lh.narcissusinchains-第24章

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oo　many　drinks。　I　didn't　like　that　much。　But　if　I　concentrated　just　on　the　moment；　the　question　at　hand；　no　speculation；　no　looking　for　the　future；　maybe　I'd　survive。
　〃If　Gregory　hadn't　interfered　I'd　be　dead　right　now。　They　would　have　clawed　out　my　heart。　It　was　an　accident　that　he　fell　into　me　during　the　fight。〃　I　was　watching　Micah's　face；　but　I　felt　the　relief　sweep　through　the　others；　felt　it　from　yards　away。　I　glanced　up　at　them；　and　it　showed　in　the　lines　of　their　bodies。
　〃So　where　is　he？　Where's　Gregory？〃
　The　three　of　them　did　that　hot…potato　eye…flick　game　again。　〃Did　he　refuse　to　e　help　save　me　like　Elizabeth？〃
　〃No；　of　course　not；〃　Cherry　said。　But　she　didn't　explain；　didn't　add　to　it。
　I　looked　at　Nathaniel。　He　met　my　gaze；　no　flinching；　but　I　didn't　like　what　I　saw　in　his　eyes。　There　was　more　bad　news　to　e；　you　could　smell　it　in　the　air。
　I　turned　to　Micah。　〃Fine；　you　tell　me。〃
　〃When　your　Ulfric　found　out　that　Gregory　had　made　you　their　Nimir…Ra　in　truth；　he　。。。　〃　Micah　spread　his　hands。
　〃He　freaked。〃　Zane　said　it。
　I　glanced　at　all　of　them。　〃What　do　you　mean；　he　freaked？〃
　〃He　took　Gregory；〃　Cherry　said。
　〃What　do　you　mean；　he　took　Gregory？〃
　〃He　treated　Gregory　as　an　enemy　of　the　pack；〃　Micah　said。
　I　looked　at　him。　〃Go　on。〃
　〃If　you　had　been　their　lupa　in　truth；　if　someone　injured　you　it　is　within　the　Ulfric's　rights　to　declare　them　an　enemy　of　the　pack；　a　criminal。〃
　I　kept　staring　into　those　yellow　green　eyes。　〃What　exactly　does　that　mean？〃
　〃It　means　that　the　wolves　have　your　leopard；　and　they　will　pass　judgment　on　him　for　injuring　you。〃
　〃No　way；　I　mean；　even　if　I　am　turning　into　a　wereleopard；　which　I'm　not。　It　doesn't　hurt　me。　I　mean；　I'm　just　going　to　be　a　shapeshifter　like　them　now。〃
　〃Not　like　them；〃　Micah　said；　〃like　us。〃
　I　tried　to　read　his　face；　but　I　just　didn't　know　him　well　enough　yet。　〃You　have　a　point；　make　it。〃
　〃You　can't　be　the　wolves'　lupa　and　the　leopard's　Nimir…Ra。〃
　〃I've　been　both　for　a　long　time。〃
　We　shook　his　head；　and　again　he　winced　as　if　his　neck　hurt。　〃No；　you　were　a　human　dating　the　Ulfric；　who　declared　you　lupa。　You　were　a　human　that　was　taking　care　of　the　wereleopards　until　you　could　find　a　true　alpha　leopard　to　take　over　the　job。　Now；　you're　truly　Nimir…Ra；　and　the　pack　won't　accept　you　as　one　of　them。〃
　〃Are　you　saying　Richard　dumped　me　because　I'm　going　to　be　a　wereleopard？〃
　〃No；　I'm　saying　that　the　pack　won't　accept　you　as　his　lupa。〃　Micah　glanced　down；　then　up。　I　could　see　him　trying　to　put　his　thoughts　into　words。　〃My　understanding　of　what's　been　happening　with　your　local　wolves　is　that　Ulfric　has　taken　them　from　a　monarchy　where　his　word　was　law；　to　a　democracy　where　the　majority　rules。　He　gets　a　decisive　vote；　but　not　the　last　word。〃
