Author's Notes: I usually don't post notes inside a chapter, but thought I'd give a warning. This chapter is crazy-long. I tried to cut it up into two chapters this whole week and just couldn't find a combination that made me happy. I guess it was just meant to be.
1/Kaeleer
Alex sat at the table and tried not to let his temper slip the leash. Despite his best efforts, he was finding it difficult to keep balanced. He supposed it was the Hall, reminding him of the places where he'd spent his whole life in Draega. It was hard to remember that he was in Kaeleer and not Terreille.
Hard not to expect Meredith or her coven bitches to turn up around the next corner.
This morning he'd woken up in the guest bedroom on the verge of the killing edge. Unfamiliar place and all the witches he could sense nearby…it had taken him several minutes to convince himself he wasn't in Draega. Alex tried to forget how terrified he'd been until he'd reached for his cock and confirmed he wore no Ring.
That fear had only fueled his rage. Only after a long, cold shower and an hour or two of pacing did he settle enough to leave the suite. Even then, Alex wasn't sure he'd made the right choice. He was still worried that one wrong move and he might do something he'd regret.
It hadn't helped that Lilith wasn't at breakfast. Hell, he hadn't seen her all morning, and Alex wondered if she'd disappeared during the night. With her Jewels, a Black shield around the Hall wasn't going to stop her. Although, letting the SaDiablos know she wore a Jewel that dark might. So maybe she hadn't left.
Despite their…history together, Alex admitted that he really needed Lilith to stay here. At least for a little while yet. She was the only one who might be able to stop him if he went cold. Might. As she'd pointed out on the trip here, he wore five Jewels. Lilith only wore three.
Three.
Alex nearly dropped his fork in shock when that thought finally registered. Lilith wore three Jewels. How in the name of Hell had he overlooked that before? He'd been so damned focused on what she'd been doing in Hayll that he had completely missed anything else. No doubt Lilith had been glad of it, too. Now he knew why she didn't think anything strange about his Jewels.
Oh she's got some explaining to do, he swore darkly to himself. Alex glanced around the table and saw an equally determined look on Daemon Sadi's face. No doubt thinking of the explanations Lilith owed him about Hayll. Well, I suppose it can wait until after he's gotten the answers he's looking for.
Daemon Sadi wasn't the only one at the table. The Eyrien, Lucivar, and Surreal were there, too. Alex tried out 'father', 'uncle' and 'mother' in his head and couldn't quite manage it. They may be related, but they weren't family to him. Not yet.
No one seemed inclined to talk. Yeah, maybe coming here really wasn't the best idea. Alex sighed and stabbed a forkful of potatoes, trying to shove those thoughts aside. Just then, the door opened.
"Sorry we're late," 'Nelle apologized as she and Lilith crossed the room.
Thank the Darkness. She hadn't left.
"Hope you all saved us something."
"Wouldn't want to risk that you'd raid Mrs. Beale's kitchen if we didn't," Daemon mused drily.
"She told you about that, did she?"
"That is a mild way of putting it. For my sake, witch-child, don't make a habit of doing that."
'Nelle flopped down into a chair near him and started filling her plate. A sheepish look crossed her face, and she didn't say anything to defend herself. Alex admitted he was very curious about this Mrs. Beale. Especially since the deference shown her from everyone- including Daemon Sadi- appeared to be genuine. Maybe he'd ask someone about that later.
For now, he was curious what Lilith would do. Only a few chairs were left, and most of them at his end of the table. A few were further away. But Daemon and Lucivar occupied the other end, and he guessed that she wanted to avoid them after last night. Even so, she wasn't all that eager to sit near him, either.
In the end, she sat next to 'Nelle on the side furthest from him. Alex thought he would only feel somewhat disappointed. He didn't expect that he'd want to haul her over to the chair next to him- far away from the other males at the table. That didn't seem like a normal reaction. After all, she knew the SaDiablos better than she knew him. Why would he see them as some kind of threat?
"The cats didn't come down?" Surreal asked, breaking into his thoughts.
"They're still asleep upstairs," Lilith replied drily. "You'd think they hadn't slept for weeks."
"What about you? Did you sleep well?"
"Missed having breakfast cooked by Mrs. Beale, didn't I?"
Alex kept a sharp eye on Lilith's face. A shadowy flicker in her eyes betrayed that her lighthearted reply didn't really answer the question. She'd had the nightmare again. Now Alex was convinced that she knew about them, and had always known. Did she know that she talked in her sleep, though? He suspected not.
"You also missed practice this morning," Lucivar drawled.
"I can't miss it if no one tells me I have to go."
"Well, if that's the deal, then you'd better believe that tomorrow morning you're to be in the training room in time for practice."
Lilith groaned and pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes. Alex could hear her muttering under her breath. Lucivar appeared amused by her frustration, almost as if he'd been expecting it. A few moments later, she crossed her arms and glared at Daemon.
"You couldn't have let him go back to Ebon Rih before you locked down the Hall, could you?"
The man just stared at her, unimpressed by her ire. So far, Alex was beginning to think that Lilith had been telling him one of her stretched truths when she said she didn't really argue with anyone in his family. Since last night, he'd seen her do little else. And no one seemed to think it strange that a witch wearing Sapphire Jewels was staring daggers at the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan- not to mention the High Lord of Hell.
No one worried about what he might do in response, either. And since he didn't know what to expect, Alex wondered how Daemon Sadi would react. Amusement wasn't at the top of his list.
"Noticed the shield, did you, witchling?"
"How long is that going to stay up, anyway?"
Daemon said nothing; silence was answer enough.
