lh.narcissusinchains-第108部分

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　I　nodded。　〃You　did。〃
　He　looked　at　me；　and　I　think　that　only　all　our　hands　on　him　kept　him　from　falling　to　the　floor。　〃She　weakened　my　control　of　the　ardeur。〃
　〃And　your　control　of　your　temper；〃　I　said。
　〃What　has　happened？〃　Asher　asked。
　I　looked　up　to　find　that　everyone　was　back　in　the　room。　〃Any　of　this　blood　yours；　ma'am？〃　Bobby　Lee　asked。
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Not　a　scratch　on　me。〃
　〃Then　I　guess　we　won't　get　blacklisted　from　the　bodyguard　union　for　leaving　you　alone　with　a　shapeshifter　and　a　vampire；　so　they　could　fight　over　you。〃　He　was　shaking　his　head。　〃The　next　time　you　ask　us　to　leave　you　alone　because　it's　your　love　life；　we　aren't　going　to　listen　to　you。〃
　I　shook　my　head；　again。　〃We'll　talk　about　it　later。〃
　〃No；　ma'am；〃　he　said；　〃we　won't。〃
　I　let　the　argument　go。　There　was　always　time　to　fight　later。　Besides；　he　was　too　close　to　right。　If　I'd　gotten　between　them　at　the　wrong　moment；　who　knew　what　accident　might　have　happened？
　Jean…Claude　spoke　softly；　voice　urgent；　to　Asher。　They　were　speaking　French　and　I　still　didn't　know　enough　to　catch　more　than　a　word　here　and　there。　I　heard　Belle；　clearly；　several　times。
　In　English　Asher　said；　〃Do　you　remember　Marcel？〃
　〃Oui。　He　went　mad　one　night　and　slew　his　entire　household。〃
　〃Including　his　human　servant；〃　Asher　said；　〃which　is　what　killed　him。〃
　The　two　vampires　stared　at　each　other。　〃No　one　ever　understood　what　had　caused　it；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃So　fortuitous；〃　Asher　said；　〃only　two　nights　before　he　would　have　fought　Belle　for　her　Council　seat。〃
　Jean…Claude　took　Asher's　offered　hand　and　let　him　help　him　to　his　feet。　Asher　had　to　steady　Jean…Claude　with　a　hand　on　his　elbow。　〃So　fortuitous　that　many　tried　to　prove　she　had　poisoned　him；　or　some　such；〃　Asher　said。
　Jean…Claude　nodded；　passing　a　hand　over　his　face；　as　if　he　were　still　dizzy。　I　felt　nothing；　as　if　my　necromancy　protected　me　from　whatever　Belle　had　done　to　him。　〃The　Council　themselves　tried　to　prove　her　at　fault　and　failed；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃Did　they　hire　a　witch　to　look　into　the　magic　angle？〃　I　asked。　I　stood　on　my　own；　just　fine。　Nathaniel　and　Jason　got　to　their　feet；　again　with　no　ill…effects；　except　for　Jason's　stupid　grin；　which　he　often　wore　after　a　power　rush
　The　vampires　looked　at　me。　〃Non；〃　Asher　said；　〃no　one　thought　of　it。〃
　〃Why　the　hell　not？〃
　〃Because；　ma　petite；　she　should　not　be　able　to　do　what　she　did　to　a　Master　of　the　City；　even　one　of　her　own　bloodline。　That　she　could　do　this　to　a　Master　of　the　City　that　was　not　her　bloodline　would　be　unthinkable。〃
　〃Impossible；〃　Asher　added。
　〃I　think　it's　like　real　possible；〃　I　said。　〃I　caught　her　in　the　act。〃
　〃Who's　Belle？〃　Micah　asked　in　his　growling　leopard　voice。
　I　turned　to　him；　slowly；　and　something　must　have　shown　on　my　face；　because　Merle　moved　in　front　of　him；　and　suddenly　the　two　wererats　were　alert；　starting　to　move　up　beside　me。　I　don't　know　what　I　was　about　to　say；　probably　something　really　angry；　because　Micah　beat　me　to　it。
