lh.narcissusinchains-第24部分

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　〃Hi；　Micah　Callahan；　nice　to　meet　you。　But　the　name　doesn't　tell　me　who　you　are。〃
　〃I　am　Nimir…Raj　for　the　Maneater　Clan；〃　Micah　said。
　I　blinked　at　him；　trying　to　digest　that　little　tidbit。　I　wasn't　embarrassed　anymore。　Surprised；　working　on　angry；　maybe。　〃I　am　Nimir…Ra　of　the　Blooddrinkers　Clan；　and　I　don't　remember　inviting　you　into　my　territory；　Mr。　Callahan。〃
　〃You　didn't。〃
　〃Then　what　the　hell　are　you　doing　here　without　my　permission？〃　The　first　edge　of　anger　threaded　through　my　voice；　and　I　was　happy　to　hear　it。　Being　angry　made　everything　else　easier　to　handle；　even　talking　to　two　naked　strangers。
　〃Elizabeth　invited　me；〃　he　said。
　The　anger　rushed　through　me　like　a　warm　wind；　and　it　touched　that　edge　of　beast　that　I'd　thought　was　Richard's。　I'd　learned　at　the　club　however　many　nights　ago　it　was　that　it　was　a　permanent　resident　inside　me　now。　Richard's　beast；　or　mine；　it　flared　through　my　body　and　raised　above　my　skin　like　a　sheen　of　invisible　sweat。　The　men　reacted　to　the　power。　Caleb　sat　up；　his　gaze　suddenly　intent　on　me；　no　teasing　now。　Micah　sniffed　at　the　air；　nostril's　flaring；　his　tongue　running　around　the　edge　of　his　lips　as　if　he　could　taste　it　against　his　skin。
　Strong　emotions　always　make　the　power　worse；　and　I　was　so　angry。　I　already　owed　Elizabeth　for　abandoning　Nathaniel　at　the　club。　But　now　。。。　she'd　finally　done　something　that　I　could　not　let　slide。
　Part　of　me　was　almost　relieved；　because　things　would　be　easier　with　Elizabeth　dead。　A　tiny　part　of　me　was　hoping　not　to　have　to　kill　her；　but　I　just　couldn't　see　how　to　avoid　it　anymore。
　It　must　have　shown　on　my　face；　because　Callahan　said；　〃I　didn't　know　that　her　pard　had　a　Nimir…Ra　when　I　came　here。　She　was　their　old　alpha's　second。　It　was　within　her　rights　to　audition　a　new　alpha　for　her　pard。〃
　〃She　just　forgot　to　mention　that　the　pard　already　had　a　Nimir…Ra；　is　that　it？〃　I　asked。
　〃That's　it；〃　he　said。
　〃Really；〃　I　said；　making　sure　the　sarcasm　was　thick。
　He　stood　beside　the　bed。　I　managed　to　keep　the　eye　contact　pure；　but　it　was　harder　than　it　should　have　been。　〃I　did　not　know　until　three　nights　ago　when　Cherry　knocked　on　Elizabeth's　door　and　asked　her　to　e　help　heal　you　that　you　even　existed。〃
　〃Bullshit；〃　I　said。
　〃I　swear　it；〃　he　said。
　My　hand　closed　around　the　derringer；　felt　its　forting　weight。　I　had　a　moment　to　wonder　what　ammo　it　was　loaded　with；　。38　or　。22。　I　hoped　it　was　。38；　it　had　more　stopping　power。　My　left　arm　gave　a　twinge　like　the　muscle　was　trying　to　jump　apart。　Tension；　or　had　I　permanently　injured　myself？　I'd　worry　about　it　later；　when　I　wasn't　staring　at　two　wereleopards　that　might；　or　might　not；　be　my　buddies。　〃You　say　you　really　didn't　know　about　me　before　you　hit　town。　Great；　but　why　are　you　still　here？〃
　〃When　I　found　out　that　Elizabeth　had　lied　to　me；　I　came　here　and　tried　to　help；　to　make　up　for　entering　your　territory　without　your　permission。　All　my　leopards　took　a　turn　in　your　bed；　helping　you　heal。〃
　〃Bully　for　you。〃