Lilith looked like she might say something else, but thought better of it. Whatever she might have said was mumbled in ominous tones to the half-filled plate in front of her instead. Alex thought he heard something that ended with the word 'males'.
"You missed practice this morning, too, Boyo."
That was directed at him. Alex couldn't think of anything better than Lilith's excuse. But he didn't even have a chance to offer it before Lucivar continued.
"Tomorrow, you'll be there. Six am."
Did it have to be so damned early? Alex did his best not to sigh in resignation. Lilith had warned him not to argue, so he supposed he was stuck doing this.
"Where?"
"I'll show you after we're done here."
Wonderful. Lilith had warned him, hadn't she? Alex supposed he'd find out tomorrow morning just what kind of practice the Eyrien had in mind. At the moment, he couldn't guess. In Hayll, there hadn't been any Eyriens, so all he knew of them was theoretical. And likely untrue, if the last few days had taught him anything.
Conversation dwindled while everyone ate. Alex tried not to stare at Lilith the whole time. For her part, she seemed to be pretending that he wasn't there. Although maybe he wasn't the only one she was ignoring. Lilith was doing a good job pretending Lucivar and Daemon didn't exist, too.
Still, sitting here in silence wasn't doing anyone any good. Alex was almost ready to break it when he heard the sound of paws thudding against the door to the hallway. Surreal and 'Nelle exchanged glances and groaned.
"I thought that Chelsea was taking care of the twins today," Daemon queried.
"She promised for the morning, but no amount of marks I offered would get her to take them for the afternoon."
"Might as well open the door and let them in before they start howling," 'Nelle mused, getting up from the table.
The thumping became more insistent, and was joined by several yips. Once she opened the door, two fluffy brown and white puppies tumbled into the room. They bounced and barked as they followed 'Nelle back to the table. Alex knew immediately what they were. Scelties.
They made a beeline for Lilith first, greeting her with a series of happy yips and howls. She was trying her best not to look amused, but failed miserably. With a sigh, she picked one of them up and gave it a playful squeeze.
"I see you've gotten big enough to wander around the Keep by yourself, haven't you?"
*Except for walkies!*
Alex had taken a drink and nearly choked as the puppy's child-like voice rang in his head. What were walkies? 'Nelle caught his amused look and laughed.
"So Lilith's already taught you how to hear Kindred. That's good news if you're going to stay around here."
"They're Scelties, aren't they," he asked.
"Yes, actually. Did Lilith tell you about them?"
"Didn't have to," Lilith commented drily. "The Prince has already read the first two Shadow and Tracker novels. All I had to do was tell him that they weren't entirely fictional."
"I didn't think Hayll carried any books published in Kaeleer," Daemon Sadi queried. "Unless I'm mistaken."
She refused to look at that end of the table, her attention focused on the pup in her arms. But even from his angle, Alex could see Lilith was silently cursing.
"Some do," she admitted finally. "If you know where to look."
Her eyes slid sideways to 'Nelle, who immediately took over the conversation again. Effectively cutting off any chance Daemon could ask Lilith just where that was.
"Well, it's good that you have some idea what it's like to live with Scelties. We almost always have them here at the Hall."
"So I heard."
"My friend in Scelt sent a few from one of their recent litters for training." She pointed to the puppy in Lilith's arms. "Lord Joach and his sister Lady Kalia."
*Want down now*
The furry Warlord wiggled and squirmed until Lilith set him down on the floor. The puppies toddled over to him next, but didn't immediately paw at him. They stopped a half dozen steps away and looked at him quizzically.
*Papa High Lord?*
Alex tried to ignore the half-muffled snort from 'Nelle. But it was impossible once she burst out into a fit of laughter. She was laughing so hard that she that she held herself around the middle to keep from falling out of her chair. Surreal and Lucivar were struggling valiantly not to join her, neither of them able to look in his direction- or at Daemon.
What in the name of Hell was he supposed to tell the dog? He felt kind of awkward explaining who he was, and was grateful when someone else spoke up to answer for him.
"Little Brother," Daemon said carefully. "The Prince is my son. He's been away for a long time, but now he's going to live with us in the Hall."
*Play?*
"Maybe later. For now, you can play with the Ladies until the Prince is more used to Kindred."
"Did your father just sic two Scelties on us," he heard Lilith whisper to 'Nelle. "That is not fair."
"Would you rather he dragged you into the study for an explanation about Draega?" 'Nelle whispered back.
Lilith considered both options seriously for a moment. Alex almost thought she might choose the study over two Kindred puppies. That said a lot. He wondered just how much of a favor his father had just done for him. And how long it'd last.
Lord Joach and Lady Kalia gave him one last look before they trotted back over to Lilith and 'Nelle.
*Go for walkies!*
"Didn't you just get back?"
*Go for walkies!* they repeated insistently.
Both witches sighed, but it was Lilith who answered them. "We'd be happy to, but we'd have to keep inside."
*Not outside?*
"'Fraid not. Not allowed out today," she glanced at Daemon mischievously. "Unless someone lifts the Black shield around the Hall."
"Not happening, witchling."
Lilith shrugged. "Worth a try. A walk around the Hall it is. Shall we go, 'Nelle?"
"I'm ready."
They both got up from the table, but Daemon stopped them with a look. He was focused on Lilith in particular.
"Lady, you owe me an explanation about Hayll."
"Does it have to be now?"
"I'll be in the study in an hour, and I expect you to be there."
She almost looked as if she'd argue, but gave up with a reluctant nod.
"If you insist."