　I　nodded。　It　sounded　like　what　Richard　had　wanted　for　the　pack。　〃It　sounds　like　something　he'd　do。　I've　sort　of　been　out　of　touch　for　the　last　few　months。〃
　〃He　has　succeeded　too　well。　The　vote　went　against　him；　against　you。　The　pack　will　not　accept　you　as　lupa　when　you're　wereleopard　and　not　werewolf。〃
　I　looked　past　him　at　the　others。　〃Is　that　true？〃
　They　all　nodded。　〃I'm　so　sorry；　Anita；〃　Cherry　said。
　I　shook　my　head；　trying　to　concentrate　and　not　succeeding。　〃Alright；　fine；　fine。　Richard　can't　make　me　lupa。　I　never　wanted　to　be　lupa；　just　his　girlfriend。　Fuck　the　wolves。　But　what　have　they　done　with　Gregory？〃
　〃Richard　went　ape…shit　when　he　found　out　what　Gregory　had　done；〃　Zane　said。　〃He　thought　Gregory　had　done　it　on　purpose；　because　we　were　all　afraid　to　lose　you　as　our　Nimir…Ra。〃
　〃He　accused　Gregory　of　doing　it　on　purpose？〃　I　asked。
　Zane　nodded。　〃Oh；　yeah；　then　they　took　him。〃
　〃They；　who？〃
　〃Tamil；　Sylvie；　others。〃　He　wouldn't　meet　my　eyes。
　〃Didn't　anyone　try　and　argue　with　him　about　this？〃
　〃Sylvie　tried　to　tell　him　it　wasn't　right；　that　you　wouldn't　like　it。　He　hit　her；　told　her　never　to　argue　with　him　again；　that　he　was　Ulfric；　not　her。〃
　〃Shit。〃
　〃Do　not　blame　your　leopards　for　not　fighting　the　wolves；〃　Micah　said。　〃They　are　sorely　outnumbered。〃
　〃They'd　get　their　asses　kicked；　I　know　that。　Besides；　it's　my　job　to　deal　with　Richard；　not　theirs。〃
　〃Because　you　are　their　Nimir…Ra；〃　he　said。
　〃Because　I　am　his　girlfriend；　sort　of。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　he　said。
　I　waved　a　hand　at　him。　〃Look；　I　can't　deal　with　all　of　this　right　now；　so　I'm　just　going　to　concentrate　on　the　important　stuff；　I　mean　the　immediately　important　stuff。　Where　is　Gregory；　and　how　do　I　get　him　back？〃
　Micah　smiled。　〃Very　practical。〃
　I　looked　at　him　and　felt　my　eyes　go　cold。　〃You　have　no　idea　how　practical　I　can　be。〃
　His　eyes　did　change；　but　it　wasn't　fear　in　them；　it　was　more　interest；　like　my　reaction　intrigued　him。　〃The　situation　is　plex　because　you　are　the　lupa　that　was　injured。　In　effect；　you　must　persuade　yourself　that　Gregory　meant　no　harm。〃
　〃That's　too　easy；〃　I　said。　〃I　know　he　meant　no　harm。　So　why　do　I　get　the　feeling　that　I　can't　just　call　Richard　up　and　say；　'Hey；　I'm　ing　to　get　Gregory'？〃
　〃Because　you　must　convince　not　just　Richard；　but　the　entire　pack；　that　you　have　the　right　to　Gregory。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　'right　to　Gregory'？　He's　my　leopard。　He's　mine；　not　theirs。〃
　Micah　smiled；　lowering　long　lashes　over　his　eyes；　as　if　he　didn't　want　me　to　read　his　expression　at　that　moment。　〃The　Ulfric　declared　Gregory　rogue　for；　in　effect；　killing　their　lupa。〃
　〃I'm　alive；　what　。。。　？〃
　Micah　held　up　a　finger；　and　I　let　him　finish。　〃You　are　dead　to　the　pack　　as　their　lupa。　In　effect；　being　a　leopard　makes　you　dead　to　them。　You　may　share　Richard's　bed　again；　but　you　will　never　be　their　lupa　again。　They　voted　on　it；　and　Richard　has　destroyed　his　own　power　structure　to　the　point　where　he　can't　force　a　vote　on　them。〃
