Darkness' Gift 1/2

[deeperwonderment]

Title: Darkness' Gift Part 1/2
Author: not_from_stars
Fanart: ebon_gray
Fanmix: enochiansigils
Beta: enochiansigils
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Black Jewels
Characters: SaDiablo family, The Coven, Kaetien SaDiablo (OC), Daemonar Yaslana, The Dark Court
Word Count: 16,1546
Challenge: bjt_bigbang
Summary: It started out as a simple desire to do something for the Queen they all loved. What transpired was a gift from the Darkness unlike anything that had been done before. Kaetien SaDiablo was a dream for the Dream. Growing up, Kaetien has the love of her family, and the beginnings of a Court as a new coven and group of boyos start forming around her. She also has the heart and leash of an Eyrien Warlord Prince from the time she is brought home. For as Jaenelle has informed all of them, Kaetien is the future Queen of Ebon Askavi...and this Queen is the Heart of Ebon Rih.
A/N: I just want to make sure I thank queenmidalah for running this, klmeri for writing along with me and reminding me that this was a world we loved and that's why we had to write the stories in our head. BUt most of all, I have to thank enochiansigils, who, when she found out I had deleted my original sat with me and poked and prodded and encouraged as I struggled to rewrite everything that I had created before because she kept telling me it was a beautiful story and had to be shared. She was there with me every step of the way and for that I owe her so much.

Book Cover done by ebon_gray

Fan Mix by enochiansigils




It wasn't a question that they had been able to find the answer to in the Keep's massive library.

When most of the Coven had descended upon the library with determination in their eyes, both Saetan and Geoffrey had immediately become curious. Their curiosity turned to concern when, time after time, each of the Queens politely declined their offers of assistance. Concern turned into worry as they watched the members of the Coven become more and more visibly frustrated by the lack of answers stemming from their tireless research.

Saetan and Geoffrey watched over the ladies while they focused on whatever it was they were searching for in the histories. When it became very clear that they were all seized by the same intensity to find an answer to their private question, Saetan and Geoffrey began to subtly care for them from a distance, the same way they had done when they were younger and studying their lessons. The two men made sure that there was plenty of food and drink available for the ladies, and they would also gently remind them that they needed to take rest breaks. They had helped to raise and educate this family of Queens and they knew most of their habits and personalities by heart. They were also aware that sometimes they would get so locked onto something that they would forget to take any kind of nourishment. They were there to make sure that it didn't happen often.

Finally, after what had been several days of silence, Gabrielle closed the book she was reading and looked at the rest of the Coven. Wordlessly they had a conversation and from the set of each young woman's shoulders, Saetan knew they had come to a decision about something important. With a final mod, Gabrielle turned to him.

"High Lord," she said formally, causing his eyebrow to rise. "The Coven needs to speak to Lorn and to the Weaver of Dreams." She paused for a second, her eyes taking on a distant look that told him she was also speaking to one of her sisters on a private thread. Her eyes cleared and she gave him a tired smile. "And to Draca as well. Could you please arrange that for us?"

His eyes swept along the Coven and then he looked back at Gabrielle. "And Jaenelle?" Because he wasn't going to be a part of anything that might hurt the daughter of his soul. The Coven sneaking around behind her back could very well do that.

"We do this for Jaenelle," Morghann said, and the rest of the girls nodded. They knew that he was wondering why they were here researching without her.

Sometimes he thought they knew him too well.

He looked at Karla who had been quiet during this. "Lady?"

"Kiss Kiss," she said with a familiar fire in her eyes. "Trust in us, High Lord. We do this for Jaenelle and if the conversation with Lorn goes well, you'll know all about it soon."

Saetan looked at them all, trying to answer the myriad questions in his mind. The psychic scents from all of the girls were filled with a mixture of hope and excitement. The feelings of hope were what made him the most curious, but he could see from their expressions that not one of them would assuage his curiosity before they were ready.

He had helped to train them, after all.

"All right," he finally agreed. "I will speak to Lorn."



When Saetan attempted to enter the throne room behind the Coven, it was Draca who blocked his way.

"No, High Lord," she said gently, but firmly. "It issss not time for you yet."

"Draca..."

"All will be well, High Lord. What the Ladiesss sssseek to do is preciousss and fragile. You will be proud of them when you know."

He could tell that there was no more she would be willing to say, so he bowed his head and watched as the doors were closed against him.

What was the Coven trying to do that was so fragile? Had Gabrielle and Karla seen something in their webs that made them feel that Jaenelle was in danger?

