Author's Note: So sorry for the delay in posting. Not only was this chapter really long, but spending time with guests shifted my focus away from this for an extra week. Hope this will be worth the wait.

1/Kaeleer

Lilith woke early, despite how late they'd gone to bed last night. Technically this morning. All in all, she'd gotten less than a handful of hours' sleep. Less than that if she accounted for the nightmares. They hadn't subsided yet; were getting worse, actually. And given the looks Haedyn and Taenne threw at her a moment ago, they had noticed something was bothering her.

Smart enough not to say anything about it, though, she warned inwardly.

Better that they didn't, or she might ask about where they'd been last night. As if she hadn't known. Lilith noticed they were conspicuously absent from the sitting room all evening. With a shake of her head, she took another sip of tea and tried to convince herself that she was awake. Today was going to be a long day. The first of many long days ahead.

A knock at her door interrupted Lilith's musings. She probed the hall and tried not to groan. 'Nelle. Might as well get this over with.

"Come in."

The door opened, and her friend slipped inside. She looked about as tired as Lilith felt. Calling in another cup, she poured out some tea and held it out invitingly.

"I know you usually prefer coffee, but this is all I have."

'Nelle collapsed into a chair at the small dining table and yawned.

"I'll take it, no matter what it is."

After she took a few swallows, Lilith dared ask her friend a question.

"Why are you up this early? Lucivar's not due back today, or so Titian promised us last night. There's no need to suffer like this."

"I could say the same for you," 'Nelle replied with a sharp look. "But I see you're awake."

"No sense letting myself get used to sleeping in."

The look on 'Nelle's face suggested she wasn't quite convinced, but continued with her own agenda in spite of that fact.

"Lilith, we need to talk about Alex."

"I agree."

"You do," the witch said, surprised.

"Six Queens is a lot for him to tolerate, so there needs to be a discussion how to make it easiest for the Prince to handle it."

A blink. Two. Then 'Nelle set down her cup and shook her head.

"That's not what I meant."

Yeah I thought not. Lilith was in no mood to discuss Claudia's letter right now, though. Ensuring Alex wouldn't obliterate the coven was her top priority today, and that was going to be enough to keep them both busy.

"'Nelle, we don't have time for the letter. Not today."

"I believe you said when we had a minute alone."

"Whatever Claudia said can wait."

"I disagree."

"Does it say things in Hayll are going to collapse tomorrow if I don't get back there?"

"Well, no…" her friend stumbled. "But…"

"Then it can wait."

The notorious SaDiablo stubbornness rose instantly, written all over 'Nelle's disgruntled frown. Lilith had dealt with Warlord Princes who didn't have half the stubbornness of the witch sitting across from her. But then 'Nelle did something uncharacteristic for her, and swallowed her argument.

"It will wait," she conceded quietly. "But not for long."

Lilith didn't miss the ominous warning beneath those words. Claudia's letter must have said more than that she'd been murdered to panic 'Nelle this much. How much more? She'd said the Hayllian witches had been from Meredith's court. If they'd been in one of her closer circles, they might have been in the audience room when Lilith had gotten caught. No telling what they may have said to Claudia about that.

There's no help for it; I'll have to get that letter and find out what she told 'Nelle.

As Lilith resigned herself to that plan, she continued to drink her tea. When it was gone, she set the empty cup back in its saucer and leaned back in her chair.

"So what do you propose we do about the Prince?"

A pause. 'Nelle cocked her head to the side and scrunched up her face.

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Since day one, it's been 'the Prince'. Mother Night, Lilith, you spent three months with my brother in Hayll. Why don't you call him Alex?"

Now that was a question she had hoped to avoid. 'Nelle was too clever not to have recognized that it was deliberate. And likely so had the rest of the SaDiablos. Lilith tried to play it off, anyway.

"It's no different from calling your father the High Lord," she pointed out. "I do that all the time and you don't find it strange."

"But that's different."

"No, it's not," Lilith argued defensively.

"You don't call the boyos 'Prince' or 'Warlord'- unless you're feeling annoyed with them."

"Then perhaps it's because he excels at it more than they do."

"No," 'Nelle said with a shake of her head. "No, I'm not buying that."

"Damn the Darkness- why not?"

"Because I know you."

"There's no deep, dark reason, 'Nelle. It's a personality quirk, so let's just leave it at that and focus, shall we?"

They both knew it was a lie. Hell's fire, Lilith needed to get out of the Hall. Every day she stayed saw one step closer to the whole thing coming unraveled. But it would be a week- or even two- before she'd get an opportunity to slip away. Too much time. 'Nelle would keep pushing at this until she had her answers. And those answers would tear everything apart.

Unless she forgot to ask them.

Lilith didn't like using Craft on her friend, but it was looking like the only way to save what was left of what had always been between them. First, she'd have to find out what 'Nelle knew. Once she had that, she could weave something to deal with it. If only there was another way.

She sighed.

"Please, 'Nelle, can we concentrate on one puzzle at a time?"

"If you insist," the witch replied stiffly.

"Wonderful," Lilith muttered, pretending to ignore her pique. "I think one on one would be best. And maybe starting with someone easy…"

"Meaning not Charlotte or Maureen."

"Or Adrienne, either. You read my mind."

"Some times it's easier than others."

"'Nelle…" she pleaded. "Please let it go."

2/Kaeleer

Well, that was a dead giveaway something was wrong. Lilith never sounded desperate like that. About anything.

'Nelle studied her friend carefully. She looked tired- more than tired. A question to the cats would confirm it, but she was willing to bet Lilith had nightmares again last night. Were they nightmares of what happened to her in Draega? Was Alex in them? If only Lilith had let her ask about Claudia's letter.

Maybe she won't because she knows what you're going to ask, a voice whispered in her head. What if her answer is what you've been dreading to hear? Maybe she's doing you a favor by setting that moment aside as long as she can.

