lh.narcissusinchains-第58部分

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　〃You　saved　our　king's　life；〃　the　man　said。　〃We　owe　you　a　life。〃
　〃Even　if　it's　your　own；〃　I　said。
　〃Them's　the　breaks；〃　he　said。
　I　stared　up　at　the　woman。　〃You　agree　with　that？〃
　〃Like　Igor　says；　we　owe　you　one。〃
　It　always　made　me　unfortable　when　people　were　willing　to　put　my　safety　ahead　of　their　own。　I　just　wasn't　really　fy　with　the　concept　of　bodyguards；　but；　what　the　hell？　I　put　my　hand　out。　They　exchanged　glances　between　them；　then　shook　my　hand。　Igor　touched　me　like　he　was　afraid　I'd　break；　and　Claudia　tried　to　squeeze　hard　enough　to　make　me　cry　uncle。　I　didn't。　I　smiled　pleasantly　at　her；　because　I　knew　she　wouldn't　really　hurt　me。　She　just　wanted　to　see　if　I'd　squirm。　My　pleasant　smile　made　her　frown；　but　she　let　go　of　my　hand。　My　hand　actually　ached　just　a　little；　and　if　my　healing　powers　weren't　up　to　it；　I'd　be　bruised　in　the　morning。　Damn。
　Rafael　turned　to　some　of　his　rats；　giving　instructions；　leaving　me　alone　with　the　two　bodyguards。　〃Is　Igor　your　real　name？〃　I　asked。
　〃Nickname；〃　he　said。
　〃What's　your　real　name？〃
　He　smiled　and　shook　his　head。
　〃What　could　be　worse　than　Igor？〃　I　asked。
　His　smile　widened　to　a　grin。　〃Wouldn't　you　like　to　know？〃
　It　made　me　smile；　and　some　tightness　in　my　chest　eased。　You'd　almost　think　I　was　relieved　to　have　bodyguards　of　my　own。　Naw；　not　me。　I　didn't　need　no　stinking　bodyguards。　I　probably　wouldn't　need　them；　but　extra　muscle　is　like　extra　ammunition。　If　you　need　it；　it's　good　to　have　it；　if　you　don't　need　it；　then　it　can　always　go　back　in　the　box。
　Truth　was；　I　felt　more　protective　of　my　leopards　than　protected　by　them。　Sad；　but　true。　And　I　didn't　entirely　trust　Merle；　or　Noah；　or　even　Micah。　He　was　keeping　things　from　me；　and　I　didn't　like　that。　Some　women　are　just　never　satisfied。
　Rafael　moved　off　through　his　people；　giving　them　soft…voiced　instructions。　Micah　moved　up　closer　to　me；　with　Merle　and　Noah　at　a　very　attentive　distance。　I　looked　at　Micah　and　suddenly　couldn't　be　this　close　and　not　touch　him。　I　reached　my　hand　out　to　him；　his　eyes　widened；　but　he　took　my　hand。　His　hand　slid　over　mine　in　a　play　of　pulsing　warmth　that　almost　took　my　breath　away。　I　watched　a　similar　reaction　play　on　his　face。　What　was　going　on？　I　drew　my　hand　out　of　his；　and　it　was　like　pulling　it　through　melted　taffy；　so　thick。
　I　looked　up　to　find　that；　except　for　Claudia　and　Igor；　we　were　surrounded　by　wereleopards；　his　and　mine。　The　moment　I　met　Nathaniel's　eyes　the　power　jolted　through　me。　I　turned　from　him　to　Cherry；　and　her　pale　eyes　widened　The　power　was　so　thick　it　was　like　trying　to　breath　something　liquid；　as　if　it　hurt　for　the　air　to　go　down。　The　power　leaped　between　me　and　Zane；　Vivian　and　Caleb；　who　was　next　in　the　circle。　Caleb；　who　I　didn't　particularly　like。　But　as　soon　as　I　searched　his　face；　the　power　leaped　between　us；　just　as　it　had　with　the　others。
　He　gasped；　hand　going　to　his　chest；　as　if　he'd　felt　it　like　a　blow　there。　His　voice　came　out　strangled。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　〃She　is　being　Nimir…Ra；〃　Micah　said。
　I　turned　back　to　him；　but　in　the　turning　crossed　Noah's　gaze　first。　The　power　stretched　between　me　and　this　stranger；　and　the　fear　showed　on　his　face。　I　was　strangely　calm；　it　felt　right；　good。　Gina　moved　closer　to　Merle；　and　that　drew　my　gaze。　The　power　swung　through　her；　from　her。　We　were　all　like　some　great　circuit　of　energy；　sharing；　flowing；　growing。　Tears　trailed　down　Gina's　face；　she　cried　softly；　clinging　to　Merle's　arm。　I　met　his　eyes　last；　as　if　I　was　supposed　to；　and　he　tried　to　turn　away；　but　it　wasn't　a　matter　of　locking　gazes；　it　was　a　matter　of　my　attention　going　to　him。　The　power；　my　power；　my　beast；　noticing　him。