He shook his head. No, that wasn't it. He knew all of the Ladies very well. If there had been the hint of danger, one of them would have come to him expecting him to do something to fix it immediately. They knew almost everything about him and they knew he would not suffer any danger coming near his Queen ever again. Almost as important was that they knew that if they were in danger, he would be there to help them as well. They were the hearts of their Territories, and they were family.

No, it wasn't danger that compelled the Coven to act like this. So what was it? What were they keeping such a big secret that they needed the guidance of Lorn?

Saetan sighed and settled in for a long wait.



Once everyone was gathered that they had requested, it was Gabrielle who looked at Lorn.

"Lorn, can a specific dream -- if dreamt by enough dreamers who believe in it with all of their hearts -- become real?"

There was silence in the room as Lorn, Draca and the Weaver of Dreams thought about the question.

"Do you mean like Dreamsss Made Flesssh? That doess not happen very often."

Morghann shook her head at Draca. "Not exactly like that. Not like Jaenelle. Jaenelle was the dream of all of us and of people and kindred for so many centuries. What we want to know is if we can make a dream for the Dream."

*A child.* The Weaver of Dreams, the former Queen of Arachna said.

"Exactly," Karla said quietly. "Jaenelle wants a child and no matter how much she and Daemon have tried..."

"She's given up so much for Kaeleer and the beings who love her," Kalush said gently. "We've searched the library at the Keep. While nothing has been written about a request like ours, it doesn't mean that it can't happen."

*You would have to be ssstrong and dedicated dreamersss.* Lorn finally responded.

"The Coven and the Boyos are willing to do this, but we know that it would be more powerful if we invite the Kindred and others who love her. You and Draca. Tersa and Saetan and Lucivar most certainly. Marian and Sylvia, as well. The Beales." Sabrina's green eyes were full of emotion. "We would like to do this for her, Lorn. More than anyone, she deserves this."

The Coven looked between the three that they had asked to speak with and then Gabrielle spoke again into the silence.

"Lorn, can something like this be done?"

Draca smiled. "I will sssummon the High Lord and hissss sssson."




They had brought in chairs for all of them to be seated while they tried to make plans for what the Coven wanted to do.

Saetan had been stunned when he told what the Coven had been researching and planning; once again he was overwhelmed by the love he had for these women that he had first met as young children. He glanced at Lucivar and saw that his son's eyes were bright with tears.

"Will it work?" Lucivar asked quietly. "Could we really do something like this for Cat?"

*If the dreamers are that strong and that selfless, then it will work.* The Arachnian Queen said. *The Kindred held the Dream to Flesh before. Kindred and Human can bring her this gift if they believe and hold together.*

Lucivar didn't even pause. "Then let's do this," he said, looking around the room as his wings rustled. "It's the least we can do for her."

Saetan watched as smiles crossed every face in the room.

*A dream for the Dream.* Lorn's voice sounded in all of their heads. *It isss fitting.*



It was a year later that there was a disturbance in the land of Sceval. At first, Moonshadow and Mistral didn't know what to make of the tiny bundle they found, just laying beneath one of the trees on their island. They sent scouts out over the rest of the island, but they didn't find anything else. There were no humans to be found anywhere on their lands. Like any good Queen, Moonshadow did her best to take care of the little bundle they had found. It was when she was weaving a web, that she realized what was happening.

*We need the Lady.*

Mistral nodded and looked among the Warlords for someone to send. He could not leave his Queen and his mate right now to deliver the message himself. She needed him at her side.

*Go to the Strange One. The Strange One will know what is needed.* Moonshadow knew that she would make sure the steps that needed to be taken would be followed.




It was never a good thing when his beloved wife turned from laughing woman to wary Queen in the space of a breath.

Daemon stilled as he watched Jaenelle's nostrils flare slightly and she scrambled from their bed, calling in a set of clothes. The single minded determination in her movements had him balancing on the Killing Edge immediately. He was silent as he called in his own clothes and quickly got dressed. When he was dressed and he saw that she was, he sought to turn her attention to him.

"Lady?" His voice was calm and soothing and he did his best not to react when Witch turned stormy eyes on him.

"There is trouble. I am needed."

"Trouble?" That there could be danger to his Queen and his love caused the room to start developing frost as he felt himself go cold. "Where is there trouble?"

Her face changed and he saw her true form for just an instant before she was heading for the door. "Sceval."

Oh, hell. No wonder she had gone so cold so quickly. He had heard the stories of the massacre that led to her making the Offering and setting up her Court to draw battle lines with the Dark Council. He followed her out of the room, but not before he sent an ebon-gray spear thread to his brother.