　〃He　pierced　my　jugular　vein；　Anita。　I'm　allowed　to　defend　myself　when　someone　tries　to　eat　my　throat　out。〃
　〃Remember　I'm　his　human　servant。　He　dies；　so　might　I。〃
　He　stalked　around　Merle；　gliding　on　bent　legs　and　kitty…cat　feet。　〃So　I'm　just　supposed　to　let　him　kill　me？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　〃no；　but　your　wound　wasn't　life…threatening。　You　proved　that　already。　There's　not　a　scratch　on　you　now。〃
　〃I　healed　it；　yes；　but　not　every　shapeshifter　could　have　healed　it。　A　vampire　wound　is　a　lot　like　silver；　it　can　kill；　and　most　of　us　heal　from　those　wounds　like　we　were　human。〃　He　was　standing　very　close　to　me；　those　green…gold　eyes　sparkling　with　anger。　〃He　meant　to　kill　me；　Anita；　don't　think　he　didn't。〃
　〃He　is　right；　ma　petite；　if　he　had　not　held　me　off　more；　I　would　have　torn　his　throat　out。〃
　I　turned　back　to　Jean…Claude。　〃What　are　you　saying？〃
　〃I　saw　him　on　top　of　you；　and　I　was　drowning　in　jealousy。　I　meant　him　harm；　ma　petite。　He　defended　himself。〃
　〃He　didn't　have　to　do　that　last　blow。　The　fight　had　stopped。〃
　Jean…Claude　looked　past　me　at　Micah；　and　there　was　something　on　his　face　　respect；　I　think。　〃If　he　had　done　to　me　what　I　did　to　him；　then　I　would　have　had　no　choice　but　to　make　my　point；〃　he　seemed　to　consider　several　words　and　settled　for；　〃strongly。〃
　〃Strongly？　He　damn　near　slit　your　throat。〃
　〃After　I　had　tried　to　do　the　same　to　him。〃
　I　was　shaking　my　head。　〃No；　no；　I　don't　。。。　〃
　〃What；　ma　petite；　are　you　truly　saying　that　if　someone　had　torn　your　throat　out；　tried　for　your　life；　that　you　wouldn't　have　shot　them？〃
　I　opened　my　mouth　to　argue；　closed　it；　tried　again；　and　stopped。　I　looked　at　him；　then　back　at　Micah；　then　back　to　Jean…Claude。　〃Well；　damn。〃
　〃The　Nimir…Raj　has　made　his　point；　ma　petite。　He　is　willing　to　be　acmodating　up　to　a　point　　beyond　that　point　there　is　no　promise。〃
　Micah　nodded；　and　the　movement　looked　awkward　in　his　furred　body。　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　have　the　same　rule；　ma　petite；　as　do　I。　The　three　of　us　merely　have　different　places　where　the　line　is　drawn。　But　the　line　is　there　for　all　of　us。〃
　〃How　can　you　both　be　so　reasonable　about　this？　You　both　nearly　just　killed　each　other！〃
　They　looked　at　each　other；　around　me；　again；　and　there　was　something　in　that　look。　It　was　something　masculine　and　arcane；　as　if　the　fact　that　I　was　a　girl　meant　I　wouldn't　get　it；　and　they　couldn't　explain　it　to　me。　Which　did　explain　it　to　me。
　〃Oh；　great；　great；　you　guys　nearly　kill　each　other；　and　that　makes　you　buddies。〃
　Jean…Claude　gave　that　wonderful　Gallic　shrug；　his　face　still　covered　in　Micah's　blood。　〃Let　us　say　we　have　an　understanding。〃
　Micah　agreed。
　〃Jesus；　only　men　could　get　a　friendship　out　of　something　like　this。〃
　〃You　are　friends　with　Monsieur　Edward。　Did　you　not　both　begin　by　trying　to　kill　each　other？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　〃That's　different；〃　I　said。
　〃How？〃
　I　tried　to　argue；　but　stopped　because　I　would　have　looked　silly。　〃Fine；　fine；　so　what；　the　two　of　you　kiss　and　make　up？〃
　They　looked　at　each　other；　and　again　there　was　weight　to　the　gaze；　but　it　was　a　different　weight。　〃Shit；〃　I　said。
