The door closed behind him softly then he opened his inner barrios to find her. Opened them and quickly searched the town house. Found her rather quickly, but wanted to give his father and brother time to talk. Time to settle things before he threw Jaenelle into the family's game of snip and snarl. Slowly made his way to the opposite side of the house. Sight shielded because he didn't want to run into Mrs. Beal or Helen again. Didn't want them reminding him that it was their job to see that the family was fed and that he was not to be carrying trays of food up to his brother when that was Holt's job. Wasn't to be giving them messages because then Beal had nothing to do. And he wasn't to be in the kitchen , period.

No he didn't want to be having that conversation again so he would stay sight shielded and stay out of their way. Plus he wouldn't have to explain to the boyos or the coven where he was going, or why he just had to see Jaenelle . Or explain anything about Daemon. Wouldn't have to explain why his little beast was wearing Daemon's pendent and was shielded in the black. No the sight shield was just a matter of practicing basic survival skills.

Jaenelle sat in the guest room that Karla blatantly assigned to her. The room that was the furthest from Daemon. Furthest from all the male tempers that were still flaring . But yet still in the house so that she would be close if by some slim chance Daemon did want to speak to her.

She was sitting in the window seat watching the soft almost majestic snow fall. watch but not really watching. No she was more like thinking on how to fix everything. How to give her daughter the life that she deserved when she wasn't sure if Daemon would accept her. If he would forgive what had been done to him. If he would tolerate being in the same part of the realm just for the child's sake. Then again what if he wanted the child. Would cherish and protect his daughter, but would turn on her. Turn because it was her body that had tormented him. No not just her body but witch's body. Witch's hooves, her claws, her ever so sharp teeth. Tears fell before she could stop them.

Lucivar stood in the doorway and watched for a moment. He should throttle her because she hadn't noticed him. Should throw her in a lake because she wasn't even remotely protected while she is so …..

" if your going to choose to cry your self out fine but you better have a damn good reason that you don't have someone protecting your right now."

She spun away from the window. " and who would you choose to protect me prince?" witch's midnight voice hissed.

" there are two furry faced warlord princes here. Pick one." he growled right back.

Her lips twisted into a snarl. Knew he wouldn't back down. Saw in his eye that he didn't come here just to snarl at her for not having an escort right next to her. Knowing that she locked eyes with him and looked as deeply as she could into his gold eyes, " why are you here Lucivar?"

" your consort wishes to speak to you and since he can't come to you he asked if I could bring you to him."

" consort…. I don't…."

" lifetime contract , Lady. You should do better to remember that. Another thing you should remember is that your body is on a permanent loan, and Daemon is the one that owns that body.

" but……. but… " she was clearly sputtering. How had she forgotten that she promised the body to Daemon. Even before he had came to Kaeleer the body was his…. But now… " Lucivar I can't ….. he …. He won't be able….."

" Lady , my brother didn't like that you took that little gold ring off your finger. And all things considered I think it's his decision …. Don't you?"

Her eyes widened as tear began to fill them once more. " did he read the note."

"Psh, you expect Daemon to read something after you spike his temper enough where he sends me to find you. You should know better then that Cat .. Really you should."

" but… he needs time….."

He didn't care what she was going to say . Didn't care if she was witch child or not. He just very carefully picked her up dragged her to the shower and let the almost warm spray fall on her. " now as I was saying get your little ass over to your husband's room and work this out."

" I need…"

" now." he glared at her. Watched her scurry out of the room. Oh he had been snarly when Marian was carrying his son, but right now he had permission to be more than that with his sister. He had permission because not only had she gotten pregnant , but had managed to scare his brother. Had managed to scare the sadist into submission, and that was reason enough to get snarly with her for a time.

Jaenelle sloshed through that house leaving a trail of water in her wake. She had to pass through the sitting room where the coven was playing a round of cradle. Both Karla and Morgahnn glanced up at her. One of the other girls giggled when she passed. When she was out of the room she stopped and almost turned back because she heard the roars of laughter. Heard the boyos joining in. wanted to scold them . Knew this was part of the healing process. Had to be because Lucivar had been a little too happy about getting her wet.

After climbing the stairs that led to the family wing Jaenelle came to Daemon's door a bit too fast. Wanted to linger out side of it a bit longer. Wanted to but Beal was coming up carrying a sliver tray with hold following behind carrying a second.

Both men stopped. " Lady."

Her heart was heavy as she sighed, " Beal may I take one of those please."

" I have orders….."

" you don't work here Beal . It's alright if the staff takes some time off now and again."

" we'll just set theses inside Lady. You really shouldn't be lifting anything so heavy. But I think…." he floated a small lidded pitcher to her. " yes I think you could carry that. After all it was made for you."

Puzzled she took the lid off and smelled. Wonderful Karla had made tea for her. Just wonderful. " thank you Beal."

The trays were set inside and both men parted before Jaenelle dared to enter. She waited so that if Daemon began to snarl Beal wouldn't hear. But more importantly if Daemon shuddered at seeing her….. She sighed. No …. no one needed to see that. Mother night she didn't want to see that .

She gave the door a token tap before entering. Waited only a moment then slid into the room. Her nose smelled the food before her eyes saw the trays sitting next to the door on the side table. Wondered why they were sitting there instead of where Daemon could reach them.

