Saetan took a few deep long breaths to chain his temper. An Unknown black widow was seemingly doing nothing except taking up space. The far away looks in her golden eyes said differently. That fact neither Karla or Gabrielle had asked her to leave told him enough to concentrate on something else.

Daemon. The reason to be in here at all. The reason two of his children were tucked into his own bed. It was the one thing he needed to concentrate on and the one person who he would help regardless if he wanted it or not.

He let himself take in what he had refused to see before now. Sweat beaded on Daemon's face. A face that was too thin to be healthy. Eyes that were sunken in. Bruised flesh hung just beneath them. His eyes were closed yet his throat was working convulsively. Screams fighting to get out. Nightmares creating a hellish dreamscape.

Being a black widow he knew what those dreamscapes could do to a person. Hell he knew what he would hope they could do to a deserving person. It was not a fait he wanted for his son. And damn it he was not going to let Daemon do this to himself.

Slowly he took a seat near his son. He could have came to this side of the bed in a few long strides… it would have snapped his own self control… if Daemon didn't show signs of improvement it still might.

Very gently he brought the back of his hand slowly to Daemon's face. With the gentleness of touching a newborn child he traced his son's jaw line.

Slowly and with a great deal of effort Daemon managed to open his dull golden eyes up just barely enough to see who was now touching him.

For a brief moment Saetan didn't dare breath. Why the hell wasn't his son… his mirror… being held down in the healing webs? Why the hell were the healers allowing him to be awake knowing he was in this much pain? Damn them! If he had the time to do it would have asked … but right now he had other things to deal with. "Daemon."

So many emotions slammed into him … fear… pain… grief… rage… distrust. His father was dead. Killed by his own hands. A good illusion spell could fool the eye… pain and wanting the man to really be here could do more. A few jagged small rapid breaths and a rage filled whisper came from his lips, "Who… are… you?"

Well that was a kick in the balls. A twitch of his lips and he leaned as close to Daemon as he dared, "Now who do you think I am, Namesake."

Namesake. One word, one name that only his father called him and only family would know about. Puzzled his forced out one more word, "Father?"

"Yes namesake." That was almost too easy… It felt wrong yet he had to try. "Stop fighting with the healers, namesake."

Yes that sounded like a good idea. Completion web? He wouldn't have… the black widows around him… he had no idea if they could be trusted… should be trusted… healers ? Ha! They could be here to rip the rest of him apart… hell they looked ready to. Panic hit him hard. His father was alive… maybe… just maybe, "Jae…nel…le?"

No lie. It would break the trust he was trying so hard to give his son… "Resting. I promise Namesake she'll come see you soon."

Alive? She was alive? He shuddered. If he fought with the healers or her papa she would kill him. Shit when she found out what he had allowed to happen… death might only be kindness to the explosion that would happen. Then again… if she really was alive she would have been here as a healer. "Liar."

He was not going to debate this. No his son needed to be wrapped in a healing web and before the lady woke up and found him not already pleasantly asleep. His son would growl at him later but right now… one drop of black raw power and the sleep web snapped into place.

Being the High Lord he wanted to know what was unseen. Being a black widow and Daemon's father he was more than capable. Slowly, carefully he reached out where Daemon's outer barriers should be and found them open... Not open as in Daemon had let him do this but open as in something had pushed Daemon to the point of wanting to do harm to himself… the inner barriers were ripped open from inside.

What the hell had the bitch told him? Forget about what she herself had done… What had he done to himself? Mother night Jaenelle was going to kill him. That is after the child was born and after she scolded him for several months… and after He, Lucivar, Karla and everyone else that Daemon had scared the shit out of got done kicking his ass from one end of Kealeer to the other… Jaenelle was actually going to murder him… splatter him over the walls… and that would be if she held on to a morsel of her own temper.

Would he have to tell her about this? A smart man wouldn't admit to knowing anything about it. And as long as no else said anything… he wouldn't have to lie to her. Yes that sounded much better.

That figured out he wanted to know what ever these ladies knew and then show at least one of them the Item Lucivar needed them to see.

"You two…" he let his bone melting glare land on both Karla and Gabrielle, "I need to speak to you privately."

Karla gave a half shrug almost knowing what he wanted to talk about. "Morghann Would you mind?"