'Nelle didn't know what to do. She wanted to help her friend, but she didn't know how to do it without making things worse with her brother. Ignoring a problem wasn't going to make it go away, so the longer it took to find out what really happened in Draega, the more damage it might do to Lilith in the meantime.

What she really needed was to talk this out with someone. Maybe then she could figure this out.

Usually, she'd go to her mother about stuff like this. But 'Nelle had a feeling this time she couldn't count on her to keep a confidence. Not about something like this. Her mother- not to mention Papa- were both very severe when it came to sex stuff. Especially bad sex stuff. So if Surreal even suspected something may have happened, 'Nelle knew she'd be hauled in front of her Papa to explain it. As would Lilith and Alex.

No, definitely not a good idea. It'd have to be someone else.

"'Nelle?"

She jumped, startled out of her thoughts. "What?"

"I'm asking you to let this all go. Please."

"All right," 'Nelle agreed reluctantly. "But I wish you'd talk to me."

"Later. There will be time later."

"That will have to do, I suppose. Anyway, I guess meeting Heather first would be the safest."

"You think she'd be willing to go for it?"

"Maybe. Couldn't hurt to ask." 'Nelle considered for a minute. "She'll want at least Gregory to be there, though. And I doubt he'd let her meet Alex without him even if she did agree to go alone."

"I wouldn't have it otherwise."

"Would it be just them?"

"As much as that sounds tempting…no. You and I better be there, too"

"When?"

"Hell if I know. I suppose it depends when the coven wakes up."

"I could peek in the dining room and see if anyone's in there."

Lilith tucked her feet under her and rested her chin on one hand, propped up by the arm of the chair. For a minute, she said nothing, just staring at the empty teapot.

"Lilith?"

She stirred, suddenly focused again.

"Apparently, we're not the only ones who seem ill-disposed to sleeping in. Heather and Gregory are exploring the gardens already."

"You can't be serious."

"You know Heather."

"Yeah…yeah I do. Which one are they in now?"

"Yours, actually."

'Nelle set down her cup and started to rise.

"I guess I can go break the news to her if you want."

"Actually…" Lilith hesitated. "I was hoping to be the one to do it."

"And you want me to broach the subject with Alex, I'm guessing. Am I right?"

"That you would be."

She didn't ask why her friend wanted to do it this way. She wanted to. Badly. But she didn't ask.

"Well, I suppose I can find out if he's a morning person or not, then," she replied drily.

With that, she headed for the door. Lilith followed with her eyes, but didn't move from the chair. A small smile played on her lips. 'Nelle noticed that it didn't quite reach her eyes, though.

"I wish you luck, either way, Sister."

"Why do I have the feeling you're going to owe me big for this?"

"Because it's probably true."

Well wasn't that just great? 'Nelle blew out a breath and crossed her arms.

"Just how grumpy do you expect him to be?"

Shadows in Lilith's eyes. There and gone.

"If he's not awake- don't wake him."

"Is that it? All the help you can give me?"

"'Fraid so."

"Well okay, then. I'll send you a message when I know what time to meet."

"Okay."

Nothing more to say, so 'Nelle left the suite and weighed her options about what to do with her brother. If he was awake, she had no idea where to start looking for him. Doubtful that he'd be in the dining room this morning with all the Queens in the Hall. A psychic message would be the quickest way. But if he wasn't up yet…'Nelle didn't take Lilith's warning lightly.

Just as she started walking off to the sitting room, she heard padded footsteps behind her. 'Nelle turned on her heel to find Taenne in the hallway.

"What got you out of bed so early?"

*Know where to find the High Lord's cub*

Used to Kindred terms as she was, she still couldn't resist an inward chuckle. High Lord's cub indeed. Alex would never forgive her if she spread that around the Hall.

Focus. The cat was offering to help her.

"That would be great, since Lilith was hoping I'd find him."

*In the garden*

Her amusement fled as quickly as it had come. Alex in the garden. Possibly with Heather and Gregory. What could he be doing there? 'Nelle tried to stay calm. If Lilith had known something was wrong, she would have said so when she located them. And maybe Taenne didn't mean the same garden. After all, the Hall had several.

"Which garden?"

*Sad place with the stone people*

Papa's garden. An interesting choice. People rarely went in there, and usually not for very long. Even she found it somewhat uncomfortable at times.

'Nelle hadn't understood what was so different about that garden when she'd been young. But when she'd become an adult, her mother had explained it to her as best she could. About the Lady in the Misty Place, who'd once walked the Realm and ruled Kaeleer.

About Witch.

Jaenelle Angelline. She'd been the love of Daemon Sadi's life. When she died, the pain had nearly destroyed him. That pain lingered still in that garden. Oh yes, her mother told her everything.

Needless to say, she was surprised Alex had chosen to visit that garden.

"You're sure"

*Yes*

"Well I suppose I ought to find out what he's doing in there."

The cat rubbed against her leg and stalked away. Just before he was out of sight, Taenne turned back to stare at her.

*Is dangerous- not good to have so many Queens here*

"I know."

*Needed more training*

That explained where he and Haedyn disappeared off to all day yesterday. 'Nelle wished she had time to find out more about this 'training' her brother was getting, but she had to find him before the aura in the garden drove him out.

"I'll work it out for him- I promise."

*The Lady should help*

"Lilith?" 'Nelle asked in surprise at Taenne's tone. Was that…criticism? "She is helping. She sent me off to talk to him right now while she finds Heather."

*Needs the Lady*

"Did my brother say that?"

Taenne's tail twitched as he closed his eyes slowly. But the cat didn't answer. She waited a full minute, which was as long as she dared.

"Taenne?"

*Remember- needs the Lady*

And then he turned away. No explanation. Nothing.

Well isn't that maddeningly unhelpful?

