Dreams Made Flesh

spraying wine all over the table. "Now that's a picture," she said when she finally managed to swallow. "No, it wasn't that obvious. Mostly because I was in the way," she added softly.
    Daemon nodded. "A Gray-Jeweled witch who is skilled with a knife… and is also related to Lucivar."
    "I think Falonar couldn't figure out how to step back."
    "Probably afraid that if you didn't rip his balls off, Lucivar would."
    "Exactly."
    "So you told him things weren't working between you and packed your bags."
    She shrugged. "Seemed the only thing to do."
    "Did you love him?"
    She hesitated, then shook her head. "I felt… special… for a little while. I've had sex with hundreds of men over the centuries, but I've never had a lover. I'm feeling bruised, but I'm not heartbroken over it."
    Dipping the last piece of lobster into the butter, Daemon held it out to her. "Someday you'll find a man worthy of you."
    She looked into his eyes, scared that she'd see some underlying message. What she saw was the warm affection of an older brother. She took the bite from his fork.
    Easing back, she enjoyed the warmth for a moment before saying, "Your turn."
    He set his fork on his plate with painful care. Then he picked up his wine and studied it.
    "I'm losing her," he said softly. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but… I'm losing her."
    Surreal stiffened. "What you are talking about?"
    His voice dropped to a whisper. "Maybe I'm no longer what Jaenelle wants."
    "Wait," she snapped. "Just wait." She studied the misery in his eyes. "You really believe that."
    "She isn't comfortable being around me anymore."
    Surreal shook her head. "I agree something isn't right between you, but, Daemon, I'm sure it isn't that."
    "You were only at the Hall a few days."
    "Which was long enough to know you're going down the wrong path if you think Jaenelle doesn't love you anymore."
    He closed his eyes, shutting her out, but not before she saw the pain and desperation he was choking back.
    She reached across the table and took his hand. Worry spiked through her when his fingers curled around hers in a fierce hold, a sure sign he was looking for reassurance.
    "She won't talk to me," he said. "I don't know what to do."
    "I do."
    He opened his eyes, disbelief warring with hope.
    "I'm willing to wager a year's income that her feelings haven't changed," Surreal said. "And I know yours haven't changed. So maybe the reason she can't talk to you is because you have a cock."
    "I've always had a cock," he said dryly.
    "Right. And there are things you might admit to another man you'd never admit to a woman. And there are things a woman might say to another woman that she would never say to a man…especially a man she loves."
    "And your point is?"
    "You're going to be in Amdarh a few more days, right?"
    "I do have some things to take care of."
    "Fine.You go tend to things, and I'll go back to the Hall and have a little chat with Jaenelle."
    "What makes you think she'll talk to you?"
    I'm not going to give her a choice. Which wasn't something she intended to ever tell Daemon, so she gave him a sassy smile. "Because I know the opening line to this little play." She eased her fingers out of his grip and patted his hand. "Trust me. And signal the server to bring over the dessert tray."
    "Did you see the way he fed her that bite of lobster?" Roxie said, sighing. "That's like something from a love story. He's sooo romantic."
    Tavey frowned. "If you wanted to taste some of my dinner, why didn't you say so?"
    Watching Daemon, Lektra wanted to smash all the plates and glasses on the table. How could he betray her like that? How could he sit there, in public, and fawn over a whore. She was the one who was working to free him from that useless cripple, Jaenelle. He shouldn't be playing with another woman. He shouldn't even be thinking of another woman. It was so… sluttish. When he was hers, she'd make sure he severed all association with that bitch, Surreal.
    Her hands curled into fists as she watched Surreal take his hand.
    How could he be so lost to propriety that he'd let a woman touch him like that? He might as well stand on the table and announce he was going to drop his pants for his "cousin" as soon as they got behind closed doors.
    If they even waited that long.
    Selfish bastard.
    Well, she'd still have him because she loved him. Besides, he was beautiful and was, no doubt, magnificent in bed. But he was obviously more ripe to belong to another woman than she'd