lh.narcissusinchains-第28章

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g　around。　I　spoke　through　the　pain；　teeth　gritted　a　little。　〃Arm's　giving　me　trouble；　but　other　than　that；　I'm　okay。〃
　Cherry　touched　the　arm；　running　her　hand　lightly　over　the　sleeve　of　the　robe。　〃The　muscles　are　tightening　up　from　the　rapid　healing。　It　will　be　alright　in　a　few　days。〃
　〃Am　I　not　going　to　have　the　use　of　my　left　arm　for　a　few　days？〃
　〃The　spasms　will　e　and　go。　Massage　helps。　Hot　presses　may　help。　There　must　have　been　some　severe　muscle　damage　for　this　much　spasming。〃　Did　I　mention　that　Cherry　was　a　nurse　when　she　wasn't　turning　furry？
　〃I　can　give　you　the　use　of　your　arm　today；〃　Micah　said。
　We　both　turned　and　looked　at　him。　〃How？〃　Cherry　asked。
　〃I　can　call　flesh；〃　he　said　again。
　The　look　on　her　face　said　she　knew　what　that　meant；　and　she　was　impressed。　And　a　second　later；　she　looked　doubtful；　suspicious。　That　was　my　girl。　Though　truthfully；　Cherry　had　had　a　hard　enough　life　before　I　met　her　that　she'd　e　with　an　overly　active　suspicion。　I　really　couldn't　take　credit　for　it。
　I　was　trying　to　remember　what　〃calling　the　flesh〃　meant；　when　Nathaniel　stepped　through　the　door。　The　last　time　I'd　seen　him　he'd　been　pierced　with　blades；　his　flesh　grown　around　the　steel。　Now　he　was　perfect　　not　even　a　scar。
　I　must　have　looked　as　pleased；　and　as　astonished；　as　I　felt；　because　he　grinned　at　me。　He　did　a　little　turn　so　I　could　see　that　back　and　front　he　was　healed。　I　touched　his　upper　chest　where　I'd　pulled　out　one　of　the　blades。　The　skin　was　smooth　as　if　I'd　only　dreamed　the　knife。　〃I　know　you　guys　heal　almost　anything；　but　I　never　get　over　the　surprise。〃
　〃Eventually；　you'll　get　used　to　it；〃　Merle　said。　There　was　something　in　his　voice　that　made　me　look　at　him。　Cherry's　and　Nathaniel's　smiles　faded。　They　looked　suddenly　serious。
　〃What's　wrong？〃　I　asked。
　Cherry　and　Nathaniel　exchanged　glances；　but　it　was　Micah　who　spoke。　〃May　I　fix　your　arm？〃
　I　turned　to　tell　him　to　go　to　hell　until　I　knew　what　was　happening；　but　my　left　arm　chose　that　moment　to　curl　up　from　fingertips　to　shoulder；　one　massive；　painful；　charley　horse　that　bent　my　knees。　Only　Cherry　catching　me　kept　me　standing。　My　hand　looked　like　that　of　a　strychnine　victim；　the　fingers　convulsed；　clawlike。　It　felt　like　my　arm　was　trying　to　tear　itself　apart　from　the　inside　out。　Cherry　was　supporting　almost　all　my　weight　as　I　tried　not　to　scream。
　〃Let　him　fix　your　arm；　Anita；　if　he　can；〃　she　said。
　The　muscles　in　my　arm　relaxed　by　painful　inches；　until　the　urge　to　scream　was　only　a　small　voice　in　my　head。　My　voice　came　out　breathy　from　the　strain；　but　it　was　clear；　no　whimpering。　〃What　is　calling　flesh　again？〃　I　was　leaning　so　heavily　on　Cherry　that　it　was　only　politeness　that　kept　her　from　picking　me　up　in　her　arms。　She　was　holding　all　my　weight。
　Micah　came　to　stand　by　us。　Merle　hovered　behind　him　like　an　overly　anxious　nursemaid。　〃I　can　heal　damage　in　my　pard　with　my　body；〃　Micah　said。
　I　glanced　up　at　Cherry　and　saw　Nathaniel　standing　beside　her。　They　both　nodded　at　the　same　time；　as　if　they'd　heard　my　unasked　question。　〃I've　never　seen　a　Nimir…Raj　that　could　call　flesh；　but　I've　heard　of　it；〃　Cherry　said。　〃It　is　possible。〃
　〃You　don't　sound　like　you　believe　him；〃　I　said。
　She　gave　a　faint　smile　that　left　her　eyes　tired。　〃I　don't　believe　in　much　of　anyone。〃　She　smiled　then。　〃Except　you。〃
　I　stood；　still　leaning　on　her　arm；　but　almost　standing　on　my　own。　I　squeezed　her　arm　with　my　right　hand；　trying　to　put　into　my　eyes　what　I　was　feeling。　〃I'll　always　do　my　best　for　you；　Cherry。〃
　She　smiled　again；　and　her　eyes　lightened　a　little；　though　that　edge　of　cynicism　never　quite　left　them。　〃I　know　that。〃
　〃We　all　know　that；〃　Nathaniel　said。
　I　smiled　at　him。　I　said　the　prayer　I'd　been　saying　since　I　inherited　the　wereleopards：　Dear　God；　don't　let　me　fail　them。
　I　kept　a　tight　grip　on　Cherry's　arm；　but　turned　to　Micah。　〃Why　is　my　arm　the　only　thing　that's　hurting？〃
　〃You　don't　hurt　anywhere　else？〃　he　asked。
　I　started　to　say　no；　then　had　to　think　about　it。　〃I　ache；　but　nothing　like　the　arm。　Nothing　else　hurts　like　it　does。〃