Time was passing. 'Nelle restarted her journey, taking every shortcut she could think of to get her to the garden fast. When she finally got there, she took a deep breath and poked her head inside.

"Heya, is anyone here?"

"Depends who's asking," came a disgruntled reply.

"It's just me, I swear."

"Oh all right then."

Since that was as much an invitation as she was going to get, 'Nelle stepped down into the garden. At first she didn't see Alex anywhere. But then she spotted him near the male statue. 'Nelle sided up to him, keeping a respectful distance at the same time. With all the witches in the Hall, there was no telling his mood today.

Silence stretched between them, and a cursory look at him suggested he'd slept as poorly as Lilith had.

"I'm sorry," she offered in apology. It was the first thing that came to mind.

"What for?"

"I really had no idea they'd all show up at once when I wrote to our friends. I guess I should have staggered the invitations."

"It's fine."

"No, it's not. Don't pretend to be nice or indifferent- or whatever is behind that fib you just told me."

"Excuse me, did you just say 'fib'?"

"Well, it sounded better than to say you lied."

Alex's look was pained. It reminded her of the look her cousins- Daemonar and Andulvar in particular- got on occasion. Several minutes went by before he could reply.

"Lilith tried to warn me, but I honestly didn't think there could be two witches who are so…" he trailed off, as if looking for the right adjective.

"Uniquely interesting?" 'Nelle supplied helpfully.

That one earned her a withering glare, and she stifled the impulse to snicker at him.

"I'll give you that, but it wasn't exactly the word I had in mind."

"Oh I don't doubt it."

"Remind me again why you came in here- if not to drive me crazy?"

"Well, aside from the apology that you just tried to shrug off, I'm here because Lilith and I thought maybe having you meet just one of our friends would be better than facing the whole coven."

Alex turned back to the statue, staring at it with a closed expression. That didn't go well at all.

"That is, only if you want to. If you don't, we can think of something to keep them out of your way for a few weeks."

"The Hall is a big place, 'Nelle, but that might be too great a task. Even for you."

"The only other option I've got is to pack you off to the Keep until they leave. But I don't like the idea of kicking you out of your own house."

He looked at her sideways, the tiniest crack of an amused smile played on his lips. Alex turned back to the statue. After a few minutes had gone by, he spoke.

"We'll try it the first way and see how that goes. Just how one on one were you thinking for this meeting?"

"We're not shoving the two of you into a room alone with the order 'be friends or else', if that's what worries you, brother."

She thought he might be trying to hold in what sounded like laughter, but couldn't be sure. If he wasn't, Alex sure did look like Papa when he was trying to do just that. With a cough, Alex managed to keep his composure.

"Um…thanks?"

"You're welcome," she beamed at him. "Anyway, we thought Heather would be a good choice. It'll be you, me, Heather and her brother. And Lilith."

"Lilith agreed to come?"

"You sound as surprised as I was when she told me."

3/Kaeleer

Alex was more than surprised. Despite their brief conversation last night, he really didn't expect Lilith to feel any need to intercede on his behalf with the Queens. At least not in person. It gave him some hope of repairing the damage he'd done the other day. Not much, but more than he'd had up to now.

"Yeah, well, after the past two days, I think I've a right to be." He cleared his throat. "So when were we all doing this?"

"Lilith was going to talk to Heather. I was going to send her a message about a possible time. So it's pretty much when you want."

He needed time. 'Nelle's visit had actually helped more than Alex expected, but he was still feeling too edgy to be around any of the Queens. Even if Lilith would be there.

"Say in an hour?" he suggested.

"Sounds good."

They stared at one another for a few minutes, and Alex wondered how he could tell her- politely- to go away. His sister must have caught on.

"Oh…sorry- should I go? You probably want me to go." She waved a hand at him. "So I think I'll go find Lilith and see how she's doing with Heather."

"'Nelle…"

She stopped him mid-sentence.

"It's absolutely no big deal. Really."

"Yeah, but…"

"Look, if you're determined to feel bad for kicking me out, I'll compromise with you."

Alex was immediately suspicious, and shifted to look at her directly.

"What sort of compromise?"

"Well, I was sort of wondering why the hell you were in this garden. Thought this might be a good way to weasel out an answer."

He hoped he didn't look as relieved as he felt.

"Oh. That's it?"

"What did you think I'd want?"

"Knowing how alike you and Lilith are…and having already experienced her idea of compromise…"

"Mhmm…perhaps I should change my question. I think that story might be more interesting."

Since he wasn't sure she was kidding, he did his best not to be upset with himself for planting that idea. He really did need to dust off those skills he'd honed in Draega. 'Nelle would pry everything out of him if he gave her opportunities like this. And that thought probably had something to do with the tone of his reply.

"I'd prefer that you didn't."

'Nelle's next breath came out as a little white puff in the suddenly chill air. She regarded him intently.

"Apparently Lilith isn't the only one who gets a temper when the subject of the two of you comes up," she commented tartly. "Don't worry, I won't touch that with a ten foot pole. But I do want an answer to the first question."

And he'd best answer it before she asked him anything else. He found his voice immediately.

"The cats brought me here. Said there was something here I needed to see and then disappeared."

"Odd behavior, even for them."

Alex shrugged.

"That's all the answer I'm going to get, huh?"

"That's all."

"Then I suppose I'm off. See you in an hour, brother."

"Here?"

"Oh hell no," 'Nelle said as she made a face. "Probably my garden or somewhere else. I'll send word when I find out for sure."

With that, she swept out of the garden and he was alone again with his thoughts. The solitude didn't last long.

Moments later, Alex felt eyes on him from the doorway. A quick glance revealed that Daemon Sadi had come looking for him. In the past few days, they hadn't really been alone. Alex could think of a few reasons why. He continued to study the statue and waited for Daemon to decide what he'd do.

Neither of them spoke or acknowledged one another until Daemon posed a question.