*Lucivar!*

*Bastard?* Lucivar was instantly alert.

*I need you at the Keep. Jaenelle and I are headed there now.*

He felt Lucivar's temper sharpen over the thread. *What's wrong? Is Cat all right?*

*She says there's trouble. In Sceval.*

Daemon hadn't been there the last time there was trouble in Sceval, but Lucivar had been and he knew his brother had a long memory. *I'm on my way. I'll bring Marian and Daemonar to stay with Father while we take care of things.*

When Daemon and Jaenelle got to the Keep, they were surprised to find Tersa and Saetan waiting for them. Ladvarian was also there -- and Daemon hadn't even known he left the Hall. He was even more surprised when Gabrielle and Karla came out of the study, followed by Draca.

"High Lord?"

"One of Mistral's sons is here and he is requesting to talk to Jaenelle."

*The Queen is needed.* There was no doubting that the unicorn delivering that message was young, but it wasn't fear that Jaenelle tasted in his psychic scent. It was more like he was expecting something.

When Lucivar, Marian and Daemonar arrived, Tersa nodded, moving to touch Marian's hand.

"The boy needs to come with us," she said gently to Marian. Daemon's gaze sharpened and he watched as Marian tilted her head and then she smiled. Apparently, Tersa was communicating with her on a distaff thread, and she put Daemonar's hand in Tersa's.

Tersa came back over to the group with Daemonar who was looking like he knew something that no one else knew. Considering how all of the adults were looking at everyone but him and Jaenelle, Daemon wondered what they were up to.

"It isss time." Draca finally said. "The High Lord will wait here."

Not that Daemon was glad that Saetan wasn't going into what could be a dangerous situation, but he had to ask. "Why?"

Draca smiled at him, but it was Saetan who answered him. "I'm needed here."

That didn't sound ominous at all, but Daemon still felt the skin along the back of his neck prickle in warning.

*Father?* Black to Black. He needed an answer from his father before he was going anywhere -- or letting Jaenelle go anywhere.

*All is well and will be well, Daemon, I promise. But you need to be there.* He paused for a moment and a feeling of warmth came back along the thread. *There is no danger to Jaenelle or Daemonar, I give you my word.*




When their group arrived at the landing area in Sceval, Mistral's son, Nightfog, was waiting for them.

*Lady!* He said excitedly when he saw Jaenelle. *You came, and you brought your mate! Moonshadow and Mistral will be so happy to see you.*

Jaenelle looked confused, but Karla, Gabrielle, Tersa and Lucivar were not surprised in the greeting in the least. In fact, they looked like they had been expecting something like this and were quite pleased.

*Prick?*

*Trust us, Bastard. What we have come for is especially for Cat.*

*What is going on?*

*A dream for the Dream.*

That didn't help the confusion, but he followed the three Black Widows and his mother down the hill. After several minutes of walking they came to the hollow in the trees and caves where Moonshadow and her Warlord Prince were waiting for them.

*Thank you for coming, Lady. She needs human furs and human food now.*

Jaenelle gasped and went down to her knees. "But how did a baby get all the way out here?"

*The Black Widows found her.*

Jaenelle stood up, holding the tiny baby that the unicorns had been taking care of. "Where were her parents?"

"She has none, Jaenelle," Gabrielle said softly. "There won't be any found."

"This baby is a gift from the Darkness." That was Karla's voice.

As the women were talking, he sudden realized what Lucivar had been trying to tell him.

"A dream for the Dream." His voice was soft. He looked at Lucivar. "Did you know about this? How long have you known about this, Prick?"

"For a little more than a year, Bastard." Lucivar nodded. "The Kindred, the Coven, the Boyos, me, Marian, Draca, Tersa, Saetan, Lorn. Strong dreamers and true dreamers. All dreamers who wanted to do something for you and Jaenelle. Something important and fragile. Moonshadow told us that she looks like a blend of you and Cat."

Daemon felt his eyes fill as he realized what kind of gift that friends, family and even those he didn't know had worked so hard to bring forth for him and Jaenelle. He leaned over Jaenelle's shoulder and used Craft to move the top layer of blankets away so that he could look down at his new daughter. She had a head full of black hair and when she looked at him, he could see that her eyes were blue with gold flecks within them. He could only imagine what her eyes would look like when she was angry as she grew older. She looked exactly like he had sometimes imagined Jaenelle might have looked as an infant. He reached out his hand and the the little girl wrapped her fist around his finger.