　The　power　lashed　through　him；　because　he　fought　it。　He　tried　to　shield；　but　he　couldn't　shield　from　this。　It　wasn't　that　I　was　strong　enough　to　force　him。　I　didn't　try　to　push。　It　was　more　that　the　power　recognized　him；　and　something；　maybe　his　beast；　resonated　with　the　power。　He　turned　slowly　to　stare　at　me；　and　the　look　on　his　face　was　pained。　It　didn't　hurt；　it　felt　warm　and　good　and　frightening。
　The　power　grew；　wound　tight　and　tighter；　until　it　filled　the　air　around　us。
　Claudia　said；　〃What　the　hell　are　you　doing？〃
　〃Bonding；〃　Rafael　said；　and　he　drew　the　two　wererats　out　of　our　circle。　The　instant　they　were　gone；　the　circle　tightened；　and　it　was　like　the　pressure　of　a　storm；　my　ears　needed　to　pop；　as　if　the　pressure　of　the　air　had　changed。
　Micah　moved　to　stand　in　front　of　me。　The　others　formed　a　circle　around　us　as　if　someone　had　choreographed　it。　We　stared　at　each　other　and　then　reached　a　hand　towards　each　other。　It　was　hard　to　move　forward；　as　if　the　air　had　grown　solid　and　we　had　to　push　our　way　through。　Our　fingertips　touched；　and　our　hands　slid　together；　quickly；　easily；　like　a　fish　breaking　through　water　into　open　air。　We　spilled　around　each　other；　our　arms；　our　bodies　touching　pletely；　as　if　we　could　walk　into　the　other's　body　like　it　was　an　open　door。　His　mouth　hovered　over　mine；　and　the　power　was　there；　breathing；　pulsing；　hot　against　my　lips。　I　tried　to　be　afraid。　Tried　to　draw　back；　but　I　didn't　want　to。　It　was　as　if　a　part　of　me　that　I　hadn't　even　known　existed　was　in　charge；　and　no　amount　of　mon　sense　　or　doubts　　could　stop　it。
　It　wasn't　a　kiss；　it　was　a　melding。　The　power　poured　in　a　scalding　wave　from　his　mouth　to　mine；　from　my　mouth　to　his。　I　could　feel　the　others；　like　lines　of　heat　running　out　like　spokes　of　a　wheel；　and　Micah　and　I　were　the　hub　of　that　wheel。　The　power　ran　between　us　all；　back　and　forth；　liquid；　burning；　growing；　growing；　and　melting。　Melting　boundaries；　borders　that　kept　us　separate　as　people。　It　was　as　if　Micah's　body　and　mine　were　a　door　and　we　stepped　into　each　other；　closer　than　flesh　could　touch；　closer　than　hearts　could　beat；　and　I　felt　his　beast　and　mine　roll　through　us；　around　us；　as　if　the　two　great　animals　bound　us　together　like　a　rope　that　ran　through　our　flesh；　our　skin；　our　minds。　And　the　beasts　flared　outward；　traveled　down　those　lines　of　power　and　smashed　into　each　of　the　others。　I　felt　it　as　a　physical　blow；　felt　them　stagger　as　our　twinned　beasts　traveled　the　circle　and　caressed　their　beasts　in　turn。　And　our　beasts　came　home　in　a　rush　of　heat；　like　standing　in　the　middle　of　a　bonfire；　but　it　was　also　a　glorious　rush；　a　joyousness　like　nothing　I'd　ever　felt。　I　caught；　with　that　rush　of　power；　glimpses　into　all　the　others。
