lh.narcissusinchains-第15部分

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　Richard　said；　〃What　do　you　。。。　〃
　Jean…Claude　interrupted。　〃Let　us　e　to　terms。〃　I　felt　the　fear　that　was　behind　his　calm　words；　and　so　did　Richard。　You　did　not　ask　a　sexual　sadist　what　he　wanted。　You　offered　what　you　were　willing　to　give　up。
　Narcissus　looked　at　Richard。　〃Are　they　Jean…Claude's　wolves　now；　Richard？　Do　you　share　your　kingship？〃　The　tone　was　mocking。
　〃I　am　Ulfric；　and　I　will　set　the　terms；　no　one　else。〃　But　his　voice　was　cautious；　the　temper　slowed。　I'd　never　seen　Richard　like　this；　and　I　wasn't　sure　I　liked　the　change。　He　was　reacting　more　like　me。　As　I　thought　of　it；　I　wondered　。。。　I　channeled　some　of　his　beast；　some　of　Jean…Claude's　hunger；　what　did　they　gain　from　me？
　〃You　know　what　I　want；〃　Narcissus　said。
　〃You　would　be　wise　not　to　ask　for　it；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃If　I　cannot　have　you；　Jean…Claude；　then　perhaps　to　watch　the　three　of　you　make　love　on　my　bed　would　be　enough　to　wash　this　insult　clean　between　us。〃
　Richard　and　I　said　together；　〃No。〃
　He　looked　at　us；　and　there　was　something　unpleasant　in　his　eyes。　〃Then　give　me　Nathaniel。〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。
　〃For　one　evening。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃For　an　hour；〃　he　said。
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃One　of　the　other　leopards？〃
　〃I　won't　give　you　any　of　my　people。〃
　He　looked　at　Richard。　〃And　you；　Ulfric；　will　you　give　me　one　of　your　wolves？〃
　〃You　know　the　answer；　Narcissus；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Then　what　would　you　offer　me；　Ulfric？〃
　〃Name　something　I'm　willing　to　give。〃
　Narcissus　smiled；　and　I　had　a　sense　of　Ajax　and　Asher　circling　each　other　as　they　felt　the　tension　rising。　〃I　want　to　be　included　in　the　conferences　that　run　the　shapeshifter　munity　in　this　town。〃
　Richard　nodded。　〃Fine。　Rafael　and　I　thought　you　had　no　interest　in　politics；　or　you　would　already　have　been　asked。〃
　〃The　rat　king　does　not　know　my　heart；　nor　do　the　wolves。〃
　Richard　stood。　〃Anita　needs　to　go　to　her　people。〃
　Narcissus　smiled　and　shook　his　head。　〃Oh；　no；　Ulfric；　it　is　not　that　easy。〃
　Richard　frowned。　〃You're　to　be　included　in　decision　making。　That's　what　you　wanted。〃
　〃But　I　still　want　gifts。〃
　〃No　gifts　pass　between　the　rats　and　the　wolves。　We　are　allies。　If　you　wish　to　be　an　ally　then　there　will　be　no　gifts；　except　that　we　will　e　to　your　aid　when　you　need　us。〃
　Narcissus　shook　his　head　again。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　be　allies；　to　be　dragged　into　every　squabble　between　animals　that　do　not　concern　me。　No；　Ulfric；　you　mistake　me。　I　wish　to　be　included　in　the　conferences　that　set　policy。　But　I　do　not　wish　to　tie　myself　to　anyone　and　be　dragged　into　a　war　that　is　not　of　my　own　making。〃
　〃Then　what　are　you　asking？〃　Richard　said。
　〃Gifts。〃
　〃Bribes；　you　mean；〃　Richard　said。
　Narcissus　shrugged。　〃Call　it　what　you　will。〃
　〃No；〃　Richard　said。
　I　felt　Jean…Claude　tense　a　moment　before　Richard　said　it。　〃Mon　ami　。。。　〃
