lh.narcissusinchains-第26章

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arcus；　and　that　had　made　me　run　away。　Then　we　got　back　together；　and　the　marks　were　overwhelming。　But　there　were　other　reasons。　Reasons　that　made　me　feel　tired　and　older　than　Richard；　even　though　he　was　actually　two　years　older　than　me。　〃You're　being　stupid；　Richard。〃
　〃It's　not　really　any　of　your　business；　Anita。　You're　not　my　lupa　anymore。〃
　〃If　you　die；　the　marks　may　drag　Jean…Claude　and　me　down　to　die　with　you；　so　that　sort　of　makes　it　my　business。〃
　〃And　you　don't　risk　your　life　every　time　you　go　hunting　vampires　or　preternatural　creatures　with　the　police？　You　almost　died　in　New　Mexico　less　than　a　month　ago。　You　risked　all　of　us。〃
　〃I　was　trying　to　save　people's　lives；　Richard。　You're　trying　to　remake　a　political　system。　Ideology　is　great　in　a　classroom　or　a　debate；　but　it's　flesh　and　blood　that　counts；　Richard。　It's　life　and　death　we're　talking　about　here；　not　some　outdated　ideal　you　have　in　your　head　about　what　a　better　world　you　can　make　for　the　pack。〃
　〃If　ideals　mean　nothing；　Anita；　then　we　are　just　animals。〃
　〃Richard；　if　Gregory　dies　for　this；　then　I　will　kill　Jacob；　and　anyone　else　who　gets　in　my　way。　I'll　destroy　your　lupanar　and　salt　the　ground；　so　help　me。　You　explain　to　Jacob；　and　anyone　else　that　needs　convincing；　that　if　they　fuck　with　me；　they　will　die。〃
　〃You　can't　fight　the　entire　pack；　Anita。　Not　and　win。〃
　〃If　you　think　the　only　thing　I　care　about　is　winning；　then　you　don't　know　me　at　all。　I　will　save　Gregory　because　I　said　I　would。〃
　〃If　you　fail　the　tests；　you　can't　save　him。〃
　〃What　sort　of　tests　are　we　talking　about？〃
　〃Ones　that　only　a　shapeshifter　could　pass。〃
　〃Richard；　Richard　。。。　〃　I　wanted　to　scream　and　rant　at　him；　but　I　was　suddenly　more　tired　than　angry；　more　discouraged　than　enraged。　〃Mark　me　on　this；　Richard；　if　I　fail　to　save　Gregory；　then　I　will　remake　heaven　into　hell　to　avenge　him。　You　explain　that　to　Jacob；　make　sure　he　understands。〃
　〃Tell　him　yourself。〃　There　was　silence　and　the　sound　of　movement。　Then　a　man's　voice　came　on；　a　voice　that　I'd　never　heard　before。　The　voice　was　pleasant；　young；　but　not　too　young。
　〃Hello；　I'm　Jacob；　I've　heard　a　lot　about　you。〃　His　voice　made　it　plain　that　he　hadn't　liked　what　he'd　heard。
　〃Look；　Jacob；　we　don't　know　each　other；　but　I　cannot　allow　you　to　kill　Gregory　for　something　he　didn't　do。〃
　〃The　only　way　you　can　stop　us　is　by　winning　him　back。〃
　〃Richard　explained　that　I'd　have　to　pass　a　test　to　get　Gregory　back。　He　also　said　if　I　failed　that　you'd　execute　Gregory。〃
　〃It's　pack　law。〃
　〃Jacob；　you　don't　want　to　make　me　your　enemy。〃
　〃You　are　Nimir…Ra　of　a　small　leopard　pard。　We　are　the　Thronnos　Rokke　Clan。　We　are　the　lukoi；　and　you　are　nothing　to　us。〃
