lh.narcissusinchains-第96部分

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　〃He　has　fed　on　blood　tonight　already；〃　Asher　said。　〃It　is　not　blood　he　needs　but　。。。　voir　les　anges。〃
　〃English；　Asher；　even　I　didn't　understand　that　one；〃　I　said。
　He　waved　his　hands　as　if　erasing　what　he'd　said。　〃He　needs　release；　a　。。。　〃　He　said　several　things　in　rapid　French；　and　I　couldn't　follow　it。　Asher　was　in　great　distress　if　his　English　had　abandoned　him。
　I　was　careful　not　to　look　at　Micah　when　I　tried　to　explain。　〃It's　the　ardeur　that　Jean…Claude　needs　fed。〃
　〃He　needs　sex；　not　blood；〃　Nathaniel　said。　His　voice　was　soft；　but　a　glance　showed　him　standing　as　far　across　the　room　as　he　could　get。　I　didn't　blame　him　a　bit。
　〃The　first　time　you　fed　on　me　it　wasn't　intercourse；　just　contact；〃　he　said。
　I　nodded；　still　trying　not　to　look　at　any　of　the　men。　〃I　remember。〃
　〃Contact　is　okay；〃　Micah　said。
　I　had　to　look　at　him；　and　the　surprise　was　great　enough　that　for　just　a　second　I　almost　fought　free　of　the　ardeur；　I　could　almost　think。　〃What　kind　of　contact？〃
　〃Sexual　contact。〃　His　face　was　very　serious；　eyes　solemn；　as　if　he；　too；　could　think　again。　〃I　said　I　would　do　anything　to　be　your　Nimir…Raj；　Anita。　What　do　I　have　to　do　to　convince　you　I　mean　it？〃
　〃What　are　you　offering；　Micah？〃
　〃Whatever　you　need。〃　He　looked　past　me　to　Jean…Claude。　〃Whatever　you　both　need。〃
　I　felt　Jean…Claude's　attention　sharpen；　almost　like　a　physical　force；　and　the　ardeur　was　back；　thick　enough　to　drown　in。　My　breath　froze　in　my　throat；　my　pulse　was　too　fast　to　swallow。　Jean…Claude's　voice　came；　I　think　in　my　head；　because　his　lips　never　moved。　〃Be　careful　what　you　offer；　mon　ami；　my　control　is　poor　tonight。〃
　Micah　answered；　as　if　he'd　heard　Jean…Claude　too。　〃You　were　a　ménage　à　trois　with　the　Ulfric。　He's　gone。　I'm　here；　and　I'm　staying。　I　will　be　Anita's　Nimir…Raj；　whatever　that　means。〃
　I　managed　to　say；　〃Who　said　that　we　were　a　ménage　à　trois？〃
　〃Everyone；〃　he　said。
　I　wondered　who　everyone　was；　because　I　knew　it　wasn't　everyone。
　Jean…Claude　was　moving　forward　again；　painfully　slow；　every　movement　so　full　of　energy；　so　full　of　potential　violence　and　grace；　that　it　almost　hurt　to　watch。　It　made　my　pulse　race；　my　breath　hard　to　take　　made　my　body　run　moist。　Oh；　shit；　oh；　shit；　oh；　shit。
　〃Jean…Claude；　no；〃　but　my　voice　was　a　whisper。
　His　mouth　hovered　over　mine；　then　his　face　turned　for　a　second　to　Micah。　I　watched　the　two　of　them　gaze　at　each　other　from　inches　away　and　felt　the　power　pulsing　in　the　air　between。　Jean…Claude　moved　so　slowly　to　close　the　distance　between　them　that　it　was　like　watching　slow　motion。　Micah　sat　there；　waiting。　He　didn't　move　in　to　him；　but　he　didn't　move　away　either。　I　thought　at　first　they'd　kissed；　then　some　trick　of　the　light　let　me　see　a　thin　line　of　space　between　their　mouths。　Not　touching；　not　yet。　I　watched　their　lips　so　tremblingly　close；　and　part　of　me　wanted　them　to　touch；　but　Jean…Claude　held　his　place；　held　his　place　until　Micah　closed　his　eyes；　as　if　he　couldn't　stand　to　meet　those　glowing　orbs；　like　looking　away　from　the　sun；　too　brilliant　to　bear。
　And　still　Jean…Claude　did　not　close　that　small　distance。　It　was　the　distance　of　a　breath；　the　flick　of　a　tongue　and　still　he　held　himself　almost　touching；　almost　there；　but　not　quite。　The　tension　grew；　grew；　grew；　until　I　wanted　to　scream。　I　didn't　realize　that　I'd　moved　in　towards　them；　until　they　both　turned　at　once　and　looked　at　me　from　inches　away。　My　eyes　flicked　from　one　to　the　other。　Eyes　like　blue　fire；　eyes　like　yellow…green　clouds。　Micah's　eyes　grew　more　green　as　I　watched；　until　they　were　pale；　pale　green；　like　spring　leaves。　He　focused　on　me。　I　couldn't　explain　it；　but　I　knew　that　this　was　the　look　he　hunted　with；　that　sharp　focus；　the　pupil　nearly　lost　in　the　color　of　his　eyes。
