Tangled Webs

didn’t think about that lost finger, but there were other days when he could still feel the moment when Hekatah put the blade against his skin.
    “It’s one thing for a man to say he’s gotten old and has reached an age when it’s time to step aside for those who are younger and better able to stand on a battlefield. But it humbles a man to realize his sons think he’s too old.”
    “You were harmed the lasst time, Ssaetan,” Draca said.
    “Yes.” And it wasn’t just a finger that had been lost to Hekatah’s torture. Oh, he hadn’t lost anything else physically, but the damage to his body had been irreparable—and had weighed in his decision to step back from the living Realms.
    Just because he couldn’t use his balls didn’t mean he didn’t still have them when it came to temper and Craft.
    “I am not without skills,” he growled.
    “They know that.”
    He snorted. “Do they? One son sends a message to you , asking you to lock me in the Keep—and sends the message with Khardeen, who latched on to me last night like a Sceltie who had found a meaty, unguarded soup bone. The other son shows up this morning and tells me to my face that he’ll break my legs if I don’t promise to stay here.”
    Draca made a soft sound that might have been laughter. “Lucivar hass alwayss been more direct.”
    You’re amused. How delightful.
    Draca reached out and touched his arm, a rare gesture for her. “Lucivar brought hiss wife and sson here becausse you are here. He dependss on you to protect what he holdss dear.”
    “And Daemon?” Saetan asked. “What is he protecting?”
    “More than Lucivar, Daemon needss a father who undersstandss him. By keeping you here, he iss protecting hiss own heart.”

    Daemon put away the spider silk and the rest of his supplies, then vanished the debris, leaving no trace of his night’s work.
    Three tangled webs sat on a table, carefully protected by shields. These webs offered no visions. Nor were they simple dreams.
    They were nightmare illusions combined with shadows. They were alluring and lethal—and exquisitely brutal. They would extract the debt owed to the SaDiablo family down to the last drop of blood and the last heartbeat of fear.
    Now all he needed to do was find Jarvis Jenkell.
    He vanished the tangled webs and went downstairs. They could all use some breakfast, and it would be better for the boy if Jaenelle was working on her second cup of coffee before Yuli woke up.
    Then he felt the thunder rolling through the abyss.
    He looked at Jaenelle.
    She said, “Lucivar is here.”

EIGHTEEN
     
     
    T he only thing behind the door was a dining room that wasn’t the same as the one they’d seen last night. Nothing in the back passage, nothing on the stairs. No shadow illusions of dead boys. No Black Widows trying to take another slice out of her.
    No damn beetles in the bathroom.
    Surreal would have felt better if a hairy, giggling spider had been climbing up a wall or a skeleton mouse had been scurrying in the hallway.
    The lack of small surprises could mean they were getting close to something big—and a lot more dangerous.

    Daemon rushed out of the Coach and saw Lucivar walking along the outside of the wrought-iron fence, looking at the house and the land around it.
    Looking relaxed, unconcerned, even friendly.
    And underneath a surface that gave no warning, the man was so furious, he was capable of ripping a person’s arm off before anyone realized his smile was feral and not friendly.
    The fact that that particular flavor of Lucivar’s temper seemed to be aimed right at him wasn’t a good way to start the morning.
    “Hell’s fire,” Jaenelle muttered as she joined Daemon outside. “He’s really feeling pissy this morning.”
    Lucivar stopped at the gate and waited for them.
    The lazy, arrogant smile. The glazed eyes. The explosive temper dancing one step away from the killing edge.
    “Lucivar,” Daemon said.
    “Because you’re my brother and I love you, I’m going to let you tell me why I shouldn’t break your face.”
    “Lucivar,” Jaenelle said.
    He snapped his fingers, pointed at her, and snarled, “Stay out of this, Cat.”
    She blinked and actually took a step back in surprise. Then her eyes changed, the blue becoming a deeper sapphire. And suddenly Daemon could see his breath as the air around them turned cold.
    “And put a warmer coat on,” Lucivar snapped, still glaring at her. “It’s cold out here.”
    «The cold has