lh.narcissusinchains-µÚ67²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡We¡¡were¡¡riding¡¡in¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡limo£»¡¡with¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wererats¡¡driving¡£¡¡Merle¡¡and¡¡Zane¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡front¡¡with¡¡the¡¡driver¡£¡¡Merle£»¡¡because¡¡he'd¡¡objected¡¡to¡¡us¡¡all¡¡being¡¡split¡¡up¡¡among¡¡people¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡know£»¡¡and¡¡Zane£»¡¡because¡¡I¡¡just¡¡didn't¡¡pletely¡¡trust¡¡Merle¡¡yet¡£¡¡Though¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡illusions¡¡about¡¡which¡¡of¡¡them¡¡would¡¡win¡¡the¡¡fight£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡came¡¡to¡¡that¡£¡¡Richard¡¡had¡¡a¡¡werewolf¡¡or¡¡two¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡bet¡¡on¡¡against¡¡Merle£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡something¡¡downright¡¡scary¡¡about¡¡Micah's¡¡head¡¡bodyguard£»¡¡a¡¡¡¨something¡¨¡¡that¡¡all¡¡of¡¡my¡¡leopards¡¡lacked¡£¡¡Not¡¡ruthlessness£»¡¡more¡¡an¡¡ultimate¡¡practicality¡£¡¡You¡¡just¡¡knew¡¡Merle¡¡would¡¡do¡¡whatever¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡no¡¡hesitation£»¡¡no¡¡sympathy£»¡¡just¡¡business¡£¡¡When¡¡that's¡¡pretty¡¡much¡¡how¡¡you¡¡operate¡¡yourself£»¡¡you¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡recognize¡¡it¡¡in¡¡other¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡watch¡¡them¡¡closely¡£
¡¡All¡¡the¡¡leaders¡¡got¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡in¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡limo£»¡¡which¡¡smacked¡¡of¡¡elitism¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡did¡¡allow¡¡us¡¡all¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡together£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡one¡¡else¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡problem¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡sure¡¡why¡¡it¡¡bugged¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡did¡£
¡¡Rafael¡¡was¡¡tall£»¡¡dark£»¡¡handsome£»¡¡and¡¡strongly¡¡Mexican¡£¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡with¡¡no¡¡trace¡¡of¡¡an¡¡accent£»¡¡or¡¡rather¡¡he¡¡sounded¡¡like¡¡he¡¡was¡¡from¡¡Missouri¡£¡¡He¡¡sat¡¡facing¡¡us¡£¡¡Yes£»¡¡us¡£¡¡Micah¡¡and¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡across¡¡from¡¡him¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡not¡¡holding¡¡hands¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡not¡¡casting¡¡longing¡¡glances¡¡at¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡In¡¡fact£»¡¡strangely¡¡once¡¡I¡¡was¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡other¡¡leopards£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡unfortable¡¡around¡¡him¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡it¡¡was¡¡my¡¡usual¡¡disfort¡¡that¡¡always¡¡set¡¡in¡¡after¡¡intimacy¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡sure£»¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡different¡£¡¡Or¡¡maybe¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡closer¡¡we¡¡got¡¡to¡¡seeing¡¡Richard£»¡¡the¡¡more¡¡I¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡the¡¡hell¡¡I¡¡was¡¡doing¡£¡¡Was¡¡I¡¡really¡¡going¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡Richard¡¡that¡¡I'd¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡lover£»¡¡another¡¡shapeshifter£¿¡¡We'd¡¡broken¡¡up¡¡before¡¡and¡¡gotten¡¡back¡¡together£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡Richard¡¡thought¡¡I'd¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡permanent¡¡lover¡¡besides¡¡Jean¡Claude£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡over¡£¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡want¡¡it¡¡to¡¡be¡¡over£»¡¡though¡¡part¡¡of¡¡me¡¡wasn't¡¡at¡¡all¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡dating¡¡Richard¡¡was¡¡healthy¡¡for¡¡either¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡We¡¡weren't¡¡really¡¡good¡¡for¡¡each¡¡other¡£¡¡Love¡¡is¡¡like¡¡that¡¡sometimes¡£