　He　held　his　empty　hands　out　towards　me；　palms　up。　A　nice　traditional　gesture　to　show　that　you　are　unarmed　and　harmless。　Yeah；　right。　〃What　can　I　do　to　make　this　right　between　us；　Anita？　I　don't　want　war　between　our　pards；　and　I　have　learned　that　you　are　interviewing　alphas　to　take　your　place　with　your　leopards。　I'm　a　Nimir…Raj。　Do　you　know　how　rare　that　is　among　the　wereleopards？　The　best　you're　probably　going　to　find　elsewhere　is　a　leopard　lionné；　a　protector　but　not　a　true　king。〃
　〃You　applying　for　the　job？〃
　He　started　walking　towards　me；　and　the　room　wasn't　that　big。　〃I'd　be　honored　if　you'd　consider　me　for　the　job。〃
　I　tried　to　hold　up　my　left　hand；　but　the　arm　spasmed　too　badly　to　plete　the　gesture。　But　Micah　got　the　idea；　he　stopped　moving。　〃Let's　start　by　you　staying　over　there。　I've　had　about　as　much　up　close　and　personal　with　the　two　of　you　as　I　can　handle。〃
　He　Just　stood　there；　hands　still　in　that　open　see…I…mean…no…harm　position。　〃We　caught　you　off　guard；　I　understand。〃
　I　doubted　he　understood；　but　it　was　polite　for　him　to　pretend。　I'd　never　met　a　shapeshifter　that　had　a　problem　sleeping　in　a　big　naked　pile；　like　puppies。　Of　course；　I'd　never　met　a　brand…new　one；　yet。　Surely；　there　was　a　learning　curve　for　this　sort　of　fort　level。
　My　left　arm　was　twitching　badly　enough　that　I　took　my　right　hand　off　the　gun；　out　of　my　pocket；　and　tried　to　calm　the　involuntary　movements。
　〃You're　hurt；〃　he　said。
　Every　jump　of　muscle　sent　sharp　little　pains　through　my　arm。　〃Getting　clawed　up　will　do　that　to　you。〃
　〃I　can　make　it　feel　better。〃
　I　rolled　eyes　at　him。　〃I　bet　you　say　that　to　all　the　girls。〃
　He　didn't　even　look　embarrassed。　〃I　told　you；　I　am　a　Nimir…Raj。　I　can　call　flesh。〃
　I　must　have　looked　as　blank　as　I　felt；　because　he　explained。　〃I　can　heal　wounds　with　my　touch。〃
　I　just　looked　at　him。
　〃What　would　it　take　to　convince　you　that　I'm　telling　the　truth？〃　he　asked。
　〃How　about　someone　I　know　to　vouch　for　you？〃
　〃Easily　done；〃　he　said；　and　a　second　later　the　door　opened。
　It　was　another　stranger。　The　man　was　around　six　feet；　broad　shouldered；　muscled；　well　built；　and　since　he　was　nude；　I　knew　for　a　fact　that　every　inch　of　him　was　well　proportioned。　At　least　he　wasn't　erect。　That　was　refreshing。　He　was　pale；　the　first　of　the　new　ones　without　a　tan。　White　hair　with　generous　streaks　of　gray　fell　around　his　shoulders。　He　had　a　gray　mustache　and　one　of　those　tiny　Vandyke　beards。　The　hair　was　a　clue　that　he　was　over　fifty；　probably。　But　what　I　could　see　of　him　didn't　look　old；　or　weak。　He　looked　more　like　a　lifer　mercenary　that　would　cut　your　heart　out　and　take　it　back　to　someone　in　a　box；　for　the　right　amount　of　money。　A　ragged　scar　nearly　bisected　his　chest　and　stomach；　curving　in　a　vicious　half…moon　around　his　belly　button　and　sinking　towards　his　groin。　The　scar　was　white　and　looked　old。　Either　he'd　gotten　the　injury　before　he　became　a　shapeshifter　or　　or　I　didn't　know。　Shapeshifters　could　scar；　but　it　was　rare；　you　almost　had　to　do　something　wrong　to　the　wound　to　get　a　scar　that　bad。
　〃I　don't　know　him；〃　I　said。
　〃Anita　Blake；　this　is　Merle。〃