"I see you're interested in the statue- do you know what he represents, Prince?"

Alex thought on it for a while. Since he entered the garden, he'd been drawn to it. Half-human, half-feline; power and grace barely leashed. A vicious killer ready to destroy the enemy. But whose enemy? He'd not missed the sleeping woman at his feet, curled up in a show of trust and tenderness. Who would give either of those things to something so dangerous?

The puzzle of it all had bothered him all morning. He still didn't have an answer to it. Or Daemon's question, either. Well, he did. Alex just wasn't sure he wanted to admit the first thought that came to mind. Then again, he had to say something. He hoped it didn't sound half as stupid as he feared it would.

"He knows what it's like," Alex said finally, nodding towards the statue.

"What what is like," Daemon asked after a pause.

Doubt crept in, and Alex instantly regretted having said anything. He tried to back out of it.

"I don't know."

"Oh I think you do."

"It's nothing important."

"I hope for your sake, Boyo, you don't really think that."

Silence passed between them again. Alex got the impression that Daemon would say no more until he gave him an answer. So he tried to find the words that could describe what he felt when looking at the statue.

"It's like he knows me; like the sculptor pulled me out of myself and carved it in marble."

Damon said nothing for so long that Alex wished he'd let 'Nelle stay. Her nettling settled easier on his mind than the eerie calm of the man next to him. Or that opaque stare- a mirror of his own- now turned against him. Alex had no idea what thoughts were behind it. A foreign experience, aside from his experiences with Lilith.

"As I said- I really don't know," he admitted.

"You weren't wrong, actually."

"Beg pardon?"

"He's what we are- what lives in all of us Blood males. But especially Warlord Princes."

"You're serious."

"And somewhat surprised. I hadn't expected you to recognize him so quickly."

Daemon didn't elaborate why he'd been surprised. Alex decided to put it out there.

"Because I've lived in Draega."

"Yes," came his reluctant reply after a moment's hesitation. "Mostly for that reason."

"If I'd seen that statue in Hayll four months ago, I wouldn't have thought anything about it. Likely would have seen something else entirely."

The exactness of the timing wasn't lost on Daemon.

"Before you met Lilith."

Now it was Alex's turn to hesitate. After the comment Haedyn made yesterday, he was dead certain the cats weren't the only ones who knew what he really wanted from her. Once he answered the question, he suspected conversation would turn that direction. That was something he had been hoping to avoid a while longer. Not to be, it seemed.

"You could say that had something to do with it."

"The Lady does have some mysterious talents."

Awkward silence again. Mother Night, talking to the Arcerians was easier. It shouldn't be, making this all the more frustrating. The man next to him ought to have been someone he knew best. But he wasn't. Thanks to Meredith, his father was a stranger to him. When Alex didn't reply, Daemon tried again.

"I imagine it wasn't the easiest thing- meeting her the first time."

An understatement. Alex didn't dare take his eyes off the statue while he replied.

"No, it wasn't."

"I suppose it's hoping too much to think she didn't argue or order you around, isn't it?"

"Oh she did plenty of both."

He heard Daemon's audible sigh.

"I should have guessed she would. Lilith argues with everyone. Always such a stubborn little thing."

"Doesn't matter. She only did it when she was right. It's the only reason we made it out of there."

His look was both thoughtful and surprised as he considered that admission. Alex assumed he would prod more about why he thought that way, but was proved very wrong very quickly.

"And whose idea was it really to stay in Draega for another three months? Which side did the Lady argue then?"

Oh that was a question that Alex needed to answer carefully. Far more subtle than 'Nelle's head-on style, Daemon proved to be a daunting challenge if he hoped to keep secrets. Alex formed a plan to keep them well away from those.

"That was one argument I won." Well, not true. They hadn't actually argued about it. "If Lilith had her way, we would have been back to Kaeleer months ago."

"Would she have been right?"

He thought about the time spent in Tarine's district, learning what a real Blood community was like. The rift that decision caused was regrettable, but Alex thought the time had served him well before coming here.

"No, I don't think so."

Daemon considered his answer, and Alex thought he'd managed to steer away from anything too sensitive.

"You said you saw parts of Draega you'd never seen before. If you don't mind my asking, I'm curious where that was."

Damn. Alex did mind, if only that he didn't want to get Lilith into any more trouble. Not to mention give her a reason to be any angrier with him. And she would be if he said anything about Tarine. So what did he say? Daemon gave him a knowing smile and shook his head.

"Let me tell you where I think you went, Boyo. You were likely staying in one of the pockets in the city ruled by the Queens Lilith is helping- weren't you?"

"You know about them," Alex concluded.

"Indeed. Lady told me about them."

"I didn't think she wanted anyone to know."

"She didn't," Daemon agreed somewhat tersely. "I had a chat with someone else who knew about them, though, so that didn't leave her much choice."

"'Nelle."

"I wish it had been, but no."

"Who, then?"

Daemon's glance was sharp as he studied him. Instead of answering Alex's question, he supplied one of his own.

"I thought you and Lilith spent the three months together in Draega. Or am I mistaken?"

The way it was phrased, Alex knew better than to lie.

"Not always," he admitted. "She had things to see to in other districts of the city."

"And you didn't go with her."

"No."

"I see. Well, then I guess you weren't with her when she was in Lady Collette's territory. While she was there, the Queen had a Warlord executed."

"Executed? No, I would have remembered that. What'd he do?"

"Nearly raped a young witch. He tried to do the same thing in another district- a Queen by the name of-"

"Tarine," Alex finished in an uneasy whisper.

4/Kaeleer

Daemon was not altogether surprised that Alex had heard of Tarine. But the way he said her name, he knew the boyo had firsthand knowledge of what had happened to Warlord Henkel in her district.

"Sounds like you're familiar with that one."

"I stayed in her district most of the three months I was there," Alex replied with a shrug.

