"I know you don't," I said. I turned to Taranis. "What you are doing to them is illegal by human law. The very law you have appealed to for aid."
"I have not asked for human aid," he said.
"You accused my men under human law."
"I petitioned Queen Andais for justice, but she refused to acknowledge my right to judge her Unseelie sidhe."
"You rule the Seelie Court," I said, "not the Unseelie."
"So your queen made clear to me."
"So when Queen Andais denied your request at her court, you turned to the humans."
"I appealed to you, Meredith, but you would not even answer my calls."
"Queen Andais advised me against it, and she is my queen and my father's sister. I heeded her advice." It had actually been more of an order. She'd said that whatever evil Taranis had planned I should avoid him. When someone as powerful as Andais says to avoid someone for fear of what they will do, I listen. I had not been so arrogant as to believe that Taranis's entire purpose was to simply have me talk to him on a mirror call. Andais had not believed that it was his purpose either, but now, today, I was beginning to wonder. I could think of nothing I could offer him that would make this much effort worthwhile.
"But now, because of human law, you must speak to me," he said.
Biggs said, "The princess agreed to this meeting out of courtesy. She was not compelled to be here."
Taranis's eyes never even moved to look at the lawyer. "But you are here, now, and you are more beautiful than I remember. I was very lax in my attentions to you, Meredith."
I laughed, and it was a harsh sound. "Oh, no, Uncle Taranis, I think you were quite thorough in your attentions to me. Almost more thorough than my mortal body could endure."
Doyle, Rhys, and Frost all tensed against me. I knew what they meant by it: have a care, don't give away court secrets in front of the humans. But Taranis had begun it, dragging us out before the humans. I was only following his lead.
"Will you never forget that one moment in your childhood?"