　〃Yeah；　I'm　ing　tomorrow　night　as　Nimir…Ra　of　the　Blooddrinker's　Pard。　But　I'm　Anita　Blake。　Ask　the　vampires　and　other　shapeshifters　around　town　about　me。　See　what　they　say。　You　don't　want　to　fuck　with　me；　Jacob；　you　really　don't。〃
　〃I've　already　asked　around。　I　know　your　reputation。〃
　〃Then　why　are　you　pushing　this？〃
　〃That's　my　business；〃　he　said。
　〃Fine；　you　want　to　do　this；　we　can　do　this。　If　you　cause　Gregory's　death　through　voting　or　werewolf　politics；　I　will　bury　you。〃
　〃If　you　can；〃　he　said。　〃You're　a　brand…new　shapeshifter。　You　won't　even　change　form　until　the　full　moon；　and　that's　weeks　away。　You　are　no　match　for　me。〃
　〃You　say　that　like　I'm　going　to　offer　to　fight　you　one…on…one。　I'm　not。　If　Gregory　dies；　you　die。　Simple　as　that。〃
　〃If　you　shoot　me；　it　won't　reinstate　you　into　the　pack。　If　you　could　possibly　win　one…on…one　against　me；　then　maybe　they'd　vote　you　back　to　lupa。　But　if　you　just　shoot　me；　you'll　never　be　lupa　again。〃
　〃I'm　going　to　say　this　nice　and　slow；　Jacob；　so　we　understand　each　other。　I　don't　give　a　shit　about　being　lupa。　I　care　about　my　friends；　and　the　people　I've　promised　to　protect。　Gregory　is　one　of　those　people。　If　he　dies；　you　die。〃
　〃I'm　not　going　to　kill　him；　Anita。　I　just　made　sure　there　was　a　vote　about　it。〃
　〃Do　you　like　John　Wayne　movies；　Jacob？〃
　He　was　quiet　for　a　heartbeat。　〃I　guess；　I　mean；　what　does　that　have　to　do　with　anything？〃
　〃Your　fault；　my　fault；　nobody's　fault；　if　Gregory　dies；　you　die。〃
　〃Am　I　supposed　to　get　the　movie　reference？〃　he　asked。　He　sounded　angry　now。
　〃I　guess　not；　but　the　point　is　this。　I　will　blame　you　personally　if　anything　happens　to　Gregory；　for　any　reason。　If　he　es　to　harm；　so　will　you。　If　he　bleeds；　so　do　you。　If　he　dies　。。。　〃
　〃I　get　the　idea。　But　I　don't　have　a　deciding　vote　on　this　issue。　I'm　just　one　vote。〃
　〃Then　you　better　think　of　something；　Jacob。　Because　I　give　you　my　word　that　I　mean　everything　I　say。〃
　〃I　heard　that　about　you。〃　He　was　quiet；　and　we　stood　on　either　end　of　the　phone　in　silence；　until　he　said；　〃What　about　Richard？〃
　〃What　about　him？〃
　〃If　something　happens　to　him　what　will　you　do？〃
　〃If　I　tell　you　that　I'll　kill　you　if　you　kill　him；　that　undercuts　his　authority　as　Ulfric。　But　I'll　say　this　much；　if　you　defeat　him；　then　it　better　be　a　fair　fight　in　a　challenge　circle。　If　you　cheat　in　any　way；　no　matter　how　small；　I'll　kill　you。〃　I　wanted　so　badly　to　just　give　Richard　blanket　protection；　but　I　couldn't。　It　would　weaken　his　position；　and　his　position　was　weak　enough　already。
　〃But　if　it's　fair；　you'll　stay　out　of　it？〃
　I　leaned　against　the　wall　and　tried　to　think。　〃I'll　be　honest；　Jacob；　I　love　Richard。　I　don't　always　understand　him；　or　even　agree　with　him；　but　I　love　him。　I'm　ready　to　kill　you　over　someone　who　has　never　been　my　lover　or　even　a　good　friend。　So；　yeah；　you　kill　Richard；　and　I'm　really；　really　going　to　want　to　kill　you。〃
　〃But　you　won't；〃　he　said。