Alex wondered what she would say when that hour came. He dreaded that conversation almost as much as she did. Maybe more. Depending on what she said, life here could become very unpleasant for him. And that was being optimistic.
2/Kaeleer
Daemon sat at the blackwood desk and waited for Lilith to arrive. She might not be happy to have this conversation, but he was certain that she wouldn't be stubborn enough to disobey him. A lot like Jaenelle Saetien in that respect. Both of them knew just how far they could push him before they yielded.
A knock on the door heralded Lilith's arrival. She slipped inside and crossed the room, steps unhurried. Daemon marked that her expression was already closed as she sank into the chair across from him. And then she just waited.
Glad I didn't take Surreal's bet.
Lilith was going to make him work hard for any information he'd want about what she'd been doing in Hayll. Did she have any idea how much courage he needed to have this conversation? More than Daemon wanted to admit.
Best get started, before she found some way of getting him off subject. If anyone could do it, Lilith could. Jaenelle had taught her well how to work around the SaDiablo males. She wasn't going to do it today if he could help it.
"Now then, witchling, we'll start with something easy. How long have you been sneaking into Hayll?"
"I haven't been sneaking into Hayll," she protested immediately.
"Really? You disappear for weeks at a time, and deliberately avoid mentioning where you're going. Just what would you call that?"
"I'd call it considerate. I was able to take care of things that needed to be done, and none of you lost a night's sleep over it."
Daemon almost exploded, but held a leash on his temper. Barely. When he was sure he wasn't going to snarl at her, he let himself answer.
"Considerate? That isn't being considerate. That's being reckless. What if something had happened to you while you were in Hayll?"
"Nothing is going to happen to me."
"Lilith, I've seen the witches and Warlords that pass through Hell after Meredith and her coven get done with them. Don't lie to me- or to yourself- and say that nothing could happen."
She said nothing, but he saw her temper flare. So he found a weapon he hoped would stifle it.
"Jaenelle Saetien believed you were in danger. She was a nervous wreck for three months while you were gone. Were you being considerate to her?"
If looks could kill, I would be dead.
"That is between me and 'Nelle, High Lord," Lilith replied icily. "I will say one last time that I know the dangers of Hayll, and can defend myself just fine against them."
They were already off-subject, Daemon thought sourly. How did she manage to do that so quickly? She'd already maneuvered them into a pointless argument about whether or not she was safe in Hayll. If he didn't let it go now, he'd never find out what he'd originally asked.
"Forgive me for still not believing you, Lady. But let's get back to the original question. How long have you been going to Hayll? A real answer or I swear we won't be leaving this study all afternoon."
Lilith judged his tone and glanced at the window for a few minutes. Daemon sat back and waited, fingers steepled in front of him patiently. Finally, she relented.
"Since before I met 'Nelle."
"So at least for the past thirty or forty years."
"I'd say probably closer to half a century."
And none of them ever suspected it. Daemon admitted he was just as furious with himself for not noticing as he was with Lilith for going. If he'd pressed just once about where she went when not at the Hall…
Alex would still be in Draega, tortured by that bitch Meredith and her coven.
He couldn't deny that truth, as much as he wanted to deny it. But like it or not, Lilith putting herself in danger was the only reason he was reunited with his son. So he did his best to let the rage go to ask his next question.
"Why, Lilith? What could possibly have interested you in going to Hayll in the first place?"
Lilith toyed with her shirt sleeves, eyes downcast. She hadn't looked up yet when she answered.
"It's not supposed to be that way."
Female was an utterly foreign language when they said things like that. Daemon knew she'd given him an honest answer, but had no idea what it meant.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Hayll. It should be like the other Territories. It was supposed to heal after the Purge."
"What does that have to do with why you went there?"
"I had to see what was causing it."
"Witchling, you didn't have to go there to find out. If that's what you wanted, I could have told you about Meredith and what she's done to the Blood in Hayll."
Those last words ended in a snarl. Daemon had to make an effort to leash his temper. Not that Lilith hadn't seen it before, but dwelling on those thoughts would take their conversation in a direction he wasn't ready to face yet. He still needed answers about her before he asked about his son.
Lilith watched him carefully, almost knowingly. And then she shook her head.
"Meredith's court is a symptom of the problem. It's not the root cause, and I think you know that, too."
Daemon looked away. Oh yes, he knew. He wanted to blame it all on Meredith, but Lilith was right. That court wouldn't have arisen to the power it held today if they'd gotten help when it would have mattered. Help that Daemon knew they desperately needed.
Dena Nehele had come first. The Territory almost hadn't survived healing what Dorothea and Hekatah had done to it. In truth, it really didn't. Fractures in its people had caused a division so strong that it had broken into two Territories in the end. But the schism had been for the best, and now Shalador Nehele and Dena Nehele were thriving.
Askavi and Dhemlan had been worse. Although the Territories had survived in one piece, rebuilding healthy Blood communities had taken centuries. Some places were still healing. Lucivar and his sons had shouldered most of the burden there, providing what help they could. Daemon tried to ignore the flash of shame that he still couldn't bring himself to be in Terreille outside the Keep.
But for all the help Kaeleer gave to Terreille, never once did they offer any of it to Hayll. For his part- and Lucivar's- they just couldn't. Daemon had hoped that once the other Territories had begun healing, they would have helped Hayll. But by that time, Meredith and her coven had already wrested control of Draega and it was too late. And instead of fighting, they'd let the Territory fall.
So if Daemon were honest, Kaeleer was no less responsible for Hayll's miserable fate than Meredith. It left a bitter taste to think that he may have squandered the one opportunity Jaenelle had given them to fix Hayll. He shook himself out of those thoughts, realizing how long Lilith had been waiting for him to answer. From her expression, she knew exactly what he'd been thinking. Mother Night was that disturbing.
