"Lucivar put me down." "I have my own room you know."

"The High Lord said put you in here and that is where I'm going to put you. Now do want to choose where you'll sit you do you want me to?"

Jaenelle glared at him thru tiny slits, "If I wasn't so tired right now I would kick your ass."

Lucivar laughed half heartedly, "If you weren't carrying my future niece or nephew I might let you."

Jaenelle's eyes got misty, "Do you think Daemon will be happy?"

Lucivar closed his arms around his sister and answered her with every ounce of truth that he could find, "Kat once you explain that you're not mad at him for … the bitch… you just try and stop him from fussing."

She sniffled then wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Gathering her emotions and her thoughts she looked surprisingly at the spider now resting n Lucivar's shoulder. "Oh I almost forgot."

"Weepy ladies often forget about the fangs that watch over them."

Lucivar froze then cursed. He wasn't afraid of Jaenelle's friends but hell any one with sense would be scared to death about having a black widow spider rest on their shoulder. And a queen at that. "Lady, I mean no disrespect but is there someplace that you would be more comfortable?"

A moment later the small gold spider was resting on the high back chair that Jaenelle was now placed in.

"Lucivar if papa wants both of us to stay in here… would he mind if you used his shower?"

His golden eyes narrowed, this wasn't just idle conversation he knew it by the way she wouldn't look at him."Why?"

"Well between the scent of rage burned into your clothes and the stench of sweat… well you showering would be better then explaining to Helen why my last meal is on…"

"Alright… I'll use father's damn shower but if you leave this room I swear I will bend you over my knee."

Jaenelle rolled her eyes and chose not to remind him about placing a shield around the room if really thought she would leave.

Lucivar turned the spray on and cursed. He hadn't thought about it when he was told to come in here. Really hadn't thought about anything but now realized why he was in his father's room… and resented it. He was an eyrien warlord prince. He did not need emotional handling. Damn it if he needed that kind of handling he would get it by using his fist and war blade on the little bitch.

The thought of why he needed to give his anger a target nearly took him off his feet…

Daemon…

His brother had been nearly torn apart. Nearly died before he was found. He had tried to break the connection between his Self and body. He was walking roads to close that mirrored a life they had both walked away from. A life the he the ebon gray warlord prince had been the final shove into the twisted kingdom.

Not again. Not this time. He was not going to let his brother believe that lie. It didn't matter what it would take his brother was not going to do this.

Saetan made his way to his suite. First he would check on his children who really didn't need him to look in on them then he would do whatever Karla needed him to do.

Lucivar was just stepping out of his bathroom with a towel around his waist and another laid across his shoulder. For a moment their eyes locked.

"I don't need to be pampered."

Uh ha. "I don't recall saying anything… however if you would like to go to your room then I suggest you take that up with your wife."

Lucivar arrowed his eyes a bit more. A shove regardless from who would send him to the killing edge… he could feel it. Being in a room with a female other than his queen… he shuddered. For the safety of his wife he would remain here at least till his temper was well leashed.

Saetan turned his attention to his daughter who was no longer wearing her spider-silk dress but was now wearing one of his white silk shirts and a pair of his socks. "Witch-child?"

"Lucivar told me not to leave and I thought…" she voice trailed off. She was more than tired and Daemon was finally home.

With a sigh Saetan spoke, "Alright both of you in bed." He could hear the argument that was on Lucivar's tongue and ended it before it could start * Your sister will sleep better if you stayed near her right now.*

He didn't like it. But for Jaenelle he would keep his thoughts to himself. Besides the only way he could leave this room would be if his blasted father let him out. No holding his sister while she slept sounded like a good idea.

With his father glaring at him Lucivar settled himself in the large bed. If not for the bone melting glare he would have sat holding his sister. His father had other ideas. Pillowing his arms under his head and laying on his stomach so his wings could dry. With a dry look he asked "Happy"

His queen snuggling next to him was his answer.

With both of children tucked in… at least for the moment… Saetan pulled a chair next to the bed and called in two thin plain covered books and his half moon glasses. Watching Lucivar's glare change from grumpy to bewildered was almost worth the price. Clearing his throat he began to read the words that were once read to a very young eyrien boy.

Jaenelle was asleep before the first book was finished. Lucivar closed his eyes a short time later. His father's voice was a soothing drone. Listing to him read a story in the eyrien language… he could almost remember some of his childhood.

With the last page read Saetan slowly got up to leave. He had done what he could to ease two of his children now he had to tend to the other… he only prayed that he was being asked because he was a Black widow and not because he was the High Lord.

"Father?" Lucivar said the one word fighting a veil of sleep.

"You should be sleeping."

And that only confirmed his father… the bastard… had used a sleep web. "In the sitting…" Lucivar let out a yawn "…room. Karla needs to see it." Closing his eyes he continued "The queen… needs… "

Whatever it was he would take care of and if the queen needed to know about it or not he would decide after he figured out what his son was trying to tell him.

Saetan closed the door to the sitting room quietly behind him then turned to face the room. There in the center was … he narrowed his eyes into tiny slits. Whatever it was Lucivar had placed several shields around it. Breaking those shield brought out every savage thought to his temper. Ice flowed freely in his veins.

Daemon's screams vibrated his bones. Rage was burnt into the wood. Blood stained into the pours.

Ice coated the walls in response. Another minute and whatever this was would be turned into ash.

"Karla needs to see it." Words his son… no not his son… the Queens first escort and the Master of the Guards' second in command … had told him. Words that were the only reason that he leashed his temper.

Three layers of black and he vanished the item. Tomorrow his son would tell him what it was, but for right now Karla was going to explain everything else.

The High Lord entered the Consorts room directly from the hallway. Three ladies he recognized. All three queens all three healers only two were black widows. Two other ladies he hadn't seen before. One a hearth witch the other a black widow and watching him with polite interests.

"Ladies." Despite trying to leash his temper ice still sounded in his words.

Karla turned slightly to see him. Her hands disappearing into Daemon's flesh. "Well hell if I would have known you wanted him dead I wouldn't have bothered trying to heal him."

It was enough to knock him off his feet. Anger had no use in a healing room. His even less. "My apologies lady. I hadn't realized my temper wasn't coated enough."

"Now you do." Karla turned her back once again to him, "however if you would like to help… take a seat and explain to you son to stop trying to become demon dead."