　I　didn't　like　how　persistent　he　was　about　the　issue。　It　made　me　nervous。　〃I'll　make　you　a　deal；　you　don't　challenge　Richard　for　Ulfric　until　after　the　next　full　moon；　then　whatever　happens；　as　long　as　it's　fair；　I'll　stay　out　of　it。〃
　〃What　if　it's　sooner？〃　he　asked。
　〃Then　I　am　going　to　rain　all　over　your　parade。〃
　〃You're　undercutting　Richard's　authority；〃　he　said。
　〃No；　Jacob；　no　I'm　not。　I　wouldn't　be　killing　you　because　I　was　lupa　or　any　werewolf　stuff。　I'd　be　killing　you　because　I　am　just　that　vindictive。　Give　me　a　few　weeks　until　after　the　full　moon；　and　you're　in　the　clear　on　this　one；　if　you've　got　the　cojones　to　finish　the　job。〃
　〃You　think　Richard　will　kill　me；　instead？〃
　〃He　killed　the　last　Ulfric；　Jacob。　That's　how　he　got　the　job。〃
　〃If　I　don't　agree　to　this；　you'll　just　shoot　me？〃
　〃From　a　nice；　safe　distance；　oh；　yeah。〃
　〃I　can　promise　that　I　won't　challenge　Richard　until　after　the　full　moon；　but　I　can't　promise　that　the　vote　won't　go　against　Gregory。　He　was　one　that　Raina；　the　old　lupa；　used　to　help　punish　some　members　of　the　pack。　There's　more　than　one　woman　here　that　he　helped　rape。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃Then　how　can　you　defend　him？〃
　〃He　did　what　his　old　alpha　told　him　to　do；　and　what　Raina；　the　wicked　bitch　of　the　west；　told　him　to　do。　Gregory　isn't　a　dominant；　he's　lesser；　and　he　does　what　he's　told；　like　a　good　submissive　shapeshifter。　Ever　since　I　took　over　as　his　alpha；　he's　refused　to　rape　and　torture。　As　soon　as　he　had　a　choice；　he　stopped　doing　it。　Ask　Sylvie。　Gregory　let　himself　be　tortured　instead　of　helping　to　rape　her。〃
　〃She　told　the　story　to　the　pack。〃
　〃You　don't　sound　impressed。〃
　〃It's　not　me　you　have　to　impress；　Anita；　it's　the　others。〃
　〃Help　me　figure　out　a　way　to　impress　them；　Jacob。〃
　〃Are　you　serious？　You　want　me　to　help　you　save　the　leopard？〃
　〃Yeah。〃
　〃That's　ridiculous。　I'm　Geri　of　Thronnos　Rokke　clan。　I　don't　have　to　help　a　wereleopard　that　even　you　admit　isn't　a　dominant。〃
　〃Don't　go　all　class　conscious　on　me；　Jacob。　Remember　the　early　part　of　our　conversation；　the　part　about　you　dying？　I　blame　you　for　the　mess。　And　you　will　help　me　clean　it　up；　or　I　will　splatter　your　brains　all　over　the　walls。〃
　〃You　can't　bring　guns　into　the　lupanar。〃
　I　laughed；　and　even　to　me　it　was　an　unsettling　sound；　creepy　even。　〃You　going　to　spend　the　rest　of　your　life　inside　the　lupanar？〃
　〃Jesus；〃　he　said；　voice　soft；　〃you're　talking　about　assassinating　me。〃
　I　laughed　again。　A　small　voice　in　my　head　was　screaming　at　me；　telling　me　I　was　being　a　very　good　sociopath。　But　Rebecca　of　Sunnybrook　Farm　wasn't　going　to　cut　it　with　Jacob。　Maybe　later　I　could　afford　to　be　soft。　〃I　think　we　finally　understand　each　other；　Jacob。　Here's　my　cell　phone　number。　You　call　me　before　tomorrow　night　with　a　plan。〃
　〃What　if　I　can't　e　up　with　one？〃
　〃Not　my　problem。〃
