Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 14. Danse Macabre(188)
«You always look happy at the beginning of an addiction,» Nathaniel said.
«What happens later?» I asked.
«You die.»
44
I DID TRY sniffing Travis's neck, but he hit my radar as wounded antelope. Since I didn't want to rip his throat out, I had to back off. Touching Pierce's hand had been an electrifying experience. Shit. I made Noel take Travis to the hospital room in the back, so he could shift and heal the damage. I had to give my most solemn word that I would not bond with either Pierce or Haven, and bring disaster to their pride, while they were resting. I promised. I meant it. I wasn't sure how to keep the promise, but I did mean it.
We all went to sit in the living room while we tried to get through our list of metaphysical emergencies before we had to get dressed for the ballet.
«We are running out of time, Jean-Claude,» Auggie said.
«Ma petite was able to free Requiem of an ardeur — related compulsion earlier today. We had thought to use the same technique to free you, Augustine. Are you saying that your freedom from the slavery of the ardeur can wait?»
«I need to send Octavius to fetch my clothes for this evening. He has expressed» — Auggie smiled — «reservations about my being here without him at my back. I came thinking I'd get my ashes hauled, and make a smash and grab on the local lions. Still might do the whole lion thing, but the rest didn't work out like I planned.»
«You are not going to do the whole lion thing,» I said. I was on the love seat sitting between Micah and Jean-Claude. Nathaniel and Damian were on the floor at our feet. Damian was touching my leg, and that one touch helped me think. He'd promised not to do anything but help me stay calm. There would be a learning curve on Damian's new power level, too. The grade on all of it seemed pretty damn steep.
Jean-Claude patted my knee, as if warning me to be calm. I was calm; Damian's touch almost guaranteed that. I was also determined that our invitation to the Master of Chicago was not going to rain bad stuff all over our local werelions.
«Most of the werelions in the Midwest owe allegiance to my pride.»
«It's not your pride,» I said, even if your animal to call is the Rex of that pride. «It's his pride, or hers.»
«His,» Auggie said.
«Fine, but that doesn't make it yours.»
Auggie glanced at Jean-Claude. «She believes that. Doesn't she know the law?»
«Ma petite knows that in the vampire world all that my servants own is mine.»
I had known it, but I hadn't made the logic jump. «It can't be your pride, because if something happened to your lion to call, then you couldn't hold the pride. If you can't hold the group without the help of someone else, then it's not yours, Auggie. Your lion dies and your hold on his pride dies with him.»
«Is that a threat?» he said, softly.
Damian squeezed my calf, and Jean-Claude squeezed my knee. Micah moved closer to me, sliding his arm across my shoulders, so that he was holding me and Jean-Claude, really. It didn't seem to bother anyone but me.
«Not yet,» I said.
Damian laid his head in my lap. Jean-Claude stroked my leg, his way of saying, Be careful. Micah was as close as he could get to me. Nathaniel just cuddled more solidly between Jean-Claude and me, wrapping his arm around my leg, but laying his head on Jean-Claude's knee. I'd never seen him do that before to the vampire. Jean-Claude petted his hair, absently, like you'd stroke a dog, as if it were very everyday. It wasn't everyday, and I realized that Nathaniel was helping us negotiate. Auggie had proved that he liked men, maybe not as much as he liked women, but still… He'd remarked on Nathaniel's hair, made a pass at Micah. Nathaniel wasn't flirting, he was lying with his body. Lying that he and Jean-Claude had a closer relationship than they did. Would it bother Auggie? And if it did, which way would it bother him? Would it disturb him because it's guy-on-guy sex, or would he be jealous? Hell, it might bother him both ways. A lot of men seemed conflicted about that sort of thing.
«Did you say that most of the prides in the Midwest owe you allegiance?» Micah said.
«Yes.»
«Vampires aren't allowed to wage war on territories that don't touch their own,» Micah said.
«I haven't done anything to any other Masters of the City. Vampire law only covers how we treat each other's animals to call. My lions haven't tried to take over any land where the Master of the City had lions as his, or her, animal to call.» He looked at me, as if I'd like the «her» comment. Frankly, I was liking less and less about Auggie.
«So as long as you only take over prides that aren't owned by vamps, you're in the clear?» I said.