lh.narcissusinchains-第67节

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n　Jacob's　side。　I　said　a　little　prayer　for　guidance；　because　this　was　more　a　political　problem；　and　that　wasn't　one　of　my　best　things。
　〃It　is　business　between　the　lukoi　and　the　pard。　Why　are　the　rodere　here；　Rafael？〃　Richard　asked。　He　talked　like　he　didn't　know　us；　very　political；　very　distant。
　〃The　Nimir…Ra　saved　my　life　once。　The　rodere　owe　her　a　great　debt。〃
　〃Does　this　mean　that　your　treaty　with　us　is　null　and　void？〃
　〃I　formed　a　treaty　with　you；　Richard；　and　I　will　hold　to　that；　because　I　know　you　are　a　man　that　honors　his　obligations　and　remembers　his　duty　to　his　allies；　but　I　owe　Anita　a　personal　debt；　and　I　am　honor…bound　to　uphold　that　as　well。〃
　〃If　it　es　to　fighting；　who　will　you　fight　with；　us　or　the　leopards？〃
　〃I　hope　most　sincerely　that　it　does　not　e　to　that；　but　I　came　with　the　leopards；　and　we　will　go　with　them；　under　whatever　circumstances　that　leave…taking　will　be。〃
　〃You　have　destroyed　your　people；〃　Jacob　said。
　Richard　turned　on　him。　〃I　am　Ulfric　here；　Jacob；　not　you。　I　say　what　will　be　destroyed　and　what　will　not。〃
　〃I　meant　no　offense；　Ulfric。〃　But　his　voice　made　the　words　a　lie。　〃I　meant　only　that　if　it　es　to　a　fight　the　rats　cannot　defeat　us。　Perhaps　their　king　would　like　to　reconsider　who　he　owes　a　debt　of　honor　to。〃
　〃A　debt　of　honor　exists　whether　you　want　it　to　or　not；〃　Rafael　said。　〃Richard　understands　what　it　means　to　owe　an　honor…debt。　That　is　why　I　know　that　Richard　will　honor　our　treaty。　I　have　no　such　assurances　when　it　es　to　other　members　of　this　pack。〃
　There；　he'd　said　it。　It　was　as　close　to　saying；　I　don't　trust　you；　Jacob；　as　he　could　get。　A　spreading　well　of　silence　filled　the　clearing；　so　that　the　brush　of　cloth；　the　shift　of　a　furred　body　was　suddenly　loud。
　Richard's　hands　tightened　on　the　arms　of　his　throne。　I　watched　him；　because　he　was　shielding　so　tight　against　me　that　I　couldn't　feel　him；　but　I　could　watch；　watch　him　think。　〃Are　you　saying　that　if　I　am　no　longer　Ulfric　that　the　treaty　no　longer　holds？〃
　〃Yes；　that　is　what　I'm　saying。〃
　Richard　and　Rafael　stared　at　each　other　for　a　long　time；　then　the　faintest　of　smiles　played　on　Richard's　lips。　〃I　have　no　plans　to　step　down　as　Ulfric；　so　the　treaty　should　be　secure　for　a　while；　unless　Jacob　has　other　plans。〃
　That　one　statement　sent　a　wave　of　unease　through　the　waiting　werewolves。　You　could　feel　it；　see　it　spreading　out　through　them；　as　if　they　smelled　a　trap　of　some　kind。
　Jacob　looked　surprised；　shocked。　He　was　a　perfect　stranger；　but　I　watched　the　confusion　play　over　his　face；　as　he　tried　to　think　of　what　to　say。　If　he　said　he　had　no　designs　on　the　throne；　then　he　would　be　foresworn；　and　the　shapeshifters　were　a　little　touchy　about　things　like　that。
　Jacob　was　either　going　to　have　to　lie　or　declare　his　intentions；　and　the　look　on　his　face　said　clearly　he　wasn't　ready　to　do　that。
　A　woman's　voice　came　from　the　right；　clear　and　ringing　like　she'd　had　stage　training。　〃Aren't　we　getting　distracted　from　the　business　at　hand？　I　for　one　am　very　interested　in　choosing　the　new　lupa。〃
