Marian snorted. “Do you recall just earlier this evening when you had your epiphany about not saying things just because they’re true?”
“I have a point,” he assured her.
“So do I.” Marian looked around the room, the bow and arrow bobbing in her grip. “And if you don’t get on with it, I’ll have to use it.”
“The King of the Sluagh is not one to accept defeat easily. He firmly believes that Marian would be happier in his court, and I dare say he will make more than one attempt in the coming years to woo her back.” He met Patricio’s eyes then. “This is the safest place for my wife, a place where she can roam freely about, doing the good that she so wants to do, without fear of running into a man who can force her to change forms against her will, who can order her about like a beast if he chooses.”
Marian shifted uneasily as he spoke that last part, and he held her tighter, fingers pressing more deeply into the massage. He looked to Kirill then. “I want to be here. We want to be here. And I will do whatever I have to do to earn that place, to be indispensable. My loyalty will always remain with Marian above all else, but then, I can’t see a man—or woman—in this room who would begrudge me that.”
The room was silent then, each person lost in his or her own thoughts. Adonis swelled with pride, pleased with Robin’s unexpected eloquence and near-painful honesty. Ivy rose and tucked herself against his side and he held her close, his heart beating harder as he waited for his companions to make their thoughts known.
Surprisingly, it was Saamal who spoke first. “That sounds like a wonderful introduction for a vote.” He stood and set his glass of wine on the table beside his chair, then strode to stand in the center of the room, just in front of the great fireplace. “We came here tonight to see if Robin and Marian would accept our invitation. And now, we are apparently the ones faced with a decision.” He smiled at Aiyana and then at the rest of the women in turn. “How fortunate we have our better halves here to aid us in that decision.”
Patricio opened his mouth, but Kirill stepped forward before he could speak.#p#分页标题#e#
“Before we vote, I would humbly remind everyone that the Queen of Air and Darkness is already here. Voting to keep her son and her daughter-in-law out would not, in effect, keep them out, but would rather have the unfortunate effect of seeing them here, but put out with us.” He gestured at Robin. “You’ve heard him say that being here is the best way to keep his wife safe. Do you really think he’s going to leave? Regardless of what we say here?”
“He has a point,” Robin admitted. “I have rather already made my decision.”
“We could make him leave,” Patricio growled. He drew his sword a few inches from its sheath, catching the firelight.
“A remarkably poor allocation of resources,” Kirill muttered. He shook his head and looked around at the others. “Gentlemen, let calmer heads prevail. What say you?”
“I want them in,” Adonis said immediately.
“Me too,” Ivy echoed.
“I believe they will be a most interesting addition,” Saamal agreed. He looked at Aiyana, who nodded regally from her seated position. “That’s another two for staying.”
The wolf pup whimpered in its sleep and Loupe hushed it, murmuring comfort. She let out a sigh and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Let them in,” she said finally, exhaustion dripping from every word. “It will be fine.”
Etienne rubbed a hand over his face, staring at Kirill as if he wanted to argue just because he knew Kirill was going to vote for them to stay. Finally he let out a long breath. “Let them in. The damage is done regardless.”
“My love?” Kirill asked Irina.
“I believe they should stay,” she said, giving Marian and Robin both a warm smile. “And I do hope they’ll join us for dinner sometime soon so we can make a proper second impression to mollify the dreadfulness of the first.”
“Another two in favor then,” Kirill said evenly, staring at Patricio. “Well?”
Marcela looked at her husband, then came to stand by his side. He leaned down without prompting, and she whispered something in his ear that Adonis couldn’t quite make out. Patricio growled, but then sheathed his sword, the movement unnecessarily violent. “Fine. Let them in.” He pointed at Robin. “But I will be watching you. And your mother.”
Adonis relaxed, wings sagging in relief as he patted Robin on the back. “There, see? One big, happy family.” He looked over at Etienne who was still glaring daggers at Kirill. “Er, why don’t you and Marian go wait for me outside? We’ll have dinner. Ivy?”