"So the celibacy was the motive for the rape," I said.
"That seems to be the king's reasoning," Shelby said. "We haven't looked for a motive beyond the usual for rape."
The usual, I thought.
"I've answered your question, Princess. Now, are you stating for the record that the Seelie Court tortures its prisoners?"
Frost came to stand beside Doyle. "Meredith, think upon this before you answer."
I looked behind me, met his worried eyes, the soft gray of winter skies. I held my other hand out to him, and he took it. "Taranis let our cat out of the bag, Frost. It's only fair we let one of his out."
Frost frowned at me. "I do not understand this talk of cats, but I fear his anger."
I had to smile at him even as I agreed with him. "He began this, Frost. I will only finish it."
He squeezed my hand, and Doyle squeezed the other, so that my hands were crisscrossed over my chest, holding them. I held their hands while I said, "Mr. Shelby, Mr. Cortez, you asked me, am I stating for the record that King Taranis's golden court tortures as a punishment? I am so stating."
The record was supposed to be sealed, but if either of these secrets got into the press... This little family feud was going to get very ugly, very fast.
THE LAWYERS DECIDED THAT DOYLE AND FROST COULD answer some general questions about what it was like being part of my personal guard to give some background to the atmosphere that Rhys, Galen, and Abe had been living in. I wasn't sure it was going to be helpful, but I wasn't a lawyer, so who was I to argue?
Doyle sat on my right, Frost on my left. My lawyers Farmer and Biggs moved a few seats down to give them room.
Shelby got the first question, "And there are now sixteen of you with access only to Princess Meredith for your, um, needs?"
"If you mean for sex, then yes," Doyle said.
Shelby coughed and nodded. "Yes, I do mean sex."