The Shadow Queen
in the blood.
The Healer wet a small square of cloth with a healing lotion and handed it to Jaenelle, who murmured her thanksand didnt grumble at him when he took the cloth and cleaned her pricked finger.
Clean off her hands again, Jaenelle told the Healer.
The silvery strands showed once more, but this time when they faded, no blood seeped up through the skin.
I didnt think to do that, the Healer said.
Jaenelle shook her head. It wouldnt have made a difference if you had.
*Because the spell was made to recognize your blood?* Daemon asked.
*And yours.*
I would recommend drinking a healing brew several times a day for the next couple of days, Jaenelle told Rosalene. That will help your body regain its strength and replace the blood youve lost.
I can take care of that, the Healer said.
Then I think were done here. Jaenelle looked at him, clearly letting him make the choice.
He was more than ready to get out of that house, but he had duties as the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan.
Everyone needs some rest, he told Collyn, who was still hovering in the doorway. Ill return this afternoon, and you and I can discuss what happened yesterday.
He escorted Jaenelle out of that room and down the stairs to the main floor . . . and escape.
*Daemon, I know you have duties, but I dont want to stay in this house,* Jaenelle said.
*Were not going to,* he said as they left the house and walked to the Coach. *Arrangements have already been made for us to stay at the estate house for as long as it takes to settle this.*
She stuttered a step. *Is that why Holt came with us? It seemed odd that Beale would assign a footman to look after us for a Coach ride, but I had other things on my mind.*
*Holt went on to the house to let them know were coming.*
*Ah.*
She had seemed grimly calm while shed looked at the body. She had taken care of Rosalenes hands with her usual skill as a Healer.
So he wasnt prepared when she flung herself in his arms and held on with shuddering distress the moment they were safely inside the Coach.
Jaenelle . . . He held her, not knowing what else to doand more unnerved by this reaction than hed been by anything else. Jaenelle, whats wrong?
Not yet, she whispered. Please. I dont want to talk about it yet, think about it yet. I dont want to be completely sober when we talk about this.
Mother Night. Isnt there anything you can tell me?
Her eyes were so haunted when she eased back enough to look at him. Do you know the story of Zuulaman?
They had a summer blanket tucked around themmore for the idea of comfort, since it couldnt relieve what chilled themand they were both working on their third very large brandies before Jaenelle stopped shivering.
Daemon kept one arm wrapped around her. He would have preferred the privacy of the bedroom to a locked parlor, but he understood her choice. She wanted this conversation over with before they got into bed to offer each other some comfort and get some sleep.
Hes not sane, Daemon.
He wasnt sure hed heard her correctly. You think Saetan got so pissed off about this bitch that he decided to take a walk in the Twisted Kingdom in order to deal with her?
I dont think he decided anything, Jaenelle said. I think something about this shoved him over the border. Free fall into madnessand the rage inside that madness is huge . . . and terrible.
He had walked in the Twisted Kingdom for eight years, lost in madness. He had lost none of his power during that time, but his madness had been self-destructive. If hed understood Jaenelles reference to Zuulaman, Saetans madness tended to look outward. Toward an enemy.
Why? he asked. What did you see in that room?
She shook her head. The spell in the shirt was an execution, a brutal kind of justice. He was in that room with her as the Executioner. But something changed toward the end.
Shivering, she tried to tuck herself closer to him. Since that wasnt possible, he put a warming spell on the blanket.
It changed, Jaenelle said. It became personal. For him. Personal enough to break something inside him.
She drained her glass, then used Craft to float the decanter of brandy from the table in front of the sofa. She filled her glass and topped off his before sending the decanter back to the table.
Daemon narrowed his eyes and considered the wobble as the decanter settled
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