“Don’t muddy the waters with that emotional diatribe.” Marcela rolled her spear between her fingers, obviously fighting the urge to raise it. “This is not about love. This is about security. Your candidate has brought a dangerous element into this kingdom, an element he has no control over.” She gestured at Marian with her spear. “And what’s more, his wife has made it clear that she sides with the dark queen—even against us. If we let them in, then we will be filling the ranks of a powerful woman we aren’t even sure will be friendly to us.”
Adonis stared at Marcela “They are not a threat. He is my friend.”
“They are a threat if Dubheasa wants them to be,” Patricio argued. “He snuck her in, and Marian stood beside her. Dubheasa did nothing but try to stir up trouble, but still Marian pointed her weapon at us. How can we invite her in if we cannot guarantee that, if the Unseelie queen decides to cause trouble, she wouldn’t be standing on the wrong side?”
The urge to strike out at Patricio was almost overwhelming, the muscles in Adonis’ large hands itching with the effort to restrain himself. The sullen brute never had anything to say, barely deigned to take part in these proceedings at all. He should have known that he would find his voice just in time to block Adonis from inviting someone in, from inviting his friend in. A friend who needed the sanctuary this realm could provide for him and his wife.
Saamal straightened in his seat, speaking up before Adonis could decide how much he was willing to risk for a smack at Patricio. “I do not think you’re wrong, Patricio, but I would ask you this. Are we to fill this kingdom only with those who will side with us in all things? No matter what the conflict in loyalty?”
Patricio’s wings sagged, just a little, as he grudgingly tilted his face to look at the death god. “What are you talking about?”
Aiyana took another sip of wine. “He has a point, angel. Take for instance, the naga lord. We invited him here knowing that he has a sworn duty to changelings. Suppose he were to believe that one of us poses a risk to one of his changelings?”
“None of us are a risk, we are the ones in charge of this realm, in charge of seeing that it remains healthy and orderly,” Marcela protested.
“And if the naga lord were to relocate a changeling here that you did not approve of?” she asked calmly. “Perhaps an incubus?”
Adonis snorted. “Yeah, bird-boy, what if he brings in another incubus?”
Patricio’s jaw tightened. “That’s fine.”
“And what if he brings in Unseelie children? Or perhaps—”
“I get it, I get it.” Patricio shifted from foot to foot, his frustration clear in the lines creasing his face. He looked to Kirill. “You can’t possibly be okay with this. What sort of strategy could include giving that woman any more of an edge than she already has?”
Kirill shrugged one shoulder. “I have understood—as you should have—from the beginning that we would never be able to exert unlimited control over who or what comes into this realm. All we can do is choose our elite members wisely to assure that we present the strongest and most united front possible.”
“And if you think Kirill doesn’t have a list of every changeling Damon has brought into this kingdom along with notes on at least two ways to destroy each one, then you haven’t been paying attention,” Adonis added dryly. He took a deep breath, and when he let it out, he let the excess energy he’d coiled inside himself to increase his size out with it. As much as he might want to, now was not the time to give the angel the thrashing he so desperately deserved. Slowly, he returned to his normal stature, stretching his limbs one by one to get the kinks out.#p#分页标题#e#
“May I speak?”
Everyone in the room turned to face Robin. He stood tall, his characteristic slouch noticeably absent. There was no mischief in his eyes, no glimmer of humor curling his lip. He was as serious as Adonis had ever seen him. One by one, he met the eyes of each person in the room, ending with his wife. Wordlessly, he held a hand out to her.
Marian held his eyes for a long moment. Then, after one last glance at Marcela, she came to stand beside her husband.
“All that time holding an arrow ready. Your arm has got to be killing you,” he murmured to her, just loud enough for Adonis to hear.
She leaned her head on his shoulder, just for a moment. “Dear gods, yes. If I had known this little meeting would require such diligence, I would have brought a crossbow.”
Robin chuckled and massaged her arm with one hand, continuing to address the room. “As you know, my wife was recently a prisoner in the court of the wild fey. I could not have gotten her out without my foster mother’s help. My foster mother’s only stipulation for that help was that when I received an invitation—an invitation she knew I would be receiving, but did not tell me anything about—I would share that invitation with her. I didn’t know then what I would be inviting her to, and I didn’t care. I didn’t care about anything other than getting Marian away from the King of the Sluagh. And even if she’d planned to come here and assassinate you all, I would have gladly agreed and considered it a bargain.”