　He　nodded　as　if　that　meant　something　to　him。　〃Your　body　and　our　energy　healed　the　life…threatening　injuries　first；　and　the　smaller　ones　like　the　marks　on　your　back。〃
　〃I　didn't　think　healing　energy　could　be　that　selective；〃　I　said。
　〃It　can　when　directed；〃　he　said。
　〃Who　directed　it？〃
　His　eyes　locked　with　mine。　〃I　did。〃
　I　glanced　at　Cherry；　and　she　nodded。　〃He　is　a　Nimir…Raj。　He　was　the　dominant　for　us　all。　Him　and　Merle。〃
　I　glanced　at　the　big　man。　〃Do　I　owe　you　guys　a　thank…you？〃
　Merle　shook　his　head。　〃You　owe　us　nothing。〃
　〃Nothing；〃　Micah　said。　〃We　were　the　ones　who　entered　your　territory　without　your　permission。　It　was　our　transgression；　not　yours。〃
　I　looked　at　them　both。　〃Okay；　now　what？〃
　〃Can　you　stand　unaided？〃
　I　wasn't　really　sure；　so　I　let　go　of　Cherry　in　stages　and　found　that　I　could　stand　on　my　own。　Great。　〃Yeah；　I　guess　I　can。〃
　〃I　need　to　touch　the　injuries　to　heal　them。〃
　〃I　know；　I　know；　bare　skin　is　best　for　healing　among　lycanthropes。〃
　He　gave　a　small　frown。　〃Yes；　it　is。〃
　I　used　my　right　hand　to　slide　the　robe　off　my　left　shoulder。　I　realized　that　it　didn't　bare　enough　of　my　arm。　I　started　to　wiggle　my　left　arm　out　of　the　sleeve；　and　another　spasm　hit　me。　It　was　Micah　who　caught　me　this　time　as　my　arm　tried　to　tear　itself　off　my　body　and　my　hand　gripped　something　that　I　could　neither　see　nor　feel。　It　wasn't　just　that　it　hurt。　It　was　unnerving；　like　I　had　lost　total　control　of　my　arm。
　Micah　whispered；　〃Scream；　there's　no　shame　in　it。〃
　I　just　shook　my　head；　afraid　to　open　my　mouth；　afraid　I　would　scream。　He　lowered　me　to　the　floor。　His　hands　going　to　the　robe's　sash。　The　spasm　relaxed　in　stages　again；　leaving　me　gasping　on　the　floor　while　he　bared　most　of　my　left　side。　Once　he'd　revealed　my　left　arm　and　shoulder；　he　pulled　the　robe　back　over　me；　covering　everything　I　cared　about；　except　for　my　left　breast。　I　appreciated　the　gesture。　Since　I　was　now　lying　on　the　ground　staring　up　at　him；　I　also　appreciated　that　he　was　no　longer　erect。　That　was　somehow　less　threatening。
　He　was　on　his　knees；　tracing　his　fingers　just　above　the　skin　of　my　arm。　Except　he　wasn't　touching　my　skin；　he　was　touching　that　otherworldly　energy　that　spilled　off　of　my　skin。　His　energy　flowed　from　his　hand　and　mingled　with　mine　in　a　dance　of　electricity　that　sent　goosebumps　down　my　skin。　For　the　first　time　I　thought　to　ask；　〃Is　this　going　to　hurt？〃
　〃No；　it　shouldn't。〃
　I　heard　masculine　laughter。　I　was　looking　up　at　all　the　men　in　the　room　except　for　one。　I　turned　my　head　to　see　Caleb　still　sitting　on　the　bed。
　〃Is　there　a　joke　I'm　not　getting？〃
　〃Ignore　him；〃　Merle　said。
　I　looked　up　at　their　so…serious　eyes；　while　Caleb's　laughter　played　background　music。　〃Are　you　sure　there　isn't　something　you　want　to　tell　me　about　the　calling　of　flesh？〃
　Micah　shook　his　head；　sending　the　tangle　of　curls　sliding　around　his　face。　I　realized　that　no　one　had　turned　on　a　light。　We　were　still　moving　in　the　twilight　of　the　night…light。　〃Can　someone　turn　on　a　light？〃
　There　was　a　flurry　of　eye　flicks；　one　to　the　other；　to　the　other；　like　they　were　playing　hot　potato　with　the　glance。　〃What's　wrong？〃
　〃Why　do　you　think　anything　is　wrong？〃　Micah　said。
　〃Don't　fuck　with　me；　I　saw　the　glances。　Why　can't　we　turn　on　the　lights？〃
　〃You　may　be　photosensitive　because　of　the　rapid　healing；〃　Cherry　said。
　I　looked　at　her　and　could　feel　the　suspicion　on　my　face。　〃That's　what　all　those　looks　were　about？〃　I　said。
　〃We're　worried　about　how　your　body　is　。。。　reacting　to　the　injuries。〃　She　knelt　beside　me　on　the　side　opposite　Micah。　She　stroked　my　hair　like　you'd　pet　a　dog　to　soothe　it。　〃We're　worried　about　you。〃
　〃I　got　that。〃　It　was　hard　to　be　suspicious　with　her　vibrating　sincerity　at　me。　I　finally　had　to　smile。　〃I　guess　we　can　do　without　the　lights　until　after　he　heals　me。〃
　She　smiled；　and　this　time　it　did　reach　her　eyes。　〃Good。〃
　〃You　might　want　to　give　us　some　room　here；〃　Micah　said。　〃Otherwise　the　energy　can　spread。〃
　Cherry　gave　me　a　last　touch　then　stood　and　moved　back；　taking　Nathaniel　with　her。　Micah　stared　up　at　Merle。　〃You；　too。〃
　Merle　frowned；　but　he　moved　across　t