　The　woman　was　tall；　but　built　all　of　curves；　voluptuous　the　way　that　movie　stars　in　the　fifties　had　been。　She　seemed　soft；　feminine；　yet　she　stalked　over　the　ground　in　a　swaying　glide；　half　sex　on　the　hoof　and　half　predatory；　like　she'd　lure　you　in　by　playing　victim；　fuck　you　till　you　cried　for　mercy；　then　eat　your　face　off。
　She　was　even　wearing　a　dress；　one　that　clung　to　her　curves　and　had　a　neckline　so　low　that　you　knew　she　had　to　be　wearing　a　bra。　Breasts　that　size　didn't　do　perky　without　some　help。　She　stalked　barefoot；　her　deep　red　hair　styled　and　perfect；　falling　just　above　her　shoulders　in　a　burnished　shine。
　〃We'll　get　around　to　choosing　the　new　lupa；〃　Richard　said。
　She　dropped　to　her　knees　in　front　of　the　throne；　folding　the　dress　under　her　thighs；　very　ladylike；　though　making　sure　to　lean　forward　enough　for　Richard　to　look　straight　down　her　cleavage。　I　didn't　like　her　much。
　〃You　can't　blame　us　for　being　eager；　Ulfric。　One　of　us；〃　and　she　hesitated；　making　it　clear　that　the　〃us〃　was　for　politeness'　sake；　〃will　be　chosen　lupa　and　bee　your　mate　all　in　one　glorious　night。〃　Her　voice　had　dropped　to　a　sultry　murmur；　still　loud　enough　to　be　heard。
　Nope；　didn't　like　her。　I　had　no　room　to　bitch　with　Micah　standing　beside　me；　but　that　didn't　matter。　Logic　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　I　wanted　to　grab　a　handful　of　that　bottle…dyed　red　hair　and　hurt　her。　It　wasn't　until　Micah　touched　my　arm　that　I　realized　I'd　been　caressing　one　of　the　knives　in　its　wrist　sheath。　Sometimes　I　touch　my　weapons　when　I'm　nervous；　sometimes　my　body　just　betrays　my　thoughts。　I　forced　my　hands　to　be　still；　but　I　was　so　not　happy。
　〃Go　back　with　the　other　candidates；　Paris；〃　Richard　said。　He　was　carefully　not　looking　at　her；　as　if　he　were　afraid　to。　That　didn't　make　it　better；　it　made　it　worse。
　She　leaned　forward；　putting　a　hand　on　his　knee。　He　jumped。　〃You　can't　blame　us　for　being　eager；　Ulfric。　We've　all　wanted　you　for　so　very　long。〃
　Richard's　face　had　thinned　down　with　anger。　〃Sylvie；〃　he　said。
　Sylvie　smiled；　and　it　was　a　smile　of　pure　evil　pleasure。　She　grabbed　Paris's　wrist　and　dragged　her；　none　too　gently；　to　her　feet。　Paris　was　a　good　two　inches　taller；　but　Sylvie's　power；　her　beast；　made　her　seem　ten　feet　tall。
　〃The　Ulfric　told　you　to　go　back　and　stand　with　the　other　candidates。　Do　it。〃　She　gave　Paris　a　little　shove　towards　the　crowd。　The　woman　stumbled；　but　regained　her　posure；　smoothing　the　tight　dress　down　over　her　thighs。
　Sylvie　had　turned　to　walk　back　to　her　place　at　Richard's　side；　when　Paris　said；　〃I　heard　you　liked　it　rough。〃
　Sylvie　froze；　and　I　didn't　need　to　see　her　face　to　feel　the　instant　rage　that　radiated　from　her。　I　knew　before　she　turned；　slowly；　muscles　tense；　that　her　eyes　had　bled　to　wolf　amber。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃Sylvie；〃　Richard　said；　voice　soft。　It　wasn't　a　mand；　it　was　a　request。　I　think　if　he'd　made　it　a　mand；　she'd　have　fought　it；　demanded　some　sort　of　satisfaction。　But　it　was　a　request　。。。　She　turned　back　to　Richard。
　〃Yes；　Ulfric。〃
　〃Take　your　place；　please。〃
