Lucivar woke to find himself in his bed. He didn't remember going to sleep but he did remember having a little chat with his queen. Did remember that his kitchen was left in ruins and his loving wife and hearth witch - who was not tucked in next to him- was probably trying to clean it all up by herself and using ever bit of strength she had to do just that.
But he would remain calm. He had one thing to worry about already. No that wasn't true he had several. Mostly he had to be the one to help keep Daemon's temper leashed as well as his queen's. The thought made him shutter. Well maybe helping his wife compromise over the kitchen was just the thing he needed to settle his nerves.
Stepping out of his bedroom he tried to listen. The eyrie was deathly quiet. There were no sounds of his little beast. No sounds of Marian cleaning anything. He didn't remember making a decision to call in his war blade but it was there in his hand as he glided through the eyrie.
Marian entered through the domestic door at the same time Lucivar came into the kitchen. She took one look at the war bade and tartly said, " If you so much as break one dish I'm going to dent your head."
Seeing that Marian was alright – more than alright she was grumpy- grumpy was good. No it was wonderful. The fact that she felt comfortable about threatening him told him everything was fine. Then it stuck him. The kitchen had been barely standing the last time he had been there so how…
Narrowing his eyes he looked around. New cabinets, a new table and chairs. Using craft he opened the cabinet doors to find new dishes. Silver wear. New baking dishes. Weaving his hand to indicate what he was seeing he asked in disbelieve and trying not to growl about it, " What is this Marian?"
She rolled her eyes, "Your father came by yesterday with some help. They cleared out the mess your sister made. Or what hadn't been cleaned out the night before and then we went shopping and…"
"Yesterday?" he mumbled like trying to get the thought in his head then "YESTERDAY!"
"Yes prince, yesterday. And you have enough time to dress and get yourself to the Keep before someone comes looking for you."
He just looked at his wife who seemed to be enjoying this. "And who would be coming to look for me?"
"Mmmm. Not sure really but then again I'm not really sure how things like this work in the first circle. And I would appreciate if I don't find out."
"Mother night."
Chaosti grabbed his arm and hulled him into the first empty room the moment he entered the Keep. His voice was calm yes there were nerves dancing I his eyes. He only managed to say, "Daemon's gone cold."
Three words and none that would bode well for any one. Shit. Looking at Chaosti he would have asked what had pricked that temper, but Dea Al Mon did not scare easily. No looking at the man who stood before him his brother was doing a good job of scaring the shit out of the first circle and the fact that Chaosti was scared shitless screamed at him. "I'll talk to him."
"Be careful Prince."
Mother night. What had Daemon done to put that quiver in Chaosti's voice. No better not ask, not when he knew what the sadist could do when cold. All he could say was, "Mother night, help me."
Daemon was in a private room doing a slow predatory glide around the room. Looking for a target or prey Lucivar decided. Standing in the doorway but not fully in the room he very carefully said, "Hello bastard."
A snap of his head and his cold heavily glazed eyes lock on Lucivar. A snarl then a growl followed.
Lucivar didn't move didn't dare do more than breath. "Daemon's cold." That was the warning. Mother night he wasn't cold the sadist was feral. He remained still as he glided over to him. Remained still as he placed his hand on his forearm. Remained passive as his black tinted nails bit him just enough to get all of his attention. Not that he hadn't already had every bit of his attention already.
He was waiting for Daemon to speak when a tap on his inner barrier made him jump. Relief washed threw him when Daemon's eyes changed to amusement mixed with bafflement. Cautiously he asked * Daemon?*
* You're late, Prick.*
Something wasn't right. Daemon wouldn't use this form of commutation for idle talk. That pitted up against the fact that the cold glaze had returned confirmed it. *Something else is wrong.* not a question. Confirmation. And whatever that something was … was not the battle ground.
*Your sister thinks she's with child.*
She thinks? She was a healer, not just a healer but the best healer in the realm and she thinks? Something else… *She's not going to -*
*She has her reasons for going*
Another problem then… if Daemon scared the first circle then he wouldn't be looking at them to help protect the queen but see them as… he locked eyes with Daemon – the sadist he corrected - *I'll see that the escorts keep a respectful distance.*
That got Daemon to remove his hand and give a simple nod he agreed. " I gave her my word that I wouldn't kill anyone without her consent."
Kill? Oh that was wonderful. She should have included maim, hurt, injure or anything else that the Sadist could do to someone without killing them. "How long till we leave?"
"Within the hour."
Cold ice filled with those words. Lucivar nodded. "Go to your Lady Prince. I'll get the escorts ready."
Saetan was the first one he went hunting to find. Had to go hunting to find since he was in the deepest part of the Keep. Abruptly he said, "We have a problem."
"Only one?" Saetan replied dryly.
"The queen is with child." He hadn't seen the glass of yarbarah till it fell with a thunk to the floor.
"Mother night."
"If the boyos keep a respectful distance-"
"You expect them not to fuss?" There was surprise as well as mock amusement in Saetan's voice.
No he expected them to try and be rewarded with death the moment they got close enough. "-if they don't Daemon won't think twice about killing them."
A moment passed in silence before he finally asked his son, "Can Janelle hold his leash?"
"I want to say yes."
"But?"
"Have you talked to Chaosti?"
A brief paused then, "No."
He didn't say anything else just slipped out of the room. The reason left lingering between them.
"Daemon, I do not need another –"
"it's winter and it too damn cold for you-"
"-layer of clothes."
"-and yes you do."
Jaenelle curled her lips up in a snarl then mumbled, "I shouldn't have told you."
Cold eyes pinned her, "Your coven would have anyways. Then sweetheart I would have growled because you didn't tell me."
She looked at him a moment longer. She knew he was right. Knew he would be over protective and bossy. However she didn't expect him to see her friends as potential rivals or victims. Didn't count on him rising to the killing edge at the sight of anyone who got close enough to touch. "Fine, give me the dame shirt." No use arguing when she couldn't win right now.
Once he was satisfied that both her shirts and jacket had the correct warming spells and her boot would keep her feet dry and warm. Not to mention her trousers that were under her baggy overhauls would not bunch up he finally said, "I'm satisfied that you'll be warm enough." Knowing he was about to make her more snarly then she already was he continued, "Now come here."
Her sky blue eyes narrowed, "Why?"
"If you're planning on going anywhere you're coming over here."
Hesitantly, reluctantly she took the few steps that separated them. Nearly bit him when he came her a very lazy smile. "Well."
She didn't have to wait long for an answer. Two layers of a Black protective shield settled around her followed by a lighter red and a third layer of Black. "Daemon-" as she started to speak she felt something settled on top of the outer shield. Her eyes narrowed and in her deepest of midnight voice said, "What is this prince?"
"You said I couldn't kill anyone. And I won't but I'll be damned if I let you get hurt."
There was such of a growl in his voice it startled her… and it shouldn't have. "And the spell does what?"
"Nothing as long as no one tries to harm you." He shrugged and opened the door.
"And if one does?"
A strange feral grin filled his face, "They will do more then die. And before they do … well death will be only to show kindness."
"Daemon!"
"If you want to continue on to Terreille these are the terms Lady. Or you can be tucked into the Hall for the next several months. Your choice."
She let out a sigh of discuss. She had her own reasons for going she only wished now that she had told him he wasn't. " Move your ass Prince."