　It　was　only　after　the　introductions　that　Merle's　eyes　flicked　to　me。　His　eyes　looked　human；　some　pale　gray　color。　His　gaze　went　back　to　his　Nimir…Raj's　face　almost　immediately；　like　an　obedient　dog　that　wants　to　watch　its　master's　face。
　〃Hi；　Merle。〃
　He　nodded　his　head。
　〃Let　her　people　in　the　room。〃
　Merle　shifted；　and　I　knew　instantly　that　he　didn't　want　to　do　it。　〃Some；　but　not　all？〃　he　made　it　a　question。
　Micah　looked　at　me。
　〃Why　not　all？〃　I　asked。
　Merle　turned　those　pale　eyes　to　me；　and　the　look　in　them　made　me　want　to　squirm。　He　stared　at　me　as　if　he　could　see　through　to　the　other　side　and　read　everything　in　between。　I　knew　it　wasn't　true；　but　it　was　a　good　stare。　I　managed　not　to　flinch。
　〃Tell　her；〃　Micah　said。
　〃Too　many　people　in　too　small　a　room。　I　can't　guarantee　Micah's　safety　in　a　crowd　of　strangers。〃
　〃You　must　be　his　Sk？ll；〃　I　said。
　His　lips　curled　back　in　disgust　　I　think。　〃We　are　not　wolves。　We　do　not　use　their　words。〃
　〃Fine；　to　my　knowledge　there's　no　equivalent　word　among　the　leopards；　but　you're　still　Micah's　chief　bodyguard；　right？〃
　He　stared　at　me；　then　gave　a　small　nod。
　〃Okay。　Do　you　really　see　my　people　as　a　threat　to　Micah？〃
　〃It　is　my　job　to　see　them　as　a　threat。〃
　He　had　a　point。　〃Fine。　How　many　are　you　fortable　letting　into　the　room？〃
　He　blinked；　that　harsh　gaze；　shielded　for　a　moment；　his　eyes　uncertain。　〃You're　not　going　to　argue　about　it？〃　Again　he　made　the　statement　into　a　question　with　the　lilt　of　his　voice。
　〃Why　should　I？〃
　〃Most　alphas　will　argue　so　they　don't　appear　weak；〃　he　said。
　I　had　to　smile。　〃I'm　not　that　insecure。〃
　That　made　him　smile。　〃Yes；　those　that　hoard　their　power　are　often　insecure。〃
　〃That's　been　my　experience；〃　I　said。
　He　nodded　again；　face　thoughtful。　〃Two。〃
　〃Fine。〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　preference　who　the　two　shall　be？〃
　I　shrugged。　〃Cherry　and　whoever　else。〃　I　put　Cherry　in　because　she　seemed　to　give　the　best　after…action　reports。　Clearheaded　was　our　Cherry；　if　not　necessarily　who　you'd　want　at　your　back　in　a　fight。　But　I　needed　information；　not　battle　skills。
　Merle　gave　me　a　slight　bow；　then　his　gaze　flicked　back　to　Micah；　still　standing　by　the　bed。　Micah　waved　him　off。　The　big　man　opened　the　door　and　spoke　quietly。　Cherry　was　the　first　one　through　the　door。　She　was　tall　and　slender　with　well…formed　breasts　that　led　the　eye　to　a　very　long　waist；　a　swell　of　hips；　and　proof　that　she　was　indeed　a　natural　blond。　Wasn't　anybody　wearing　clothes　today？
　Frankly；　it　was　just　nice　to　see　another　woman。　Normally；　I　don't　mind　being　the　only　girl；　I　do　that　a　lot　with　the　police；　but　nudity　always　makes　me　relieved　to　see　another　person　without　a　penis。
　She　smiled　when　she　saw　me；　relief　so　large　in　her　eyes；　her　face；　that　it　was　almost　embarrassing。　She　hugged　me；　and　I　let　her；　but　I　pulled　away　first。　She　touched　my　face　as　if　she　couldn't　really　believe　her　eyes。
　〃How　do　you　feel？〃
　I　shrugged；　and　the　small　movement　tightened　the　muscles　in　my　left　arm　until　I　had　to　press　it　against　my　body　to　keep　it　from　jumping　around。　I　spoke　through　the　pain；　teeth　gritted　a　littl