lhamilton.thekillingdance-第75章

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e　are　lukoi。　We　are　one。〃
　Jason　threw　his　head　back　and　howled；　so　close　to　me　that　I　jumped。　Furred　throats　echoed　him；　human　throats　joining　the　chorus。　I　stood　alone　among　the　pack　and　did　not　join　in。　When　the　last　echo　faded　off　in　the　rolling；　wooded　hills；　Marcus　said；　〃Death　between　us　then；　Richard。〃
　〃I　offered　you　life；　Marcus。　You　chose　death。〃
　Marcus　smiled。　〃I　suppose　I　did。〃
　Marcus　jumped　straight　at　him；　no　feinting；　no　practice；　just　a　blur　of　speed。　Richard　rolled　to　the　ground；　up　and　away；　ing　to　his　feet。　Three　thin　lines　bled　across　his　belly。　Marcus　didn't　give　him　a　chance　to　recover。　He　covered　the　distance　between　them　like　a　bad　dream。　I　couldn't　even　keep　track　of　it　with　my　eyes。　I'd　seen　lycanthropes　move　before；　and　I'd　thought　they　were　fast；　but　Marcus　was　breathtaking。
　He　slashed　Richard；　forcing　him　back　towards　the　edge　of　the　clearing　where　Raina　stood。　Richard　wasn't　being　hurt；　but　the　flurry　of　attacks　forced　him　backwards；　kept　him　from　attacking。　I　needed　to　ask　a　question。　I　looked　down　at　Jason。　He　turned　pale　wolf　eyes　to　me。
　〃If　anyone　else　helps　Marcus；　it's　cheating；　right？〃　It　felt　vaguely　stupid　talking　to　something　that　looked　like　an　animal；　but　the　look　in　those　eyes　wasn't　animal。　I　wasn't　sure　it　was　human；　but　it　wasn't　animal。
　The　wolf　nodded　its　head。　Awkwardly。
　Richard's　back　was　almost　within　Rama's　reach。　Jamil；　the　black　werewolf　from　two　nights　ago；　had　joined　her。　Sebastian　was　already　at　her　side。　Shit。
　〃If　they　cheat；　can　I　shoot　them？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Cassandra　joined　us；　walking　up　through　the　pack　like　a　warm；　prickling　wind。　I　got　the　first　real　brush　of　her　power　and　knew　she　could　have　been　lupa　if　she　wanted　to　be。
　I　pulled　the　Browning　out；　and　it　felt　odd　in　my　hands；　as　if　I　didn't　need　it。　I　was　channeling　more　of　the　pack　than　I　knew　if　I　didn't　want　my　gun。　A　dangerous　amount　more。　I　wrapped　my　fingers　around　the　butt　of　the　Browning；　digging　my　hand　around　it；　remembering　the　feel　of　it。　The　sensory　memory　brought　it　back　to　me；　pushed　some　of　the　glow　of　power　away。
　I　didn't　see　a　weapon；　but　Richard's　back　was　to　Raina　and　Sebastian。　I　raised　the　Browning；　not　aiming；　not　yet。　I　yelled；　〃Behind　you。〃
　I　saw　Richard's　back　spasm。　He　collapsed　to　his　knees。　Everything　slowed　down；　carved　in　crystal。　Sebastian's　hand　moved　with　a　flash　of　silver　blade。　I　was　already　aiming　at　him。　Marcus's　claw　drew　back　for　a　downward　swipe　at　Richard's　unprotected　throat。　I　pulled　the　trigger　and　turned　the　gun　towards　Marcus；　but　it　would　be　too　slow；　too　late。
　The　top　of　Sebastian's　head　exploded。　I　had　a　fraction　of　a　second　to　wonder　what　ammunition　Edward　had　put　in　the　gun。　The　body　started　to　fall　backwards。　Marcus's　claw　came　sweeping　down；　and　Richard　drove　his　hand　under　the　arm；　into　Marcus's　upper　stomach。　Marcus　stopped；　froze　for　a　second；　as　the　claws　dug　into　his　stomach；　up　under　his　ribs。　Richard's　hand　went　into　Marcus's　body　past　the　wrist。
　I　kept　the　Browning　pointed　at　Raina　in　case　she　got　any　ideas　about　picking　up　the　knife。
　Marcus　drove　his　claws　into　Richard's　back。　Richard　tucked　his　face　and　neck　against　the　other　man's　body；　protecting　himself　from　the　claws。　Marcus　shuddered。　Richard　broke　away　from　him；　bringing　his　bloody　hand　out　of　Marcus's　chest。　He　tore　the　still…beating　heart　out　of　his　chest　and　flung　it　to　the　wolves。　They　fell　on　the　morsel　with　small　yips　and　growling。
　Richard　collapsed　to　his　knees　beside　Marcus's　body。　Blood　poured　down　his　lower　back　where　the　knife　had　gone　in。　I　walked　to　him；　the　gun　still　pointed　at　Raina。　I　knelt；　still　keeping　a　bead　on　her。　〃Richard；　are　you　all　right？〃　It　was　a　stupid　thing　to　ask；　but　what　else　was　I　supposed　to　say？
　〃Put　up　the　gun；　Anita。　It's　over。〃
　〃She　tried　to　kill　you；〃　I　said。
　〃It's　over。〃　He　turned　his　face　to　me；　and　his　eyes　were　already　gone。　His　voice　fell　towards　a　growl。　〃Put　it　away。〃
　I　stared　up　at　Raina　and　knew　if　I　didn't　kill　her　now；　I'd　have　to　kill　her　later。　〃She'll　see　us　dead；　Richard。〃