　〃No；〃　Richard　said　and　turned　to　Jean…Claude。　〃Even　if　he　could　kill　us　all；　which　I　doubt；　my　wolves；　your　vampires；　they　would　rain　down　on　this　club　and　take　it　apart　brick　by　brick。　He　won't　risk　that。　Narcissus　is　a　cautious　leader。　I　learned　from　watching　him　deal　with　Marcus。　He　puts　his　own　safety　and　fort　above　all　else。〃
　〃The　fort　and　safety　of　my　people　above　all　else；〃　Narcissus　said。　He　looked　at　me。　〃What　of　you；　Nimir…Ra；　how　confident　do　you　feel？　Do　you　think　if　I　had　my　people　kill　your　kittens　that　the　werewolves　and　vampires　would　lift　a　finger　to　avenge　them？〃
　〃You　forget；　Narcissus；　she's　also　my　lupa；　my　mate。　The　wolves　will　defend　who　she　tells　them　to　defend。〃
　〃Ah；　yes；　the　human　lupa；　the　human　leopard　queen。　But　not　really　human；　is　she？〃
　I　met　his　gaze　and　said；　〃I　need　to　go　collect　my　leopards。　Thanks　for　the　hospitality。〃　I　pushed　to　my　feet　and　stood　beside　Richard。
　Narcissus　looked　at　Jean…Claude；　who　still　lounged　on　the　bed。　〃Are　they　really　such　children？〃　he　asked　him。
　Jean…Claude　gave　a　graceful　shrug。　〃They　are　not　like　us　Narcissus。　They　still　believe　in　right　and　wrong。　And　rules。〃
　〃Then　let　me　teach　them　a　new　rule。〃　He　stared　up　at　us；　still　kneeling　on　the　bed；　still　wearing　the　black　lace　dress；　and　suddenly　his　power　burst　out　before　him　in　lines　of　heat。　It　slammed　into　my　body　like　a　giant　hand；　nearly　staggering　me。　Richard　reached　out　to　steady　me；　and　the　moment　we　touched；　his　beast　jumped　between　us；　in　a　rush　of　warmth　that　raced　through　my　body　in　goosebumps　and　shivers。　Richard's　body　shuddered；　and　I　felt　his　breath；　our　breath；　catch。　That　otherworldly　power　curled　between　us；　and　for　the　first　time　I　realized　that　the　power　came　both　ways。　I'd　thought　what　was　inside　me　was　an　echo　of　Richard's　beast；　but　it　was　more　than　that。　Maybe　it　would　have　been　different　if　I　hadn't　separated　myself　from　him　for　so　long。　But　now　the　power　that　had　once　been　his　was　mine。　The　warmth　spilled　between　us　like　two　streams　converging　into　a　river；　two　scalding　hot　streams　that　spilled　into　a　river　that　boiled　over　my　skin。　It　was　so　hot　that　I　half　expected　my　skin　to　peel　away　and　reveal　the　beast　underneath。
　〃If　she　shifts；　then　my　men　are　free　to　enter　this　fight。〃　Narcissus's　voice　was　shocking。　I　think　I'd　forgotten　he　was　there；　forgotten　everything　but　the　hot；　hot　power　flowing　between　Richard　and　me。　Narcissus's　face　began　to　grow　longer。　It　was　like　watching　sticks　move　behind　clay。
　Richard　ran　his　hand　just　in　front　of　my　body；　caressing　the　power　that　flowed　off　of　my　skin。　There　was　a　look　of　soft　wonderment　on　his　face。　〃She　won't　shift。　You　have　my　word；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Good　enough。　You　always　keep　your　word。　I　may　be　a　sadist　and　a　masochist；　but　I　am　still　Oba　of　this　clan。〃　His　voice　had　bee　a　strange　high…pitched　growl。　〃You　have　insulted　me　and；　through　me；　all　that　is　mine。〃　Claws　slid　out　from　his　small　fingers　until　he　raised　curved　paws；　not　hands　at　all。
　Jean…Claude　came　to　stand　beside　us。　〃e；　ma　petite；　let　them　have　room　to　maneuver。〃　He　touched　my　hand；　and　that　scalding　power　poured　from　my　skin　to　his。　He　collapsed　to　his　knees；　hand　still　pressed　against　my　skin；　as　if　the　heat　had　welded　it　in　place。
