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A Kiss Of Shadows :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 251 из 338" It was the closest thing to an overt criticism of the queenthat I'd ever heard him say.
"I like it, Frost," Rhys said. "It's you."
He scowled at Rhys. "It is not me."
I'd never seen the tall guard so angry about something so small. "It's just clothes, Frost. It won't hurt you to wear them with grace. Showing your displeasure in them could hurt you, very much."
"I have obeyed my queen."
"If she knows how much you hate the clothes she'll order more of the same for you. You know that."
The scowl deepened until he managed to put lines across that perfect face. Then a scream came from the room behind him. Even wordless, I recognized that voice. It was Galen.
I stepped forward. Frost stood his ground.
"Get out of my way, Frost," I said.
"The prince has ordered this punishment, but has graciously allowed privacy. No one may enter until it is complete."
I stared up at Frost. I couldn't fight my way past him, and I wasn't going to kill him. It used up my options.
"Merry is being named coheir tonight," Rhys said.
Frost's eyes flicked from one to the other of us. "I do not believe it."
Galen screamed again, and the sound raised the flesh on my arms, clenched my hands into fists. "I will be coheir tonight, Frost."
He shook his head. "That changes nothing."
"What if she told you that our celibacy will be lifted for Merry, and Merry alone?" Rhys asked.
Frost managed to look arrogant and disbelieving. "'What if' is not a game I will play with you."
Galen gave another sharp scream. The queen's Ravens do not scream easily. I moved toward Frost, and he tensed. I think he was expecting a fight.
I ran my fingers lightly over the front of his shirt. He jumped as if I'd hurt him. "The queen will announce tonight that I am to have my pick of the Guards. She's ordered me to sleep with one of you tonight, or tomorrow I will have a starring role in one of her little orgies." I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing myself lightly against his body. "Trust me, Frost, I will have one of you tonight, and tomorrow, and the night after that. It would be a shame if you were not among those I bedded."
The arrogance was gone, replaced by something eager and afraid. I didn't understand the fear, but the eagerness, that I understood. He looked to Rhys. "Your oath that this is true."
"You have it," Rhys said. "Let her pass, Frost."
He stared down at me. He still hadn't touched me back—my caress had been like a kiss against unresponsive lips—but he moved out of the way, sliding from the circle of my arms.
"I like it, Frost," Rhys said. "It's you."
He scowled at Rhys. "It is not me."
I'd never seen the tall guard so angry about something so small. "It's just clothes, Frost. It won't hurt you to wear them with grace. Showing your displeasure in them could hurt you, very much."
"I have obeyed my queen."
"If she knows how much you hate the clothes she'll order more of the same for you. You know that."
The scowl deepened until he managed to put lines across that perfect face. Then a scream came from the room behind him. Even wordless, I recognized that voice. It was Galen.
I stepped forward. Frost stood his ground.
"Get out of my way, Frost," I said.
"The prince has ordered this punishment, but has graciously allowed privacy. No one may enter until it is complete."
I stared up at Frost. I couldn't fight my way past him, and I wasn't going to kill him. It used up my options.
"Merry is being named coheir tonight," Rhys said.
Frost's eyes flicked from one to the other of us. "I do not believe it."
Galen screamed again, and the sound raised the flesh on my arms, clenched my hands into fists. "I will be coheir tonight, Frost."
He shook his head. "That changes nothing."
"What if she told you that our celibacy will be lifted for Merry, and Merry alone?" Rhys asked.
Frost managed to look arrogant and disbelieving. "'What if' is not a game I will play with you."
Galen gave another sharp scream. The queen's Ravens do not scream easily. I moved toward Frost, and he tensed. I think he was expecting a fight.
I ran my fingers lightly over the front of his shirt. He jumped as if I'd hurt him. "The queen will announce tonight that I am to have my pick of the Guards. She's ordered me to sleep with one of you tonight, or tomorrow I will have a starring role in one of her little orgies." I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing myself lightly against his body. "Trust me, Frost, I will have one of you tonight, and tomorrow, and the night after that. It would be a shame if you were not among those I bedded."
The arrogance was gone, replaced by something eager and afraid. I didn't understand the fear, but the eagerness, that I understood. He looked to Rhys. "Your oath that this is true."
"You have it," Rhys said. "Let her pass, Frost."
He stared down at me. He still hadn't touched me back—my caress had been like a kiss against unresponsive lips—but he moved out of the way, sliding from the circle of my arms.