lhamilton.thekillingdance-第34章

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　There　was　a　sorrow　to　his　voice　that　made　me　want　to　ask　Jean…Claude　to　let　him　change　into　a　pair　of　pants；　but　I　didn't。　Jean…Claude　was　walking　a　very　fine　line　here。　Damian　was　over　five　hundred　years　old。　He　wasn't　a　master；　but　that　was　still　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　power。　Jean…Claude　might　be　able　to　handle　Liv　and　Damian；　but　if　there　were　more；　Master　of　the　City　or　not；　he　wasn't　up　to　the　job。　Which　meant　these　little　dominance　games　were　necessary。　The　others　couldn't　be　allowed　to　forget　who　was　Master；　because　once　they　did；　he　was　done　for。　If　he'd　asked　for　my　vote　before　he　put　out　the　invitations；　I'd　have　said　no。
　A　door　at　the　far　side　of　the　room　opened。　It　was　a　black　door　in　the　black　walls；　and　it　seemed　almost　magical　as　a　woman　stepped　out。　She　was　about　my　own　height；　with　wavy；　waist…length　brown　hair　that　foamed　over　the　shoulders　of　her　ankle…length　black　coat。　She　was　wearing　a　pair　of　hot　turquoise　exercise　pants　with　a　matching　sports　bra。　Crisscrossing　straps　went　from　pants　to　the　bra；　emphasizing　her　small　waist。　Black　vinyl　boots　reached　to　her　knees；　with　a　small　projection　that　covered　the　knees。　She　walked　down　the　steps　and　strode　across　the　floor　with　a　freeswinging　walk　that　was　almost　a　run。　She　entered　the　room　like　it　was　her　room；　or　maybe　she　was　her　own　room；　fortable　wherever　she　went。
　She　stopped　by　us；　smiling；　pleasant；　hazel　eyes　greener　because　of　the　strip　of　turquoise　around　her　neck。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
　〃You　look　lovely；　Cassandra；〃　Jean…Claude　said。
　〃You　look　better　in　yours　than　I　do　in　mine；〃　Damian　said。
　〃That's　a　matter　of　opinion；〃　I　said。
　The　woman　looked　at　me。　Her　eyes　flicked　down　the　length　of　Damian's　body。　She　met　my　eyes；　and　we　both　laughed。
　Damian　looked　puzzled。　Jean…Claude　looked　at　me。　〃Share　your　humor　with　us；　ma　petite；　please。〃
　I　met　Cassandra's　eyes　again；　swallowed　another　laugh；　and　shook　my　head。　I　took　a　few　deep　breaths。　When　I　was　pretty　sure　I　could　speak　without　laughing；　I　said；　〃Girl　humor；　you　wouldn't　understand。〃
　〃Very　diplomatic；〃　Cassandra　said。　〃I'm　impressed。〃
　〃If　you　knew　how　hard　diplomacy　es　to　ma　petite；　you　would　be　even　more　impressed；〃　Jean…Claude　said。　He　had　gotten　the　joke；　as　if　there'd　been　any　doubt。
　Damian　was　frowning　at　us；　still　puzzled。　It　was　just　as　well。
　Jean…Claude　looked　from　Cassandra　to　me　and　back　again。　〃Do　you　two　know　each　other？〃
　We　shook　our　heads　in　unison。
　〃Cassandra；　Anita。　My　newest　wolf；　meet　the　light　of　my　life。　Cassandra　is　one　of　your　guards　for　the　night。〃
　〃You're　very　good。　I　wouldn't　have　picked　up　on　it。〃
　Her　smile　widened。　〃Richard　said　you　didn't　know　he　was　a　werewolf　at　first；　either。〃
　Instantly；　a　little　spark　of　jealousy　flared。　Of　course；　if　she　were　a　werewolf　and　with　Jean…Claude；　then　she　was　one　of　Richard's　followers。　〃You　weren't　at　the　meeting。〃
　〃Jean…Claude　needed　me　here。　He　couldn't　do　without　both　Jason　and　me。〃
　I　looked　at　Jean…Claude。　I　knew　what　Jason　did　for　him。　He　bled　Jason　when　he　woke；　and　sucking　blood　was　damn　close　to　sex　for　a　vampire。　〃Really；〃　I　said。
　〃Don't　worry；　ma　petite。　Cassandra　won't　share　blood　with　me；　either。　She　and　Richard　have　many　similarities。　I　believe　that　Richard　chose　her　for　me　because　she　bears　a　certain　resemblance　to　you；　not　just　physically；　but　a　certain　je　ne　sais　quoi。〃
　〃Je　ne　sais　quoi　is　French　for　nothing；〃　I　said。
　〃It　means　an　indefinable　something　that　is　difficult　to　put　into　words；　ma　petite。　A　quality　that　transcends　vocabulary。〃
　〃He　does　talk　pretty；　doesn't　he？〃　Cassandra　said。
　〃He　has　his　moments；〃　I　said。　〃You　can't　be　draining　Jason　every　morning。　Even　a　werewolf　needs　a　little　recoup　time。〃
　〃Stephen　is　a　willing　donor。〃
　〃Why　wasn't　Stephen　with　you　last　night？〃　I　asked。
　〃Is　that　an　accusation？〃　Jean…Claude　asked。
　〃Just　answer　the　question。〃
　〃He　had　requested　an　evening　off　to　spend　time　with　his　brother。　Who　am　I　to　stand　in　the　way　of　familial　obligations？〃　He　stared　at　me　while　he　answered　like　he　wasn't　pletely　happy　with　the　conversation。　Tough。　Neither　was　I。
