It had taken Daemon nearly an hour to drink the broth of the stew, the glass of healing brew that Karla had made and the bowl of some soft cream dessert Mrs. Beal had thought he would like. It wasn't really enough to satisfy ones hunger but it had been more then he had eaten in days. Feeling more steady he remembered his brother promised him something if he ate, and he wanted to see if his brother was just bribing him or if he had been sincere, " Lucivar?"

All too knowing Lucivar dryly said," Beal is bringing up a pitcher of coffee. Then you are going to sleep."

" that's not what I was going to say." yes it was but he wasn't ready to admit it.

" then what were you going to say?" he was going to say bastard thought twice because something was telling him if he pushed his brother even the tiniest bit he would give up.

" I'm I really in Glaica?"

" yes Daemon , you are really in Glaica and our queen is at the Hall with the High Lord." or at least he thought he was. Had thought till he felt that dark power nearing the town house. Until he felt the Jaenelle's mood through is ring. Watched Daemon's eyes widened. And then cursed under his breath.

He was just getting Daemon settled. Getting him to relax and both his father and Witch were going to throw him into a panic. But only he knew how Daemon would react if he thought he was trapped. Saw it in his eyes now. Knew he could stop this because his brother was too weak to fight him. The sleep web wrapped tight and fast. Then he threw up an ebon gray shield around the room. Placed warning shields just down the hall , then he called in his war blade..

Jaenelle stood outside of Karla's residence, twisting her hands together. Knew she wouldn't be welcome , but she needed to see Daemon. Needed to see with her own eyes that he was going to heal. Needed to know that she hadn't caused permanent damage to his body.

Karla nearly blew the doors off the hinges as she stormed out and saw her queen standing at the foot of the stairs looking up at her. " you shouldn't be here Lady."

Jaenelle bit her lip. She had never been told to leave before. Didn't want to be told now. She thought for a brief moment….She could call in her black jewels that she had hidden. Could storm past her sister and do what she came here to do. Decided not to. Humbly said, " Karla , I need to see him."

" you can see when he wishes to see you." she snapped.

" I deserve that." she muttered. Took a deep breath and continued, " Karla there are things you can't heal. Wounds if left untreated will kill him. Will become infected and will kill him. Please, let me do this then I'll leave." tears started to fill her eyes as her heart broke. She hadn't had control over her body as she tortured him. As she made him scream in agony but she had control now and she wanted to help him. Needed to make sure he would heal.

" what wounds?" Karla asked suspiciously

"I'm witch I know how to sight shield things so only I know they are there." her midnight voice answered.

" you want to help Daemon fine, Lady. But you have to get past Lucivar to do it."

She had expected Karla's temper. Had expected the rage from all of the boyos even if they were keeping a tight leash on it. But couldn't imagine explaining anything to Lucivar. Not when the one thing he feared most was loosing his brother.

Saetan felt the shields. Could have let Jaenelle walk through them and into Lucivar's rage. Decided he would help his daughter because if he didn't he would loose a son. He slowly stepped through the door. Was glad he was shield in the black. Was glad because the war blade hissed as it slid down the shield. " Lucivar put that away." he said almost dismissively.

" Like hell I am. He won't trust you being here and he sure the hell won't trust her. So Why am I going to put my weapon away."

Saetan froze. Retraced his son's words in his mind. " and why the hell won't he trust me?" he asked almost too calmly. In too much of a deep coo.

" you tell me…" Lucivar glared into those eyes . Knew he was walking a very dangerous cliff. Didn't matter this needed to be said, " so did actually call of the death warrant you signed on him or just put it away till you thought you would need it?"

It had been years since he had written out that order. Had written it because he had been sure Daemon would have killed witch. Recanted when Jaenelle had started to ask questions about him. When he had finally gotten to see his son for the first time. Resented it being brought up now. Hissing he asked, " and who told you about that."

" my brother did." damn you. Your not even going to deny it. he shifted made sure his father would have to go through him to get near Daemon. Made sure that he knew it.

" I wrote it because I thought he would have killed Jaenelle. Recanted when I realized that he too served her. And no prince I have no intention of loosing my son now."

He lowered his war blade slightly. " he would have never hurt her then. Damn it he made me promise him if he ever did that I would rip his throat out. Tried to get me to do just that today."

He had seen Jaenelle. Talked to her. Hadn't seen the tiniest of wounds. " why."

" hell I don't know. Until I got his to drink the brew Karla sent up here he kept swearing it was his fault. Kept saying that she was collecting a debt. Damn it I had to make him recite blood law just do get him to relax. Almost made him recite the whole book on protocol because he's so shaky."

" did he tell you what happen?"

" no. after he said you wrote his death warrant I quite asking."

