"The baby will have power," I said. "Kael's power. My strength. Our love. That's more than enough."
"Kael's power comes from me. We share the same curse, the same darkness. The baby will inherit that regardless of whose genetics are stronger." Daemon moved even closer, until he was standing directly in front of me. "But wouldn't you rather they inherit from someone who's mastered the curse? Who's learned to use it as a tool rather than being controlled by it? I can teach them things Kael never learned. Give them advantages he never had."
"At what cost? What do you expect in return for this generous offer to raise my child?"
"Loyalty. Service. And when they're old enough, when they've reached their full potential, I expect them to help me finish what I started. To restore shadow magic to its rightful place in Shadowmere. To undo the damage my brother and his father did when they persecuted the old families."