"And what do you know about the Warlord?"

"Caught him running away from the girl he'd attacked. Didn't know that's what he'd done at the time, but I knew something about him was off. It's common enough in Hayll to know a pet. Wasn't until we got back to the clearing that I knew what he'd been up to. The witch was barely older than a child," Alex snarled.

A fact Daemon knew all too well, but hadn't expected Alex to have been so upset by it. He was relieved that Meredith hadn't twisted him up so badly that he saw nothing wrong with what Henkel had done. If Alex had been, would Lilith have brought him to Kaeleer? Daemon wasn't sure she would have, and he didn't know if he'd have wanted him here.

Can you blame him for something that wasn't his fault?

Thankfully, he didn't have to face that moral dilemma.

"And you saw what Lady Tarine did next?"

"Yes, I did."

"Maybe you can explain it to me, then. I've never seen that brand before. What is it for?"

"It's a warning. The Queens Lilith helps all know that they need to take precautions against someone branded- witch or Warlord."

"What does the symbol mean?"

Alex shook his head.

"That I never found out. But so long as the person never did anything else to break the rules, nothing further happened to them. If they did…"

"They could face additional punishment- including an execution."

"That was my understanding. I'm not surprised Henkel tried again. He wasn't going to change."

"No," Daemon agreed. "He wasn't."

It was time to test the boyo's reaction to the other half of this story. If Lucivar was right, Alex was going to be furious when he heard it.

"He was raving against all witches when I saw him in Hell," he began. "Against Lilith in particular."

A chill crept into the air.

"Oh?"

"Seems he held her responsible for his execution, and foolishly demanded my help to 'make an example of her', as he put it."

The chill deepened, but his son said nothing. Daemon was almost positive that Lucivar had been right. Just the look on his face told him that Alex was teetering on an inner ledge.

"What did he want you to do," he asked at last in a tone Daemon recognized all too well.

"Before I answer that, Boyo, you should know that Lord Henkel is out of your reach. If you had any thoughts in that direction."

"Is he?"

Tread carefully, Daemon thought. This is no time to see whether you can survive against the Ebon-Black.

"Yes. Lilith handed him over to me for a formal Execution, which I did. He's paid his debts to the Blood and it's done with."

A minute passed before Alex realized what he'd said. When he did, the anger flared again. But this time, it had shifted to a different direction.

"You said she handed him over."

"Well, she made sure I would find him."

"In Hell."

"Yes."

"The living aren't supposed to be in Hell."

"No, they're not."

"But she went, anyway."

"Yes."

"What kind of crazy death wish does she have," Alex snarled, his eyes focused on the figure of the sleeping witch at the foot of her protector. "Draega, Hell, that bitch Meredith…Warlords like Henkel and…" he hesitated.

"And?"

The expression on his face turned stony. Daemon was fairly certain who else was on that list that Alex didn't want to say.

"Is there someone else you had in mind?"

Alex continued to stare at the sleeping witch, and sighed.

"How do they do it- why do they?"

"Do what?"

"Trust something like that," Alex answered bitterly, nodding to the male. "What else is that but a death wish? One day…it would only take one day when something inside snaps and all that she thought was protecting her betrays her- destroys her. Why would any witch risk that?"

Not a question to be taken lightly. With his history and experiences in Meredith's court, Alex had good reason to fear that he was capable of unimaginable violence. Lilith had said as much when they'd spoken just the other day, although she hadn't been quite so worried about it. And because Daemon knew the potential there, he answered honestly.

"She trusts him because she knows he needs her to- that it's what balances him. Without it, he's a vicious killer without boundaries or ties to keep him from destruction."

"At the risk of her own, if that trust isn't enough."

"Is something going to happen, Boyo?"

Alex regarded him warily, unwilling to answer at first. He didn't b lame him; Daemon wouldn't have liked to have been cornered that way, either. But he had to know how close they were to disaster. Queens or not- he was still High Lord and could order the coven to go if he had to.

"I don't know," Alex replied quietly. "And that's the worst of it. Not knowing. I don't expect anyone to understand."

The opportunity was there. Daemon just had to take it. He took a breath and stepped through.

"I lived in Draega under Dorothea. She had me ringed just after my Birthright Ceremony and forced me to serve her coven bitches for 1800 years. As payback, I learned to do things the Blood of Terreille will likely never forget. Coming to Kaeleer, where I no longer needed those skills to survive day to day was a long adjustment. So believe me when I tell you, Alex- I do understand."

He didn't press his son for his thoughts, letting him decide what he wanted to say. At last, Alex spoke.

"When I asked her why my family hadn't come to get me, Lilith mentioned- briefly- that you'd lived in Hayll once, and that you couldn't go back. She wouldn't tell me why, saying I'd have to ask myself when I got here."

Clever witch, Daemon thought. She's managed to maneuver us both into having a conversation neither of us would have dared bring up on our own.

"We'll talk on that in detail another time, I promise. Just not today."

Alex nodded before turning back to the statue.

"It is possible, though- even after a life like that. To learn how to be worthy of her trust."

Daemon considered how best to answer. He'd known Lilith for a long time now, and though lately it seemed there were things he didn't know about her, one thing he understood from the first day Jaenelle Saetien had brought her to the Hall.

"If Lilith has told you she trusts you, Boyo, she already believes you are worthy of it."

5/Kaeleer

'Nelle had gone off to find Alex, which meant Lilith had a few precious minutes to find out what was in Claudia's letter. She had a pretty good idea where her friend may have stashed it, and called in the blackwood box that usually sat atop 'Nelle's bureau. Taking care not to disturb any spells on the box, she sifted through its contents.

There you are- stuffed under a letter from Charlotte.

Lilith snatched it up and began reading.

