*Then that’s what I want for you.* He kissed her softly. *For both of us.* Closing his eyes, he kissed her again.

When he shifted to nuzzle her neck, she said, “Are you sure, Daemon?”

He opened his eyes and raised his head. They were back in the sitting room.

“I want to be with you for as many years as life grants us,” he said. “I want to be the warm, caring man you see in me and let the Sadist sleep.”

Jaenelle brushed his hair back. “He’ll never really sleep. The Sadist is a part of who you are, and he’ll always be there, just under the surface—and that’s the way it should be.”

He never loved her more than he did at that moment when her acceptance quieted the volatile nature of a Warlord Prince.

Scooping her up, he held her close to his chest. “What do you say to locking the doors, going to bed, and making love for the rest of the night?”

“Is that going to be the extraordinary or ordinary part of our life?” she asked, laughter and love dancing in her sapphire eyes.

He grinned. “Both.”

SEVENTEEN

SEVENTEEN

Too edgy to stay still, Daemon prowled the room that opened onto the flagstone terrace at the back of the Hall. It wasn’t unusual for a man to have pre-wedding jitters, even if he was already married to the woman he loved. Besides, how many men had their marriage vows witnessed by fire-breathing dragons and man-eating cats?

Although, he probably shouldn’t have snarled at Jaenelle when she suggested that he take off his wedding ring so that she could give it back to him. Guests be damned, he wasn’t giving up his ring.

“Would you like some brandy?” Saetan asked, his bland tone accenting his amusement.

“No,” Daemon snarled.

“A sedative?”

“No.”

“A whack upside the head?”

Daemon glared at his father. “You’re finding this too amusing.”

“Oh, I think I’m entitled,” Saetan replied dryly.

Suddenly feeling as if the ground was about to get yanked out from under him, Daemon stopped moving.

“Anything you want to tell me?” Saetan asked.

“No,” he said, feeling wary.

“In that case, since the guests are all assembled and Jaenelle will be down at any moment, let’s go out and get you married. Again.”

Daemon winced. “It’s not that we didn’t—I mean, I meant to tell you before—Ah, Hell’s fire.”

Saetan laughed. “It’s just as well you are married already. If your nerves don’t settle, you’re going to be useless tonight.”

“Thank you. I so appreciate your confidence in me.”

Saetan’s amusement faded. “I do have confidence in you, Prince. More than you realize.” He walked over to the glass doors.