"Yes, Lilith, I'll admit you're right. Whatever is wrong with Hayll was already there before Meredith."
"In a nutshell, they forgot how to be Blood. And with no one to teach them, they went back to what they knew. At least that's what I saw."
"Then why go back?"
She didn't answer right away, and turned back to the window. Several minutes passed before he realized she might not answer the question if he didn't push her.
"Witchling- why did you go back after that first time? What was worth the risk?"
When she didn't say anything, Daemon was tempted to give her a warning not to push him. But it wouldn't do him any good. Lilith didn't have any qualms about facing a Warlord Prince's temper. Even his. So he gritted his teeth and waited.
"Do you think they can be Blood again?" she asked suddenly.
Not an idle question. Daemon had wondered the same thing himself over the years, but he didn't think Lilith was really asking for his answer. Seems that Surreal's guess was on target. Mother Night, if Lilith thought she could save Hayll from itself, she was crazier than any of them thought.
"If it's possible, it's something beyond what one person can do."
A sharp look from Lilith told him plainly that she didn't agree.
"I think it depends on who that one person is," she countered.
She almost said more, but caught herself in time. Daemon raised an eyebrow at her.
"I might agree with you, witchling, if I thought that person was Witch. But we weren't talking about Witch going into Hayll- we were talking about you."
He watched her face very carefully. Not a twitch or blink betrayed what she thought of his reply. Lilith's expression was as closed and unreadable as ever. It was galling that she probably learned that stare from him.
3/Kaeleer
Lucivar glanced at his nephew as he led the way to the room they'd be using for practice tomorrow. Drilling was best done out of doors, but with the Black shield up, he'd have to make do with what he had. Right now, though, his thoughts were on the man beside him.
It was still a little unnerving to see Daemon's face and know that it wasn't him. He could tell himself that Saetan and Daemon had looked very similar, too. But not like this. Looking at Alex was like looking at a memory of Daemon at that age.
His eyes lingered on the Ebon-Gray Jewel in Alex's pendant, and considered what it meant that it wasn't even his Rank Jewel. They'd all seen the Ebon-Black Jewel last night. That much power was dangerous, even if he'd lived in Kaeleer. But he hadn't. Alex had spent six hundred years in Hayll with Meredith, forced to serve her coven.
Like he'd served in Prythian's courts. Like Daemon had served in Dorothea's. Lucivar knew what it had done to them. So he knew damn well that hidden beneath the calm mask Alex wore now could be a man as savage as the Sadist. One who commanded Jewels darker than anyone in the family- in the whole Realm.
It was enough to make even him cautious. Until he had a better idea what his nephew might do, probably best to keep things simple.
"Is Lilith always like that," Alex asked him suddenly.
"How do you mean?"
"The arguing. The obstinate attitude. Since I met her, I swear those are the only sides I've seen."
Why does that not surprise me? Lucivar shrugged.
"Oh that. I suppose that's something she learned from the waif."
"Who?"
"Jaenelle Saetien."
"Lilith did mention once that they were very similar in temperament."
That was an understatement. Lilith and Jaenelle could have been twins in his opinion. Lucivar had recognized that from the first day he'd met her, and thanked the Darkness that Daemon had to deal with them more than he did. Jaenelle was enough of a handful whenever she came to visit them in Ebon Rih. The few times they'd both come to visit…Mother Night.
On the other hand, he had to admit that he was glad that the waif had someone like Lilith as a friend. She needed a strong witch who could accept her. Granted, she grew up with strong witches- some of them very similar to the witches her namesake had known long ago.
But even they were wary sometimes. Like when Jaenelle got that scary kind of bitchy look in her eye. Lilith never wavered. Hell's fire, she was just as scary sometimes. Or worse. Shaking himself out of those thoughts, he threw a rueful smile at Alex.
"If you see both of them together and they have a determined look, I have one piece of advice for you."
"What's that?"
"Run away. You do not want to be made a part of whatever scheme they're planning."
He realized his mistake the moment the words were out of his mouth. A chilling look crept into Alex's eyes, not to mention the air around them. For a moment, he'd gotten careless. He hadn't thought of what that might sound like for someone who'd spent his whole life in Hayll. Lucivar stopped walking and faced his nephew.
"I'd better explain," he said. "I'll tell you of a story of what happened to my son, Andulvar, the last time he didn't take my advice. The Ladies were debating how to use Craft to suspend something as large as a house. He made the mistake of suggesting his own theory. Which they decided to try down in Halaway.
"Only the house they chose wasn't abandoned as they had thought, and its tenants were less than pleased about the whole experiment. A point they made very clear when they spoke to the village Queen after the darling witchlings set the house back on its foundation. For a whole year, the three of them weren't allowed into town without an official escort."
Alex considered the story a moment, obviously measuring it against the kind of things he'd seen in Hayll. Gradually, the chilling look faded. He rolled his shoulders and looked uncomfortable.
"I don't mean to react that way. It's just…"
"We understand, Boyo. It's not easy to ignore instincts that kept you alive in a place as dangerous and precarious as Hayll."
Alex said nothing. Lucivar knew better to push open that door without invitation. But it gave his nephew the opportunity to talk if he wanted. Instead, Alex shifted to a different subject as they resumed walking.
"After spending two days listening to Lilith explain Kaeleer to me, I have some questions."
"May the Darkness be merciful if it's really just a few."
"Prince Sadi said as much last night, too. So it's not just me in thinking that there's something off about how she explained things?"