　I　realized　that　I'd　pushed　the　ardeur　back。　I　was　attracted　to　both；　but　I　could　think　again；　feel　something　besides　the　burn。　You　practice　one　kind　of　metaphysical　control；　and　I　guess　it　gives　you　an　edge　on　all　of　them。　The　relief　made　me　feel　weak；　as　if　I　could　have　curled　on　the　floor　and　slept。　We　weren't　going　to　fall　on　each　other　like　ravening　lust…monsters。　Yippee。
　I　eased　away；　started　to　crawl　backwards。　Jean…Claude's　gaze　followed　me；　but　he　made　no　move　to　touch　me。　There　was　something　about　the　way　he　stayed　on　all　fours　that　let　me　know　the　ardeur　was　still　riding　him。　But　if　I　could　keep　from　touching　him；　we'd　be　alright。　He　watched　me；　like　a　starving　man；　who　was　watching　his　first　meal　in　days　crawl　away。　But　he　played　fair；　he　stayed　where　he　was；　he　let　me　crawl　away。　He　knew　the　rules。　Micah　didn't。
　He　reached　for　me；　and　I　threw　myself　back　to　the　floor　in　a　blur　of　speed　that　I'd　never　had　before；　but　Micah　wasn't　human　either。　He　followed　me　in　a　movement　that　was　too　fast　for　my　eyes　to　follow；　so　that　he　was　above　me　before　my　mind　could　see　that　he'd　moved。　It　was　magical。
　He　was　frozen　just　above　me；　his　body　balanced　on　hands　and　feet；　almost　like　he　was　doing　a　push…up。　I　reached　out；　around　him；　trying　not　to　touch　him。　I　had　time　to　say；　〃No；　don't；〃　then　two　things　happened　at　once。　Micah　dropped　his　body　on　top　of　mine；　and　Jean…Claude　took　my　outreached　hand。　Maybe　he　thought　I　was　reaching　for　him；　I　don't　know。　But　the　moment　we　touched　the　heat　ran　over　us；　through　us；　and　there　was　nothing　but　the　need。
　
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　WE　KISSED；　AND　it　was　like　melting　from　the　mouth　down。　My　hands　slid　over　the　silk　of　Micah's　shirt；　and　it　wasn't　enough。　I　ripped　at　it；　tore　it　from　his　body　until　my　hands　spilled　over　the　solid　smoothness　of　his　chest；　his　skin　like　warm　satin　under　my　fingers。　Micah　was　suddenly　grinding　me　into　the　floor；　so　heavy。　I　opened　my　eyes　and　found　Jean…Claude　above　us；　over　Micah；　pressing　us　both　into　the　floor。　I　had　a　moment　of　meeting　his　eyes；　a　moment　to　see　the　rage　in　that　blind　blue　fire；　then　his　arms　were　around　Micah；　and　he　was　jerking　the　smaller　man　backwards。
　I　sat　up；　watching　them　roll　across　the　floor；　fighting。　Anger；　frustration；　and　just　sheer　tiredness　welled　up　inside　me　until　there　was　no　room　for　the　ardeur。　I　was　tired　of　fighting；　so　tired　of　it。
　I　smelled　blood　like　a　hot　spike　through　the　center　of　my　body；　the　smell　was　almost　sexual。　That　was　enough。　I　drew　the　Browning　and　sighted　around　the　room。　For　a　split　second；　I　had　the　two　of　them　at　the　end　of　the　barrel。　For　a　split　second　it　occurred　to　me。　Then　I　moved　the　gun　around　the　room；　registering　for　the　first　time　that　there　was　no　one　left　in　the　room　but　us。　Good　to　know　we　didn't　have　an　audience。　I　pointed　the　gun　at　the　overstuffed　white　couch　and　fired。　One　of　the　small　gold　and　silver　pillows　jumped　upward　with　the　impact。　The　noise　was　thunderous　in　the　stone　room；　as　if　the　heavy　drapes　caught　the　sound；　held　it　around　us。
