They nibbled pastries and considered that for a few minutes.
“We’ll have to be careful tomorrow,” Titian said. “Uncle Daemon will be gone and Beale will be the dominant male at the Hall, so everyone else will be on edge because . . . you know.”
Because the last time Beale had been left in charge, Jaenelle Saetien had overruled him and people had died.
Yes, they had to be careful. She had to be careful. Alvita’s banishment was a harsh reminder that the protection given at the Hall could be forfeited by a girl who crossed a particular line. But how could you learn if you didn’t try new things?
Zoey looked at Titian. “Do you think your aunt Surreal would be willing to talk to us about flirting?”
FOURTEEN
Daemon half listened to Alvita’s parents’ protests and justifications. What they said wouldn’t change his decision any more than the girl’s tears and pleas and delusional variations of “but you could want me” that he’d listened to while he drove the Coach to the girl’s home village.
He was far more interested in the District Queen who didn’t seem surprised at the girl’s behavior and wouldn’t meet his eyes. Yes, Alvita had been on the list of young witches who were targets for the coven of malice. Yes, she had the potential to wear an Opal when she reached her mature strength, and that had been taken into account, along with the District Queen’s letter of recommendation. Which is why that Queen was also here this morning. He hoped she had a good reason for that letter. He really did.
“Enough,” Daemon said, using Craft to make his voice roll through the room like soft thunder. “SaDiablo Hall is not a private school. You did not pay tuition for your daughter to be there. You do not pay room and board. You don’t contribute to the salaries of the instructors. You don’t pay for anything except to provide your daughter with money for her personal expenses, since I will not cover those. But SaDiablo Hall is my home, and my rules are absolute. You reviewed all those rules and signed an agreement with me that would hold you accountable for any misconduct on the part of your child. She signed an agreement with me, acknowledging my rules and the penalties for breaking those rules—especially the rules about sexual conduct. Do not complain because she knowingly broke the rules and I am now enforcing the penalties.”
“But you do want me!” Alvita wailed, touching the sling that held her still-healing arm, as if to remind all the adults that she had suffered.
The leash on his temper snapped, and the room turned blood-freezing cold.
The Sadist smiled a cold, cruel smile, and purred, “The only way I would want to use your body is to feed it to Hell’s flora and fauna. And that could be easily arranged.”
Silence.
It took effort—too much effort—to step back from that delicious possibility, and the only way he could was by imagining Witch pointing out to him that the girl hadn’t actually touched him, so his reaction might be a little extreme.
“Your daughter is no longer welcome at SaDiablo Hall—for any reason,” Daemon said. “I suggest you find a private school—and check the credentials of the administrators and staff carefully—or hire tutors to allow the girl to continue her studies at home. I also recommend that you keep her away from Warlord Princes, and keep her on a tight leash where any males are concerned. If you don’t, she may not survive to reach her majority.” And if she didn’t and she made the transition to demon-dead, her time in Hell would be short. He’d make sure of it.
As he turned away from the girl and her family, he looked at the District Queen and said, “Lady, with me. Now.”
He walked out of the house and headed for the small Coach he’d used to convey the girl back to her home that morning.
“Prince . . . ,” the Queen began.
“When I return in a few days, you and your triangle will give me an explanation for your letter of recommendation and exactly what favor you owed that girl’s parents.”
“It isn’t easy being around Warlord Princes.”
“I’m aware of that. And you were aware of who lives at the Hall, and you should have said something if you didn’t think the girl could handle being in the same residence.” He reached the Coach but didn’t enter. He had one more thing to say. “You rule three Blood villages and two landen villages. You and your First Circle should consider which village you would want to keep under your hand, because if I’m not satisfied with your explanation, you will forfeit the others.” Which meant she would also forfeit the income from the tithes that came from those villages.
“Prince!”
The Coach’s door opened, but Daemon turned to look at her. “I am not my father. I carry scars he could barely imagine, and that has left me with very little mercy. But I will not make a decision about your future until I hear your explanation. When you discuss this with your First Circle, you should be more honest with them than you were with me—for their sakes as well as yours.”
He left the District Queen weeping as he lifted the Coach off the landing web, caught the Black Winds, and headed for the next difficult meeting.
FIFTEEN
Saetien studied her face in the mirror. Jillian had assured her the simple lines and color of the dress she’d chosen flattered her, but what about her hair? It was black and straight—typical of all the long-lived races. Should she pull up the sides to show her delicately pointed ears? Or would that be seen as a ploy to remind her father of his wife—and would that remind him of her conflict with Surreal and destroy any possible permission for what she wanted to do?
She’d leave her hair down to flow over her shoulders.
A knock on her door.
*Saeti? Where are we going?* Shelby asked, ready to go out and help the humans.
“You’re staying here to have your lessons with the other Scelties,” she replied. “I’m going to the estate with Lady Jillian to talk to my papa.”
*I can talk too.* Shelby wagged his tail. *He will pet me and be happy.*
Saetien crossed the room and opened the door as she said, “I’m sure he would be happy if he petted you, but I need to talk to my papa by myself.”
Shelby whined, a sound that always made her feel guilty, even when she knew she shouldn’t give in.
Jillian gave her a sympathetic smile. “Your father has arrived at the estate and is waiting for us.”
Jillian seemed a bit nervous about this meeting. Why would she be nervous?
“Come on, Shelby,” she said.
He followed her out of the room, looking woeful.
“Sometimes human females need to talk about private things,” Jillian said. “And it’s important to know when to give them private time.”
*Scelties learn this?*
“Yes, they do. Special friends need to learn this important lesson even more than other Scelties.”
*Then I will stay here and learn Sceltie lessons.* It was a declaration that had Shelby trotting ahead of them, eager to learn about this human female behavior.
“Thank you,” Saetien whispered.
They left Shelby with the other Scelties who lived at the sanctuary and drove to the estate in a simple pony cart.
“I have a couple of things to discuss with Prince Sadi when you’re done, so you’ll have to wait for me or ask someone from the estate to escort you back to the sanctuary,” Jillian said.