The Shadow Queen

when he had specific instructions or one of them wanted to report something in private. Not that there had been much to report.
    He had a bad feeling that was about to change.
    Didn’t need to be told they were in trouble. He’d felt that dark presence the moment he woke; known a strong predator had come to the estate. And Powell had knocked on his door a minute after sunset to tell him an Eyrien was waiting to see him. A Red-Jeweled Warlord Prince.
    “Red-Jeweled, my ass,” Talon muttered. He wore Sapphire. He knew the feel of Red. And he was willing to bet that if the Eyrien wore the Red, it wasn’t his Jewel of rank. Which meant the Eyrien had to be . . .
    The door opened and controlled fury walked into the room.
    “Lucivar Yaslana,” Talon whispered, feeling his legs go weak. He’d never met the man before, thank the Darkness, but there was no mistaking the Ebon-gray Jewel that gleamed against Lucivar’s brown skin. “I’m Talon, Master of the Guard.”
    “You know what I am?” Lucivar asked.
    Talon nodded. He’d heard enough stories to know exactly what was standing in this room.
    Lucivar raised one hand. Two boxes appeared on the table. He approached the table and pulled the top off one box. “Official business first. This is yarbarah, the blood wine.”
    With no wasted movement, Lucivar opened a bottle of yarbarah, called in a wineglass, filled it, and began warming the blood wine over a tongue of witchfire.
    “Since you’re going to need to keep replenishing your power, you should drink a glass of this three times a day. More if you want, but three glasses will provide enough blood to maintain someone who is demon-dead. Every ten days, you should add some fresh human blood. How much depends on the strength of the person who is giving it, but a couple of spoonfuls is usually enough. And once a month you should drink an offering cup of undiluted human blood.” Lucivar handed the glass to Talon. “Yarbarah is best drunk warm. It tastes a little thick otherwise. And it’s best to keep a bottle chilled once you open it.”
    Talon took the wineglass but didn’t drink. “The court can’t afford the expense of—”
    “Queen’s gift. Won’t cost the court anything to keep you supplied with what you need to serve as Master.”
    Someone’s paying for it, Talon thought, but he didn’t argue. And he didn’t try to resist any longer when the smell of blood was sharpening his hunger and need.
    He took a sip, got the taste of it, then gulped down the rest of the glass. Not as rich or potent as human blood, but there wasn’t any shame in drinking it.
    “There are specific rituals for the giving and taking of blood,” Lucivar said. “You should learn them.”
    Talon hesitated, then filled the glass again and warmed it with witchfire the way Lucivar had done.
    “Why do you know so much about yarbarah?” he asked.
    “My uncle, cousin, and older brother were demon-dead. My father is a Guardian. Yarbarah is standard fare with the family.”
    Talon took another swallow of yarbarah and frowned. “They were demon-dead?”
    “They’re gone now.”
    “And your father is . . . ?” According to some stories,Yaslana was a half-breed bastard whose bloodlines were unknown. According to other stories, Daemon Sadi shared that unknown paternal bloodline, making Sadi and Yaslana half brothers.
    “A Guardian,” Lucivar said. “One of the living dead. And the High Lord of Hell.”
    Ice twined around Talon’s spine. Saetan had sired Sadi and Yaslana? Hell’s fire, Mother Night, and may the Darkness be merciful!
    That explained some things about the two of them. And it made Talon wonder if going to Sadi for a favor hadn’t been a serious mistake if his brother was also going to take an interest in Dena Nehele.
    And his father as well? That wasn’t a thought Talon wanted to entertain.
    “What’s your unofficial business?” Talon asked.
    Lucivar’s gold eyes glazed. “I don’t like what I see here,Talon. I don’t like what I feel here. If it doesn’t change, I’m taking Cassidy back to Kaeleer, and I’ll leave nothing but corpses behind me.”
    “You have no right to make that decision.”
    “I say I do. Your Queen got hurt today, and not one of her court did a damn thing to stop it.”
    “Hurt? How? What happened?”
    “Ask the First Circle. Ask the First Escort, who’s lucky to still be alive.”
    “What happened?” Talon asked again.
    “I figured it was better for everyone if I didn’t ask for the details.”
    Hell’s fire.
    Something wasn’t right. Even if