“Extending his senses, Lorkin tried again to hear his mother’s surface thoughts. What he picked up seemed too out of character, however. He must be imagining it. Though…it was also odd that he would imagine his mother thinking such a string of curse words.”

“What was I thinking? Of all the assistants I could have wound up with, why did I have to choose the one with the scary mother and troublemaking in his bloodlines? I am doomed.”

“He had given her too much. He had given her everything.”

“It was impossible to imagine the aloof, dignified, powerful High Lord living as, of all things, a slave.”

“Friendship? What friendship? I lust after him and he rightly ignores it!”

“Nodding, Cery strode to the door and stepped through. Though the burly guards eyes him suspiciously, Cery smiled back. Never make enemies of someone's lackeys, his father had taught him. Better still, make them like you a lot.”

“He liked the idea that if either of them ever fell from grace, the other might be there to offer support.”