　Stephen's　own　brother　had　betrayed　him；　acted　as　bait　for　the　trap。　Damn。　〃Where　is　Stephen？〃
　〃He's　in　the　back　room；〃　Cassandra　said。　〃He　helped　me　get　into　this　thing。　I　couldn't　reach　all　the　straps。〃　She　dropped　the　coat　off　her　shoulders　and　turned　so　I　could　see　her　back。　The　straps　formed　a　tight　web；　most　of　them　in　places　you　couldn't　have　fastened　without　help。　She　slipped　the　coat　back　on　and　turned；　looking　at　me。　〃You're　taking　this　alpha　female　thing　seriously；　aren't　you？〃
　I　shrugged。　〃I'm　serious　about　Stephen's　safety。〃
　Cassandra　nodded；　face　solemn；　thoughtful。　〃I　like　that。　Sometimes　alpha　female　is　just　a　token　position。　Just　a　word　for　the　pack　leader's　lover。　Most　of　them　aren't　as　active　as　Raina。〃　She　made　a　face　when　she　said　the　name；　like　she'd　tasted　something　bitter。
　Jean…Claude　interrupted。　〃I　will　leave　you　two　girls　to　your　conversation。　I　have　things　to　attend　to　before　the　club　opens。〃　He　kissed　the　back　of　my　hand　and　was　gone；　leaving　us　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　club；　alone。　Damian　had　gone　at　his　heels　as　if　he'd　been　asked。
　For　a　moment；　I　was　nervous。　Cassandra　and　I　were　very　much　in　the　open。　〃Let's　go　over　there。〃　I　motioned　to　the　steps　that　led　to　the　next　level。　We　sat　down　on　them；　me　having　to　smooth　my　skirts　down。　Even　that　didn't　help。　I　had　to　keep　my　feet　and　knees　together　or　I　would　have　flashed　the　room。　Sigh。
　〃Let　me　guess；〃　I　said。　〃Raina　wanted　you　for　her　movies。〃
　〃She　wants　everyone　that　is　remotely　attractive　for　her　movies。　Though　sometimes　sharing　her　bed　for　a　tryout　can　get　you　out　of　it。　She　offered　me　to　Gabriel　for　my　tryout。　That　damn　leopard　is　not　even　a　pack　member。〃
　〃If　he　were；　she'd　make　him　pack　leader；〃　I　said。
　Cassandra　shook　her　head。　〃Gabriel　couldn't　defeat　Marcus；　let　alone　Richard。　He's　the　leader　of　the　wereleopards　only　because　there's　no　one　stronger。　He's　an　alpha；　but　he's　flawed。　It　makes　him　weak。〃
　〃Sexual　perversion　doesn't　always　mean　you'll　lose　a　fight；〃　I　said。
　〃It's　not　that；〃　Cassandra　said。　〃He's　into　dangerous　sex。　Lycanthropes　can　take　a　lot　of　damage。〃　She　shivered。　〃The　things　he　wanted　to　do　to　me。〃　She　looked　at　me；　and　the　fear　showed　in　her　eyes。　〃He　says　you　nearly　gutted　him　once　while　he　had　you　pinned　to　the　ground。〃
　I　looked　away。　〃Yeah。〃
　Cassandra　touched　my　arm；　and　there　was　no　sense　of　power。　She　was　every　bit　as　good　as　Richard　at　hiding　what　she　was。　She　made　Sylvie　look　like　an　amateur。　The　touch　made　me　turn　back　to　her。　〃He's　hot　for　you；　Anita。　I　didn't　tell　Richard　because；　well；　I'm　new　in　the　pack。　Got　into　town　about　two　weeks　ago。　I　was　afraid　that　if　I　told　him　what　Gabriel　had　said　about　you；　he　might　do　something　stupid。　But　meeting　you；　maybe　telling　you　is　enough。　You　can　decide　whether　Richard　needs　to　know。〃
　She　looked　so　serious。　It　scared　me。　〃What　did　Gabriel　say？〃
　Cassandra　took　a　deep　breath。　〃He　has　a　fantasy　about　you。　He　wants　to　arm　you　with　knives　and　let　you　try　to　kill　him；　on　film；　while　he　rapes　you。〃
　I　stared　at　her。　I　wanted　to　say；　you're　kidding；　but　I　knew　she　wasn't。　Gabriel　was　just　that　twisted。　〃How　does　the　movie　end　in　his　version？〃
　〃With　you　dead；〃　she　said。
　〃While　he　rapes　me？〃　I　said。
　She　nodded。
　I　hugged　myself；　running　my　hands　down　my　arms；　tensing　my　back；　feeling　the　weapons　I　was　carrying。　I　was　armed。　I　was　safe；　but　shit。
　She　touched　my　shoulder。　〃You　all　right？〃
　〃Well；　isn't　this　touching；〃　a　man's　voice　on　the　stairs　behind　us。　Cassandra　was　on　her　feet；　facing　it　in　an　instant。　I　slid　my　hand　into　the　open　purse　and　drew　the　Seecamp　out。　The　gun　caught　a　bit　on　the　cloth　lining　and　cost　me　a　couple　of　seconds；　but　it　was　out　and　ready。　I　felt　better。　I'd　twisted　on　the　steps；　ing　up　on　one　knee；　not　bothering　to　stand。　Sometimes；　standing　made　you　a　better　target。
　Sabin　stood　about　five　steps　above　us。　Frightfully　close　for　neither　of　us　to　have　sensed　him。　He　was　dressed　as　I'd　seen　him　in　the　office；　hooded　cloak　covering　him　from　head　to　toe。　I　could　see　under　the　cloak　now。　There　were　no　feet。　He　was　floating　above　the　step。　〃I　w