Jaenelle- I'm afraid I have some terrible news to relay to you. News I wish I didn't have to send, but know I must. Our mutual friend, Raenel, has gotten herself into a bit of trouble, you see. Well, more than a little. But to explain that I should start at the beginning.

Over the past few days, I've been in contact with a few former members of Meredith's coven. I say former because they've begun a separate rebel movement in the wake of some upheavals in Hayll. Meredith's court in particular. They came to Dhemlan with orders to spy on us. Apparently, Meredith has it in her head that Raenel was a member of my court.

As it turns out, Lady Ettia and Lady Bethaeny want our help to overthrow Meredith so they can rebuild Hayll. The story they told was very interesting, and I'm convinced that they are telling the truth. Which is why I was certain that their information about Raenel wasn't a story.

Well, wasn't that interesting to hear? When Lilith had been skulking around Meredith's court, she never would have pegged either of those two as rebels. Ettia especially. Something to keep in mind when she went back to Hayll. But for now, she was far more worried what they'd told Claudia, and kept on reading.

My dear 'Nelle, it's the worst. She's dead. I don't know how better to say it, and believe me, I've spent days trying to think of one. That bitch Meredith caught her stealing from the coven and had her murdered by her pet Warlords. Although the way Lady Ettia told it, that wasn't the plan. It seems Meredith isn't limiting her use of safframate to just males anymore. 'Nelle, our Raenel was given two spoonfuls and handed over to a Warlord named Grael. His job was to break her and turn her over to Valinna when it was done.

The details after that are fuzzy at best. Neither of the witches knows what, if anything, Grael did with Raenel once they left the audience room. The last place anyone saw her alive- or at least think they saw her alive- was in the suite of one of the most dangerous Warlord Princes in all of Terreille. 'Nelle I swear, if I'd had any idea Raenel would have crossed paths with him I would have told you about Prince DeSade.

But since I didn't, I'll tell you now. As if it's going to make this any easier…

The Prince has been Meredith's pet for centuries, always kept close to her coven. My envoys in Draega haven't been able to get near enough to give me a detailed description, but from what rumors I hear, he's a witch's dream…and her worst nightmare. There are many conflicting stories, but all of them depict a vicious butcher who delights in torturing and killing witches.

Meredith let that monster keep Raenel for three days before going back to check on her. Lady Ettia claims he was supposed to leave her alive, but he disobeyed. I asked her cousin, who had seen the inside of the suite, what she saw…'Nelle, I cannot and will not repeat the details to you. Lady Bethaeny was almost hysterical, and that should give you an idea what he did to our friend.

I wish I'd done more to stop her from going this last time. I knew how dangerous it would be, and that one day the Sapphire would fail her. Never wanted to be right, and I am so sorry to find out that I was. I'll never forgive myself for my role in her death, but rest assured that one day I'll find Meredith's pet and Prince DeSade will be made accountable for what he did to Raenel.

That's all I have to say. I send you my condolences and apologies, once again, to be the bearer of such news. Raenel will be greatly missed. – Claudia

Mother Night and may the Darkness be merciful.

Lilith let the letter fall to her lap and squeezed her eyes shut. It was worse than she expected. Far, far worse.

She'd hoped the witches had related only the first part- at most. But they gave away just about everything. The safframate, Grael…Alex. The only thing it didn't come out and say was that they'd slept together. 'Nelle wouldn't need that to draw the conclusion, though. Her friend would figure she could deflect someone like Grael, given her Jewels. But that would leave only one link left in the chain of events of the evening.

And she knows I'm not a virgin anymore- I'm sure of it now.

Lilith put the letter back and returned the box to 'Nelle's room. She knew what she needed to do now, as much as she didn't want to. Sometime today she'd need to weave a tangled web to suppress 'Nelle's memory of that letter for a while. At least until she was ready to return to Terreille. That's when she would reveal what she'd done to the SaDiablos. Just before she said good-bye to Kaeleer- and to them.

She'd also have to sort this out with Claudia. The sooner the better, or she'd spend half her days blaming herself and the other vilifying Alex. Lilith couldn't have the Queen distracted that way if she hoped to have a strong ally in Dhemlan Terreille. Tarine and the others were going to need support when the war finally began.

Both of those things would have to come later. Right now, she was expected to talk Heather into meeting Alex. Better get some clothes on and get to it. Lilith unfolded herself from the chair and went in search of something to put on. Five minutes later, she walked out of her suite and headed towards 'Nelle's garden. Voices inside told her that Heather and Gregory were still there. Time to see how brave her Sister was feeling today.

6/Kaeleer

Of all the people Heather had expected to see this early, Lilith wasn't one of them. She was definitely not a morning person. But there she was, hovering at the garden doorway with a peculiar smile on her face. When she knew she'd been spotted, Lilith came over to where they were sitting on the bench.

"Making your visits to the Hall's gardens already?"

"'Nelle's done it up so well this year, I couldn't resist."

"And you," the witch said to Greg. "How'd you manage to get dragged out of bed so early?"

"She's a bully," he replied, jabbing a thumb in Heather's direction.

"Am not!"

"Are so."

"If that were so, I'm surprised Wellert is still in bed."

Her brother grinned. "We flipped a coin. He won. This time. Won't be so lucky next time."

"Luckier than he knows, perhaps," Lilith quipped.

Immediately, both of them straightened in attention. Heather decided to ask first.

"What's that mean?"

"Well, it's like this…"

"Here it comes," Greg mused. "She's going to get us in trouble and it's only our first day here."

"As I was saying…it likely wasn't lost on anyone that we were short a Warlord Prince last night."

"We weren't going to say anything, but yeah. We noticed 'Nelle's brother was absent."

"With the whole group together, it was just more than he- or 'Nelle and I- were prepared to deal with. So we thought today we'd start small. One Queen at a time…"

In the pause after Lilith finished, Heather put the pieces together. She furrowed her brows and fiddled with the end of her braid.

