The Shadow Queen

were bothering him, he now has a measuring stick for how to react the next time Cassidy does something that upsets him, and he learned that he doesn’t have to give up the things that are most important to him if he’s willing to yield about other things.” Gauging her mood—unchanged—he added,“And I learned that Lucivar’s idea of a romantic kiss is not drooling on the girl or chewing her face.”
    Jaenelle popped up so fast she almost clobbered his chin.
    “No,” she said. “You’re making that up. He is not that . . . that . . .”
    “Eyrien?”
    “Mother Night.” Jaenelle looked a little stunned, but when her sapphire eyes focused on him, he wished he had the width of the bed between them. And he was beginning to think that teasing her about Lucivar’s sexual skills hadn’t been the best idea. Especially since he knew Lucivar had said that for Gray’s benefit.
    “You have to do something,” Jaenelle said.
    “Like what?”
    “No woman should have to put up with that. And certainly Marian shouldn’t have to put up with that. If that’s Lucivar’s idea of romance, you need to teach him how to kiss properly.”
    “If a man is doing it right, there’s nothing proper about a romantic kiss,” Daemon murmured.
    “Daemon.” She poked his chest with a finger. “Do something.”
    So he did. He kissed her. And when he was done, one of her hands was fisted in his hair, encouraging him not to go too far away.
    “I gave Gray some tips about romantic kissing,” he said as his lips drifted across her face, leaving a trail of delicate kisses.
    “You did?” She sounded breathless, and her scent had shifted toward arousal enough to warm his blood very nicely.
    “Hmm. I don’t think he had his mind on much else through the whole of dinner.”
    “That explains why he was so cheerful,” Jaenelle murmured, tipping her head to one side so that he could nibble on his favorite part of her neck.
    “Lucivar is a more difficult challenge.” He slipped one hand under her nightgown and his fingertips whispered up and down the insides of her thighs.
    Nothing in her eyes now but desire. Nothing in her touch but love as she slipped a hand under the covers and stroked him.
    “I should practice my technique,” he said as he licked the valley between her breasts.
    “Daemon,” she gasped when his fingers found other interesting bits of her to play with. “How much practice do you need?”
    He settled over her, enjoying, for the moment, the thin barrier of fabric between them. “I’ll let you know in the morning,” he purred.
    Her reply was a moan of pleasure.

TERREILLE
    Theran walked into the parlor in the family wing and flopped on the sofa.
    “Want some brandy?” Talon asked.
    “Sure.”
    He accepted the glass Talon poured for him, then slugged back half the liquor.
    “How did it go tonight?” Talon asked, settling into a chair near the sofa.
    “Well enough.”
    “Is Gray all right?”
    Theran made a sound that might have been a laugh. “Better than I am.”
    “You hurt?”
    He shook his head. He didn’t want Talon to be alarmed; he just didn’t know if he should repeat what he’d been told. Wasn’t sure he wanted Talon to agree with the High Lord’s assessment.
    “Gray is like them,” he said, swirling the brandy so he wouldn’t have to look at Talon. “He fit in like he was just another piece of an intricate pattern. The way he talked with them, listened to them. If he decides to emigrate to Dharo, they’ll help him.”
    “If he decides what ?”
    Theran winced. Of course Talon didn’t know about it. Gray hadn’t mentioned it until this morning.
    “I didn’t know him tonight,” Theran said. “He had one of his . . . scares . . .”
    “Damn,” Talon muttered.
    “. . . and they handled it, Sadi and the High Lord. Soothing spells and power. They got him settled in minutes.”
    “Did you think to ask about the spell?” Talon asked. “Sounds like a handy thing to know. Hell’s fire, I’ve tried everything I know and couldn’t get him settled when he was having a bad night.”
    “The High Lord took me aside after dinner and taught me the soothing spell he’d used. He considered it a basic spell and was surprised that it wasn’t part of our usual training.”
    Talon studied him, then sat back in his chair. “You’re circling around something.”
    “Theran’s blade,” Theran said quietly. “Gray and I used to joke about him being my great protector. But Jewels only measure one kind of power, don’t they? Two men can wear the same Jewel, even have the exact same depth of