A Stroke Of Midnight   ::   Гамильтон Лорел

Galen said softly at my shoulder, “He does know he’s not getting sex, right?”

“So it’s not just me who wants to back up a step.”

“No,” Galen said.

“You are very good,” Doyle said.

I looked at Doyle, but all his attention was on the little man. “What do you mean?” I asked.

“Glamour,” Doyle said.

“Are all the demi-fey as good at glamour as Sage and this one?” Rhys asked.

“Not all of them, but a great many, yes,” Doyle said.

Rhys shivered. “I am not sharing the bed with this one. Sage taught me my lesson, I don’t need another one.”

“You’re not on the menu for tonight, Rhys.”

“For once, I’m glad,” he said.

“Then who do I get to share you with?” Royal asked. As I looked down at him, the feeling of sex and intimidation became more intense.

“It’s stronger when I look at you.”

Royal nodded. “Because looking is all you’re doing. Now, who am I sharing you with tonight?”

Galen answered, “Me, but, truthfully, I’m not sure I can do it. I may have apologized for us, but I still don’t want them touching me.”

“You touch one of us right now,” Niceven said.

Galen glanced down at the still sleeping fey in his hand. “But that’s different,” he said.

“In what way is it different?” she asked.

“This one’s not scary.” He motioned his hand up toward Niceven.

Royal laughed, and it was like chimes in a happy wind. “And am I scary, green knight?”

I was close enough to see Galen’s pulse beating against the side of his throat. “Yes,” he said, and his voice sounded as dry as mine felt.

Royal’s laughter trailed away to something darker. “Such talk will turn a man’s head, green knight.” The look on his face showed just how pleased he was that Galen was afraid of him.

“Some glamour grows stronger with physical touch,” Adair said. He’d kept his helmet on.

“Are you asking if mine grows stronger, oak lord?” Royal asked.

“Speculating, not asking,” Adair said, as if to ask a question of a demi-fey was beneath him.

Well, Adair could be high-handed if he wished, but he wasn’t stripping down for the demi-fey. “Does your glamour grow stronger with physical touch?” I asked.

He grinned up at me. “It does.”

Galen whispered against my hair, “Can Nicca and you have this one? I’ll take the next one.”

I glanced back at him. “If you wish, yes.