"What will you name her, Jaenelle?" Gabrielle's voice was hushed as she and Karla came to stand on either side of her.

Jaenelle was thoughtful and then she looked at Mistral for a long moment. Mistral nodded his head, and then bowed with his horn sweeping the grass. *We would be honored by the Lady's choice, as would my sire.*

Jaenelle smiled softly as she looked back down at the infant in her arms.

"Kaetien. Her name is Kaetien Rose SaDiablo."

"Mine!" The outraged howl of a young boy broke the stillness as he fought to get away from his father. "Mine mine mine mine!"

"Daemonar, wait," Lucivar commanded his son as he tried to get a better grip on his struggling son.

"Lucivar." The males turned at the tone of Tersa's voice. "Let him be. Trust your son as my boys once trusted themselves."

Daemonar twisted free and flew over to Jaenelle. He landed carefully beside his aunt and gave her a solemn look. "Hold."

"Of course," she said as she smiled and kneeled down in the grass next to her nephew.

She placed the baby in his small arms and showed him how to properly hold her. Daemonar looked down at the baby for a long moment, and then he held her closer to his chest, his wings curling around as if to shield her.

"Mine," he said more firmly, baring his teeth in challenge.

"I know," Witch smiled.




It wasn't an official court, because Jaenelle no longer wore the Black. However, that didn't stop the court from forming around her again and making the Keep and the Hall seem like it had been in the days before Jaenelle risked so much to save Kaeleer. Saetan sat back and watched all of this happen with a feeling of contentment that he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Kaetien was doted on by everyone that came in contact with her. She had the run of any place she wanted to go, and Daemonar was usually found wherever she was. Ever since the day he had laid his claim on her, he had been determined to follow her any place she decided to lead.

As the years passed and Kaetien grew up, the rest of the Coven and Boyos would bring their children to be with her. Saetan didn't have to be told that he was watching a Court form around his granddaughter. His enjoyment of seeing his family being so happy and at peace didn't mean he wasn't instantly on guard when Jaenelle and her own Coven requested a meeting with The High Lord when Kaetien was six years old.

Not Papa. Not Uncle Saetan. Not even the Steward of the Dark Court.

No. They wanted to speak with the High Lord of Hell, and the High Priest of the Hourglass.



Her Birthright Ceremony was held late in the evening so that Saetan and Geoffrey would be able to attend. It was a beautiful ceremony, like so many others that he had witnessed, but this one was closer to his heart.

As Kaetien clutched her new Red jewel, the Priestess looked at Jaenelle. It was time for Jaenelle to declare the paternity of her daughter.

"Saetan Daemon SaDiablo, Warlord Prince of Dhemlan," Jaenelle's clear voice carried to everyone in attendance. "Her father is Daemon."

His eyes filled with tears that he hastily blinked away. With those words, a great deal of the remaining regret that he had held in his heart for so long melted away. Like Marian before her, Jaenelle had made sure that his son was publicly recognized as the father of her child. It was a satisfaction he had been robbed of when his sons were young, but Jaenelle's words -- and the love in Daemon's eyes -- served as a healing balm to that pain in his heart.

Saetan had to bow his head to blink back the tears when he saw Daemon pull Jaenelle and his daughter into his arms.



It was the day after Kaetien's Birthright Ceremony and sitting behind his black wood desk, Saetan felt a shiver of unease as the ladies filed into the study. They were so precise and so formal. Even Draca was acting formal. He waited as each of the girls made themselves comfortable in the extra seats in the study and wondered what the purpose of this meeting was.

"High Lord." Jaenelle's voice was cool and precise.

"Lady?"

"We would like to make a request of you."

"It's important and there is no one else that we can make this request of," Morghann added.

"No one else that we would make it of," Kalush corrected.

Ten Queens. Ten powerful young women whom he had known since they were in their teens.

"How can I be of service, Ladies?" Words of Protocol. Words of service. Words that he only offered with the most sincere of meanings behind them.

The Ladies exchanged glances and Jaenelle turned back to Saetan. "We request that you give our children the training that you once offered us."

Of anything they could have asked him, this was one of those things that he had never expected. Looking from one Queen to another, he realized that he probably should have expected this. They were his children and he had spent a great deal of time training them and teaching them about Protocol, and ruling, and all of those things that only he was willing to teach them. He had taught them to be both compassionate and ruthless -- things that even now they needed to be. It would be generations before the damage done by Hekatah and Dorothea was healed and forgotten. Looking into Jaenelle's eyes, he realized something else.

