Okay, I stumbled upon this post... And it made my sides hurt in laughter!

First, I wanted to let you know, in case you haven't heard, that the excerpt for Tangled Webs is posted on Anne's site. As in... you'll read it and be in sweet agony from now until March.

Your comments were insightful, particularly about Alexandra and her "reflection" in her family members. 100%-brilliant. She was, in some ways, more latently dangerous than Dorothea because her damned turn-a-blind-eye made everyone in Challiot vunerable. If you know there's evil banging on your door, you have to stay sharp and ARMED--not oblivious!!

Anyway, Saetan and Daemon are two special men... You remember when Surreal wondered if the High Lord's sexuality was just muted from age? I'd bet my eye-teeth on that. You see, Daemon is like a piece of gourmet candy in a chocolate shop. Women (and some men) cannot RESIST. Even if their brain says, "You're dieting, you fool!" However, I bet the women didn't see Saetan as an edible; they saw something tall, dark and handsome... and wondered how dangerous he was. (It was remarked that no one had seen his temper before the Zuulaman incident.) Not edible. Exciting.

Then he wiped a race out of existence. People will still approach Daemon; his father, they hide under the freaking chairs and tables. So it makes sense that Saetan is the "Prince of Darkness" though he has a son is more powerful and cruel than he could be on a bad day.

But like you said, they have those quirks. Yes, Daemon licked his father's neck. And yes, Saetan likes to softly kiss random people. Daemon has a monopoly of sexual powerplay; hence the cold touchy-feely moments he indulges in with strangers (as long as he’s in control). But I still think that Saetan, despite his ubber-old age, responds more naturally. Depsite how "natural" Anne emphasizes sexuality is for Daemon. Daemon did have to hone his skills for centuries, no?

I’m getting off subject. The rut? It is strange. Warlord Princes already lose control when they ride the killing edge. So why throw in a sexual “killing edge” too? I guess to make these powerful dangerous men more emotionally vunerable (after an attack). Apparently after they destroy half an army, they can shrug it off, but after an attack on the females? Whom they live to protect? Your guess is as good as mine.

A last comment. Saetan/Andulvar had to have happened. Hands down. Now it’s possible Daemon and Lucivar could have sidestepped a sexual confrontation. But Mr. S and A? No, no. Andulvar had been Saetan’s only friend for thousands and THOUSANDS of years. Andulvar had a son, but not from marriage. In fact, it almost seems that Saetan wanted a woman to love him too desperately and while Andulvar didn’t give a damn. Too many years of just the two of them, the only two to understand each other, and comfort one another, and raise their children together, fight for and fight against… Have I argued enough on this subject?

Sorry about the length. I always have a lot of say about BJT.