lh.narcissusinchains-第116部分

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ive　him　back　his　energy；　and　that　too　would　have　been　a　rush　in　it's　own　way；　but　Orlando　wanted　to　die；　and　Chimera　was　too　dangerous　to　be　kept　alive。　I　did　what　Orlando　wanted；　and　I　passed　judgment　on　Chimera。　I　called　my　magic　one　more　time　and　spilled　it　into　that　struggling；　screaming　thing；　and　I　released　the　soul。　It　fluttered　past　me　like　an　invisible　bird；　and　the　body　gave　that　long　harsh　breath　that　is　often　the　very　last　sound。　Orlando　King　died　unrecognizable；　unless　you　had　dental　records。
　Micah　helped　me　to　my　feet。　He　was　back　in　human　form。　Before　I'd　seen　Chimera；　I　would　have　said　that　Micah's　change　was　smoother　than　anyone's　I'd　ever　seen。　He　pulled　me　into　the　circle　of　his　arms；　and　I　pressed　my　face　against　the　bare　skin　of　his　neck；　caught　the　scent　of　his　skin；　and　the　ardeur　welled　up　inside　me；　as　if　it　had　been　waiting。　Goosebumps　ran　up　his　bare　arms；　and　he　gave　a　nervous　laugh。　〃I　don't　know　if　I'm　up　to　it。　I've　had　a　hard　day。〃
　I　wrapped　my　arms　around　his　back；　pressed　my　face　against　his　chest；　to　hear　the　beating　of　his　heart　strong　and　steady。　And　for　no　reason　that　I　could　figure　out；　I　started　to　cry；　and　the　ardeur　flowed　away　on　a　wash　of　tears；　and　hands。　Hands　not　just　Micah's；　but　hands　of　wolves；　hyenas；　and　the　leopards　that　had　disobeyed　me　and　e　for　the　fight。　And　finally　Zeke　and　the　halfmen　who　had　joined　him。　They　all　touched　me；　marked　me　with　their　scent；　their　tears；　their　laughter。　We　laughed　and　cried；　howled　and　roared；　made　every　noise　you　could　make。　Richard　missed　a　hell　of　a　victory　party。
　
　Epilogue
　
　RICHARD　DID　MAKE　me　his　B？lverk。　But　I　was　no　longer　his　girlfriend。　I'm　not　even　sure　I'm　upset　about　that。　He's　free　to　find　another　lupa；　though　I'm　not　sure　the　pack　will　agree　with　him；　they　seem　to　like　me　just　fine。　As　B？lverk　of　the　Thronnos　Rokke　Clan；　my　first　order　of　business　was　to　execute　Jacob。　Paris　is　still　alive　at　Richard's　insistence。　I　think　it's　a　mistake；　but　he　is　Ulfric。　Oh；　well。
　I　did　not　turn　furry　with　the　full　moon。　Apparently；　Jean…Claude　was　right　about　the　leopards　being　my　animal　to　call；　just　as　Damian　is　my　vampire　servant。　I'm　gaining　powers　like　a　master　vampire。　Go　figure。
　The　snake　men　and　Marco　died　during　the　fighting。　The　remainder　of　Chimera's　people　have　joined　their　appropriate　animal　groups。　We　have　a　shape…shifter　coalition　to　promote　better　understanding　among　the　groups。　I'm　chairman；　though　I　tried　not　to　be。　Micah　and　his　pard　stayed　in　town。
　Micah　and　I　are　still　dating；　if　you　can　call　sharing　a　bed　and　my　house　dating。　But　I　haven't　left　Jean…Claude。　I'm　dating　them　both。　I　am　Jean…Claude's　human　servant；　and　I　can't　hide　from　that　anymore。　Jean…Claude　wasn't　horrified　by　what　I　did　to　Orlando　King；　either。　He　was　pleased。　Pleased　we　won；　pleased　we　all　survived。　He　and　Micah　seem　to　be　getting　along；　so　far。　I　keep　waiting　for　the　other　shoe　to　drop　and　all　hell　to　break　loose　between　them；　but　so　far；　so　good。
　We　rescued　Joseph；　the　lions'　Rex；　and　his　wife　is　still　pregnant；　four　months　and　counting　　a　record。　Narcissus　turned　out　to　be　a　hermaphrodite；　and　he's　pregnant；　too。　I'm　not　sure　Narcissus　should　be　breeding；　especially　knowing　who　the　father　is；　but　it's　not　my　choice。
　The　cobras'　king　and　son　were　both　dead。　Killed　after　Chimera　had　broken　them。
　I　wake　up　pressed　between　Micah　and　Nathaniel。　You　can't　feed　the　ardeur　off　of　the　same　person　every　day；　not　even　a　lycanthrope。　That's　why　they　used　to　say　that　succubi　and　incubuses　killed　their　victims。　You　can　literally　love　someone　to　death。　So；　I　feed　on　Micah　and　Nathaniel。　Micah　as　my　Nimir…Raj；　and　Nathaniel　as　my　pomme　de　sang。　No；　I'm　not　having　intercourse　with　Nathaniel。　Both　of　them　seem　peaceful　with　the　arrangement；　though　I'm　still　a　little　weirded　out　by　it。　I'm　still　hoping　the　ardeur　is　temporary。
　Belle　Morte's　people　contacted　Jean…Claude。　They're　negotiating　for　Musette；　one　of　Belle's　lieutenants；　to　e　for　a　visit。　The　mention　of　Musette's　name　made　Asher　and　Jean…Claude　go　pale。
　Ronnie　is　horrified　that　I　came　so　close　to　getting　killed；　but　it　hasn't　made　her　any　more　reasonable　on　the　subject　of　my　love　life。　We're　back　to　not　seeing　a　whole　lot　of　each　other。　Maybe　Micah　can　be　my　new　workout　partner；　no　pun　intended。
　I　still　love　Richard；　but　it　doesn't　matter。　It　won't　work。　He　can't　accept　what　he　is；　or　what　I　am。　Neither　of　us　can　change　our　nature；　and　I　don't　even　want　to　anymore。　Micah　accepts　me　for　what　I　am；　all　of　me。　He　loves　me；　from　my　toy　penguin　collection　to　my　cold…blooded　practicality。　He　doesn't　mind　bodies　on　the　ground；　and　neither　does　Jean…Claude。　I　hope　Richard　makes　peace　with　himself　someday；　but　it's　not　really　my　problem　anymore。　I'll　keep　the　pack　safe　with　or　without　him。
　As　for　the　rest；　if　I　wake　up　to　silk　sheets　I　know　I'm　at　Jean…Claude's　place。　If　I　wake　up　on　pure　cotton　sheets；　I'm　at　home。　But　wherever　I　am；　Micah　is　beside　me。　I　go　to　sleep　against　the　smooth　warmth　of　him；　breathing　in　the　honeyed　sweetness　of　his　skin。　Sometimes　the　sheets　smell　of　Jean…Claude's　cologne；　sometimes　they　don't。　Sometimes　Micah's　body　bears　two　neat　fang　marks；　and　I　feel　Jean…Claude　in　his　coffin；　settling　down　for　the　day；　content　and　well…fed；　full　of　my　sex　and　Micah's　blood。　Life　really　is　good；　even　if　you　are　dead。
　
　



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