¡¡I¡¡pushed¡¡away¡¡serious¡¡thoughts¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡last¡¡member¡¡of¡¡our¡¡little¡¡party¡£¡¡Donovan¡¡Reece¡¡was¡¡the¡¡new¡¡swan¡¡king¡¡in¡¡town¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡about¡¡six¡¡feet¡¡tall£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡exactly¡¡while¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡down¡£¡¡His¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡that¡¡flawless¡¡milk¡¡and¡¡cream¡¡plexion¡¡that¡¡the¡¡beauty¡¡aids¡¡promise¡¡when¡¡tan¡¡is¡¡out¡¡for¡¡a¡¡year¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡but¡¡Donovan's¡¡was¡¡the¡¡real¡¡deal¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡whiter¡¡than¡¡I¡¡was£»¡¡as¡¡white¡¡as¡¡Jean¡Claude£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡pink¡¡flush¡¡to¡¡Donovan's¡¡cheeks£»¡¡like¡¡perfectly¡¡applied¡¡blush¡£¡¡You¡¡could¡¡almost¡¡see¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡flowing¡¡under¡¡his¡¡skin£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡nearly¡¡translucent¡£¡¡He¡¡not¡¡only¡¡looked¡¡alive£»¡¡but¡¡very¡¡alive£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he'd¡¡be¡¡hot¡¡to¡¡the¡¡touch¡£
¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡a¡¡pale¡¡blue¡gray¡¡that¡¡shifted¡¡with¡¡his¡¡moods¡¡like¡¡a¡¡summer¡¡sky¡¡that¡¡couldn't¡¡make¡¡up¡¡its¡¡mind¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡be¡¡peaceful¡¡with¡¡fluffy¡¡white¡¡clouds¡¡or¡¡rain¡¡all¡¡over¡¡your¡¡head¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡handsome¡¡in¡¡a¡¡clean¡cut£»¡¡preppy¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡way£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡on¡¡a¡¡college¡¡campus¡¡somewhere¡¡pledging¡¡to¡¡a¡¡frat¡¡and¡¡chugging¡¡beers¡£¡¡Instead¡¡he¡¡was¡¡going¡¡with¡¡us¡¡into¡¡a¡¡gathering¡¡of¡¡werewolves¡¡where¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡only¡¡nonpredator¡¡there¡£¡¡That¡¡didn't¡¡sound¡¡like¡¡a¡¡good¡¡idea¡¡to¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¨You¡¡saved¡¡my¡¡swanmanes£»¡¡Ms¡£¡¡Blake¡£¡¡You¡¡nearly¡¡got¡¡yourself¡¡killed¡¡doing¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡risk¡¡the¡¡girls¡¡ing£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡not¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡¡¨¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡at¡¡his¡¡folded¡¡hands£»¡¡then¡¡raised¡¡those¡¡changeable¡¡eyes¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨They¡¡are¡¡like¡¡your¡¡Nathaniel¡¡¡¡victims¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Nathaniel¡¡is¡¡driving¡¡my¡¡Jeep¡¡with¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡my¡¡people¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡Reece¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡shape¡¡of¡¡his¡¡beast¡¡is¡¡a¡¡predator¡£¡¡My¡¡girls¡¡are¡¡not¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡lost¡¡control¡¡and¡¡changed¡¡during¡¡the¡¡meeting£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡meat¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡agree¡¡with¡¡you£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Reece£»¡¡but¡¡doesn't¡¡the¡¡same¡¡logic¡¡apply¡¡to¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡swan¡¡king£»¡¡Ms¡£¡¡Blake£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡change¡¡shape¡¡unless¡¡I¡¡will¡¡it¡¡so¡£¡¨
¡¡Will¡¡it¡¡so¡£¡¡I'd¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡anyone¡¡put¡¡it¡¡quite¡¡that¡¡way¡£¡¡Donovan¡¡Reece¡¡had¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡case¡¡of¡¡arrogance¡£¡¡I¡¡wasn't¡¡going¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this¡£¡¡Rafael¡¡had¡¡been¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡before¡¡I¡¡arrived¡£¡¡Micah¡¡never¡¡offered¡£¡¡He'd¡¡been¡¡very¡¡good¡¡about¡¡letting¡¡me¡¡do¡¡all¡¡the¡¡talking¡£¡¡I¡¡liked¡¡that¡¡in¡¡a¡¡man¡£