"You've seen something," he said quietly. It wasn't a question, merely a statement. It was enough to let the women decide if they would share their knowledge with him or keep their own council.

"We have," Gabrielle said and Karla nodded. "Two different paths to be chosen, but only one of them the right choice. The Queen of Arachna has confirmed what the three of us have seen."

"Kaetien will be the next Queen of Ebon Askavi," Karla said with some severity in her usual tart voice. "Our children have already started to form their own Court and Coven around her, as we once chose to form around Jaenelle."

"Someone will try to sever the connection that she feels with her males and her coven," Gabrielle said and Saetan wondered briefly why Jaenelle wasn't speaking up right now. "Our children need the training you once offered us to make sure that their Court remains strong."

"Is this threat like Hekatah and Dorothea were, my Queen?" he asked, pinning Jaenelle with his eyes.

"If it roots, it could be as damaging," she allowed. "Maybe not as tainted and destructive to all of the realms, but it could break the heart of Kaeleer."

He frowned. "But you are Kaeleer's Heart," he corrected with some bafflement.

"There are several kinds of heart, Saetan," she said quietly. "Kaetien is to be the next Queen of Ebon Askavi, Lorn has said so. She is the heart of Ebon Rih, and she will need that strength to aide her in her rule of Kaeleer."

Saetan took a hissing breath. "Daemonar. Something will happen with Daemonar that could cause her to be lost."

The ten Queens in front of him were silent, and that was all of the answer he needed. Whatever his three darling Black Widows had seen in their webs, they had shared with the rest of the Coven. The rest of the Coven who were now watching him and awaiting his response to their request.

"It will be a choice that must be made freely and if it isn't, she will not survive," Karla finally said, meeting his eyes. "She holds his heart and it is through that bond that he will have to make her do what she refuses to because she will be lost."

"What have you seen?" He knew that he shouldn't ask the question, but it was the fear for Daemonar and Kaetien that caused him to force the words out.

He almost couldn't bear the sudden fierceness that made the air in the room feel like it had teeth. He saw the sadness in Jaenelle's eyes and he nodded. They were keeping their own counsel on this for right now, and it was his choice what he would do next.

"Yes," he said, because how could the answer have ever been any different? Yes because this was his family. Yes because he had seen these Queens come to power and he would not allow anyone to take their territories from them. Yes, because the children needed his knowledge if what had been seen in the webs was the truth. "Yes, of course. I live to serve."

"There is one more request, High Lord," Witch said quietly. "I would add that you train the children of Shalador Nehele's Queen, as well."

Saetan nodded. He wasn't surprised by this addition. Cassidy had become a friend of Jaenelle's and the Dark Court took a continued interest in what happened in her territory. If Witch wanted Cassidy's offspring to have the same training as her court, then he would see it done. "I will send a letter to Lady Cassidy and Lady Shira, explaining that I am going to be training your children and that we would be pleased to include their children in this as well."

He watched all ten ladies relax a little more after they had the answer to their requests.

"The young boyos," he questioned.

"Trained by you and Lucivar and Daemon," Jaenelle responded. "And by Kaelas and Geoffrey as well." She smiled. "As you and Andulvar and Mephis trained our boyos."

Saetan smiled, feeling some of his own tension ease. The ladies hadn't come to him out of desperation. They had come to him out of love and trust. They knew that he would make sure that their children had the gaps filled in their training as he filled the gaps in their own. They trusted no one but him to give their children the training for any danger that may come to threaten them. They trusted no one but him to make sure that their children would have the weapons they needed to stay safe and whole.

"Ladies, it will be my pleasure and honor to take care of the training for your children."

His words, ones that sounded so simple, served to help his ladies relax even more and now they all gave him smiles. He watched gentle Kalush look a little less fierce as she nodded and smiled at Sabrina. They had obviously been ready to fight any battle that he would have asked them to fight.

Whatever the triangle of Black Widows had seen in their webs that worried them would not come to pass. He wouldn't allow it. No one would hurt his grandchildren or his children. He would make sure of it.



Karla was having one of her best days, one where she'd hardly needed any aid at all to walk. But things tired her more easily sometimes, which meant she was always so damnably careful with herself nowadays. This was why she'd curled up in a sitting room with a book as she casually observed Kaetien and Daemonar, who'd wandered off to play by themselves until she'd found them. Daemonar had bristled when she came into the room but had relaxed as soon as he realized she was just there to sit quietly and read.