　I　knelt　by　him；　and　his　gaze　raised；　drowning　blue；　the　pupil　lost　in　a　rush　of　power；　but　not　his　power。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　but　no　sound　came　out。　He　stared　at　me；　and；　judging　by　the　look　on　his　face；　he　felt　lost；　overwhelmed。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　Asher　asked　from　across　the　room；　still　facing　Ajax。
　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　I　said。
　〃He　seems　in　pain；〃　Narcissus　said。　It　made　me　glance　up　at　him。　Except　for　his　face　and　hands；　he　was　still　in　human　form。　The　really　powerful　alphas　could　do　that；　partial　changes。
　〃The　power　spills　over　him；〃　Richard　said；　and　his　voice　held　that　edge　of　growl。　His　throat　was　hidden　behind　the　leather　collar；　but　I　knew　if　I　could　see　it；　that　the　skin　would　be　smooth　and　perfect。　His　voice　could　howl　from　his　mouth　like　a　dog's　without　any　change　in　his　appearance。
　〃But　he　is　a　vampire；〃　Narcissus　said。　〃The　power　of　the　wolves　should　be　closed　to　him。〃
　〃The　wolf　is　his　animal　to　call；〃　Richard　said。
　I　looked　into　Jean…Claude's　face　from　inches　away；　watched　him　struggle　through　the　hot；　scalding　power　and　knew　why　he　wasn't　dealing　well　with　it。　This　was　primal　energy；　the　life　and　beat　of　the　earth　under　our　feet；　the　rush　of　wind　in　the　trees；　the　stuff　of　life。　And　Jean…Claude　for　all　that　he　walked　and　talked　and　flirted　wasn't　alive。
　Richard　knelt　beside　us；　and　Jean…Claude　let　out　a　low　moan；　half…collapsing　against　me。　〃Jean…Claude！〃
　Richard　rolled　him　over　into　his　arms；　and　Jean…Claude's　spine　bowed；　his　breath　ing　in　ragged　gasps。
　Narcissus　was　above　us　on　the　bed。　〃What's　wrong　with　him？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Richard　said。
　I　put　a　hand　on　Jean…Claude's　throat。　The　pulse　wasn't　just　racing；　it　was　beating　like　a　caged　thing。　I　tried　to　use　the　ability　I　had　to　sense　vampires；　but　all　I　could　feel　was　the　heat　of　the　beast。　There　was　nothing　cold　or　dead　in　the　circle　of　our　arms。
　〃Lay　him　on　the　floor；　Richard。〃
　He　looked　at　me。
　〃Do　it！〃
　He　laid　Jean…Claude　gently　on　the　floor；　hand　still　touching　his　shoulder。
　〃Move　away　from　him。〃　I　did　what　I　asked　of　Richard；　standing　and　moving　around　the　vampire；　pushing　Richard　back　with　my　body　until　Jean…Claude　lay　alone　beside　the　bed。
　Narcissus's　body　had　re…formed；　until　he　was　the　graceful　man　we'd　met　downstairs。　He'd　moved　off　the　bed　without　being　told；　but　moved　around　so　he　could　still　watch。
　Jean…Claude　rolled　slowly　onto　his　side；　and　moved　his　head　to　stare　at　us。　He　licked　his　lips　and　tried　twice　before　he　could　speak。　〃What　have　you　done　to　me？〃
　Richard　and　I　still　stood　in　a　cocoon　of　heat。　His　hands　brushed　my　arms；　and　I　shuddered　against　him。　His　arms　locked　around　my　waist；　and　the　more　of　our　bodies　that　touched　the　more　heat　rose　around　us；　until　I　thought　the　very　air　should　tremble　like　the　heat　of　a　summer's　day　off　a　tar　road。
　〃Shared　Richard's　power　with　you；〃　I　said。
　〃No；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　and　he　rose　slowly　to　sit；　propped　heavily　on　his　arms。　〃Not　just　Richard；　but　you；　ma　petite；　you。　Richard　and　I　have　shared　much；　but　it　never　did　this。　You　are　the　bridge　between　the　two　worlds。〃
　Asher　spoke。　〃She　bridges　life　and　death。〃
　Jean…Claude　looked　up　at　him　sharply