Gabrielle rushed over to help the footman while Karla, without actually touching Osvald, used healing Craft to seal the severed blood vessels.

“What’s going on here?” Alexandra demanded, the sharp edge in her voice sounding more frightened than angry. “Why are you attacking one of my escorts?”

“Did you send him?” Lucivar asked, an odd note in his voice.

“I sent him to bring a gift to Wilhelmina,” Alexandra said.

There was something queer and bitter about Lucivar’s laugh. “And the bastard delivered it, didn’t he?”

“When I went to deliver the gift, Lady Wilhelmina wasn’t feeling well,” Osvald whimpered. “I offered to walk with her so that she could get some fresh air. Then that creature attacked us.”

Lucivar looked at Osvald, then at Falonar. “If that bastard says anything else, cut his tongue out.”

Falonar looked shocked, but nodded.

“How dare you?” Alexandra said. “You’re so quick to make demands to me about controlling my court, yet you allow this—”

“Shut up,” Lucivar snapped. “Things are bad enough right now. Don’t make it worse.”

Surreal gave Lucivar a sharp look. What was going on here?

Shivering, Graysfang moved closer to her. *Queen’s rage is bad, Surreal. Males fear Queen’s rage. Even Kaelas.*

Following the wolf’s gaze, Surreal saw the huge white cat standing on the roof next to a tiger. That was Kaelas? Mother Night!

*Who’s the tiger?* she asked.

*That is Jaal. He is Dejaal’s sire.*

Surreal swallowed hard. The tiger was dwarfed by Kaelas, but he was still twice as large as the young tiger lying in the courtyard. *Dejaal is dead, isn’t he?*

*He has returned to the Darkness,* Graysfang said sadly.

How were they going to explain this to Jaenelle?

As if the thought had conjured the woman, Jaenelle walked into the courtyard, flanked by Daemon and Saetan.

Surreal might have taken some comfort in their presence if the High Lord’s face hadn’t turned gray at the sight of Dejaal’s body.

Alexandra started to speak, but before she could make a sound, her hands flew up to her throat and her eyes became wide and terrified.

Surreal wasn’t sure which one of the males had acted, but she would have bet it was Daemon who had created the phantom hand that was now choking Alexandra into silence.

Everyone moved out of the way as Jaenelle walked over and knelt beside Dejaal. The hand that caressed the fur was gentle and loving, but the eyes that finally looked up and focused on Wilhelmina…

What Surreal saw in those sapphire eyes went so far beyond cold rage there were no words for it.

Yes, there were, she realized as Graysfang whimpered softly. This was what the wolf had meant by Queen’s rage.

Hell’s fire, Mother Night, and may the Darkness be merciful.