“That I arrived too late to save any of them. I’m sure I can prod her into a suitably violent reaction.”

“She’ll destroy more than us if she unleashes that kind of power.”

Daemon’s smile was a satisfied one. “Exactly. She’ll destroy everything. And once all of you are gone…Well, there will have to be a few more battles in Kaeleer to eliminate the more troublesome males in the court. But after that, I think things will settle down quite nicely.” He turned and started to walk away.

He’ll never get her to destroy everyone in Terreille, Saetan thought, closing his eyes against the sick feelings churning in his stomach. He’ll never twist her that much. Not Jaenelle.

“Wait,” Hekatah said.

Saetan opened his eyes.

Daemon was almost at the edge of the light. Turning, he raised one eyebrow in inquiry.

“Was that the only reason you came here?” Hekatah asked.

Daemon glanced at Lucivar again and smiled. “No. I thought I would settle a few debts while I was here.”

Hekatah returned the smile. “Then, perhaps, Prince, we do have something to talk about. But not right now. Why don’t you indulge yourself while I—while Dorothea and I think about how we might settle this amicably between us.”

“I’m sure I can find something amusing to do to pass the time,” Daemon said. He walked out of the light, disappeared into the darkness.

Hekatah looked at Saetan. It wasn’t possible for him to keep his feelings hidden right now, to keep his face blank.

Dorothea got to her feet and pointed at Surreal. “Secure that bitch,” she snapped at a couple of guards. Then she turned to Hekatah. “You can’t really believe Sadi.”

“The High Lord does,” Hekatah said quietly. “And that’s very interesting.” She hissed when Dorothea started to protest. “We’ll discuss this in private.”

She walked to her cabin with Dorothea reluctantly following.

After chaining Surreal to the post on Saetan’s left, the guards gathered up the dead men, and, with uneasy glances at the surrounding darkness, finally returned to their duties.

“Your son’s a cold-blooded bastard,” Surreal said quietly.

Saetan thought about the look in Daemon’s eyes. He thought about the man he should have known well—and didn’t know at all. Closing his eyes, he rested his head against the post, and said, “I only have one son now—and he’s Eyrien.”

“Hello, Prick.”

Lucivar turned his head, watched Daemon glide out of the darkness and circle around to stand directly in front of him.