They were all inside one of the great receiving rooms at the Keep. Draca had set it aside for them of the formal party, and Mrs. Beale had not only made the food and out did herself in doing so but also had come and made sure it was all served in a timely manner. From the Cream Soup to the Roasted Duck in a citrus glaze to the candied carrots. It was wonderful. Even better that his father had felt inclined enough to make the sweet cream confection that only he had the recipe for.

It wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, but his brother was flipping between being the super observant Warlord Prince that he was born to be to laughing and joking with men that he knew but hadn't introduced them properly to him yet. Then there was Sabrina and Aaron who he had given up long ago trying to decide if they had come as family, friends or as a fellow queen wishing to pay respects. And of course Cassidy looked radiant as a new mother even if her freckles were standing out a bit clearer today and Gray – Ah Gray – he was the proudest of papa's that anyone could be. Their daughter of course – the little queen- would be a handful in a few years but right now she was gift. Soft blackish red curls crowned her little head and jaded green eyes looked around at every one.

It was a good night. There was soft music and laughter. Sometime after everyone had settled in the small newborn Queen had found herself in Daemon's arms. She had smiled up at him. It warmed his heart in a way that he didn't think was possible. It wasn't the pull of a queen to a warlord prince but that of a child knowing that she was safe. And he would do anything for this child to never know anything that he had witnessed in his first 1700 years.

Draca had come in sometime after dinner had been served and cleared away. In her own way had carefully announced that there was another who wished to wish the Queen happy. No one had thought anything of it. There was by Daemon's count seventeen warlord princes in the room. Two who wore the Black one who wore the Ebon gray and was eyrien and had a very mean temper. Hell even if they weren't there the other males – the ones that belonged to Cassidy- would never let harm come to her.

Daemon had never even seen who had come. Never even felt her. Never knew what had happen after Draca had left to show the new guest to the room. Only knew something had happen. He could feel the darkness calling to him and he needed to embrace it.