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A Lick Of Frost :: Гамильтон Лорел
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"What good is a hundred years to a mortal lover, Sir Hugh? His child will never know him while I still live."
Hugh's eyes flared as if someone had struck the embers of his power. There was a moment of fire in his eyes, like looking into two small fireplaces. He blinked and his eyes were only the colors of fire. "I have no words of comfort then, but the black dog's presence is one of the things we nobles have done to keep your aunt from starting true war with us. He will remain close to your side."
I grabbed Hugh's sleeve. "He is weaponless in this form. If discovered, can you protect him?"
"I am the captain of your guard, Merry. I protect you," Doyle said.
I leaned harder against the solidness of him, my hand on the other man's sleeve. "You are one half of a breeding royal pair. You are king to my queen. If you die, the chance of other children dies with you."
"She is right, Darkness," Hugh said. "It has been too long since there was life in the royal bloodline."
"I am not of the bloodline," Doyle said. His deep voice seemed to echo off the mirrors.
"We know the princess has made Maeve Reed, once the goddess Conchenn, with child by her human husband. We also hear rumors that one of your male guards has made a female guard pregnant," Hugh said.
"Truth," I said.
"If you could make one of us who is of the pure Seelie line pregnant, then all the king's support would fall away from him. I am sure of that," Hugh said.
Lady Elasaid knelt on the other side of us. "Most of his supporters are convinced that only the mongrels are breedable. They have decided that they would rather die as a race than pollute their blood. If you could prove them wrong on this, they would follow you."
"Some," Hugh said, "but not all. Some hate too deeply."
She nodded. "As you say, Hugh." There was something intriguing about the way she said it, the way she lowered her eyes.
"You want you and Hugh to be the experiment," I said.
She blinked at me. "Experiment?"
Hugh took her hand in his. "Yes, we would like very much to have a child of our own."
"When I am healed and safe, and my people are safe, then I would be happy to try a spell for you," I said.
Some tension went out of them, and they smiled at me, as if I'd told them that tomorrow was Yule and their most long-for present was under the tree. I wanted to warn them that until the ring and the Goddess had told me they were breedable, I could guarantee nothing.
Doyle's arms tightened around me.
"What good is a hundred years to a mortal lover, Sir Hugh? His child will never know him while I still live."
Hugh's eyes flared as if someone had struck the embers of his power. There was a moment of fire in his eyes, like looking into two small fireplaces. He blinked and his eyes were only the colors of fire. "I have no words of comfort then, but the black dog's presence is one of the things we nobles have done to keep your aunt from starting true war with us. He will remain close to your side."
I grabbed Hugh's sleeve. "He is weaponless in this form. If discovered, can you protect him?"
"I am the captain of your guard, Merry. I protect you," Doyle said.
I leaned harder against the solidness of him, my hand on the other man's sleeve. "You are one half of a breeding royal pair. You are king to my queen. If you die, the chance of other children dies with you."
"She is right, Darkness," Hugh said. "It has been too long since there was life in the royal bloodline."
"I am not of the bloodline," Doyle said. His deep voice seemed to echo off the mirrors.
"We know the princess has made Maeve Reed, once the goddess Conchenn, with child by her human husband. We also hear rumors that one of your male guards has made a female guard pregnant," Hugh said.
"Truth," I said.
"If you could make one of us who is of the pure Seelie line pregnant, then all the king's support would fall away from him. I am sure of that," Hugh said.
Lady Elasaid knelt on the other side of us. "Most of his supporters are convinced that only the mongrels are breedable. They have decided that they would rather die as a race than pollute their blood. If you could prove them wrong on this, they would follow you."
"Some," Hugh said, "but not all. Some hate too deeply."
She nodded. "As you say, Hugh." There was something intriguing about the way she said it, the way she lowered her eyes.
"You want you and Hugh to be the experiment," I said.
She blinked at me. "Experiment?"
Hugh took her hand in his. "Yes, we would like very much to have a child of our own."
"When I am healed and safe, and my people are safe, then I would be happy to try a spell for you," I said.
Some tension went out of them, and they smiled at me, as if I'd told them that tomorrow was Yule and their most long-for present was under the tree. I wanted to warn them that until the ring and the Goddess had told me they were breedable, I could guarantee nothing.
Doyle's arms tightened around me.