It took Surreal a moment to connect the name with the young tiger she had frequently seen with Wilhelmina.

“Graysfang is on his way,” Saetan said, giving Surreal a hard look. “He’s not to leave your side tonight.”

It took her another moment to fit the pieces together. She bristled. “Wait just a minute, High Lord. I can take care of myself.”

“He’s a Warlord,” Saetan snapped. “He defends and protects.”

“He wears Purple Dusk to my Gray. You can’t assume that this other male wears a lighter Jewel than he does.”

“I’m assuming nothing. He defends and protects.”

Furious, Surreal strode up to Saetan and grabbed two fistfuls of his robe. “He’s not fodder,” she snarled. “It’s not right for him to die when I’m perfectly capable of defending myself.”

Dry amusement slowly filled Saetan’s eyes. “You will not wound his pride by telling him he isn’t capable of protecting you. However, since the Queens share your opinion, it is considered acceptable for you to provide the protective shields for both of you and to guard his back.”

“Oh.” Releasing him, Surreal tried to smooth the wrinkles in his robe that her fists had made. When she noticed Saetan’s amusement growing, she gave up and stepped back.

“Will you station guards tonight?” Titian asked.

Saetan thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No. Nothing that obvious tonight. The Ladies in the court will be protected. The rest we’ll deal with in the morning.” He looked at Surreal. “I’d like you to stay in your room tonight, or the inner garden your room overlooks. No one will be coming at you or Wilhelmina from that direction.”

All of Surreal’s instincts sharpened as she considered all the ways an assassin could gain access. “Are all these rooms occupied?” she asked thoughtfully. Slip into an empty room, slip through the garden, enter the victim’s room through the glass doors that opened onto the garden…

“A couple of the guest rooms are empty,” Saetan said, “but no one will be coming at you through the garden. Kaelas will be there.”

Daemon took one look at Saetan and Titian, stepped into the corridor, and closed Jaenelle’s sitting room door. “Lady Titian,” he said respectfully, masking his surprise at seeing her. He knew she was demon-dead, but he hadn’t expected to see her at the Hall—and he didn’t like her tense stance any more than he liked Saetan’s controlled neutrality.

“As Steward of the Court, I’m formally requesting that you remain with the Queen tonight,” Saetan said quietly. “All night.”