　They　froze。　Micah's　hands　were　claws；　shredding　across　Jean…Claude's　back；　because　that　was　all　he　could　reach。　Jean…Claude's　face　was　buried　in　Micah's　neck；　his　body　wrapped　around　him；　so　that　everything　vital　was　hidden　while　he　tried　to　tear　Micah's　throat　out。
　I　sighted　on　them。　〃Stop　it；　stop　it；　both　of　you；　or　the　next　one　goes　in　one　of　you。　I　swear；　by　God；　that　I　will　shoot　you。〃
　Jean…Claude　raised　up；　blood　in　a　crimson　wash　across　his　mouth；　chin；　down　his　neck。　There　was　so　much　blood；　it　made　me　afraid　to　look　at　Micah's　neck。　Micah's　claws　stayed　in　Jean…Claude's　back。　I　could　see　the　tension　as　if　every　muscle　were　poised　to　drive　the　claws　farther　in。
　〃The　Nimir…Raj　holds　me　in　place；　ma　petite。　I　cannot　move。〃
　〃Micah；　let　him　up。〃
　Micah　didn't　move；　and　I　guess　I　couldn't　blame　him；　but　。。。　I　aimed　the　gun　at　his　head　because　that　was　the　only　clear　shot　I　had。　I　had　a　small　spurt　of　panic　that　I　might　have　to　pull　the　trigger；　then　a　calmness　welled　over　me；　and　I　stood　in　that　well　of　silence；　that　buzzing　white　noise　that　I　went　to　when　I　killed。　There　was　no　feeling　here；　there　was　almost　nothing　here。
　〃I　。。。　will　。。。　kill　you；　Micah。〃　My　voice　sounded　as　empty　as　I　felt。
　Micah　turned　his　head　slowly　to　look　at　me。　Blood　flowed　from　the　left　side　of　his　neck　down　his　shoulder；　his　chest。　He　was　drenched　in　his　own　blood。　I　could　see　more　of　it　welling　up；　sliding　down；　but　not　constant；　the　blood　pumped　out　with　his　pulse。　Shit。
　〃Let　him　up；　Micah；　he's　pierced　your　carotid。〃　I　lowered　the　gun　and　started　to　close　the　distance　between　them。
　Micah　looked　up　at　the　vampire；　still　poised　with　his　claws　in　Jean…Claude's　flesh。　〃If　I　die；　I　want　him　to　go　with　me。〃
　〃It　should　be　simple　enough　for　a　Nimir…Raj　of　your　power　to　heal　such　a　small　wound；〃　Jean…Claude　said；　still　pressed　around　the　other　man's　body；　intimate。
　Micah　withdrew　the　claws　from　Jean…Claude's　back。　Jean…Claude　moved　enough　to　prop　himself　up　on　his　hands。　I　saw　Micah　tense　a　second　before　his　arm　swung　in　that　unbelievable　speed；　so　fast；　so　fast。　Jean…Claude's　throat　hadn't　even　started　to　bleed　when　Micah's　hand　was　back　at　his　side。　Then　blood　spilled　in　a　fountain　from　Jean…Claude's　throat。
　〃Heal　that；〃　Micah　said。
　I　was　left　standing　there；　watching　them　both　bleed　to　death。　Mother　fucking　son　of　a　bitch。
　
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　JEAN…CLAUDE　HALF　FELL；　half　moved　off　of　Micah。　Blood　sprayed　in　a　red　rain　as　he　knelt　on　all　fours；　coughing；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　clear　his　throat。　It　made　the　blood　pump　faster。
　I　screamed；　at　first　wordless；　then　I　thought　of　something　better。　I　screamed；　〃Asher！〃
　Micah　was　already　rolling　in　black　fur；　bones　sliding　in　and　out；　muscles　rolling　in　glimpses　of　pinkish　flesh。　He'd　shapeshift　and　heal　himself；　but　Jean…Claude　couldn't　shapeshift。
　I　grabbed　Jean…Claude's　arm；　and　the　moment　I　touched　him　the　marks　flared　between　us。　I　was　choking　on　my　own　blood；　drowning　in　it。　Strong　hands　were　digging　into　my　arms；　fingers　like　cold　stone。　I　blinked　and　found　Jean…Claude's　face　glowing　like　carved　alabaster　with　white　light　inside　it。　His　skin　glowed　behind　the　coating　of　blood　on　his　lower　face；　like　rubies　spread　across　diamonds。　His　eyes　were　pools　of　molten　sapphire　flame；　if　fire　could　be　cold；　achingly　cold。　A　wind　sprang　from　his　body；　from　our　bodies；　and　it　was　the　cold　of　the　grave　that　danced　around　us；　fluttered　our　hair　around　our　faces。　We　reached　that　cold　po