"Not at all Lady."

No one spoke, nor thought of speaking till the black shield were in place. Black locks on the door. The furniture pushed up against the walls leaving a bare circle in the center of the room. Then the High Lord growled, "What in the hall was he told for him to do that to himself?"

Karla made herself comfortable on a chair of air, "Would you like to start there or would you like to know what I found out first?"

The air crackled with ice braking free. His glare only deepened.

"Oh fine. You're no fun when you're pissed off anyways." Karla crossed her arms in mock pouting,"He was drugged then covered in blood. I can only presume that it was a mix of those who were at the party. From there he would have asked for some kind of proof that you and the Lady were …well…" she stopped when the ice threatened to give her a chill.

"What proof was he given?"

Reasonable question. So why did she not want to answer it. "A piece of Jaenelle's necklace." No use telling him about the scraps of cloth that the Hearth Witch had mentioned.

"High Lord, it would be wise for us to return to Prince Sadi's healing." Gabrielle step forward. Damn Karla for needing to piss this male off. Well she had an answer for that as well. It was telling Lucivar that the spiky haired witch needed a refresher with the skills that he thought she needed. Yes that would serve her.

He didn't like it but… "Prince Yaslana requested you to look at this…" the wooden item appeared in the room.

"Well Hell… what is it?" Karla popped up from her seat. Gabrielle looked just as puzzled.

"I was hoping you would know." Saetan sighed. Then let his shield dissolve.

If the room had been cold before he wasn't sure what it was now but he knew the deepest lakes in Glacia were warmer than this in the deepest part of winter.

The girls walked slowly around the … Table? … Object once…

… Cracking ice covered every surface…

… A second time…

…Thunder whipped around the room… Lighting streaked the walls… Glass shattered.

As the High Lord of hell he was intrigued. As a man he was terrified. As Daemon's Father… he was going to have a long look at this object and see how he could use it in the finale execution.

By the third full time round the … thing… Karla finally spoke. It was in her queens command kind of voice. If it had came from Witch someone would be splattered on the walls… "High Lord, take this far away from the Lady and do not tell her about it until just before Witch speaks to the lying piece of gutter trash."

"Lady?"

"Damn High Lord are you so blinded you forget how she is if a stranger is raped! What hell is she going to do when she finds out how that little bitch ended up with the Prince's seed?"

The High Lord froze. If from fear or with rage it didn't matter. Karla had hinted before… still he didn't dare believe it. Didn't want to believe it.

"Karla, we need to tend…"

"Damn it. I know that! Only problem is when he's well enough will he let us complete the healing or …" Karla stopped. Her face becoming ashen. "Mother night. Uncle Saetan you have to stop him. He'll try to break the link. You know he will. If he thinks… you can't let him think…"

The mental leaps she was making was terrifying. Trying to keep up with her impossible. Link what link? She couldn't mean… oh but she did… in a soothing voice or as much as a soothing voice that he could force himself to make, "Sweetheart I promise you Daemon won't try to…"

"Damn it if some bitch not only had proof that you bedded her and was carrying your seed while you were married what would you do. Allow yourself to be healed knowing your marriage would be over. Knowing your queen would dismiss you… or would you break the link to save yourself the pain?"

The High Lord hissed out a reminder and a warning, "You forget one thing Lady. Jaenelle isn't someone that takes things at face value. And Daemon has a way of dealing with those who threaten his marriage. Or his queen."

"And if he does?"

"Dent his head. Or try scolding that works so well for the Lady." No use trying to explain that Jaenelle would have taken precautions when she repaired his chalice. _

Releasing the shields and the lock Saetan held on to the urge to wince. Jaenelle was going to throw a fit when she seen this room. Hell the whole staff was going to have a fit over it.

Before returning to Daemon Gabrielle asked, "High Lord, if you wouldn't mind but would you explain things to Tersa? I think it best to hear it from you than… well who ever might tell her."

Mother night! Didn't he have enough pissed off black widows to deal with? No… the Lady was right perhaps he could… Damn it … there was nothing he could do without fighting her to a standstill. He let out a soft growl. This was not going to be fun…

Damn that little bitch for starting this. Damn her to the bowls of hell. And damn her for making him explain this to Tersa.