A Stroke Of Midnight   ::   Гамильтон Лорел

She looked around at her patients. “I think Frost is right. I think the queen will hear you best, and if anyone can bring us more healers, it is you. You will be most welcome when I have more healers. We can conserve our strength, and let you finish a wound after we have begun it.”

“Gladly,” he said, “if you are certain?”

She nodded. “Go to the queen as the princess bids. Killing Frost is right; it is our best chance to save them.”

Doyle nodded, gave a small bow to me, and simply started for the door. I called him back, a hand in his. I drew him in for a kiss, while I was still held in Frost’s arms. Doyle’s lips were warm, and soft, and he drew back from the kiss before I was ready for him to.

“And Doyle goes alone?” Galen said. “You warned Rhys that he might be attacked.”

“He is the Queen’s Darkness,” Brii said. “No one would dare.”

Galen shook his head. “No one goes alone, anywhere, not until we’re back in L.A.”

“And do you rule here already, green knight?” Ivi asked.

“No, but we can’t afford to lose Doyle because we got careless.”

I knew by the look on Doyle’s face that he meant to argue. Then he smiled and shook his head. “He’s right. We cannot afford to be arrogant or careless.” He looked at Frost, and I knew that was who he most wanted to take, but I also knew that he would not strip me of both of them at the same time.

“I will go,” Hawthorne said, “if you will have me.”

“I will go, if you wish, but I think my place is here guarding the princess,” Adair said.

“I agree.” Doyle looked at Galen with a small smile. “Are you content with Hawthorne?”

“Take Brii, too,” he said.

The smile left him. “I do not think that is necessary.”

“It would take me too long to dress or I’d go with you,” Galen said.

“Why so serious about my safety, Galen?” Doyle asked.

I wondered if Galen would tell Doyle what he’d said in the bathroom. He did. “I thought I was dead, and one of my last thoughts was it’s okay, because you and Frost were still alive. I knew you’d keep Merry safe. I knew you’d get her out of here and back home to L.A. I thought, why kill me first? If I were going to do a first strike, it would be you I’d kill. I can’t be the only one who’s thinking that.”

We were all staring at him. “What?” he asked.

“We’re not used to you sounding this smart,” Ivi said, “that’s all.”

“Thanks a lot.