lh.narcissusinchains-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　He　held　his　empty　hands　out　towards　me；　palms　up。　A　nice　traditional　gesture　to　show　that　you　are　unarmed　and　harmless。　Yeah；　right。　〃What　can　I　do　to　make　this　right　between　us；　Anita？　I　don't　want　war　between　our　pards；　and　I　have　learned　that　you　are　interviewing　alphas　to　take　your　place　with　your　leopards。　I'm　a　Nimir…Raj。　Do　you　know　how　rare　that　is　among　the　wereleopards？　The　best　you're　probably　going　to　find　elsewhere　is　a　leopard　lionné；　a　protector　but　not　a　true　king。〃
　〃You　applying　for　the　job？〃
　He　started　walking　towards　me；　and　the　room　wasn't　that　big。　〃I'd　be　honored　if　you'd　consider　me　for　the　job。〃
　I　tried　to　hold　up　my　left　hand；　but　the　arm　spasmed　too　badly　to　plete　the　gesture。　But　Micah　got　the　idea；　he　stopped　moving。　〃Let's　start　by　you　staying　over　there。　I've　had　about　as　much　up　close　and　personal　with　the　two　of　you　as　I　can　handle。〃
　He　Just　stood　there；　hands　still　in　that　open　see…I…mean…no…harm　position。　〃We　caught　you　off　guard；　I　understand。〃
　I　doubted　he　understood；　but　it　was　polite　for　him　to　pretend。　I'd　never　met　a　shapeshifter　that　had　a　problem　sleeping　in　a　big　naked　pile；　like　puppies。　Of　course；　I'd　never　met　a　brand…new　one；　yet。　Surely；　there　was　a　learning　curve　for　this　sort　of　fort　level。
　My　left　arm　was　twitching　badly　enough　that　I　took　my　right　hand　off　the　gun；　out　of　my　pocket；　and　tried　to　calm　the　involuntary　movements。
　〃You're　hurt；〃　he　said。
　Every　jump　of　muscle　sent　sharp　little　pains　through　my　arm。　〃Getting　clawed　up　will　do　that　to　you。〃
　〃I　can　make　it　feel　better。〃
　I　rolled　eyes　at　him。　〃I　bet　you　say　that　to　all　the　girls。〃
　He　didn't　even　look　embarrassed。　〃I　told　you；　I　am　a　Nimir…Raj。　I　can　call　flesh。〃
　I　must　have　looked　as　blank　as　I　felt；　because　he　explained。　〃I　can　heal　wounds　with　my　touch。〃
　I　just　looked　at　him。
　〃What　would　it　take　to　convince　you　that　I'm　telling　the　truth？〃　he　asked。
　〃How　about　someone　I　know　to　vouch　for　you？〃
　〃Easily　done；〃　he　said；　and　a　second　later　the　door　opened。
　It　was　another　stranger。　The　man　was　around　six　feet；　broad　shouldered；　muscled；　well　built；　and　since　he　was　nude；　I　knew　for　a　fact　that　every　inch　of　him　was　well　proportioned。　At　least　he　wasn't　erect。　That　was　refreshing。　He　was　pale；　the　first　of　the　new　ones　without　a　tan。　White　hair　with　generous　streaks　of　gray　fell　around　his　shoulders。　He　had　a　gray　mustache　and　one　of　those　tiny　Vandyke　beards。　The　hair　was　a　clue　that　he　was　over　fifty；　probably。　But　what　I　could　see　of　him　didn't　look　old；　or　weak。　He　looked　more　like　a　lifer　mercenary　that　would　cut　your　heart　out　and　take　it　back　to　someone　in　a　box；　for　the　right　amount　of　money。　A　ragged　scar　nearly　bisected　his　chest　and　stomach；　curving　in　a　vicious　half…moon　around　his　belly　button　and　sinking　towards　his　groin。　The　scar　was　white　and　looked　old。　Either　he'd　gotten　the　injury　before　he　became　a　shapeshifter　or　　or　I　didn't　know。　Shapeshifters　could　scar；　but　it　was　rare；　you　almost　had　to　do　something　wrong　to　the　wound　to　get　a　scar　that　bad。
　〃I　don't　know　him；〃　I　said。
　〃Anita　Blake；　this　is　Merle。〃
　It　was　only　after　the　introductions　that　Merle's　eyes　flicked　to　me。　His　eyes　looked　human；　some　pale　gray　color。　His　gaze　went　back　to　his　Nimir…Raj's　face　almost　immediately；　like　an　obedient　dog　that　wants　to　watch　its　master's　face。
　〃Hi；　Merle。〃