"Of course it's off," Lucivar growled. "Witches speak in female, and it makes no sense to anyone male."
"It wasn't all bad. But the things she was telling me…it's so different from what I knew in Hayll that it's hard not to have questions."
"I should get you a book…"
"This one?" Alex called in a book and showed it to him.
"Yes, that one." Lucivar frowned. "Did Daemon give it to you?"
"No. Lilith gave me a copy when we left Draega."
Lucivar choked back a laugh, thinking he might burst something if he didn't let it out. No wonder the Lady had been spoiling for a fight last night when they arrived. After two days of dealing with a Warlord Prince who read that book, she had to be close to her last nerve by the time she'd gotten to the Keep. He'd be sure not to put them as sparing partners tomorrow morning at practice, or she might work off that frustration by denting Alex's head.
"Well, I don't know whether to admire her patience or question her sanity," he replied at last.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
"You read the book, didn't you?"
"A few chapters. It was a long ride to the Keep from Draega. Honestly, I thought it was a joke at first."
"And she told you it wasn't."
"Yes, although Lilith wasn't all that enthusiastic to admit it. Especially that bit about the first rule."
"Of course not."
"She did say," Alex began with a sharp smile. "That it was thanks to you that SaDiablo males- let me think how she put it- 'embraced that rule with more enthusiasm than the original author intended'."
"No doubt she's right. So I suppose I'm lucky I'll never meet whoever wrote it."
Lucivar saw Alex's steps falter and he looked away suddenly. He wondered what it meant, but didn't have time to ask about it before his nephew switched to a new topic.
"She didn't say much about Courts in the past few days," Alex began slowly. "I've already read up on them myself in Protocol books…"
"I'd wait to ask about Courts until you've read about them in Protocol books from Kaeleer," Lucivar interrupted.
"Those were the books I read. Same merchant was selling them that had the books on Kindred."
And where in the name of Hell are Hayllians in Draega getting Protocol books on the Old Ways? And just who is buying them with Meredith's coven in charge?
"You're sure? Real Protocol books?"
Alex called one in and gave it to him.
"I suppose you can tell me."
He opened the book and flipped the pages, skimming through it to find a few particular passages he knew wouldn't be in the books used by Meredith and her coven. Sure enough, they were there. Somehow, Alex had gotten his hands on the real thing. Lucivar closed the book and handed it back.
"You're right. That's the right one. I just don't see how one could have gotten into Draega…"
Alex didn't provide an answer, turning suddenly evasive. Interesting. Lucivar suspected the boyo knew exactly how those books were getting into Hayll, but was keeping silent for his own reasons. Fine. Let that be something Daemon could worry about.
"That can wait- I'm guessing you had a question?"
"Yeah, I did." Alex took a breath and let it out again before he finally asked it. "Am I going to be expected to serve in one?"
Now there was a daunting question, and one that didn't come as a surprise. Immigration requirements in Kaeleer hadn't changed much in the past eight hundred years. A Warlord Prince like Alex would need to sign a contract for five years to fulfill his requirements. But asking him to serve in a Queen's Court- even though it wasn't the same as serving in Hayll- would be a lethal mistake. Far better if he signed with Daemon.
"You'll have to sign a contract for five years to stay in Kaeleer, but no one is going to put up a fuss if you sign it with the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan. In fact, they'd probably prefer it."
"I would think Queens here would be eager to add a Warlord Prince to their Court."
"Only if he wants to serve, Boyo. That's one of the first things you'd better forget about Hayll. Kaeleer Queens don't want anyone- males especially- serving in their Courts if they're unwilling."
"How do they choose, then?"
Lucivar thought back to Cat and shook his head in amusement when she'd learned the truth about Blood males- Warlord Princes in particular.
"You probably won't understand it right now, but you might as well hear it anyway. They don't choose us; we choose them."
"Choose…them?" Alex echoed slowly.
"It's a feeling. I doubt it's happened to you, but you'll know it when it happens the first time. Something inside tells you the witch belongs to you."
The words hung between them for a moment until they sunk in. His nephew's face went very still, all expression and color draining away.
"Something wrong?"
4/Kaeleer
Alex was doing his best to remain calm, but it felt like the earth had opened up under his feet. Because he did know the feeling Lucivar had just described. It sounded exactly like what he'd felt that night in Draega- for Lilith. Mother Night, he didn't want to be chained to any witch in that way. Not even her.
"Alex?"
He shook himself out of those thoughts. "I'm fine."
"I doubt it. You look like I've asked you to slice open your guts."
Alex might rather do that than admit any interest in serving a witch. But maybe he'd misunderstood what the Eyrien meant, and a few more questions would settle his uneasy feelings.
"Is that feeling ever wrong? Like something that could happen by mistake?"
Lucivar hesitated, almost unwilling to answer the question. He sighed heavily.
"Sometimes, but the only time I saw it was in Terreille a long time ago. All the good Queens had been destroyed and there was no one left but the tainted bitches. Some men gave in and convinced themselves that they felt that bond for them. Twisted them up and destroyed them in the end."
Well, so much for that. Definitely didn't apply in any way to him or to Lilith. Alex wasn't sure if Lucivar could tell how dismayed he was. Nevertheless, he was determined to find some way out of this, and tried again.
"And there's no other meaning behind a feeling like that?"
"Well, it can mean two things."
"What else could it mean?"
"If we're talking strictly of Queens, it usually has to do with serving in her Court. There's a connection, which can be personal and friendly, but not always. It depends on the depth of the bond. You'll get a better idea if you read more about it that book Lilith gave you. It'll tell you more than the general Protocol books will. If you ask him, Daemon can point out where to find those sections."
