Somewhere from the abyss he could feel her. Sense her. Almost hear her. So close. She was so close to him. His father… the bastard… had thought to trap him with a sleep web. Only his father could have at this level of the black. That had given him hope. Felling her took that hope and clogged his heart.

He could stay here wrapped in the healing webs. Cocooned in safety and warmth. Blissfully numb to the pain he knew his body was surly in…

… or…

… He could rise from the abyss and face her… his queen… his love… his wife. If she was alive his marriage would be over. His life with here torn away. Hell he might not even be allowed to do more than see her from afar. The thought alone would kill him.

Rising would mean pain. He could handle the pain for the chance to know his fate. The healers would kill him if he destroyed their webs. They would understand. They would have to. No use wasting their talents on one who wasn't worth saving… one who didn't want to be saved.

Janelle lightly caressed Daemon's face. He looked in pain. In torment. Even now he was beautiful and she would tear apart who had does this to her love. Who ever had done this to a member of her family. A member of her court. But anger had no use right now. He wouldn't understand her anger was with that he had gotten hurt and because of something he had done… or hadn't done.

A pain filled moan rose out of him. Jaenelle's forehead scrunched up. He was in a healing sleep, he was not suppose to be make pain filled moaning sounds.

"Daemon?" one word filled with love, puzzlement and a silent command.

Mother night he hurt. What had they done taken out his inners and then put them back. On second thought he didn't want to know.

"Prince?" puzzlement changed to annoyed bordering pissed off.

Forcing his lungs to work was work. One word came out part whine part muffled scream, "Lady?" he had lost the right to call her anything else.

"You stupid, snarly male. If…" Jaenelle stopped herself from scolding. Damn him, scolding was the least she wanted to do." Since you're hurt I'll give you a choice."

Choice?"Lady."

'You can either help your healers and heal every little bruise or…" she leaned closer to whisper, "…or I am going to have you going to every school play that I can find."

That didn't sound like much of a threat. Then again how many ways could he say it was wonderful without shuddering. He almost moaned. If he would have the lady would just become more annoyed with him. Yet he needed to know, "our… mar…i…age…"

Jaenelle snapped up right and glared at the two males that should have warned her. She would deal with them later. Right now Daemon wouldn't be content till he had her answer. "Our marriage is not in question sweetheart. Now let the healers help you."

Sweet darkness thank you.

He felt his lung work without him making then work. Felt the webs wrapping around him. Just enough time to say, " They… gv… me..prf."

They what? She would have puzzled over it longer if something hadn't just appeared in her hand. Small. Cold. metallic. The smell of blood sizzled in the air. Her blood not Daemon's. "High Lord, Prince Yaslana would mind joining me in the sitting room?"

The sitting room. Shit. Ah hell at least it couldn't get any worse.