　He　nodded　his　head。
　〃Let　her　people　in　the　room。〃
　Merle　shifted；　and　I　knew　instantly　that　he　didn't　want　to　do　it。　〃Some；　but　not　all？〃　he　made　it　a　question。
　Micah　looked　at　me。
　〃Why　not　all？〃　I　asked。
　Merle　turned　those　pale　eyes　to　me；　and　the　look　in　them　made　me　want　to　squirm。　He　stared　at　me　as　if　he　could　see　through　to　the　other　side　and　read　everything　in　between。　I　knew　it　wasn't　true；　but　it　was　a　good　stare。　I　managed　not　to　flinch。
　〃Tell　her；〃　Micah　said。
　〃Too　many　people　in　too　small　a　room。　I　can't　guarantee　Micah's　safety　in　a　crowd　of　strangers。〃
　〃You　must　be　his　Sk？ll；〃　I　said。
　His　lips　curled　back　in　disgust　　I　think。　〃We　are　not　wolves。　We　do　not　use　their　words。〃
　〃Fine；　to　my　knowledge　there's　no　equivalent　word　among　the　leopards；　but　you're　still　Micah's　chief　bodyguard；　right？〃
　He　stared　at　me；　then　gave　a　small　nod。
　〃Okay。　Do　you　really　see　my　people　as　a　threat　to　Micah？〃
　〃It　is　my　job　to　see　them　as　a　threat。〃
　He　had　a　point。　〃Fine。　How　many　are　you　fortable　letting　into　the　room？〃
　He　blinked；　that　harsh　gaze；　shielded　for　a　moment；　his　eyes　uncertain。　〃You're　not　going　to　argue　about　it？〃　Again　he　made　the　statement　into　a　question　with　the　lilt　of　his　voice。
　〃Why　should　I？〃
　〃Most　alphas　will　argue　so　they　don't　appear　weak；〃　he　said。
　I　had　to　smile。　〃I'm　not　that　insecure。〃
　That　made　him　smile。　〃Yes；　those　that　hoard　their　power　are　often　insecure。〃
　〃That's　been　my　experience；〃　I　said。
　He　nodded　again；　face　thoughtful。　〃Two。〃
　〃Fine。〃
　〃Do　you　have　a　preference　who　the　two　shall　be？〃
　I　shrugged。　〃Cherry　and　whoever　else。〃　I　put　Cherry　in　because　she　seemed　to　give　the　best　after…action　reports。　Clearheaded　was　our　Cherry；　if　not　necessarily　who　you'd　want　at　your　back　in　a　fight。　But　I　needed　information；　not　battle　skills。
　Merle　gave　me　a　slight　bow；　then　his　gaze　flicked　back　to　Micah；　still　standing　by　the　bed。　Micah　waved　him　off。　The　big　man　opened　the　door　and　spoke　quietly。　Cherry　was　the　first　one　through　the　door。　She　was　tall　and　slender　with　well…formed　breasts　that　led　the　eye　to　a　very　long　waist；　a　swell　of　hips；　and　proof　that　she　was　indeed　a　natural　blond。　Wasn't　anybody　wearing　clothes　today？
　Frankly；　it　was　just　nice　to　see　another　woman。　Normally；　I　don't　mind　being　the　only　girl；　I　do　that　a　lot　with　the　police；　but　nudity　always　makes　me　relieved　to　see　another　person　without　a　penis。
　She　smiled　when　she　saw　me；　relief　so　large　in　her　eyes；　her　face；　that　it　was　almost　embarrassing。　She　hugged　me；　and　I　let　her；　but　I　pulled　away　first。　She　touched　my　face　as　if　she　couldn't　really　believe　her　eyes。
　〃How　do　you　feel？〃
　I　shrugged；　and　the　small　movement　tightened　the　muscles　in　my　left　arm　until　I　had　to　press　it　against　my　body　to　keep　it　from　jumping　around。　I　spoke　through　the　pain；　teeth　gritted　a　little。　〃Arm's　giving　me　trouble；　but　other　than　that；　I'm　okay。〃
　Cherry　touched　the　arm；　running　her　hand　lightly　over　the　sleeve　of　the　robe。　〃The　muscles　are　tightening　up　from　the　rapid　healing。　It　will　be　alright　in　a　few　days。〃
　〃Am　I　not　going　to　have　the　use　of　my　left　arm　for　a　few　days？〃
　〃The　spasms　will　e　and　go。　Massage　helps。　Hot　presses　may　help。　There　must　have　been　some　severe　muscle　damage　for　this　much　spasming。〃　Did　I　mention　that　Cherry　was　a　nurse　when　she　wasn't　turning　furry？
　〃I　can　give　you　the　use　of　your　arm　today；〃　Micah　said。
　We　both　turned　and　looked　at　him。　〃How？〃　Cherry　asked。