Yeah, that was sounding like a better idea all the time. He must not have read far enough to get to that part yet. Definitely wish he had before this conversation. Alex was feeling woefully unprepared to deal with what Lucivar was telling him. He dreaded the answer to his next question, but asked anyway.
"And if we're not talking strictly of Queens?"
"It's possible to get that kind of feeling about any witch, but that connection is always personal. Very personal."
"When you say personal…"
"Usually a lover."
Oh that was ten times worse.
Alex was sure he could learn to ignore the pull with Lilith if it was just about serving a Queen. He'd done without that his whole life just fine. But if that feeling had anything to do with wanting a lover…he wasn't sure he could close that box now that it had been opened.
He had to know if it could get worse yet.
"Can it ever be both?"
Lucivar gave him a measured look, and Alex worried that he'd given too much away with his questions. He'd wanted to keep this a hypothetical conversation as long as possible. Hopefully indefinitely. In the end, his uncle let whatever suspicions he had go.
"That's probably a better conversation to have with Daemon, but the short answer is yes, it's possible."
Yep, definitely could be worse. And he couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that in his case, it would be both. Alex held out for one last hope, and plunged into his final question.
"This feeling you describe- can it ever be broken?"
He'd pushed too hard. The look in Lucivar's eyes was more than a little suspicious now. He stopped walking again.
"Is there some reason for these questions, Prince? You seem to be very focused- more focused than I would expect- in the kinds of things you're asking."
"From what you said, it sounds like this is a natural part of being a Warlord Prince. I want to know as much as I can about it before it catches me off guard."
Too late for that, Alex admitted to himself. But he kept silent about that tiny white lie. Although, depending on Lucivar's answer, it may not be so tiny. The Eyrien wasn't quite convinced by it, anyway. Alex held his breath, expecting him to pry again. The sharp look faded and Lucivar shrugged.
"Yes, I suppose that might not end well."
"So that's why I'm asking now."
"I've known a few Princes who've had to break a bond with a Queen. It's no easy thing to do, and it will destroy a piece of you if you try. So I'd think of that as a last resort."
Okay then. Alex did not want to hear that answer at all. After what Meredith and her bitches had taken from him, he didn't have much left. Still wasn't sure he had anything left. So for now, he'd just have to ignore whatever this was and hope it went away.
"Something to think about I guess," he said at last.
5/Kaeleer
Without asking outright Lucivar couldn't prove it, but he was pretty certain that it was something that Alex was already thinking about. If it were anyone else, he'd just ask. But Alex wore the Ebon-Black and Lucivar didn't feel like making Marian a widow. So he'd tell Daemon about this conversation and let him ask.
He re-examined the scenes at breakfast and lunch in light of what he knew now. His nephew's behavior was starting to make a lot more sense. They'd all assumed that he was edgy because he wasn't ready to let down his guard from being in Hayll. A reasonable assumption to make. Lucivar expected it would take time before they would all feel comfortable around one another. Likely years.
But that edginess had been something else, too. All throughout breakfast, he'd seen Alex glancing at the door. Lucivar realized now that he hadn't been keeping an eye on a potential attack. Alex had been waiting for Lilith to arrive. She never did, and so the boyo hadn't been able to focus on anything else.
If nothing else, they should have realized what was happening by the midday meal. When Lilith had finally arrived, some of the tension had run out of him. Until she sat down. Lucivar had caught the almost hostile look that had flashed in Alex's eyes when she chose a seat that wasn't next to him. Baffling at the time, but after those questions…perfectly obvious.
So the boyo was interested in Lady Lilith. That could prove deadly if they ignored it for too long, even if that's what Alex was hoping to do. Lucivar understood why he might want to. If all he'd known was Meredith and her coven, that was enough to send any man running from witches. But running wasn't going to work for very long.
Maybe Daemon could have a chat about this without making it too obvious. Subtlety was his specialty, not Lucivar's. And it would go a long way to make Alex think twice about ignoring what he was feeling for Lilith. Didn't mean he would do anything about it, but at least he'd understand the consequences.
As for Lilith…at least she wasn't going to make it worse while Alex decided what he wanted. After several disastrous offers when she first visited the Hall, everyone got the message that she was not interested in having a lover. Or male attention in general for that matter.
In that respect, she reminded Lucivar of Karla, who'd been Queen of Glacia long ago. He often suspected- but never dared ask- that she'd been hurt by someone. It was the only reason he could give for a witch to react the way she did. Irrelevant in any case. Reason or not, Lilith was effective in ending male attention. So yeah, no chance of anyone getting themselves killed that way.
Lucivar wondered if the Lady was aware of Alex's interest. That story about why it had taken three months for them to start the journey to Kaeleer felt a little hollow. He believed Alex had hedged about whether he could survive in Kaeleer after living in Draega his whole life. But there had to be more to it than just that. Part of it could be that the two of them were dancing around whatever this was- or wasn't- between them.
It was going to be hell around here until they sorted it out. Lucivar was determined not to hang around until they did, and was asking Daemon to change the front door to a Red lock as soon as possible. That would still keep Lilith in, but at least the rest of them could escape.
He hadn't realized just how long he'd been thinking until Alex spoke.
"About this Mrs. Beale…just how scary is this witch? I kept hearing her name come up during meals today, and I'm getting the impression that she's not someone I want to cross."
Thank the Darkness, a safe topic. Lucivar scratched his jaw absently while he thought of a way to answer the boyo's question.
