Heir to the Shadows (The Black Jewels, #2)

by Anne Bishop

The only thing more pointless than arguing with a Harpy about the value of males was trying to teach a rock to sing. He would have better luck with the rock.

Witches nurtured and protected male strength and pride. Males, in turn, protected and respected the

gentler, but somehow deeper, feminine strength.

It is easier to kill than to heal. It is easier to destroy than to preserve. It is easier to tear

down than to build. Those who feed on destructive emotions and ambitions and deny the responsibilities that are the price of wielding power can bring down everything you care for and would protect. Be on guard, always.

Marry someone you can love and accept as she is, Lucivar. Marry someone who will love and accept you. Don’t settle for less.”

They spiral down into ebony, catching the stars with their tails.

*He wass not ready. He wass too young.* Saetan would have protested but Jaenelle beat him to it. “I was much younger when you invited me,” Jaenelle said. Saetan pressed an arm against his stomach and tried very hard to keep his expression neutral. But the emotional flavor of baffled male he was picking up from Lorn was making it very difficult.

*I did not invite you, Jaenelle,* Lorn said slowly. “Yes, you did. Sort of. Well, not as blatantly as Saetan did—” Saetan clamped his teeth together and made a funny, fizzy noise. “—but I heard you, so I answered.” She smiled at both of them. Being smiled at like that was a good reason for a man to panic.

She held a scepter. The lower half was made of gold and silver and had two Black-looking Jewels inset above the hand-hold. The upper half of the scepter was a spiraled horn.

“What? Okay, okay. I promise not to snarl.” “You’ve been ruling Kaeleer unofficially for years now, and you’re probably the only person who hasn’t realized it.” Jaenelle snarled, then muttered, “Sorry.”