The next morning, rumors seeped through Amdarh’s marketplace as the servants who worked in aristo households gathered to take care of the day’s shopping. Arguments broke out between those who declared they weren’t surprised by the news that Daemon Sadi had abandoned the pose of still being the faithful, devoted lover of the former Queen of Ebon Askavi and those who hotly denied there could be any truth to Prince Sadi taking a lover, let alone escorting her to such a public place as a theater.

But they all took those rumors back to their respective houses to chew over with their fellow servants.

By midday, the stories trickled through the shopping district. Some merchants worried that the aristo Blood, especially those who served in Lady Zhara’s court, would take their business away from any shop that was patronized by Prince Sadi. Other merchants, who counted several members of the SaDiablo family as regular customers, paled at the news—and wondered how much of Amdarh would be left if Lucivar Yaslana found out about his brother’s supposed betrayal of the Queen they’d both served.

By evening, the rumors had reached the ears of the aristo Blood and were the main topic during the evening meals. Some defended Prince Sadi, saying he would never insult Jaenelle Angelline by taking a lover while she was still living with him at the Hall. Some defended him by insisting he wasn’t breaking any vows by taking a lover, that Jaenelle was now nothing more than a family member who required care, and no matter what their relationship had been, it was no longer of a nature that demanded celibacy from a Warlord Prince. Others argued that, even if taking a lover could be excused under the circumstances, holding hands with her in a dining house was hardly discreet.

No matter what anyone thought of Daemon Sadi’s behavior, they all pitied Jaenelle Angelline, who had sacrificed her body and her Jewels in order to save Kaeleer and was now being abandoned by the only man she’d ever cared for enough to take as a lover.

SEVEN

1

Surreal walked into Jaenelle’s sitting room and came to an abrupt stop when she saw the shoes scattered around the room. Jaenelle stood in the middle of the room, holding a pair of soft leather house shoes. Color brightened her face, and her eyes sparkled.

“Look,” Jaenelle said excitedly. “I can call in my shoes.”

Pity squeezed Surreal’s heart, but she smiled as she walked over to Jaenelle. “Well, that’s . . . wonderful.” Or would be if Jaenelle was a child learning basic Craft.

“Isn’t it?” Jaenelle dropped the shoes, then held out her hands. A moment later, a pair of boots hovered in the air. She took the boots and grinned. “I decided it was time to find out what I can do with Twilight’s Dawn.”