Her sapphire eyes closed as she steadied herself. Decided to keep this formal. Decided she had no right to speak to him as anything else. Or at least not yet. Thought if he wasn't leery of her, he would be pissed out the child. " Prince?"

He tried to sit up. Tried to hold on to the anger of her giving him her ring. Couldn't when his skin felt so tight and his stomach felt like he had knifes cutting through him. His voice cracked as he spoke, " your not doing this."

" I'm not…" she looked at him. Saw he was in pain. Knew he needed to eat and rest. couldn't stand watching him struggle to sit up. Her thought of falling on her sword disappeared. He needed her to be all the healer that she was. Needed her to be all the queen that he needed. More than that he needed her to be snarly because he would never listen other wise. She gave her best impression of a cats snarl, " you are not allowed to move, prince. You have too much healing going on under the skin."

He glared at her. Knew he wasn't talking to his wife, but this wasn't Witch either. No he was how ever talking to the realms best healer. He stopped moving and snarled back. " if your not going to keep this ring on your finger I don't want you as my healer either."

Her temper rose. " I can't be your wife after….."

" Damn it Jaenelle it wasn't your fault. I knew that the first night when you drew blood." he sighed he needed to calm himself and yelling when it hurt to swallow wasn't going to help anything right now.

She saw him wince. Heard his voice falter. Was by his side before he could say another word. It was her fault he was hurt so it was her duty to make sure he got better. Ever so softly she placed her finger to his lip. In a soft soothing whisper said, " shhh, your not going to feel better if you start getting all riled up."

" I wouldn't get all riled up if you would stop trying to see if you could make my heart stop."

Her head tilted as she gave a slight frown, " I thought you liked it when I made your heart stop?"

Daemon looked in to her beautiful sapphire eyes. Wanted to curse because he couldn't stay mad at her when she was this close. Wanted to but… " I like to have some warning before you do." his stomach growled . He silently cursed the timing.

" Oh, you haven't ate have you?" she lifted the trays and sat them on the bed.

" you shouldn't be…."

" basic craft Daemon. that's all I did basic craft."

He tried to sit up once more as he growled, " floating things across the room is not basic craft."

Phantom hands held him, " consider this prince, I could call every book off its shelf in papa's study before I had my jewels. " she paused watched him absorb that bit of information. Then added too sweetly , " now lay back. I don't want you moving around."

His eyes glanced at the trays. Memories bubbled close to the surface. She had played nice with him like this a few times. Made him think she was herself again. Made him think everything was alright. Laughed when he tried to touch the tray. Laughed harder when he screaming out in pain. No he would lay still let her play what ever little game she was thinking of, but would not touch the damn tray.

She watched him shiver. Picked up on some of his thoughts. Made him look her in the eyes. " the tonic hasn't worn off yet has it?"

Very carefully he asked, " what tonic?"

Jaenelle gave a little dismissive wave, " don't matter it should wear off soon. Just watch what you think. It might rub papa the wrong way and I'll be getting that look . I really hate that look when I know I deserve it."

Daemon gave up. Watch his thoughts what the hell did that mean? either his sweet loving wife hadn't completely returned yet or … may the darkness be merciful… because she had and now couldn't stand the sight of him…. Either way he didn't like it.

Not liking his last thought and sure if Lucivar heard it he would drag her out to the coldest lake and leave her there. She gave a sigh. " you need to eat."

" you told me not to move. I'm not moving." he crossed his arms over his chest. It also gave him a reason not to have his fingers anywhere near the tray when he could smell all the delicious food.

" your right I did. But…." she stopped saw the extra pillows. Decided he could be propped up on those, and then she could feed him. Yes stuffing him so he couldn't think would be a wonderful Idea…. But how to get him propped up … she shifted so she could look at the door to the sitting room, then to the hallway door. " did you ask for Lucivar and papa to stay close?"

" no. but I didn't think either of them would go very far. Why?"

Well that was just fine… if neither her papa nor her brother trusted her to be near Daemon then…. No anger wouldn't solve anything …. But….she spoke loud enough so she knew her voice carried out of the room , " if your going to listen so close to the damn door you might as well be in the room."

Saetan didn't enter , Lucivar did. " I was…." he couldn't think of a reason for him to be right outside the door.

" uh huh… anyways will you help Daemon sit up enough to eat but not sit too far up please." she paused found a commutation thread * be very careful with him. There's a lot of ….. Things healing….*

* I know cat. I checked what I could. I know.* he didn't touch his brother but used craft to help him up. Helped take the weight off his body so that he was just propped up enough to be able to eat if some one fed him , but not enough to where he could feed him self with out wearing most of it.

Hopping to be let off the hook for eves dropping he asked, ' do you need anything else lady?"

She eyes the trays. Noticed only one set of silverware. No matter she could use Daemon's if she felt up to taking a small bite of something. Or rather if the darling baby let her take a smell bite of something. " no .. I don't think….." she was picking up Daemon's worry. Knew what he was thinking even if he wasn't broadcasting that thought. " you'll be having dinner with papa?"

He was planning on having dinner with is brother … but…. " I'll be in the sitting room … in case…." he gave Daemon a all to knowing look…. " you need anything cat."

" then no I don't think we'll need anything for a few moments at least."