　Richard's　hand　was　suddenly　there；　faster　than　I　could　see。　He　hit　my　hand；　and　the　gun　went　spinning。　My　hand　was　numb。　I　tried　to　back　away；　but　he　grabbed　me；　wrapping　his　clawed　hands　around　my　upper　arms。　〃No　more　killing　。　。　。　tonight。〃　He　threw　back　his　head　and　howled。　His　mouth　was　full　of　fangs。
　I　screamed。
　〃Ride　the　power；　Anita。　Ride　it　or　run。〃　His　hands　convulsed　around　my　arms。　I　backpedaled；　dug　my　heels　in；　and　tried　to　get　loose。　He　collapsed　on　top　of　me；　too　hurt　for　the　struggle；　too　far　gone　to　fight　the　change。　His　power　roared　over　me；　into　me。　I　couldn't　see　anything　but　the　glow　of　power　behind　my　eyes。　If　I　could　have　breathed；　I'd　have　screamed　again；　but　there　was　nothing　but　the　force　of　his　power；　and　it　spread　outward　from　him　like　a　rock　in　water。　The　waves　touched　the　pack；　and　where　it　touched；　fur　flowed。　Richard　shifted　and　took　everyone　with　him。　Everyone。　I　felt　Raina　struggle　next　to　us。　I　felt　her　fight　it。　Heard　her　shriek；　but　in　the　end　she　fell　to　the　ground　and　changed。
　I　held　onto　Richard's　arms；　and　fur　flowed　under　my　hands　like　water。　Muscle　formed　and　shifted；　bones　broke　and　reknit。　My　lower　body　was　trapped　underneath　him。　Clear　liquid　gushed　from　his　body；　pouring　over　me　in　a　near　scalding　wave。　I　screamed　and　struggled　to　get　out　from　underneath　him。　And　the　power　rode　me　down；　filled　me　up；　until　I　thought　my　skin　wouldn't　hold；　couldn't　hold　it。
　Finally；　he　rose　off　me；　not　a　wolf；　but　man…wolf；　covered　in　fur　the　color　of　cinnamon　and　gold。　His　genitalia　hung　large　and　full　underneath　him。　He　stared　at　me　with　amber　eyes　and　offered　me　a　clawed　hand　as　he　rose　on　two　slightly　bent　legs。
　I　ignored　the　hand　and　scooted　backwards。　I　got　to　my　feet；　a　little　unsteady；　and　stared。　The　wolf　form　was　actually　taller　than　his　human　shape；　about　seven　feet；　muscled；　and　monstrous。　There　was　nothing　left　of　Richard。　But　I　knew　how　good　it　had　felt　to　let　loose　the　beast。　I　had　felt　it　rise　out　of　him　like　a　second　mind；　soul；　rising　upward；　outward；　filling　him；　spilling　out　of　his　skin。
　My　body　was　still　tingling　with　the　brush　of　his　beast。　I　could　feel　the　thick　softness　of　his　fur　under　my　fingertips　like　a　sensory　memory　that　would　haunt　me。
　Marcus's　very　human…looking　body　lay　on　the　ground　at　Richard's　feet。　The　scent　of　fresh　blood　ran　through　him；　ran　through　them　all。　I　felt　it　thrill　through　my　body。　I　stared　down　at　the　dead　man　and　wanted　to　go　down　to　my　knees　and　feed。　I　had　a　strong　visual　image　of　tearing　flesh；　warm　viscera。　It　was　a　memory。　It　jerked　me　back　a　step。
　I　stared　at　the　man…wolf。　I　stared　at　Richard　and　shook　my　head。　〃I　can't　feed。　I　won't。〃
　He　spoke；　but　it　was　twisted　and　guttural。　〃You're　not　invited。　We　will　feast；　then　hunt。　You　can　watch。　You　can　join　the　hunt；　or　you　can　go。〃
　I　backed　away　slowly。　〃I'm　going。〃
　The　pack　was　creeping　closer；　gigantic　wolves　mostly；　but　here　and　there　were　man…wolves；　watching　me　with　alien　eyes。　I　couldn't　see　the　Browning　that　Richard　had　knocked　from　my　hand。　I　drew　the　Firestar　and　started　to　back　away。
　〃No　one　will　hurt　you；　Anita。　You　are　lupa。　Mate。〃
　I　stared　into　the　cool　eyes　of　the　nearest　wolf。　〃Right　now；　I'm　just　food；　Richard。〃
　〃You　refused　the　power；〃　he　said。
　He　was　right。　In　the　end；　I'd　panicked　and　hadn't　gotten　the　full　dose。　〃Whatever。〃　I　eased　through　the　wolves；　but　they　didn't　move。　I　walked　out；　brushing　through　fur　like　wading　through　a　fur　coat　factory。　Every　brush　of　breathing；　living　animal　scared　me。　Panic　climbed　at　my　throat；　and　I　still　had　enough　glow　left　to　know　that　my　fear　excited　them。　The　more　scared　I　got；　the　more　I　smelled　like　food。
　I　kept　the　gun　ready；　but　I　knew　if　they　went　for　me；　I　was　dead。　There　were　too　many　of　them。　They　watched　me　walk。　They　stubbornly　refused　to　move；　forcing　me　to　brush　their　furred　bodies。　I　realized　they　were　using　me　for　a　sort　of　appetizer；　my　fear　to　spice　their　food；　the　brush　of　my　human　body　to　flavor　their　chase。
　When　I　passed　the　last　furred　body；　the　sound　of　tearing　flesh　brought　my　head　around。　I　couldn't　stop　myself　in　time。　Richard's　muzzle　was　raised　skyward；　slick　wi