A Lick Of Frost   ::   Гамильтон Лорел

The hands and bodies of my men pressed on my shoulders, arms, and legs, keeping me in my chair. I hadn't meant to, but I must have tried to rise. I don't think I would have gone to Taranis, but… but… It was good that I had hands to hold me down.

Nelson was screaming, "He's so beautiful, so beautiful! I have to go to him! I have to go to him!"

The woman's struggles sent Cortez and Shelby crashing to the floor with her.

"Security." Doyle's deep voice seemed to cut through the hysteria.

"What?" Biggs said, blinking too rapidly.

"Call security," Doyle said. "Send for help."

Biggs nodded, again too rapidly, but he walked to the telephone on his desk.

Taranis's voice came like something shining and hard, as if words could be stones thrown against your skin. "Mr. Biggs, look upon me."

Biggs hesitated, his hand hovering over the phone.

"Keep her in her seat," Doyle said, then he let me go to walk toward Biggs.

"He is a monster, Biggs," Taranis said. "Do not let him touch you."

Biggs turned wide-eyed and stared at Doyle. He backed away, hands up as if to ward off a blow. "Oh, my God," he whispered. Whatever he saw when he looked at my handsome captain was not what was there.

Veducci turned around from where he still stood in front of me. He took something from his pants pocket and threw it at the mirror. Dust and bits of herbs hit the surface, but they stuck to the glass as if it were water. The dry bits floated there, making small ripples on the supposedly solid surface. In that moment I knew two things. One, that Taranis could make the mirror a mode of travel between one place and another, an ability most had lost. Two, that he had truly meant "come to me." If I had gone to the mirror he could have pulled me through. Goddess help us.

Biggs seemed to wake from the spell, and grabbed the phone like he had a purpose.

"They are monsters, Meredith," Taranis said. "They cannot bear the touch of sunlight. How can anything that hides in the dark be ought but evil?"

I shook my head. "Your voice is only words now, Uncle. My men stand in sunlight, straight and proud."

The men in question looked at the king, except for Galen, who looked at me. It was a questioning look; was I better now? I nodded for him, shared with him a smile I'd been giving him since I was fourteen.

Taranis bellowed, "No, you will not bed the green man, and bring life to the darkness. The Goddess has touched you, and we are the people of the Goddess."

I fought to keep my face blank, because that last comment could mean so many things.