"Meredith." his voice breathed through the room and caressed my skin, as if it had fingers.
Nelson whimpered.
"Stop it!" I yelled, and there was an echo of power to my voice. "If you do not cease trying to bespell me, I will have this mirror blanked, and there will be no more talks."
"They attacked a woman of my court. They must be given over to us for punishment."
"Give us proof of the crimes, Uncle."
"The word of a Seelie noble is proof enough," he said, and now his voice didn't sound seductive. It sounded angry.
"But the word of an Unseelie noble is worth nothing, is that it?" I asked.
"Our histories speak for themselves," he said.
I wished I could have afforded to have the lawyers to move so that I could see Taranis, but I did not dare. With him blocked from my sight I could think. I could be angry.
"Then you call me a liar. Is that it, Uncle?"
"Not you, Meredith, never you."
"One of the men you accuse was with me when the Lady Caitrin claims he was raping. He could not have been with her, and with me, at the same time. She lies, or she believes someone else's lie."
Doyle's hand tensed in mine. He was right. I'd said too much. Dammit, but these word games were hard. So many secrets to keep track of, and so hard to decide who knew what, and when to tell anyone anything.
"Meredith," he said, his voice pushing against me again, almost like a touch, "Meredith, come to me, to us."
Nelson made a sound like a soft scream. Cortez said, "I can't hold her!"