“Write to Lord Burle,” Daemon replied. “Ask him for descriptions of the plants that come from the seeds Cassie brought with her.”

“But he doesn’t know about gardens,” Gray protested. “He told me that when he was in Dena Nehele.”

“He has a wife who knows about gardens,” Saetan replied. “A wife who will remember exactly what seeds she gave her daughter. But you send your request to Lord Burle whether he knows about gardens or not.”

Gray nodded. “Because a male doesn’t interact directly with a Lady unless he’s been formally introduced, especially when he knows a male who is connected to the Lady.”

“You’ve studied your Protocol,” Saetan said, his voice warm with approval.

“Yes, sir. Cassie is helping me.”

I don’t know him, Theran thought, feeling a pang of loss as he watched Gray. I don’t know this man who is sitting there chatting with the High Lord of Hell as if he did it every week.

“Add your note to the next batch of reports that are sent to me,” Daemon said. “I’ll see that it gets to Lord Burle in Dharo.”

Gray smiled. “Thank you. I’ll write it tomorrow.”

Theran cast about for something to say, but he wasn’t comfortable around those men, didn’t want to share anything with them that he didn’t have to share.

“I have scars,” Gray said quietly, his eyes fixed on the carpet between his feet.

Another of those strange silences, as if Saetan, Daemon, and Lucivar were hearing more than words.

“Has Cassie seen them?” Saetan asked gently.

“Some of them,” Gray mumbled.

“Do any of them interfere with your ability to have sex?”

Gray blushed and shook his head.

“Well, then . . .”

“I have scars.”

Another beat of silence.

“If you kiss a girl the right way, she won’t notice the scars,” Daemon said.

“The right way?” Gray slowly lifted his head. “There’s a right way?”

Daemon smiled.

Gray stared at Lucivar, and there was a hint of challenge in his voice. “You didn’t tell me there was a right way.”

“You’re in the first stage of courtship,” Lucivar said. “Beginner kisses. As long as you don’t drool on the girl or chew her face, you’re doing fine.”

Saetan and Daemon made pained sounds.

“What?” Lucivar said. “Let him figure it out for himself. He’s not kissing her below the neck—or he shouldn’t be.”

“I’m not,” Gray said hotly. “But—”

“We’ll discuss technique later,” Daemon said quietly.

Gray swallowed whatever he’d been about to say and sat back.

“Oh, the joy of dealing with young men,” Saetan said dryly as he looked toward the sitting room door. “Thank the Darkness, I think the Ladies are returning.”