lhamilton.thekillingdance-第26部分

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　〃What's　happening；　Richard？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　tried　to　bring　you　into　the　pack；　make　you　one　of　us　without　contaminating　you。〃
　〃Why？〃　I　asked。
　〃If　you're　going　to　protect　Stephen；　then　you　deserve　the　protection　of　the　pack。　If　you're　going　to　take　risks　for　us；　then　you　deserve　to　have　the　benefits　of　our　protection。〃
　〃No　offense；〃　I　said；　〃but　I　haven't　been　too　impressed　with　your　protection　so　far。〃　The　minute　I　said　it；　I　wished　I　hadn't。　His　face　fell。
　〃You　made　it　personal　last　night　with　Raina；　Anita。　You　have　no　idea　how　dangerous　she　is。　I　wanted　you　to　have　everyone's　protection　in　case　something　happened　to　me。〃
　I　looked　up　at　him。　〃You　will　kill　Marcus　if　he　jumps　you；　right？　No　more　being　squeamish。〃　I　touched　his　arm。　I　studied　his　face。　〃Answer　me；　Richard。〃
　He　nodded；　finally。　〃I　won't　let　him　kill　me。〃
　〃You　will　kill　him；　promise　me。〃
　His　jaw　tightened；　the　muscle　thrumming。　〃I　promise。〃
　〃Well；　hallelujah；〃　Sylvie　said。　She　stared　at　me。　〃I　withdraw　my　challenge。　You　aren't　dominant　to　me；　but　you　can　be　his　alpha　female。　You're　a　good　influence　on　him。〃　She　stepped　back　into　the　circle；　but　didn't　kneel。　〃e　on　Neal；〃　she　said；　〃let　it　go。〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃No；　she　isn't　one　of　us。　She　can't　be。　I　won't　acknowledge　her　as　alpha。〃
　〃All　you　have　to　do　is　prove　to　Neal　that　you're　serious；〃　Sylvie　said。　〃You　just　have　to　make　him　hurt　a　little。〃
　〃Since　he　could　probably　survive　a　direct　hit　with　a　mack　truck；　how　am　I　supposed　to　hurt　him？〃
　She　shrugged。
　〃I　didn't　think　anyone　would　challenge　you。　I'm　sorry；〃　Richard　said。
　〃You　expect　people　to　be　nice；　Richard。　It's　one　of　your　best　qualities　and　greatest　weaknesses；〃　I　said。
　〃Refuse　the　challenge；　Anita。〃
　〃If　I　refuse；　then　what？〃
　〃It's　over。　You　won't　be　a　member　of　the　pack；　but　I　can　order　them　to　protect　you　from　Raina。　It's　almost　as　good。〃
　〃I　told　you；　I　don't　want　anyone　being　ordered　to　take　a　bullet　for　me。　Besides；　no　way　am　I　volunteering　to　go　one　on　one　with　a　lycanthrope。　I'll　keep　my　gun；　thanks　anyway。〃
　The　doorbell　rang。　It　was　probably　Edward。　Damn。　I　looked　at　the　little　group；　and　even　though　they　were　in　human　form；　he'd　know　what　they　were。　He　was　better　at　smelling　monsters　than　I　was；　at　least　live　ones。　〃If　you　guys　can　tone　it　down　a　bit；　I'll　get　the　door。〃
　〃Edward？〃　Richard　made　it　a　question。
　〃Probably；〃　I　said。
　He　stared　around　at　the　group。　〃Everybody　up　off　the　floor。　He's　another　normal。〃
　They　got　to　their　feet；　slowly；　almost　reluctantly。　They　seemed　almost　intoxicated；　as　if　the　power　in　the　room　had　done　more　for　them　than　for　me。
　I　went　for　the　door。　I　was　halfway　to　it　when　Richard　yelled；　〃No！〃
　I　dropped　to　the　ground；　rolling；　and　felt　the　air　whistling　over　me　where　Neal　had　swung。　If　he'd　been　any　good　at　fighting；　he'd　have　nailed　me。　The　missed　swing　put　him　off　balance；　and　I　foot…swept　him　to　the　floor；　but　he　got　to　his　feet　again　before　I　could　stand；　like　there　were　springs　in　his　spine。　It　was　impressive　as　hell。
　〃Stop　it；　Neal；〃　Sylvie　said。
　〃She　didn't　refuse　the　challenge。　It's　my　right。〃
　I　scuttled　backwards；　still　on　the　ground；　not　sure　what　to　do。　The　closed　drapes　of　the　picture　window　were　at　my　back　if　I　stood　up。　I　wasn't　sure　standing　up　was　my　best　bet。　〃Give　me　the　rules；　quick；〃　I　said。
　〃First　blood；〃　Sylvie　said。　〃Human　form　only。〃
　〃If　he　shapeshifts；　you　can　shoot　him；〃　Richard　said。
　〃Agreed；〃　Sylvie　said；　others　murmured　their　agreement。
　Peachy。　Neal　leaped　for　me；　leaving　the　ground　pletely；　hands　outstretched。　I　came　up　on　one　knee；　grabbed　his　jacket；　and　rolled　on　my　back；　letting　his　amazing　momentum　carry　us　both。　I　shoved　both　feet　into　his　stomach　and　pushed　with　everything　I　had。　He　flew　over　me　in　a　near　perfect　arc。　He'd　set　himself　up　for　a　textbook　tomoe…nage　throw。
　He　smashed　through　the　window；　taking　the　curtain　with　him。　I　rolled　to　my　feet　and　stared　at　the　gaping　window。　Broken　shards　of　glass　sprinkled　onto　the　carpet　and　the　yard　beyond。　Neal　struggled　out　of　the　curtain；　blood　running　down　his　face　where　the　glass　had　cut　him。