"Let me guess," she said finally. "The two of you want to test that theory out on me. Am I right?"

"We do. If you're willing."

"I notice you're not going to Charlotte or Adrienne first."

"Um…they're a bit too…intense…for the Prince. At least as a first try."

While they were talking, Greg had gone serious and very quiet. Obviously, he was thinking through what Lilith was and wasn't saying. He raised his gaze to her when he had made up his mind what he thought.

"No one's heard much about him so far, but my understanding is that he's lived in Draega all his life- in Meredith's court."

Lilith's good humor vanished. Where her eyes had been a warm gold just seconds ago, now they'd turned sharp and cold.

"Hardly his fault, Prince," she replied frostily. "He certainly didn't ask to be stolen from his cradle to become her plaything."

Whoa, Heather thought with a jolt. Lilith was known for having a temper sometimes, but she'd never seen it provoked so easily or so quickly. She sent a private message to her brother.

*Be careful, Greg. This seems to be a touchy issue*

*I didn't mean for it to sound like an accusation*

*Yeah, well, I guess it did, so you'd better set Lilith straight about it quick.*

*No kidding*

Her brother held up his hands in surrender.

"No, I didn't say that he did."

"So your point is?"

"She didn't make life easy for him. Especially when it comes to Queens, I imagine. I just want to know the danger you're asking my Queen to put herself in when she meets him."

The cold glare shifted slightly, clouding with sadness. Lilith sighed.

"Minus details, yes, you're right. The Prince is still learning how to see witches as something other than the enemy."

"And you said yesterday he wears the Ebon-Black."

"Yes."

"So what happens if he sees Heather as an enemy?"

"I'll distract him and you get out of there," she answered without hesitation. "Both of you. And take 'Nelle with you. Drag her out by the hair if you have to."

Heather exchanged a look with her brother. They both knew what Lilith meant by 'distract'. She would sacrifice herself so the rest of them could escape.

"But Lilith…"

"I can deal with the Prince."

"We can't let you do it," Greg tried to argue again.

"You have two options, Prince Gregory. You may choose not to go to this meeting, or you will obey my wishes should he turn cold."

Oh hell's fire, not that tone. Heather knew the argument was over as soon as she heard it. Greg heard it, too. He huffed once before asking a question.

"Does 'Nelle know about your plan?"

"More or less."

Her brother slumped on the bench and frowned. Several minutes passed as he shook his head and muttered.

"I don't like it, but it doesn't seem like I have much of a choice."

"Just the one I gave you."

"That one sucks."

"Tough."

Knowing he'd been beaten, Greg turned to her.

"So whatcha say, sis? You want to do this?"

Heather bit her lip and weighed her options.

*Lilith, tell me the truth- how likely is it that he'll go berserk and I'll get you killed?*

The barest of smiles ghosted across her friend's lips.

*I have no intention of dying today, Heather. I promise you that the Prince isn't going to make a liar out of me*

*Absolutely sure?*

*Cross my heart*

"We'll do it," she agreed aloud, despite the butterflies in her stomach.

"Excellent. Now I just have to find out from 'Nelle if the Prince is willing."

"Which he is," chimed in a voice from the doorway.

Lilith leaned against Heather's bench and turned around to see 'Nelle approach.

"Your timing is impeccable. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were lurking over there waiting for the opportune moment."

"Good thing you know better, then, because I wasn't."

"So it sounds like your brother is okay with this plan?" Heather asked.

'Nelle nodded.

"Alex was having one of his smarter moments this morning."

Greg looked horrified, and braced himself forward to see her better.

"You didn't say that to his face, did you?"

"Wouldn't put it past her," Lilith said half under her breath, but she was more amused than worried, and that made Heather feel a lot better.

"Nah. I'd already given him a hard time about some other stuff, so he deserved a break."

They all laughed at once. Even Lilith. When they'd all recovered, 'Nelle wiped her eyes on her sleeve and hiccupped.

"So…where do we want to do this? I was thinking maybe here…"

The laughter in Lilith's eyes died. Just that fast and it was gone. Heather felt a cold shiver run down her spine at the expression filling them now. It was even more chilling than the last one, and she didn't like to think that was possible. Her brother looked just as uneasy, and so did 'Nelle. But her friend understood something about that terrible look that they didn't. She bowed her head and shook it.

"Never mind. We'll go somewhere else."

Lilith said nothing.

"The music room ought to be deserted this time of day," 'Nelle offered.

"No chance of anyone distracting us there," Heather agreed, trying to help.

"A better choice than the sitting room or anyplace downstairs."

The tone of her voice worried her more than Lilith's expression did. What was that? It didn't sound like her at all.

*'Nelle…what the hell is wrong?* she sent privately.

*There was a disagreement between Lilith and Alex in here the other day. I should have known she wouldn't want to see him here and be reminded of it*

*Disagreement?*

*Don't ask*

*Was it that bad?*

*Really, don't ask*

Well, that was certainly ominous. Maybe she had more to worry about with Lilith than with 'Nelle's brother.

"Should we head up there?" Greg suggested, doing his best to ignore the undercurrents in the room.

"Alex said to give him an hour, but that was a while ago. So maybe that'd be a good idea."

Lilith was the first to move down the path, leaving the rest of them to follow.

"'Nelle," her brother whispered when she'd gone some distance. "She's been different since she came back from Hayll."

"A lot of things are different after this last time," her friend murmured to herself. "But she said she'd be okay, so there's nothing we can do but believe her."

After that, she said nothing more, no matter how Greg tried to draw her out. Heather listened to them with half an ear, but kept focused on Lilith in front of them. What could 'Nelle have meant? What had their friend been through in Hayll?

She hoped that 'Nelle was right, and that whatever was troubling Lilith would go away. She wasn't sure she knew how to deal with the strange looks and moods she'd just seen, and wanted things to get back to normal.

