Queen of the Darkness

Lucivar continued just as quietly, "as long as I never hear it again. But if I do, there will come a morning when you step into the practice circle, and I'll be waiting for you."
    "Y-yes, sir," Palanar stammered. "I'm sorry, sir."
    Hallevar cuffed the boy on the back of the head. "Go get something to eat," he growled. "Maybe with some food in you, you'll use more of your head than just your mouth."
    Palanar slunk away, Tamnar trailing behind him.
    Hallevar eyed the distance between them and Jaenelle, figured she was close enough to have heard, and swore softly. "I taught him better than that."
    Lucivar rolled a shoulder. "He's old enough to want his cock admired. That makes him stupid." He looked at the older Warlord. "He can't afford to be stupid. What the Queens in this court may be willing to overlook from a youngster, the males in the court won't—at least, not a second time."
    "I'll blister his ears to make sure he gets the message," Hallevar promised. "Might as well blister Tamnar's while I'm at it." He went back to the circle and began the warmup routine with Kohlvar.
    Daemon turned toward Jaenelle, Palanar already forgotten. When he saw the feral look in her eyes, his smile died before it formed.
    Lucivar simply raised his left arm.
    With one wild-shy glance at him and a murmured greeting he could barely hear, Jaenelle ducked under Lucivar's arm.
    Lucivar lowered his arm, and the hand that settled at her waist tucked her tight against his side. Her right arm rested against his back, her hand curled over his bare shoulder.
    They stand that way often, Daemon thought as he fought to rein in his jealousy—and the hurt—because she had barely spared him a glance.
    But he suspected that Lucivar was better prepared to deal with the feral look in her eyes than he was. That hurt, too.
    "Do you want the introductions now?" Lucivar asked quietly.
    Jaenelle shook her head. "I want to warm up first."
    "When you're ready, I'll go a round with you."
    She glanced at Lucivar's bare chest. "I would have thought you'd already done your workout."
    "I've gone through two of them. Haven't worked up a sweat yet."
    "Ah."
    Lucivar paused. "Your sister's here."
    "I know." She flicked a glance at the empty women's practice circle. "I'm surprised you haven't dragged her out here."
    "She's got another thirty minutes to arrive on her own before she gets dragged." Lucivar grinned wickedly. "I promise I'll go easy."
    "Uh-huh."
    That, Daemon thought sourly, he would like to see.
    "We also have company," Lucivar said.
    Her eyes iced over. "I know," she said in her midnight voice.
    Daemon took a step toward her. He didn't know what he could say or do, but he was certain he—or someone— had to shift the mood she was in.
    *Lucivar...* he began.
    *Just keep things soft and easy, Bastard,* Lucivar replied. *The workout will take the edge off her.*
    Daemon took another step toward her. Her expression changed to something close to panic—and he realized that, last night when she had let him hold her, the Queen had been doing her duty for one of the males in her First Circle, but the woman didn't want to get anywhere near him.
    As she darted away from Lucivar—and him—she almost ran into Jazen, who was carrying a tray containing a pot of fresh coffee and clean mugs.
    "Who are you?" Jaenelle said a little too softly.
    Jazen stared into her eyes, frozen. "Jazen," he finally said. "Prince Sadi's valet."
    Her eyes changed from ice to curiosity. "Is it interesting work?"
    "It would be more interesting if he wore something besides a black suit and a white shirt all the time," Jazen muttered.
    Lucivar choked back a laugh. Daemon felt the blood rush into his face and wasn't sure if it was from temper or embarrassment. Jazen looked horrified.
    Then Jaenelle's silvery, velvet-coated laugh rang out. "Well, we'll do our best to rumple him up for you." As she walked past Jazen, she brushed her left hand over his shoulder. "Welcome to Kaeleer, Warlord."
    Daemon waited until she had reached the women's practice circle before turning to his valet. "Should I apologize for being boring in my taste in clothes? And why in the name of Hell are you out here doing a footman's work?"
    "Beale asked me to bring this tray out." Jazen gulped. "I don't know why I said that other."
    "You said what you've been thinking," Lucivar said, amused. "Don't worry about it. By the time we're done with him, you'll have to work hard to keep him looking pristine."
    Daemon snarled at