Authors note: I sincerely apologize to those of you who keep up on this story for my lack of updating. But never fear, my inspiration has returned and this time it won't be nearly so long between chapters. I also apologize for the length of this chapter. I thoughtyou might appreciate a relatively quick update more than a lenghty chapter.If I was wrong, feel free to enlighten me.

As always, the disclaimer applies.

Terror lanced, like a knife of ice, through Lord Dakarai's heart when he saw the guards at the door of the council chamber. He spared a thought for the girl, and smiled to himself. "The mewling little brat is dead; I am safe from Jareth…but he will not be safe from me for long." He allowed himself an expression of smug accomplishment, a fitting way for a fae nobleman to look, and walked calmly past the guards into the room.

His calm didn't last beyond the door slamming shut behind him. He turned at the sound to find four times as many guards as there should be. With an icy certainty, he knew he'd been caught. As his heart slowed he knew what he had to do.

Dakarai's laugh was the only warning Jareth had. But then, it was the only warning he needed.

Confusion flared in Dakarai's eyes as his Levin bolt fizzled and died. Not only was Jareth completely unharmed…he was smiling! That cold, oh-so-confident smile he was so fond of.

The clipped accent came from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. "You have been found guilty of high treason, rape," Jareth almost choked on the word, but managed to keep it from being noticeable. "using magic against two members of the reigning family, and attempting to kill one of them." The magic died and it was just Jareth who spoke the next words. "It is my pleasure to be able to mete out your punishment myself. You will be punished for ALL your crimes before being executed for high treason."

"Bu…but that's…"

"What? Unheard of? Cruel?" Jareth's voice was quiet and very dangerous as he stalked over to the other man. At his nod, four of the guards came over; two grabbing each arm. "As King, your punishment is entirely up to my discretion. As King, I have no need to be fair. And as a father I have much need to cause you a great deal of pain." He looked deeply into the condemned man's eyes and smiled. A cold, cruel, but somehow…satisfied smile. "You underestimated her, Dakarai, and you underestimated me." He almost purred, his whole body dripping menace and barely contained fury. "Now you will pay for both of those mistakes.

The guards carried Dakarai out of the room…too stunned to even scream.

"Jareth?"

"Dad?"

He smiled softly to himself. So, she was feeling normal again; good. He would need her strength before this was all over. "Yes?"

Stepping forward, Sarah looked up into her husband's eyes; defiance written in every line of her body. "We want to be there when you carry out his sentence."

Quirking an eyebrow at his gentle, forgiving wife, his words betrayed a hint of amusement. "Both of you?"

Two calm nods met his question. Kiana spoke up. "He marked me for eternity, and I will mark him for the brief moments I am allowed before he dies."

Searching Sarah's eyes, Jareth found no little bloodlust, and complete agreement with their daughter's assertion. "Good then. I have not quite decided what to do to him," he grinned at them both "and perhaps you two would enjoy helping me?"

He laughed out loud at the flair of eagerness that infused both of their faces; these women he was so proud of.

All that was left was a bloody mess. Ravaged by his punishments, he was conscious nonetheless. Very careful spells made sure that he was awake and aware of every nuance of the torture he'd been enduring. Sighing, Jareth mused that Dakarai hadn't held up as well as he'd hoped. The man had gone quite insane after only the first few days; disappointing really. Of course he, being King, had the ability to restore sanity; and he had used it over and over again in the last months. It had been such a pleasure to watch the previous Lord's face (the only part Jareth refused to mark…he cherished the varied expressions of pain on that deceitful face) as Kiana had walked in to administer some very…personal punishment. She had brought such imaginative and lovely toys with her! Sarah had been a quiet presence throughout; watching but never saying anything. At the end of every seemingly-endless night, she would cling to him until they got to their chambers, and then she would make feverish love to him.

He turned to regard the…thing hanging on the wall. More like a piece of abstract art that anything approaching human, what was left of Lord Dakarai would make a fine example to any would-be dissenters. "You die at dawn; you will burn. Know that each one of my subjects has been commanded to attend. I dare say your final moments will make quite an impression."

Turning to go, he suddenly laughed; a sound full of cruel amusement. The sound echoed throughout the castle, scaring everything that could hear it. Dakarai, soon to be ex-fae, had thanked the Goblin King for death.