　〃You'll　kill　me　even　if　I　try　and　save　him　　really　try　and　save　your　leopard；　but　fail。　You'll　still　kill　me。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　cold　bitch。〃
　〃Sticks　and　stones　will　break　your　bones；　but　failure　will　get　you　killed。　Call　me　Jacob；　make　it　soon。〃　I　hung　up　the　phone。
　
　11
　
　〃I　SEE　WHAT　you　mean　about　you　being　practical；〃　Micah　said。　He　was　standing　quietly　watching　me；　face　carefully　neutral；　but　he　couldn't　quite　keep　everything　off　his　face。　He　was　pleased。　Pleased　with　me；　I　think。
　〃You　not　going　to　run　screaming　because　I'm　a　bloodthirsty　sociopath？〃
　He　smiled；　and　again　his　long　lashes　came　down　over　his　eyes。　〃I　don't　think　you're　a　sociopath；　Anita。　I　think　you　do　what　needs　doing　to　protect　your　pard。〃　He　raised　that　yellow…green　gaze　to　me。　〃I　find　that　admirable；　not　something　to　criticize。〃
　I　sighed。　〃Good　that　someone　approves。〃
　He　smiled；　and　it　was　that　mixture　of　condescension；　happiness；　and　sorrow；　that　I'd　seen　before。　A　plex　smile；　that。　〃The　Ulfric　means　well。〃
　〃You　know　what　they　say　about　good　intentions；　Micah。　If　he's　determined　to　take　himself　to　hell；　fine。　But　he　has　no　right　to　drag　the　rest　of　us　along　with　him。〃
　〃I　agree。〃
　It　made　me　tired　that　Micah　agreed　with　me。　I　wasn't　in　love　with　him。　Why　couldn't　it　be　Richard　who　agreed　with　me？　Of　course；　there　was　someone　else。　I　needed　to　get　to　Jean…Claude　while　it　was　still　dark。
　〃I　had　to　put　off　the　shower；　first　to　be　a　gentleman；　and　let　you　go　first；　then　so　the　noise　wouldn't　interrupt　your　phone　call。　I　need　to　get　clean　now；　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃I'll　give　you　some　privacy。〃　I　turned　towards　the　door。
　〃It　wasn't　privacy　I　was　asking　for；　just　explaining　why　I　was　turning　the　water　on　during　our　conversation。〃　he　said。
　That　turned　me　around　at　the　door。　〃What　conversation？〃
　He　turned　on　the　shower；　testing　the　water　with　his　hand；　adjusting　the　heat；　talking　over　his　shoulder。　〃I've　never　felt　another　Nimir…Ra　with　the　kind　of　power　you　put　off。　It　was　amazing。〃
　〃Glad　you　enjoyed　it；　but　I've　really　got　to　go。〃
　He　turned　to　face　me；　stepping　back　into　the　water；　throwing　his　head　back　for　a　second　to　wet　his　hair。　The　water　hit　his　neck　and　he　let　out　a　hissing　breath；　bending　over　at　the　shoulders　like　it　really　hurt。
　I　went　back　into　the　room。　〃Are　you　alright？〃
　He　nodded　and　stopped　in　mid…motion。　〃I　will　be。〃
　I　was　close　enough　that　when　he　raised　his　head　I　could　see　the　water　beaded　on　his　face；　clinging　in　thick　drops　to　his　lashes。　I　stood　to　one　side；　getting　sprayed　with　just　the　faintest　mist　of　the　water。　I　got　my　first　good　look　at　the　side　of　his　neck。　〃Shit。〃　I　reached　through　the　water　to　touch　his　face；　turned　him　slowly　so　I　could　see　the　bite。
　He　had　a　perfect　imprint　of　my　teeth　in　the　right　sid