　Edward　was　on　the　ground　in　a　bat　stance；　gun　out。　He　pointed　it　at　Neal；　as　he　struggled　free　of　the　curtain。
　〃Don't　shoot　him；〃　I　said。　〃I　think　the　fight's　over。〃
　Neal　stood；　kicking　free　of　the　clinging　curtain。　〃I'll　kill　you。〃
　I　drew　the　Firestar　and　pointed　it　at　him。　〃I　don't　think　so。〃
　Richard　stepped　up　beside　me。　〃She　drew　first　blood；　Neal。　The　fight　is　over；　unless　you　want　to　fight　me；　too。〃
　〃And　me；〃　Sylvie　said。　She　stepped　up　on　the　other　side　of　Richard。　The　rest　of　the　pack　stepped　up　behind　us。　Stephen　crouched　at　my　feet。
　〃She　is　pack　now；〃　Sylvie　said。　〃You　fight　one　of　us；　and　you　fight　all　of　us。〃
　Edward　raised　his　eyebrows　at　me。　〃What　is　going　on；　Anita？〃
　〃I　think　I've　been　adopted；〃　I　said。
　Neal　glared　at　me。
　〃Do　it；　Neal；〃　Sylvie　said。
　Neal　knelt　in　the　glass　and　the　curtain。　The　cuts　were　already　beginning　to　heal　on　his　face。　Glass　wasn't　silver　or　the　claws　of　another　monster；　so　he　healed　almost　magically。
　〃You　are　dominant。　You　are　alpha。〃　The　words　were　dragged　from　his　throat。　〃If　this　window　hadn't　been　here；　you　couldn't　have　bloodied　me。〃
　〃Why　do　you　think　I　moved　in　front　of　it；　Neal？〃　I　asked。
　His　eyes　squinted。　〃You　planned　this？〃
　I　nodded　and　raised　my　gun　skyward。　〃I'm　not　just　another　pretty　face。〃
　Richard　took　my　left　hand；　squeezing　it　gently。　〃That's　the　God's　honest　truth。〃
　I　put　up　the　Firestar。
　Edward　shook　his　head；　smiling；　but　didn't　put　his　gun　up。　He　did　stop　pointing　it　at　anyone。　〃You　are　the　only　person　I　know　who　leads　a　more　interesting　life　than　I　do。〃
　Jason　patted　me　on　the　back。　〃Tomorrow　night　we'll　take　you　out　chasing　deer。〃
　〃I　thought　you'd　chase　cars；〃　I　said。
　He　grinned。　〃What　fun　is　that？　Cars　don't　bleed。〃
　I　smiled；　and　then　stopped。　His　eyes　were　as　innocent　as　spring　skies；　as　joyous；　and　staring　into　them；　I　wasn't　sure　if　he　was　kidding　me　or　not。　I　almost　asked；　but　didn't。　I　wasn't　sure　I　wanted　to　know。
　
　
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　Edward　was　five　foot　eight；　with　blond　hair　cut　very　short　and　close　to　his　head。　He　was　blue…eyed　and　the　epitome　of　WASP　breeding。　He　was　also　the　most　dangerous　man　I'd　ever　met；　living　or　dead。
　He　was　amused　as　hell　by　the　gathering　of　lycanthropes。　The　group　broke　up　soon　after　his　arrival；　mainly　because　all　the　business　had　been　taken　care　of。　The　meeting　had　mainly　been　a　last…ditch　effort　to　convince　Richard　to　promise　his　morals　and　kill　someone。　Barring　that；　for　him　to　pick　a　lupa　who　would　kill　for　him。　We'd　sort　of　killed　two　birds　with　one　stone；　pun　intended。　But　I　was　very　aware　that　I'd　gotten　lucky　with　Neal。　If　he'd　had　a　background　in　any　martial　art；　if　he'd　known　anything　about　fighting；　I'd　have　been　toast。
　Richard　had　boarded　up　the　broken　window　and　had　a　call　in　to　a　glass　repair　shop　that　was　willing；　for　an　exorbitant　fee；　to　e　out　and　repair　the　damage　immediately。　I'd　offered　to　pay　for　the　damages　since　I　made　them。
　Edward；　Richard；　and　I　sat　around　the　kitchen　table。　Edward　and　I　sipped　coffee。　Richard　drank　tea。　One　of　his　few　serious　faults　was　a　total　dislike　of　coffee。　Hard　to　trust　a　man　who　won't　drink　coffee。
　〃What　have　you　found　out？〃　I　asked。
　Edward　sipped　his　coffee　and　shook　his　head。　〃Not　much。　The　contract　has　been　picked　up。〃
　〃Even　with　the　time　limit？〃　I　asked。
　He　nodded。
　〃When　is　the　twenty…four　hours　up？〃　I　asked。
　〃Let's　say　two　o'clock。　I　got　the　offer　about　one　o'clock　last　night；　but　we'd　add　an　hour　to　be　safe。〃
　〃To　be　safe；〃　Richard　said。　I　think　it　was　sarcasm。
　〃What's　wrong　with　you？〃　I　asked。
　〃Am　I　the　only　one　in　this　room　who's　worried？〃
　〃Panicking　won't　help；　Richard。〃
　He　stood　up；　emptying　his　mug　in　the　sink　and　rinsing　it　automatically。　He　turned；　leaning　his　butt　against　the　cabinets；　arms　crossed　over　his　chest。　〃You　need　a　clear　head　to　plan？〃
　I　nodded。　〃Yeah。〃
　He　stared　at　us。　I　watched　him　thinking　about　something　serious。　He　finally　said；　〃I　don't　understand　how　the　two　of　you　can　be　calm。　I'm　shocked　that　someone　has　put　a　contract　out　on　Anita。　Neither　of　you　is　shocked。〃