Not that she was really following the words on the pages in front of her, though. She was more interested in watching the children, in seeing how they interacted. The way Daemonar had gotten protective of Kaetien for those few seconds had made Karla smile, but they'd also told her something important. Something that only confirmed some of the things she'd seen in her webs. Daemonar was going to be crucially important at a point in Kaetien's life.

But for right now, he was her adopted cousin and best friend and ultimate protector, all wrapped up in one fierce Eyrien package. He was that way with all the children born to the Coven and the Boyos, especially her own daughter Jaera, but with Kaetien it was so much more. Or had the good makings of it, at least. They'd all noticed it, but none of them -- not even Jaenelle -- could tell what would come of it.

They could only see what might come of it. Karla had seen two branches for Daemonar's future, one of happiness with her and one of sorrow without her.

Everybody would do their damn level best to make sure the path his life took wasn't sorrow without her. She'd seen Eyrien warriors after losing the ones they held most dear; it was never pleasant. And the little guy was her family, too, damn it.

Karla wasn't about to let her family be hurt.



The first hint that there was trouble was the way that Daemonar was pacing in the garden. Except, it wasn't so much pacing as stalking angrily back and forth.

It was Chaosti that found him like that, and therefore it was Chaosti who went out to speak to him. He had been with the Court and family from the very beginnings of Jaenelle's rule, so he was understandably concerned about the state the eighteen-year-old Warlord Prince was in.

"Prince?" Chaosti demanded evenly as he approached the young Eyrien.

"She won't talk to me!"

Chaosti almost rocked back on his heels from the force of the young man's emotions. There was only one female he had ever seen get his adopted nephew in such a state and he was confused about what had happened this time. It wasn't a new thing for Daemonar and thirteen-year-old Kaetien to fight, but he could already tell that this was something different.

"What happened?"

"The little bitch kissed me and Kaetien saw her!" Daemonar stopped and his hands were clenched into fists.

"Mother Night," Chaosti grimaced.

"She won't talk to me, thinks I wanted the little bitch to kiss me!" He turned to continue stalking along the garden. "And she cried! I saw her cry and then I saw Jaera send a blast of power at the bitch before she and Kaetien came back here. And now, Kaetien won't even talk to me and Jaera keeps yelling at me!"

Chaosti lifted his hands in a placating gesture. "Start from the beginning, boyo. We can't fix this if you don't calm down and tell me the whole story."

Chaosti remembered all too well what it was like to deal with the coven when they were younger and were all upset at the same male. The rest of them had suffered their anger right along with their unfortunate brother. He really didn't envy Daemonar having to deal with a coven full of angry, powerful, thirteen and fourteen year old witches.

"We were visiting Merry in Riada. The three of us were talking to Merry and enjoying the atmosphere when some visiting witch came over to our table. There was music playing and she asked me to dance." He sighed, running both of his hands through his hair. "Kaetien said to go ahead. When the dance was over, the little bitch went and kissed me!"

Chaosti winced. "And Kaetien saw this... and thinks you liked it."

Daemonar nodded, his eyes full of misery. "I didn't even want to dance with her, but I was trying to be nice -- and she laughed and called Kaetien a little girl!"

"Mother Night," Chaosti whispered again. "That could not have gone over well." He frowned. "What happened to the other bitch after Jaera attacked her?"

"I don't know. I left her there on the floor and chased them."

"Only to get here and not be able to see Kaetien?" Daemonar nodded and Chaosti shook his head. "The good news is that this is not something that can't be repaired between the two of you."

"What's the bad news?"

"You're the one that gets to ask Mrs. Beale to bake a batch of Kaetien's favorite brownies --"

"That doesn't sound hard."

"-- and explain to her why you need them right away."

Daemonar's eyes widened with horror. "Can't I just go buy Kaetien a lot of chocolate from one of the shops? It would be safer."

"Not if you want to be able to get past Jaera -- and have Kaetien talk to you again." He gave him a sympathetic look. "This will probably be the first of many battlefields that you will have to meet your lady on in your lifetime."

"Girls are complicated and difficult."

Chaosti laughed. "Boyo, you have no idea." He clapped Daemonar on the shoulder. "But the right ones are always worth it."

Comments

[writer-klmeri.livejournal.com]

*squees happily* This is just what I wanted! I love how you are including the Coven and boyos - dream for the Dream, their careful but well-chosen interference.

They trusted no one but him to make sure that their children would have the weapons they needed to stay safe and whole.

Being the Saetan!fangirl that I am, this passage has such a sweet edge to it.

I like the hints of what's to come next. :D