The Shadow Queen

about that too. “First Escort.” No one else had been willing to do it. A few of the Warlord Princes had offered to fill the position of Master of the Guard, but they still hadn’t found anyone willing to be the Steward either. He’d considered it, but he would have hated being stuck behind a desk, and as Talon had pointed out, since he was being held personally responsible for this new Queen’s well-being, First Escort was really the only choice.
    Then Jaenelle Angelline walked into the room, followed by another woman, and Theran’s first thought was, Thank the Darkness I don’t have to bed her.
    His second thought was he was mistaken—this large-boned, gawky female with the awful red hair and spots on her face must be a companion or servant for Lady Angelline. If it weren’t for the Rose Jewel she was wearing and the fact that she was here, he would have thought she was a hefty farm girl, all right for a bit of relief—as long as the barn was dark enough—but no one he would consider otherwise.
    Mother Night!
    Her psychic scent, masked by the power all around him since the High Lord walked into the room behind the women, hit him a moment later.
    Queen.
    No!
    “Prince Theran Grayhaven,” Jaenelle said, “this is Lady Cassidy, the Queen who has consented to rule Dena Nehele. Cassidy, this is Theran Grayhaven”—she glanced at Daemon and her voice took on a strange, sharp edge—“who has offered to stand as First Escort, if he is acceptable to you.”
    “Prince Grayhaven honors me.”
    She sounded sincere enough, but he couldn’t read any emotion on that plain face.
    “Shall we go in to dinner?” Saetan asked, stepping to one side.
    Lady Cassidy hurried out of the room with Jaenelle right behind her. When the High Lord walked out of the room, the door began to close.
    Theran took a step forward, then pulled up short when Sadi’s hand wrapped around his arm, the long nails pricking him through shirt and jacket.
    “For a man who has lived in such a dangerous Territory, it’s odd that you’ve never learned to hide what you think,” Daemon said too softly.
    “I didn’t say anything improper,” Theran snapped.
    “You didn’t have to. You’ve made your opinion very clear, Grayhaven. So. Are you still going to join us for dinner, or should I make your excuses for you?”
    “What are you talking about?” Theran pulled away, unnerved by the chilling contempt he saw in Daemon’s eyes.
    “You rejected Lady Cassidy.”
    “I did no such thing!”
    “Don’t lie to me, boyo. You didn’t even try to hide your opinion when you saw her.”
    “Well, what did you expect?” Theran let some of his own anger show. “Do you really think the other Warlord Princes will accept her ?”
    “That depends,” Daemon said with vicious control, “on whether they’re looking for someone to rule their people according to the Old Ways or trying to picture her riding their cocks.”
    “This isn’t what I bargained for!”
    “This is exactly what you bargained for,” Daemon replied as he glided toward the door. Then he stopped and looked at Theran. “Being the last of Jared’s bloodline got you this much and this far. But I’ll tell you this now. If you had declared yourself Consort instead of First Escort, I’d kill you where you stand to spare her enduring one minute with you in bed.”
    Daemon didn’t open the door. He used Craft to pass through the wood.
    Theran stumbled over to a chair and sank into it.
    No wonder this Queen had been available. No wonder she hadn’t demanded more compensation for ruling a Territory. She was a Queen because she’d been born into that caste, just as he had been born a Warlord Prince.
    But no one wanted her. Who in the name of Hell would want her?
    They’d saddled him with a castoff, and he was stuck with her. Dena Nehele needed a Queen too desperately for him to go back home without her. So he would swallow his pride, go in to dinner, and bring Lady Cassidy to Dena Nehele to meet the rest of the Warlord Princes. And he would do the best he could for his people with what little she could offer.

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    CHAPTER 10
    A few steps away from the dining room, Jaenelle had linked arms with Cassidy and pulled her into another room.
    “But,” Cassidy had protested, “dinner—”
    “Will wait.” Jaenelle released her and stepped away. “What do you think of Grayhaven?”
    Cassidy shrugged, not willing to voice her opinion.
    Jaenelle pursed her lips. “As Lucivar would say, if you keep chewing on that gristle, sooner or later you’re going to