It was Mid day when Saetan entered the Keep in Kealeer but closer to evening meal before he was allowed to find out what had pissed off his wife… and Draca… his only warning was vague. "Keep your temper High lord, and you might learn more." Of course that had came from Geoffrey. The fact Draca wouldn't comment on the matter and the deep cold she was holding in her ancient dragon eyes worried him.

He leaned heavy on his black wood cane more to look feeble then actually needing it. With a soft push the door to the front parlor opened with ease. More puzzlement and questions entered his mind.

A young girl with waist length hair stood staring out over the black mountain. By her frame and lack of being aware of him suggested she was still a youth maybe near womanhood but not yet there.

Softly he took one small step into the room then she spoke in a soft heartbroken voice, "Have you come to kill now, Prince?"

Prince? So she knew his caste, not surprising…yet…her voice held a tear and defiance. She … if from Kealeer… would get along well with those who were friends of the coven. Saetan used that thought to form the smile that would be needed to get him thru this… whatever this was… "My dear I'm quite old and don't take the life of young…" there he stopped and took in her caste and choked out, "…Queens."

The young girl spun around worried that the Prince needed help. She didn't think about being fearful of the unknown male. Didn't think to take in his long dark nails or the bright red jewel that hung around his neck. Or the various other things she should have.

But the High Lord took in far too much. He took in the ugly black bruise covering her eye. The scratches and red blotches that came from a male's hand. The dried blood on the slip of her bottom lip. As her hand held out a glass of water he saw the mark on her wrist from being grabbed. The nail on that hand all chipped and brittle.

Cold bitter ice warmed his veins. It had been years since he felt this clear … this cold… this… Geoffrey's warning held him back "Keep your temper High lord, and you might learn more." It took all his will to hold the slippery chain to his temper. And every bit of training not to growl. "My darling would you care to tell me what happen?"

Her worried looked snapped to full of puzzlement. Meekly she asked, "I don't understand?" locking eyes with him and see… knowing… he didn't need as much care as she thought but feeling that it was only safe ground she added, "Do you need me to fetch help or … um… something?"

Don't know the proper way to deal with an enraged warlord prince do you darling? But you know that you should do something. What kind of half ass backwards training did you have? The problem with that question he already knew the damn answer. Fighting his rage and not wanting to freighted the poor girl he let a single long black tinted nail trace her face from the bruise to her lip.

"Oh…" she jumped back now a wear of her marked then hunched her shoulder, "it's not important."

Saetan narrowed his eyes, "Not important." Prince SaDiablo Growled, "Not Important." Then the High Priest, The High Lord Of Hell Exploded, "NOT IMPORTANT! I decide what it is important Lady!"

Then she snapped. It was one thing to be yelled at home but she was not going to be yelled at over something this male had no business yelling at her over. Oh no she was not. "First off, my name is Katarina. Not Lady, Got it." She poked him in the chest. A move that should have left her bleeding. Then continued, "And I didn't come here to be yelled at over something that is none of your damn business."

The High lord glared but didn't say anything. He had learned with the coven when pushed they push back but it also meant he would hear something closer to the truth."

"I came here to complete a promise to Prince Sadi. Not one to you, got that to you walking piece of rotted flesh. And I did that! I did." She stared pacing needing room to move. Room to make all the gestures that she needed, "I rode that stubborn good for nothing horse here even if the damn thing wouldn't listen to me on what direction to take. Or give a damn if I wanted to ride longer!"

A horse that didn't listen to its rider. Interesting. The possibility if kindred being in Terrielle even more so. Saetan found himself a nice comfy chair to sit in as this young girl, no not girl, as Lady Katrina continued to lecture him. Still it was hard to hold the smile back. Even harder not to bundle her you and march her right back to the Hall so that another Lady there could find out what happen before the horse ride across the territories.

"Still I got here and I explained it all to Lady Silvia. I fulfilled my promise so unless you're here to kill me let me go. I didn't ask for help and I sure the hell didn't ask to stay."

Ah hell he had missed something. Oh well someone listing at the door could tell him what it was later."You may not have asked for help but lady Draca doesn't just help those unless there is a reason."

Katrina still looked riled up but was willing to listen, "Well I did need something to wear."

And he would look at whatever was left of what she had on soon enough. "Since you don't have much experience with warlord princes I won't fault you. However, Darling you are a Queen and since you didn't offer your name, calling you Lady was out of respect. Now as of the other… Since I am Prince Sadi's father you can explain why in the name of darkness you think that I should kill you?"

All the anger, all of the defiance disappeared. Fright took over and the tears started, "I swear I thought … I thought… I didn't know."

Saetan shifted over to the couch and wrapped an arm around her. Since she didn't fight he pulled her close so her tears could fall. Nothing made sense anyways… or at least nothing a male would ever be able to understand.

Her tears fell and he probed for injuries that the eye couldn't see. Nothing more than bruises and small scraps. Yet he felt a web… a small spell? A shield maybe? Whatever it was Daemon had defiantly had created it. Whatever it was, was draining her jewels but harming … the spell… Jaenelle had a similar spell surrounding her unborn child. Now he understood why she thought she would be killed.

"Sweetheart, why don't we go see Daemon. Then we can sort everything else out."

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and sniffled," I would like that." Katarina wiped her eyed and softly added, "Will his wife be mad?"

Jaenelle? Well considering the age… then again Witch? Ah hell why did have to ask? "Only one way to find out."