　〃I　can　call　flesh；〃　he　said　again。
　The　look　on　her　face　said　she　knew　what　that　meant；　and　she　was　impressed。　And　a　second　later；　she　looked　doubtful；　suspicious。　That　was　my　girl。　Though　truthfully；　Cherry　had　had　a　hard　enough　life　before　I　met　her　that　she'd　e　with　an　overly　active　suspicion。　I　really　couldn't　take　credit　for　it。
　I　was　trying　to　remember　what　〃calling　the　flesh〃　meant；　when　Nathaniel　stepped　through　the　door。　The　last　time　I'd　seen　him　he'd　been　pierced　with　blades；　his　flesh　grown　around　the　steel。　Now　he　was　perfect　　not　even　a　scar。
　I　must　have　looked　as　pleased；　and　as　astonished；　as　I　felt；　because　he　grinned　at　me。　He　did　a　little　turn　so　I　could　see　that　back　and　front　he　was　healed。　I　touched　his　upper　chest　where　I'd　pulled　out　one　of　the　blades。　The　skin　was　smooth　as　if　I'd　only　dreamed　the　knife。　〃I　know　you　guys　heal　almost　anything；　but　I　never　get　over　the　surprise。〃
　〃Eventually；　you'll　get　used　to　it；〃　Merle　said。　There　was　something　in　his　voice　that　made　me　look　at　him。　Cherry's　and　Nathaniel's　smiles　faded。　They　looked　suddenly　serious。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　I　asked。
　Cherry　and　Nathaniel　exchanged　glances；　but　it　was　Micah　who　spoke。　〃May　I　fix　your　arm？〃
　I　turned　to　tell　him　to　go　to　hell　until　I　knew　what　was　happening；　but　my　left　arm　chose　that　moment　to　curl　up　from　fingertips　to　shoulder；　one　massive；　painful；　charley　horse　that　bent　my　knees。　Only　Cherry　catching　me　kept　me　standing。　My　hand　looked　like　that　of　a　strychnine　victim；　the　fingers　convulsed；　clawlike。　It　felt　like　my　arm　was　trying　to　tear　itself　apart　from　the　inside　out。　Cherry　was　supporting　almost　all　my　weight　as　I　tried　not　to　scream。
　〃Let　him　fix　your　arm；　Anita；　if　he　can；〃　she　said。
　The　muscles　in　my　arm　relaxed　by　painful　inches；　until　the　urge　to　scream　was　only　a　small　voice　in　my　head。　My　voice　came　out　breathy　from　the　strain；　but　it　was　clear；　no　whimpering。　〃What　is　calling　flesh　again？〃　I　was　leaning　so　heavily　on　Cherry　that　it　was　only　politeness　that　kept　her　from　picking　me　up　in　her　arms。　She　was　holding　all　my　weight。
　Micah　came　to　stand　by　us。　Merle　hovered　behind　him　like　an　overly　anxious　nursemaid。　〃I　can　heal　damage　in　my　pard　with　my　body；〃　Micah　said。
　I　glanced　up　at　Cherry　and　saw　Nathaniel　standing　beside　her。　They　both　nodded　at　the　same　time；　as　if　they'd　heard　my　unasked　question。　〃I've　never　seen　a　Nimir…Raj　that　could　call　flesh；　but　I've　heard　of　it；〃　Cherry　said。　〃It　is　possible。〃
　〃You　don't　sound　like　you　believe　him；〃　I　said。
　She　gave　a　faint　smile　that　left　her　eyes　tired。　〃I　don't　believe　in　much　of　anyone。〃　She　smiled　then。　〃Except　you。〃
　I　stood；　still　leaning　on　her　arm；　but　almost　standing　on　my　own。　I　squeezed　her　arm　with　my　right　hand；　trying　to　put　into　my　eyes　what　I　was　feeling。　〃I'll　always　do　my　best　for　you；　Cherry。〃
　She　smiled　again；　and　her　eyes　lightened　a　little；　though　that　edge　of　cynicism　never　quite　left　them。　〃I　know　that。〃
　〃We　all　know　that；〃　Nathaniel　said。
　I　smiled　at　him。　I　said　the　prayer　I'd　been　saying　since　I　inherited　the　wereleopards：　Dear　God；　don't　let　me　fail　them。
　I　kept　a　tight　grip　on　Cherry's　arm；　but　turned　to　Micah。　〃Why　is　my　arm　the　only　thing　that's　hurting？〃
　〃You　don't　hurt　anywhere　else？〃　he　asked。
　I　started　to　say　no；　then　had　to　think　about　it。　〃I　ache；　but　nothing　like　the　arm。　Nothing　else　hurts　like　i