　〃You're　saying　that　he　is　Ulfric　but　he　doesn't　really　rule　them；〃　I　said。
　Micah　seemed　to　think　about　that　for　a　second；　or　two；　then　started　to　nod；　stopped　in　mid…motion。　〃Yes；　in　fact；　very　well　put。〃
　〃Thanks。〃　A　thought　came　to　me；　and　I　gripped　his　arm。　〃They　aren't　going　to　kill　Gregory；　are　they？〃　Something　passed　over　his　face　that　tightened　my　grip　on　his　arm。　〃They　haven't　killed　him？〃
　〃No；〃　Micah　said。
　I　let　go　of　his　arm　and　leaned　back　against　the　wall。　〃What　are　they　doing　to　him；　or　what　are　they　planning　to　do　to　him？〃
　〃The　penalty　for　killing　the　lupa　is　death　in　any　pack。　But　the　circumstances　are　strange　enough　that　I　think　you　will　be　allowed　a　chance　to　win　him　back。〃
　〃Win　him　back；　how？〃　I　asked。
　〃For　that；　you'll　need　to　ask　the　Ulfric。〃
　〃I'll　do　that。〃　I　looked　past　him。　〃Someone　get　my　cell　phone　out　of　my　Jeep。〃　Nathaniel　went　for　the　door　without　another　word。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Micah　asked。
　〃I'm　going　to　make　sure　that　Gregory　isn't　being　hurt。　If　he's　okay　for　tonight；　I'll　go　get　Jean…Claude　out　of　jail。　If　Gregory　is　in　danger；　then　I　get　him　out　first。〃
　〃Priorities；〃　he　said；　softly。
　〃Damn　straight。〃
　He　smiled　again。　〃I　am　very　impressed。　You've　had　several　shocks　in　a　very　short　space　of　time；　yet　you　are　clearheaded；　and　moving　forward　to　solve　the　problems　one　at　a　time。〃
　〃I　can　only　solve　one　problem　at　a　time；〃　I　said。
　〃Most　people　let　themselves　be　distracted。〃
　〃I'm　not　most　people。〃
　He　gave　that　small　smile　again；　shielding　his　eyes　with　his　long　lashes。　〃I've　noticed。〃
　Something　about　the　way　he　said　it　made　me　suddenly　aware　that　he　was　nude　and　I　was　wearing　nothing　but　a　towel。　It　was　time　to　get　on　my　feet　and　get　dressed。　I　stood；　pushing　away　his　offer　of　help。　〃I'm　fine；　Micah；　thanks　anyway。〃　I　looked　past　him　at　Cherry　and　Zane　still　standing　in　the　doorway。　〃Do　I　have　any　clothes　here？〃
　Cherry　nodded。　〃Nathaniel　brought　your　stuff　from　home。　I'll　go　get　it。〃　She　moved　through　the　door。
　〃Weapons；　too；〃　I　called　after　her。
　She　poked　her　head　back　around　the　doorway。　〃I　know。〃　That　left　just　Zane　standing　in　the　doorway。　〃Do　you　have　a　job　for　me？〃
　〃Not　right　now。〃
　He　flashed　me　a　smile　wide　enough　to　show　that　he　had　dainty　fangs　upper　and　lower　　kitty…cat　fangs。　Zane　had　spent　a　little　too　much　time　in　animal　form　to　e　all　the　way　back。　〃I'll　go　help　Cherry　then。〃　He　paused　at　the　doorway。　〃I'm　really　glad　you　didn't　die。〃
　〃Me　too。〃
　He　grinned　and　left。
　That　left　me　alone　with　Micah。　I　looked　into　his　yellow…green　eyes　and　knew　that　they　were　also　a　sign　that　he'd　spent　too　much　time　in　animal　form。　We　hadn't　kissed；　so　I　didn't　know　if　he　had　dainty　fangs　like　Zane。　I　hoped　not；　and　wasn't　sure　why　I　cared。
