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A Kiss Of Shadows :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 236 из 338"This is a most generous offer, my queen, but when you say several, what exactly do you mean?"
"I mean that you should pick morethan two; three or more at a time."
I stayed quiet for a few seconds, because again I was left with needing information and not wanting to be rude. "Three at a time in what way, my lady?"
She frowned at me. "Oh, Danu's titties, just ask your questions, Meredith!"
"Fine," I said, "when you say three or more at one time, do you mean literally in the bed with me at one time, or just like dating three of them at the same time."
"Any way you wish to interpret it," she said. "Take them into your bed one at a time, or all together, as long as you take them."
"Why must it be three or more at once?"
"Is it such an awful prospect to choose among some of the most beautiful men in the world? To bear a child to one of them and continue our line? How is this so terrible?"
I looked at her, trying to read that beautiful face, and failing. "I approve of letting the men out of their celibacy, but Auntie dearest, do not make me their only avenue. I beg you. They will fall upon each other like starving wolves, not because I am such a prize but because anyone is better than no one."
"That is why I am insisting that you sleep with more than one at a time. You must sleep with most of them before making your choice. That way they'll all feel they've had a chance. Otherwise, you are right. There will be duels until no one is left standing. Make them work at seducing you instead of killing each other."
"I like sex, my queen, and I have no designs upon monogamy, but there are some among your Guard that I can't even speak a civil word to, and sex is a step up from polite small talk."
"I will make you my heir," she said, voice very quiet.
I stared at her so careful, unreadable face. I didn't trust what I'd heard. "Could you repeat that, please, my queen?"
"I will make you my heir," she said.
I stared at her. "And what does my cousin Cel think of that?"
"Whichever one of you gives me a child first, that one shall inherit my throne. Does that not sweeten the pot?"
I stood up, too abruptly, and the stool clanged to the floor. I stared at her for a space of heartbeats. I wasn't sure what to say, because it didn't seem real. "May I humbly point out, Aunt Andais, that I am mortal and you are not. You will surely outlive me by centuries. Even if I bore a child, I would never see the throne."
"I will step down," she said.
Now I knew she was toying with me. It was all some game. It had to be.
"You once told my father that being queen was your entire existence.
"I mean that you should pick morethan two; three or more at a time."
I stayed quiet for a few seconds, because again I was left with needing information and not wanting to be rude. "Three at a time in what way, my lady?"
She frowned at me. "Oh, Danu's titties, just ask your questions, Meredith!"
"Fine," I said, "when you say three or more at one time, do you mean literally in the bed with me at one time, or just like dating three of them at the same time."
"Any way you wish to interpret it," she said. "Take them into your bed one at a time, or all together, as long as you take them."
"Why must it be three or more at once?"
"Is it such an awful prospect to choose among some of the most beautiful men in the world? To bear a child to one of them and continue our line? How is this so terrible?"
I looked at her, trying to read that beautiful face, and failing. "I approve of letting the men out of their celibacy, but Auntie dearest, do not make me their only avenue. I beg you. They will fall upon each other like starving wolves, not because I am such a prize but because anyone is better than no one."
"That is why I am insisting that you sleep with more than one at a time. You must sleep with most of them before making your choice. That way they'll all feel they've had a chance. Otherwise, you are right. There will be duels until no one is left standing. Make them work at seducing you instead of killing each other."
"I like sex, my queen, and I have no designs upon monogamy, but there are some among your Guard that I can't even speak a civil word to, and sex is a step up from polite small talk."
"I will make you my heir," she said, voice very quiet.
I stared at her so careful, unreadable face. I didn't trust what I'd heard. "Could you repeat that, please, my queen?"
"I will make you my heir," she said.
I stared at her. "And what does my cousin Cel think of that?"
"Whichever one of you gives me a child first, that one shall inherit my throne. Does that not sweeten the pot?"
I stood up, too abruptly, and the stool clanged to the floor. I stared at her for a space of heartbeats. I wasn't sure what to say, because it didn't seem real. "May I humbly point out, Aunt Andais, that I am mortal and you are not. You will surely outlive me by centuries. Even if I bore a child, I would never see the throne."
"I will step down," she said.
Now I knew she was toying with me. It was all some game. It had to be.
"You once told my father that being queen was your entire existence.