　〃I　think　we　begin　by　apologizing；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　〃I　am　truly　sorry　for　my　lack　of　control。〃
　〃Me；　too；〃　Micah　said；　then　added；　〃and　I'm　sorry　that　I　had　to　try　and　kill　you。〃　It　was　interesting　phrasing；　not　I'm　sorry　I　nearly　killed　you；　but　sorry　I　had　to　try　and　kill　you。　I　was　seeing　Micah's　ruthless　streak。　It　wasn't　really　any　bigger　than　my　own；　but　it　bothered　me　anyway。　Wasn't　sure　why；　but　it　did。
　I　didn't　know　what　to　do；　so　I　decided　to　move　on；　we　had　other　business。　〃Are　you　well　enough　to　help　get　Damian　out　of　his　coffin？〃
　〃I　have　used　up　all　my　reserves；　ma　petite。　I　will　need　to　feed　again。〃　He　raised　a　hand。　〃But　not　the　ardeur；　merely　blood。〃
　Merely；　he　says。
　〃I　offered　to　let　you　feed　on　me　earlier。　The　offer　still　stands；〃　Micah　said。
　〃No；　Micah；〃　Merle　said。
　Micah　touched　the　taller　man's　arm。　〃It's　alright。〃
　〃Are　you　not　afraid　I　will　try　and　tear　your　throat　out　again？　I　would　listen　to　your　bodyguard。〃
　〃You　said　we　had　an　understanding。〃
　〃That　is　true。〃
　They　were　watching　each　other；　and　I　could　almost　feel　the　testosterone　rise。
　Micah　smiled；　or　tried　to。　In　the　half…leopard　form　it　was　a　snarl　of　white　fangs　in　black　fur。　〃Besides；　the　next　time　you　bite　me　like　that；　it　better　be　foreplay；　or　I　will　kill　you。〃
　〃If　it　pleases　you；　my　pleasure；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　He　laughed　then；　that　touchable　sound　that　caressed　my　skin；　made　me　shiver。　Micah　reacted　to　it　eyes　wide。　He'd　never　heard　Jean…Claude's　laugh　before。　If　he　thought　the　laugh　was　something　special；　well；　the　best　truly　was　yet　to　e。
　〃I　thank　you　for　your　most　generous　offer；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　〃but　I　prefer　my　food　without　fur。〃
　〃No　problem；〃　Micah　said。　Micah　released　Merle's　arm；　and　did　that　magically　quick　change。　His　tanned　skin　seemed　to　absorb　the　fur　like　rocks　sinking　into　water。　He　stood　naked　and　perfect；　no　mark　of　the　fight　on　that　smooth　skin。　Neither　his　clothing　nor　the　tie　in　his　hair　had　survived　the　change。　But　strangely　the　hair　fell　straight　around　his　face；　as　if　it　were　affected　by　the　fact　that　he'd　pulled　it　back　tight　while　it　was　still　wet。　The　hair　was　still　thick；　but　it　framed　his　face　better；　was　less　overwhelming；　so　that　you　could　still　see　the　delicate　bone　structure；　those　wondrous　eyes。
　I　heard　someone　catch　their　breath；　and　it　wasn't　me。　I　don't　think　it　was　Jean…Claude；　but　I　wasn't　sure。　Didn't　matter；　didn't　want　to　know。
　〃You　are　not　even　dizzy；　are　you？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　Micah　shook　his　head。
　Jean…Claude　raised　his　eyebrows；　lowered　his　eyes；　fought　to　control　his　face；　until　he　could　give　a　perfect　blank　expression；　but　it　took　him　a　few　seconds。　〃I　will　clean　this；〃　he　made　a　vague　motion　at　his　gore…soaked　clothes；　〃before　taking　such　a　bounty；　if　that　is　alright？〃
　Micah　gave　a　small　nod。
　〃You　are　not　taking　a　bath；〃　I　said。
　〃I　will　be　quick；　ma　petite。〃
　〃You　have　never　taken　a　quick　bath　in　your　entire　life。〃
　Asher　laughed；　then　tried　to　smother　it；　but　was　only　partially　successful。　He　spread　his　hands。　〃Mon　cheri；　she　is　right。〃
　〃Would　I　touch　that　for　the　first　time　covered　in　this？〃