　〃Do　you　mind　if　I　start　cleaning　up？〃　he　asked。
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Help　yourself。　I'm　going　to　go　look　for　my　clothes。〃　But　Nathaniel　came　around　the　door　with　my　cell　phone。
　I　looked　at　the　slim　black　phone。　I'd　only　had　it　a　few　months。　I'd　tried　not　to　buy　one。　If　you　had　a　cell　phone　and　a　beeper　you　were　never　truly　free　of　the　office。　Of　course；　I　was　on　vacation。　Though；　so　far；　it　hadn't　been　all　that　relaxing。
　I　popped　the　phone　open　and　dialed　Richard's　number　from　memory。　There　was　no　answer；　just　his　machine。　I　left　a　message；　then　knew　what　I　was　going　to　do。　I　had　to　know　what　was　happening　with　Gregory。　I　thought　about　Richard；　the　feel　of　his　arms；　the　scent　of　his　neck；　the　brush　of　his　hair；　and　that　prickling　rush　of　energy　rolled　over　my　skin。　I　reached　down　the　mark　that　bound　me　to　Richard　and　found　him　standing　on　a　podium。　He　was　arguing　with　someone；　but　I　couldn't　see　who。　I　never　got　as　clear　a　visual　through　Richard　as　I　did　through　Jean…Claude。　Richard　turned　as　if　he　could　see　me　standing　behind　him；　then　he　thrust　me　out；　throwing　up　a　shield　so　solid　I　couldn't　feel　him　on　the　other　side。
　Nathaniel　was　holding　my　arm；　steadying　me。　〃Are　you　alright？〃
　I　nodded。　Being　thrust　out　like　that　was　always　disorienting。　Richard　knew　that。　Fuck。　〃I'm　okay。〃　I　pulled　away　from　Nathaniel　and　had　to　call　information　for　the　number　for　The　Lunatic　Cafe。　Richard　was　in　the　meeting　room　in　the　back　of　the　restaurant。　Raina　had　owned　the　restaurant；　and　according　to　pack　law；　it　could　have　belonged　to　me；　if　I　hadn't　used　a　gun　to　kill　her。　It　had　to　be　mano…a…mano；　hand…to…hand；　or　claws；　or　at　least　a　knife　before　all　that　was　hers　would　be　mine。　Possessions　anyway。　You　can't　get　anyone's　power　by　killing　them。　It　just　doesn't　work　that　way。　And　anyway；　who　would　want　it　to？　Guns　were　considered　cheating；　so　I　didn't　inherit　all　of　Raina's　stuff。
　Richard　picked　up　on　the　second　ring；　as　if　he'd　been　expecting　the　call。　〃Richard；　it's　Anita。〃
　〃I　know。〃　His　voice　was　angry；　closed；　and　tight。
　〃We　need　to　talk。〃
　〃I'm　in　the　middle　of　something　here；　Anita。〃
　Fine；　if　he　wanted　to　play　it　brusque　and　hostile；　I'd　play。　〃Where's　Gregory？〃
　〃I　can't　tell　you　that。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Because；　you　might　try　and　rescue　him；　and　you're　not　lupa　anymore。　The　pack　would　defend　itself；　and　I　don't　want　you　shooting　holes　in　my　wolves。〃
　〃You　leave　my　leopards　alone；　and　I'll　leave　your　wolves　alone。〃
　〃Anita；　it's　not　that　simple。〃
　〃I　got　the　explanation；　Richard。　You　freaked　when　you　found　out　Gregory　may　have　infected　me　with　leopard　juice。　You　had　your　enforcers　grab　him；　and　you've　charged　him　with　killing　your　lupa。　Which　is　just　stupid；　I'm　not　dead。〃
　〃Do　you　know　wh