"She's gotten on in years, so she's not quite as intimidating as she used to be, but you're right. You do not want to cross her if you intend to stay in the Hall."
"What will she do?"
"I prefer not to think about it. I've known a lot of witches in my time, but the sight of her with that meat cleaver when she's riled is not an image that I take lightly. I don't care that she wears Yellow Jewels- that's one scary lady."
"Yellow…you said Yellow Jewels. That's it?"
"Yep."
"But, you all wear…"
"Boyo, I know what I wear. I still don't cross Mrs. Beale about her kitchen."
He could see the consternated frown on Alex's face, and shrugged.
"If you don't believe me, go ahead and see for yourself. If you want to truly rile her up, snitch some of the food she's set aside for the evening meal. That will give you a pretty good idea why we all leave the kitchen domain alone."
"I think I'll take your word on it."
Lucivar grinned as they finally reached their destination.
"Wise decision. Now, I hope you were paying attention to how we got here, because I expect to see you in this room tomorrow morning ready for practice."
6/Kaeleer
"Did you have any other questions?" Lilith asked after a few minutes had passed.
So much for that subject. Daemon adjusted the direction of conversation, hoping to circle back again.
"Last night you mentioned that you had 'other interests' in Hayll. I want to know what those are."
Lilith thought for a moment. He'd get a truthful answer, but obviously she was deciding what version of it she was going to offer.
"There are Queens in Draega who can overthrow Meredith with enough guidance and time- if she doesn't find them before they're ready."
An image flashed in his mind's eye, and Daemon recalled what he'd seen when executing Lord Henkel. A Queen standing next to Lilith. What were the names?
"You wouldn't mean Queen Collette and Queen Tarine, would you, witchling?"
Lilith froze, and Daemon caught a brief flash of alarm before she could hide it from him. So his guess must have been on target. She ran her finger along the arm of the chair and stared at the desk for a long while.
"You've been back to Hell since I left," she said at last. "I'd hoped to have delivered the Prince and gone before that happened."
"Well, you didn't."
"There's only one person who could have told you those names."
"Yes, I met Warlord Henkel. Do you have any idea what he wanted to do to you, witchling?"
"What he tried to do Tarine's cousin. What he almost did to the tavern girl in Collette's district. What I know he succeeded in doing in other places. Yes, High Lord, I know. That's why I turned him over to you."
"You wrote the note," he said as soon as his voice worked again.
She nodded, but said nothing. A terrifying suspicion gripped him suddenly. Appeared out of nowhere, they said. Demons don't just appear at the Keep.
"How did Warlord Henkel get to the Keep in Hell, Lilith?" Daemon kept his words deadly soft.
"I bought him there," she confessed reluctantly.
"You…"
"I had to. I knew what he'd done- we couldn't just finish the kill. Even you must admit that would've been too easy a death for someone like him. And I definitely couldn't risk that he'd stay in Draega to prey on Collette and her people. It was the only option."
A headache began to throb in his temples, and Daemon was sorely tempted to call in something that could fuzz his nerves. Bad enough Lilith was wandering around Hayll, but it seemed she had no qualms about Hell, either. He found he couldn't ask her if she had ever been further than the Keep. Today was not the day to have that discussion.
"We'll discuss Warlord Henkel another day."
"If you wish, High Lord."
That'll be the day, he thought darkly.
"I'm more interested in the Queens right now. What exactly have you been doing, Lilith?"
"They needed to learn Protocol. That's what they were missing in the beginning that started all this. So I'm giving it back to them."
Interesting. Lilith had learned Protocol no question, but he was curious how she thought she knew enough to be teaching it to people who had no foundation at all. Especially when it came to Court structure. The Lady had never served in one in Kaeleer.
"So you think you know Protocol well enough to instruct them, do you?"
"I don't think I do- I know it."
"By whose standards, witchling?"
She went completely still and stared at him- or rather, through him. Daemon felt a chill whisper down his spine as the look in her eyes changed. They were golden mirrors, like early morning sunlight reflecting on a lake. And the expression behind them was deeper than any body of water. As if something out of the Abyss was looking at him.
"Test me if you like, Prince."
Mother Night, it was in her voice, too.
Then she lowered her lashes, and the look was gone. Daemon tried not to let it show just how badly he was shaken. If he didn't know better, he would swear that she had been someone- or something- else in that moment. That was not something he was prepared to think about right now. Not until he'd spoken with Tersa.
"Why don't we save that for another day as well."
"As you like."
"So is that it- you teach them Protocol and hope to stay ahead of Meredith until they're ready to rise up against her?"
"It takes a little more than hope to avoid that bitch."
Daemon winced at the knife-edge in her voice.
"Just how much more?"
Lilith shrugged. "A little Craft and a spell here and there to mask a caste that would attract her attention. Maybe a few others to obscure a few blocks of the city from the pet Queens nearby."
Oh he didn't like the sound of that at all. Unless he'd misunderstood, Lilith was teaching the Queens how to disguise their caste. He didn't even want to know what she meant by that second part. Neither of those spells was standard in Craft lessons- even among the Black Widows. So just where did Lilith learn them?
"And is that something Tersa taught you how to do?"
"Well, I…"
"Because it's certainly not Craft that Jaenelle Saetien knows how to do." I hope. "If you didn't learn it from her, that would leave Tersa. Unless you have someone else that you left out of your story yesterday."
"I do a lot of reading…at the Keep."
"You mean in the library archives at the Keep."
"Yes."
"I see. And you've learned those spells from books."
"Among others."