Whatever normal was for Lilith, anyway.

7/Kaeleer

Alex got the message from 'Nelle to meet in the music room, and after getting lost twice on his way to find it, he was determined to find out if anyone had a map of the Hall. How the housekeeping staff knew how to get around this place was beyond him. They must train for years.

But at last he reached the room he was looking for. Now he just needed to find the will to walk through the door. A Queen would be waiting for him on the other side of it. From what he could sense of the Jewels present, Heather's rank Jewels were Green. A Warlord Prince was with her. He hoped 'Nelle and Lilith knew what they were doing.

Alex opened the door and stepped inside.

Four heads turned in his direction. He already knew how his sister and Lilith would react to seeing him, so he focused on the young Queen and her brother. Heather's eyes went wide, and at first, Alex assumed it was nerves about his Jewels. But then she gave a whoop of laughter and shook her head.

"Oh we're so going to get back at Khamil and Teodaer. Greg, you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Definitely."

She turned back to Alex.

"They haven't seen you yet, right?"

Feeling a little out of step, Alex wasn't sure how to reply. He was sure the question was jus the thing Lucivar had warned him about that first morning. Whatever these two had planned it was going to be a headache. But before he could find some way out of it, 'Nelle answered for him.

"As a matter of fact, they haven't. And this time, you might get Papa to play along. He's still annoyed with them over that prank with Mrs. Beale, so this might be a good way to get back at them."

Slowly, Alex picked up what was going on. The cats had supplied him with information about 'Nelle and Lilith's coven last night. He recalled that Khamil and Teodaer were identical twin brothers of a Queen named Paresha. Twins who liked to switch places to fool other people. There'd only be one reason Heather would ask if they'd seen him yet.

Then his sister smiled at him.

"Thoughts, big brother? I'd say with a few illusion spells you could fool them into believing you're Papa and we could give those trouble-making jokers a good startle this afternoon."

Run away, Lucivar's words repeated themselves in his head. You do not want to be made a part of whatever scheme they're planning.

"Let's keep things simple for starters," Lilith broke in suddenly. "Save the mischief for next week, when they've gotten comfortable around here."

"Oh come on, Lilith. You can't let an opportunity like this just pass by."

"Yes, you can."

'Nelle, Heather and Greg exchanged disappointed looks. It seemed Lilith had rescued him from being the star of whatever they wanted to do. Did he necessarily want to be rescued, though? Alex didn't want her to see him as incapable of dealing with his sister or their friends. There was only one way for him to feel he was on even ground with this group.

"I dunno," he countered thoughtfully. "Perhaps I'm curious to hear what they have in mind."

He slipped his hands in his trouser pockets and smiled. Lilith's expression gave nothing away. He couldn't tell if she was upset or what that he'd spoiled her efforts. As for the other three, their eyes went round as dinner plates.

"Have you…always done that," his sister managed to ask after a minute."

"Done what?"

'Nelle gestured at him head to toe.

"That."

Still clueless, Alex shrugged at her.

"Darling, I'm pretty sure I've been standing most of my life."

Lilith sighed.

"She means the hands in the pockets gesture. The High Lord does the exact same thing. 'Nelle wanted to know if it's natural, or if you're just showing off that you could play the part."

Curious, and slightly unnerving to find yet another similarity. Despite the separation of centuries and a whole Realm, so many parallels. What else did he have in common with the Warlord Prince Daemon Sadi?

"Well, which is it," 'Nelle asked at last.

"Recall what I told you at the Keep and you've have answered your own question."

And what did you tell her, Lilith, Alex wondered. Whatever it was, it wasn't something she'd shared aloud.

"I feel like we're being rude," Heather spoke up suddenly. "You walk in and we don't even let you sit down before we launch into all this."

"That's really not…"

She tossed her braid over her shoulder and nudged her brother with an elbow.

"You agree, right?"

"If I don't, you're going to sic the Scelties on me, right?"

Heather offered him a smug grin, and Greg sighed.

"Okay, fine. We're being rude."

"Help me fix it, then."

As he watched the exchange, Alex got a pretty good idea the kind of witches he'd be meeting in the next few days. Although 'Nelle and Lilith were a level above any of the others when it came to unique personalities, they weren't in a league entirely by themselves. These others would have their own quirks and stubborn moments. He tried to forget that they'd introduced an easy one first.

But Greg seemed hardly bothered by the sass his sister gave him. They'd obviously danced this tune of teasing banter many times before. And if Alex read the situation right, were inviting him to join them. Nothing could have quite prepared him to be accepted so quickly- caste, Jewels and all.

No doubt somewhere lurked some level of apprehension about both- or at least the latter. But the Protocol learned in Kaeleer had given the Blood here something that allowed them to set that aside. Knowing that helped him relax somewhat. Enough that he approached the group and took a chair for himself.

Turning to Heather, Alex raised an eyebrow in silent query.

"What say I just fix the issue myself," he suggested. "Is this better, Lady Heather?"

"Much better," she replied with a smile. Then she craned her neck to look at Lilith.

"When you came to broker the idea of a meeting, you never said he knew how to be this fun."

Lilith was thoughtful for a moment, and Alex held his breath at what she might say.

"Despite the rumors, I do not profess to know everything," she answered at last.

Alex nearly sighed in relief. She'd gone for humor, thank the Darkness. Everyone chuckled, Heather the most amused.

"Well, I never thought I'd live to hear you admit it."

"Had I known how you'd gloat, maybe I should have waited a while longer."

"Oh I'm finished. And I think now's a good time to talk about how we're going to pull the best prank ever on Khamil and Teodaer. Yes?"

Lilith looked both bemused and resigned.

"I hope you all know what you're doing, but let's see how much trouble you want us all to get into."

With a quick glance at her brother, Heather leaned forward and rubbed her hands together.

"So this is my idea…" she began.