¡¡¡¨Can¡¡you¡¡fight£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡a¡¡burden£»¡¡Ms¡£¡¡Blake£»¡¡don't¡¡worry¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡was¡¡worried£»¡¡because¡¡I¡¡could¡¡smell¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡just¡¡under¡¡his¡¡skin¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡almost¡¡see¡¡it¡¡flowing¡¡under¡¡his¡¡flesh¡£¡¡He¡¡smelled¡¡like¡¡meat¡¡and¡¡blood£»¡¡and¡¡heat¡£¡¡He¡¡smelled¡¡like¡¡food¡£¡¡I'd¡¡been¡¡around¡¡shapeshifters¡¡that¡¡were¡¡prey¡¡animals£»¡¡but¡¡I'd¡¡never¡¡realized¡¡you¡¡could¡¡tell¡¡by¡¡smell¡¡what¡¡wasn't¡¡a¡¡predator¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡by¡¡the¡¡gentle¡¡scent¡¡of¡¡him¡¡that¡¡Reece's¡¡beast¡¡was¡¡something¡¡soft¡¡and¡¡easily¡¡killed¡£¡¡Something¡¡that¡¡would¡¡struggle¡¡but¡¡not¡¡hurt¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡swallow¡¡hard£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡slow¡¡my¡¡pulse£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡slow¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡drop¡¡on¡¡my¡¡knees¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡him¡¡and¡¡sniff¡¡his¡¡skin£»¡¡rub¡¡my¡¡face¡¡against¡¡his¡¡bare¡¡arms¡¡until¡¡the¡¡short¡¡sleeves¡¡of¡¡his¡¡button¡up¡¡shirt¡¡stopped¡¡me¡£¡¡A¡¡white¡¡undershirt¡¡peeked¡¡out¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blue¡¡and¡¡white¡¡striped¡¡shirt¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡rip¡¡the¡¡shirt¡¡open£»¡¡send¡¡the¡¡buttons¡¡popping¡¡through¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡take¡¡a¡¡knife¡¡from¡¡my¡¡wrist¡¡sheath¡¡and¡¡slit¡¡the¡¡undershirt£»¡¡bare¡¡his¡¡naked¡¡chest¡¡and¡¡stomach¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡wasn't¡¡the¡¡ardeur£»¡¡it¡¡wasn't¡¡sex¡¡I¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡about¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡see¡¡his¡¡stomach¡¡bare£»¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡tissue¡¡under¡¡my¡¡mouth£»¡¡my¡¡teeth£»¡¡to¡¡bite¡¡into¡¡¡£¡£¡£
¡¡I¡¡covered¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡with¡¡my¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡my¡¡head¡£¡¡What¡¡was¡¡wrong¡¡with¡¡me£¿
¡¡Micah¡¡touched¡¡my¡¡arm£»¡¡gently¡£¡¡¡¨Anita£»¡¡what's¡¡wrong£¿¡¨
¡¡I¡¡lowered¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡smells¡¡like¡¡food¡£¡¨
¡¡Micah¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡¨Yes¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡shook¡¡my¡¡head¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡don't¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡I'm¡¡thinking¡£¡¡It's¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡frightening¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡say¡¡it¡¡out¡¡loud¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡feed¡¡on¡¡him£»¡¡or¡¡at¡¡least¡¡sink¡¡my¡¡teeth¡¡into¡¡his¡¡flesh¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡could¡¡keep¡¡from¡¡actually¡¡feeding£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡urge¡¡to¡¡mark¡¡that¡¡flawless¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡so¡¡strong¡¡that¡¡I¡¡almost¡¡didn't¡¡trust¡¡myself¡£
¡¡¡¨When¡¡you¡¡told¡¡me¡¡why¡¡you¡¡marked¡¡Nathaniel¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡hunger¡£¡¨¡¡Micah¡¡said¡¡the¡¡last¡¡word¡¡like¡¡it¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡in¡¡capital¡¡letters¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡usually¡¡takes¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days£»¡¡or¡¡weeks£»¡¡before¡¡your¡¡first¡¡full¡¡moon£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡hunger¡¡bee¡¡a¡¡problem¡£¡¡It's¡¡okay¡¡to¡¡have¡¡thoughts£»¡¡images¡¡in¡¡your¡¡head¡¡about¡¡feeding¡£¡¡It's¡¡normal¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Normal¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡laughed£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡harsh¡¡sound¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡I'm¡¡thinking¡¡isn't¡¡even¡¡close¡¡to¡¡normal¡£¡¨¡¡Again¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡bring¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡say¡¡it¡¡out¡¡loud¡£
¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡do¡¡to¡¡Reece£¿¡¨¡¡Rafael¡¡asked¡£
¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡across¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡opened¡¡my¡¡mouth¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡then¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡Reece¡¡and¡¡stopped¡£¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡it's¡¡like¡¡telling¡¡a¡¡sexual¡¡fantasy¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stranger¡¡you¡¡just¡¡had¡¡the¡¡fantasy¡¡about¡£¡¡It¡¡feels¡¡that¡¡intimate¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡that¡¡intimate£»¡¨¡¡Rafael¡¡said¡£
¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡dark¡¡eyes¡¡held¡¡my¡¡gaze¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Reece¡¡what¡¡you're¡¡wanting¡¡to¡¡do¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡then¡¡maybe¡¡he'll¡¡fly¡¡home¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨A¡¡rat¡¡is¡¡a¡¡prey¡¡animal£»¡¡too£»¡¨¡¡Reece¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨Everything¡¡that¡¡is¡¡smaller¡¡is¡¡a¡¡prey¡¡animal£»¡¨¡¡Rafael¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡rats¡¡are¡¡omnivorous¡£¡¡They¡¡eat¡¡anything¡¡that¡¡crosses¡¡their¡¡path£»¡¡including¡¡humans£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡can't¡¡get¡¡away¡£¡¡A¡¡wererat¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a¡¡small¡¡thing£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Reece£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡large¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡predators¡¡that¡¡our¡¡namesakes¡¡cannot¡¡be¡£¡¨
¡¡Reece¡¡was¡¡scowling¡¡at¡¡us¡¡all¡¡now¡£¡¡He¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡angrily¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡shoved¡¡his¡¡wrist¡¡into¡¡my¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¨Get¡¡a¡¡good¡¡whiff£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡you¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡like¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨I¡¡wouldn't¡¡do¡¡that£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡were¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡Rafael¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨Listen¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡Reece£»¡¨¡¡Micah¡¡said¡£
¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡say¡¡anything¡¡because¡¡the¡¡scent¡¡of¡¡his¡¡flesh¡¡so¡¡close¡¡was¡¡intoxicating¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡like¡¡the¡¡most¡¡exotic¡¡perfume¡¡spread¡¡across¡¡silk¡¡sheets£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡undertone¡¡of¡¡fresh¡¡baked¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡some¡¡sweet¡¡jelly¡¡spread¡¡over¡¡flesh¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡word¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡smelled¡¡better¡¡than¡¡anything¡¡I'd¡¡ever¡¡smelled¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life¡£
¡¡I¡¡was¡¡holding¡¡his¡¡wrist£»¡¡pressing¡¡the¡¡thin¡¡skin¡¡against¡¡my¡¡lips£»¡¡before¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡what¡¡I¡¡was¡¡doing¡£¡¡The¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡so¡¡tender£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡smell¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡under¡¡that¡¡paper¡thin¡¡layer¡¡of¡¡skin¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡do¡¡more¡¡than¡¡smell¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡taste¡¡it£»¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡flesh¡¡give¡¡under¡¡my¡¡teeth£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡gush¡¡warm¡¡in¡¡my¡¡mouth£»¡¡to¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡I¡¡jerked¡¡away¡¡from¡¡him¡¡and¡¡crawled¡¡across¡¡Micah£»¡¡across¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡to¡¡huddle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡far¡¡corner¡¡as¡¡far¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡swan¡¡king¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡get¡¡and¡¡not¡¡jump¡¡out¡¡the¡¡door¡£
¡¡There¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡something¡¡on¡¡my¡¡face£»¡¡in¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡that¡¡scared¡¡him¡¡because¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡widened£»¡¡his¡¡full¡¡mouth¡¡opened¡¡slightly¡£¡¡¡¨My¡¡God£»¡¡your¡¡control¡¡really¡¡is¡¡that¡¡bad¡£¡¨