Daemon was going to have a serious chat with the Keep's librarian as soon as he could sort out this mess. It was more than obvious that Lilith let loose among the books and parchments there had terrifying consequences. Who knew what other spells she'd unearthed in her visits. Or how many of them she may have passed on to his darling daughter. Daemon wasn't sure which of those thoughts was worse.
Now he understood what it must have been like for Saetan. He'd heard of the times his father had pinned the Keep's librarian to a wall, wanting to know just what volume and passage Jaenelle had looked up during her last visit. Apparently, it hadn't been enough for him to warn Geoffrey that anything Jaenelle Saetien researched should be passed on to him. He should have made it clear that anything her coven researched was something he wanted to know.
An error I will definitely correct as soon as possible.
Lilith was leaning back in her chair, a bemused expression on her face.
"I think I've given you quite the shock for the day, haven't I?"
"Not a shock, but a reminder of how terrifying witches like you can be."
The amusement in her eyes died, replaced once more by an expressionless mask. Daemon cursed himself for whatever he'd said to make her react that way. He'd just lost a perfect opportunity to catch her when she was unguarded.
So now what? Daemon still had questions about Hayll and what she was doing there. But he had time to wait for a better opportunity. The Black shield on the Hall would make sure of that. Maybe now was the time to ask a few questions about his son.
"I think that's enough questions about what you've been up to- for today."
"Thank the Darkness," she muttered, starting to rise. "That means I can go, right?"
"Sit, witchling."
"Damn. What now?"
"I have some questions about Meredith's Court."
"You mean questions about the Prince." She sank into the chair and blew out a breath. "I hope you realize there's only so much I can tell you."
"I'm sure there are things you don't know and can't tell me."
"There are things I can't tell you, High Lord," Lilith said with a shake of her head. "But that doesn't mean I don't know. I'm just not the right person to be giving the answers."
Well, that told him a lot already. Daemon steadied himself until he thought he could ask the first question with an even voice.
"Did they ring him?"
"'Nelle asked me that, too. I'll give you the same answer. There's no other way they could have controlled him if they hadn't." She seemed troubled. "Even with it…well…I'm sure you can imagine what a Warlord Prince like him can do in spite of the Ring."
Daemon could do more than imagine. He could simply replay all the twisted games he'd played while Dorothea had controlled him. Did Lilith know that, or was her comment only an educated guess? Either way, it was an uncomfortable thought.
"And now I'm guessing that Ring…"
"Has been dealt with," Lilith finished quietly.
"Dealt with how exactly?"
"Destroyed. Which is as much as anyone needs to hear."
And all she was going to tell him, no matter how often he questioned her about it. He'd have to bring it up with Alex to find out more. Not a thrilling prospect.
"In any case, your biggest worry is far less tangible, High Lord. The Prince is going to need you- all of you- to reconcile what he is with what he wants to be."
Daemon feared what she would tell him, but he asked Lilith what needed to be asked.
"And what is he, Lady?"
Lilith's eyes drifted upwards for a second or two before she focused her attention back on him. Whatever she was about to say, Daemon knew he wasn't going to like it.
"Capable of doing anything if provoked. Or even if not. A description I'm guessing you can recognize."
"If you were thinking of the High Lord, it's a little off."
"Maybe for the High Lord," she agreed and paused a breath. "But not if I meant to describe the Sadist."
An ominous hiss escaped through his teeth. That was not a facet of himself that most people dared talk about- and definitely not to him. Daemon felt his temper shift, as if she'd called the Sadist to the surface by name. Well, Lilith was about to experience what it was like to dance with him.
"And what would you know of him?"
Not even the slightest waver in her gaze, merely an appreciative look as she measured what to say next. The witch certainly had a spine of steel. Her words were careful, but brutally honest.
"First I'll tell you what the people of Hayll know of him. Meredith and her coven paint a very vivid picture of the Warlord Prince known as the Sadist- and what he used to do to witches before the Purge. They cite him as the reason why males need to be controlled with the Ring. Stories circulating among the Blood say Queens and witches died in those days because males like him weren't leashed tightly enough. They say that witches were too afraid to use the Ring as much as they should have, and their weakness was why they died."
Daemon's temper nearly slipped the leash, and he knew his eyes were glazed. Lilith didn't move or say anything. She sat in the chair and waited for the moment to pass. It didn't. Her serenity was the only reason the room was in one piece. Despite that, his reply vibrated with the effort to contain that violence.
"Alex has heard those stories."
It was not a question, but it demanded an answer. Lilith nodded slowly.
"Meredith made sure of that. What better way to ensure that he'd never go looking in your direction for help, even if he did find out who he really was?"
Mother Night, Lilith was right. That realization only added more fuel to his temper, and he damned Meredith and her coven to Hell or worse.
"Does he know?"
"Yes."
"Of course he does."
"But I made sure he also heard what I know."
"And what is that?" he demanded softly.
"That the Blood needed the Sadist- still need him, in fact. And that he only gave them what they deserved. Like Meredith's bitches deserve what the Prince has done to them. Because sometimes, we have to be willing to do the unthinkable in the service of justice."
"You told him that."
"Yes, I did. Because it's true."
Mother Night and may the Darkness be merciful. Lilith was serious. More than serious- she looked downright feral at the moment. The Sadist slipped away, leaving Daemon feeling very unsettled.
What are you, Lilith, he wondered. Because in moments like these, Daemon truly didn't know. And the more he was learning about her, the more he questioned if he wanted to know.
"And Alex has heard you say this," Daemon repeated.
"Yes, High Lord, he has."
He would have to sit down with his son and talk about that conversation. If she'd used that tone of voice, there's no telling what Alex might think of him. Or what he thought of Lilith, for that matter.