　I　saw　Gina　tied　to　a　bed　and　a　man　above　her　like　a　shadow；　something　evil　that　the　power　could　not　see　clearly；　Merle　covered　in　wounds　and　blood；　huddled　against　a　wall；　weeping；　Caleb　standing　alone；　covered　in　blood；　his　eyes　haunted；　Noah　running　down　a　hallway　with　screams　chasing　him；　making　him　run　faster；　Cherry　lying　in　a　huge　heap　of　warm　bodies；　beside　Zane　and　Nathaniel　and　me；　Zane's　memory　was　of　sitting　at　my　kitchen　table　eating；　laughing　with　Nathaniel；　Vivian　lying　in　Stephen's　arms　in　their　bed；　Nathaniel's　memory　was　of　me　marking　his　back；　but　the　sense　of　peace　I　got　from　him　with　the　memory　was　stronger　than　the　sense　of　sex；　as　if　some　great　burden　had　lifted　from　him；　and　I　saw　Gregory　bound　wrist…to…ankle　behind　his　back；　gagged；　blindfolded；　terrified。　He　lay　naked　on　a　bed　of　bones。　I　knew　this　was　not　a　memory；　this　was　what　was　happening　to　Gregory　right　this　minute。　And　I　could　see　it；　feel　his　terror；　and　I　still　didn't　know　where　he　was。
　The　power　burst　over　us　all　in　a　wave　of　skin…rushing；　nerve…caressing　contentment；　as　if　we'd　all　walked　into　a　strange　room　and　suddenly　realized　that　everything　in　it　was　familiar；　every　corner　of　the　room　was　a　key　to　our　hearts；　and　the　word　that　washed　over　me；　was　home。
　Micah　drew　back　first；　shaking。　I　was　crying；　and　didn't　remember　when　it　had　started。　I　heard　other　people　crying　in　the　dark；　and　I　looked　beyond　us　and　found　that　it　wasn't　just　our　people。　Some　of　the　wererats　were　crying；　faces　turned　towards　us　with　something　like　awe　　or　fear　　in　their　eyes。
　Something　made　me　look　past　all　of　them　to　the　wood's　edge。　Richard　stood　shirtless；　dressed　in　nothing　but　jeans　and　whatever　shoes　he　was　wearing。　The　sight　of　him　there　painted　with　starlight　and　shadows　made　me　catch　my　breath；　not　because　he　was　beautiful；　or　because　I　wanted　him　　that　always　went　without　saying　with　Richard　　but　because　he　was　suddenly；　for　the　first　time；　wild。　It　wasn't　his　anger　that　made　the　difference。　I　saw　him　at　the　edge　of　the　woods；　the　way　you'd　e　unexpectedly　upon　a　wild　animal；　like　glimpsing　deer　in　the　twilight；　or　that　flash　as　something　large　and　furred　raced　in　front　of　your　headlights；　and　you　knew　it　wasn't　a　dog　and　it　was　too　big　to　be　a　fox。　Richard　stood　there；　and　when　our　eyes　met；　it　sent　a　jolt　through　me　from　the　top　of　my　head　to　the　soles　of　my　feet；　and　into　the　ground　beyond。　Whatever　else　Richard　had　been　doing　to　screw　up　his　pack's　structure；　one　thing　he'd　done　right；　he'd　embraced　his　beast。　You　could　see　it　on　him　like　a　coat　that　he'd　finally　grown　into；　something　that　fit　him；　tailor…made。
　Marcus；　the　old　Ulfric；　had　always　insisted　on　dressing　up；　so　at　a　glance　you'd　know　he　was　king。　Richard　stood　there　with　no　clothes　to　distinguish　him；　yet　you　knew　he　was　king。　Power　makes　you　a　monarch；　and　all　the　fancy　robes　in　the　world　won't　do　the　job　without　it。
　We　stared　at　each　other　across　the　clearing。　Underneath　that　new　veneer　of　fortable　power；　the　look　on　his　face　made　my　chest　so　tight　it　hurt。　If　I　could　have　thought　of　anything　to　say　that　would　have　made　things　less　painful；　I'd　have　said　it；　but　I　couldn't　think　of　any　words　that　would　help。
　Jamil　and　Shang…Da　came　up　on　either　side　of　him；　and　there　was　a　look　of　anger　on　Shang…Da's　face。　Anger　at　me；　I　think。　Jamil　looked　at　Richard；　as　if　he　wished　there　was　some　way　for　him　to　guard　Richard　from　this；　as　well　as　from　bullets　and　claws。　But　with　some　things；　even　a　really　good　bodyguard　can't　take　the　hit　for　you。　This　was　one　of　those　things。
　Richard's　voice　came　deep；　loud；　clear；　untouched　by　the　look　on　his　face。　〃Wele　rat　king　of　the　Dark　Crown　Clan。　Wele　Nimir…Ra　and　Nimir…Raj　of　the　Blooddrinkers　Clan。　Wele　to　the　lands　of　the　Thronnos　Rokke　Clan。　The　leopards　have　shown　us　this　night　what　it　truly　means　to　be　a　clan；　be　they　pard；　lukoi；　or