopthose damn little circles, because he remembered only too hat they ainst his chest "So?" As he turned his head and kissed her hair, he felt her frown He pressed his lips together, annoyed Had she forgotten how easy it was for him to read a wo to deny what had screamed at him the mohtly, teasingly, kissed his chest

Saetan took a deep breath His patience frayed "So when are you going to get around to telling me what happened this afternoon?"