　She　went　back　to　take　her　place　as　Freki　on　his　right　side。　But　the　anger　boiled　around　her　like　nearly　visible　heat　off　a　summer　road。
　〃I　apologize　to　the　swan　king；　for　not　recognizing　him　sooner；　but　we've　only　met　once。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Donovon　Reece　said；　〃I　remember。〃
　〃Wele　to　our　lupanar。　I　would　give　you　safe　passage　among　us；　but　I　have　to　know　why　you　are　here　before　I　can　do　that。〃
　〃I　am　here　because　the　Nimir…Ra　rescued　my　swanmanes　from　the　people　that　nearly　killed　her。　She　risked　her　life　for　them。　I　am　here　at　her　side　tonight　as　an　ally。〃
　〃I　can't　grant　you　safe　passage；　Donovan；　because　if　things　go　badly　it　will　be　a　fight。　If　you're　Anita's　ally；　you'll　be　in　the　middle　of　it。〃
　〃She　risked　her　life　for　my　people；　I　can　do　no　less。〃
　Richard　nodded；　and　I　watched　an　understanding　pass　between　them。　Birds　of　an　honorable　feather；　so　to　speak。
　〃Does　she　save　every　shapeshifter　she　es　across　in　trouble？〃　Jacob　asked；　and　he　made　it　derisive。
　Richard　started　to　say　something；　and　Sylvie　stepped　forward；　touching　his　arm。　He　gave　a　small　nod；　and　let　her　speak。　〃How　many　of　us　has　Anita　saved　from　torture　or　death？〃　She　raised　her　own　hand。
　Jamil　stepped　out　from　around　the　throne　and　raised　his　own。　All　my　leopards　raised　their　hands　like　a　small　forest　of　gratitude。　Rafael　raised　his　hand。　I　finally　spotted　Louie；　his　lieutenant；　and　Ronnie's　boyfriend。　He　gave　a　small　nod　to　me　and　raised　his　own　hand。
　Richard　stood　and　raised　his　hand。　There　were　other　hands　here　and　there。　Then　Irving　Griswold；　mild…mannered　reporter　　and　werewolf　　stepped　forward。　His　glasses　reflected　the　firelight　so　that　he　looked　blind。　He　looked　like　a　tall；　slightly　balding　cherub　with　eyes　of　flame。
　〃What　would　have　happened　if　Anita　hadn't　saved　Sylvie　from　the　vampire　council's　torture？　Sylvie's　strong；　but　what　if　she　had　broken？　She's　dominant　enough　to　call　most　of　us　in；　to　have　forced　us　to　give　ourselves　over　to　the　vampire　council。〃　Irving　raised　his　hand。　〃She　saved　us　all。〃
　Hands　went　up　among　the　werewolves　until　nearly　half　of　them　were　holding　a　hand　up。　It　made　my　throat　tight；　my　eyes　burn。　I　wasn't　going　to　cry；　but　if　someone　hugged　me；　I　couldn't　be　sure　of　that。
　Louie　stepped　forward；　small；　dark；　and　handsome；　with　his　short　black　hair　cut　neat。　〃Rafael　is　a　strong　king；　so　strong　that　if　the　vampire　council　had　broken　him；　none　of　us　could　have　refused　his　call。　We　would　all　have　been　at　their　mercy。　You　all　saw　what　they　did　to　him　and　how　long　it　took　him　to　heal。　Anita　saved　all　the　rodere　in　this　city。〃
　The　rats　raised　their　hands　　all　of　them。
　Sylvie　said；　〃Look　around　you；　do　you　really　want　to　lose　Anita　as　our　lupa？　Most　of　you　remember　what　it　was　like　with　Raina。　Do　you　want　to　go　back　to　that？〃
　〃She's　not　lukoi；〃　Jacob　said。
　A　few　others　said　the　same　thing；　but　not　many。　〃If　your　only　objection　to　her　is　that　she's　not　a　werewolf；〃　Sylvie　said；　〃then　that's　a　poor　excuse　for　losing　Anita。〃
　〃Losing　her；〃　Jacob　said；　〃this　is　the　first　time　I've　ever　seen　her。　I've　been　with　this　pack　for　five　months　and　this　is　the　first　time　I've　set　eyes　on　your　p