And he was glad for that. He could see his son was still bordering pissed. Could see this eyrien warrior trying so very hard to protect his very weak brother." let Jaenelle take a look …"

" she's not getting near him. I almost had him content to go to sleep and the two of you nearly sent him into a panic just because you were here."

Trying to reason with him Saetan cooed, " Lucivar if she don't see him right now he will become demon dead. Do you really want that?"

Lucivar turned watched fever sweat bead on his brother's face. Knew there was an infection somewhere. " you know I don't . but I'm not leaving."

" no ones asking you to." he knew Daemon would protect Lucivar. Had watched as his son had done just that when Jaenelle had purged the realm. Watched as his children's relationship had faltered. Never thought Lucivar would try to shield his brother from being hurt and he should have.

" Lower the shield , prince. The queen is with child and doesn't need to be putting more stress on herself…"

" she caused most of this stress." he snorted

" then she already has." he paused then added, " no prince she was just the tool. I swear by my jewels she did not create this."

Lucivar paced. Knew his father was right. Knew because he could feel Jaenelle's distress. Could feel the way her heart was breaking. Knew how deeply she wished Daemon hadn't gotten hurt. He lowered the shields and sat back down next to his brother and placed his hand on his chest. " Karla can't find the source of the infection."

" no but I can." Jaenelle slowly stepped in the room. Her voice trembled as she spoke. " May I have a moment alone with him?"

Lucivar looked at her. Saw the redness around her eyes, a testament of the tears that she had been shedding. Glanced at his brother remembered him quivering because he felt her near. His loyalty should be to his queen , always to his queen. His heart wouldn't let him. " when hell freezes over." he couldn't keep the growl from his voice, or the cold from his eyes.

Her eyes shifted. Then glazed with tears. She fought to hold them back. Witch fought not to cry. " this won't be pretty prince."

" healing is seldom pretty , Lady." Lucivar answered as coolly as he could.

She took a step closer, " high lord would you boil some water, please. And bring in an ice pack. "

" Ice I can understand , but boiling water?" Lucivar looked confused.

" his ring will need cleaned. And as the water cools I can use it to cleans the wound. Lucivar he'll need you when he wakes. What I did …" her voice hitched, " was painful to him. Healing it will be worse…. I think."

" you think… you think…. Mother night Jaenelle, what did you do that your not even sure…."

" I couldn't stop my self Lucivar. Couldn't control any thing I did. I could watch but I couldn't stop it. I tried , I did. But every time that I gained just a little control …." sobs now ran down her face. " his screams , they were worse after I lost that control. "

Lucivar was holding her before he remembered getting up. Before he remembered he was suppose to be upset with her. " you were caught in a web , Cat. You of all people she know what webs can do."

She pulled away and wiped her face. " I didn't feel it. I should have and I didn't." then her voice changed , " but I know what wrapped the web around me and I will settle that debt later."

" no sweetheart I will settle the debt , and you can make sure my brother can enjoy his child." his eyes softened as he looked down into those sapphire eyes. As he took in her soft scent…. As he…. Puzzled he looked down at her thought for a moment he felt the ebon black power. But it was her twilights dawn around her neck.

" will he want it? I asked papa but…."

He dismissed the thought, " cat he'll want the child, but…." he's scared. For the first time he could remember his brother was scared of his wife.

" not me?" her bottom lip quivered as she already knew the answer.

" he'll need time to get over this. You scared him. No … his queen scared him. As his queen you'll have to find a way to mend this."

She looked hopeful, " have any suggestions."

" I do . First since you caused this I think you can be the one to tend to him while he heals. " meaning she should fluff pillows he didn't want fluffed, add covers because he looked cold. Little bit of punishment for not remembering the first to laws of protocol ,"That is after you get him to say that he can tolerate you being around him. And second if he fusses don't growl, snarl or do any thing to turn his advances. I don't think he'll respond well for a long while to that. And cat, know this: if you ever cause my brother harm I swear you'll see first hand how vicious I can be."

" I wouldn't expect any less, prince. Your temper has always been an asset as will it continue to be." she paused, " does this mean I'm not going to end up in a cold lake." she looked hopeful. Almost too hopeful.

Lucivar laughed, " my darling little cat I wouldn't dream of getting you wet….at Least not Until the baby is born then plan on spending a lot of time in a cold lake. Or sitting in the High lords study going over the finer points of webs. I hear there are some that even Witch can't detect."

Saetan can back at that moment. " everything alright children?" he had heard some of it . Enough to know Lucivar would forgive her. Enough to know his mirror may not.

" yes papa. Lucivar and I were just talking."

" uh huh. I brought a bowel of Ice at Karla's request along with the boiling water. Is there anything else you'll need?"

She called in a gold ball. " will you draw him a bath and put this in it. Then I need him in a deep sleep web."

" how deep lady?" Saetan crooned

" this is going to hurt papa . It would be best if he sleeps through the worse of it."