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Roke nodded. "Of course," he said. "I understand that you need to think this over. It's a big change for you. I just wanted to let you know before you heard from someone else that you would be forced to marry me. I won't make that happen." He gave her a tight smile and then returned to the meal. He felt nothing but pity for the exploited girl beside him and anger at himself for not stopping Drayton from using her.

Roke nodded. "Of course you can go and rest," he said. "But lock your door and I'll place a guard on your corridor. It's up to you where you sleep. I'm perfectly fine with you sleeping in your usual chambers, but they belong to Drayton and I understand that you might not want to. If so, this maid, here," he had caught the arm of a young girl who was passing by, "will take you to a new room." He smiled at the maid, who relaxed slightly and waited for Fayela's decision.

"Your nobles and living guards are still locked up in a few rooms. What will you do with them?" Roke heard Magix ask. He passed a hand over his eyes.

"They can stay there for the night," he decided. "I will speak with them in the morning. A few of my loyal guards remain, and I will see to it that they watch your chambers tonight. I trust you will be staying here for a few days?" he added to the King and Kianne.

Roke watched Fayela go and then nodded to Kianne. "It's not a huge favour. I'm glad you offered, actually, Kianne. I wanted someone to keep an eye on her, and I think you're probably the most powerful person in this hall who could do it. I'll post a guard as well. Thank you."

***

In the dungeon, Drayton smiled to himself for the first time. He had reattached his mind to Fayela's; it had not taken him long to reach out and find her familiar feel. He knew that she had gone to bed - knew where she was, and that she was alone. This was how he had always reached her in the past. But it had to be done with care now; he had to tread delicately.

He closed his eyes and decided that this could not just be done with words. Kianne had made it impossible for him to leave this cell permanently, but using his link to Fayela he could do something. He remembered how he had reached into the human world to bring her here. He could not leave so physically now, but perhaps there was another way.

Could he leave a shadow of himself behind, which he would have to return to, and leave for a brief period of time? As long as there was some part of him that did not leave, he thought that he would be able to slip through the magic. After all, he would be returning, so it would not be an escape.

He kept his eyes closed and remembered how he had reached out to her last time, turning himself into the shadows. He did that now, but with his mind alone, and felt a definite sense of movement.

When he opened his eyes, he was standing in front of her.

Her eyes were downcast; he didn't know if she'd even noticed him. He was substantial and visible; all he had left behind was his shadow. It was an effort to hold himself away from it, but he withstood it.

"Hello, Fayela," he said quietly, and then held up his left hand; the other arm was bound in Roke's sling. "Please don't scream. I'm not going to hurt you."

"I'm not going to ask you to do anything. What can you do? Unless you have some powers I'm not aware of, I think I'm stuck by myself, to be honest." He did not sound angry or snappish, just quiet and resigned. "I got out by leaving an imprint of myself behind. I haven't escaped, if that's what you're worried about. I just used my connection with you to be able to see you for a brief time. Can I sit down?" He motioned to a space on the bed next to her, and seated himself before she had replied. He had to tread carefully; had to appear genuinely concerned.

Maybe he was.

"I just wanted to talk to you. I'm sorry I hurt you. I was just very angry." This was the first thing he had said that was untrue. He wasn't sorry that he had hurt her; she had deserved some punishment, in his eyes. "Roke's to seize the throne, then? It was true what I said, you know. He has no legal right, whereas I do. I never broke a law. The last demon who tried to seize the throne by murder was dealt with at once - that was how Roke came to the throne in the first place; he was the nephew of the murdered King - and I knew I'd have to do it differently. It was nothing illegal." There was a moment's pause before he spoke again, and this time he had lost some of the calm indifference that his voice had been maintaining. "Is he to take you as his wife, then?" he asked bitterly. "Is he to take everything that is rightfully mine?"

"I told you. I wanted to talk to you, and find out Roke's plans for your future." He noticed that she was staring at the wedding ring on her finger, and he put his hand over hers. "Don't take it off," he said quietly. "I'm still wearing mine." After Roke had broken them, his left fingers had swelled the slightest bit, but he was still able to keep the ring on.

He had only told her half of the truth. Yes, he wanted to find out Roke's plans, but he had also wanted to ensure that he could count on her, if the time came. If he could talk her back to being at least halfway on his side, then perhaps that would be one more person to stand up for him in court.

And he also felt some affection for her, even though he would never admit it. She was the woman he had chosen to be his wife, and she was very beautiful, and she had loved him unconditionally. Like all vain men, this flattered Drayton, and he had come to care for her in his own way. After the pain he had experienced in the dark room where he had been beaten, it was good to see a face that was not contorted with hatred when it looked at him.

Suddenly, he gave a sound that was halfway to being a laugh. He was certainly smiling, and shaking his head. "I don't believe you stabbed me," he said - this fighting spirit had also raised her in his estimations. "That was absolutely ridiculous, Fayela. And it hurt a lot. But I suppose I don't blame you for it. You were only trying to do what you thought was right." He shrugged. Drayton was not a man who harboured regrets - that fight was lost and it was over, and it was time to move on and make new decisions and new plans.

Drayton felt her hand tighten around his and felt triumphant - he knew that she still loved him, which was what he had hoped to achieve by coming here. He did not expect, however, the relief that came with this. Had he involuntarily fallen in love in return? The notion did not entirely disgust him - he was very traditional, and demon marriage was usually because of love, and not because of profit or personal gain, (although it did have to be someone of the same class; a noble could not marry a maid) - but it did surprise him. It would change nothing, though; his values of loyalty and self-worth were still just as strong and he was not about to see the "error of his ways".

"Well, I suppose he'll give you plenty of time to think about it," Drayton replied. "He's clever; he knows what people want to hear. If you need time, he'll give it to you in abundance, so I wouldn't worry about that." He paused for a moment, hesitating to phrase his next question properly. "Why isn't he marrying you, Fayela? Was it his decision - or yours?"

Drayton shrugged. "I don't think Roke will ever marry," he replied. "He was engaged years and years ago, before he was King, but the woman died and he never found anyone else. I was just curious. The fact that he offered to marry you shows that either he cares about you a lot - or really wants to punish me. I wouldn't have wanted you to marry him," he added quietly. "I don't want you to take this off." He touched the wedding ring again.