Лорел Гамильтон - Danse Macabre

I nodded acknowledgment, then turned to Brunette. «And you would be?»

«Pierce.»

«You guys only have one name apiece? Like Madonna?»

Pierce frowned at me. Haven laughed, and it was a good laugh. Head back, full-throated; if he hadn't made the hairs at the back of my neck crawl, I'd have smiled.

Auggie glided up to the two men, putting a hand on each of them. Their eyes tightened, not a flinch, but noticable. What had he done when he touched their backs, oh-so-lightly?

Auggie smiled, that happy, happy smile that filled his gray eyes with light. «My lions are like vampires, Anita; they can, if they choose, have only one name among us. Pierce and Haven do have first names, but I think they will keep them until they know if they're staying.»

«What, you think I can't run them through a computer and a record check because you don't give me their real names?»

«If their criminal record worries you, then let me allay your fears. They both have one.» He was still smiling when he said it.

It was all getting too weird. These were our friends, and I was already feeling like I'd been thrown into the deep end of the pool. Jean-Claude, where are you ? I thought.

I got a confused glimpse of fighting. He and Asher were struggling to hold Meng Die down. It reminded me of watching the men carrying Bunny out. If they want to hurt you, and you don't want to hurt them, you are at a disadvantage. They were inside the building that housed the carnival's freak show upstairs. Though most of the «freaks» were rare super-naturals. I saw people looking in at them from the outer areas. They had an audience.

I thought, Ask for help, get some guards in there and get her out of sight .

I felt more than heard him think that asking for help with the other vamps maybe sensing it would make him look weak. I thought back, Taking advantage of your resources is not weakness, its good management .

I felt him reach out to the wolves upstairs. I felt them moving toward him. Soon there'd be too many men for her to fight back. What they'd do with her once they subdued her, that was a different question. I had one more awful thought. I turned to Claudia. «Can you contact the wererat guards upstairs via mind?»

She pulled a small cell phone from one pocket. «How about phone?»

«Meng Die's animal to call is wolf; I'd like a few wererats to join everyone in the freak show.»

Claudia didn't ask, she just made the call. So nice not to be questioned.

«And what does Jean-Claude need that much help with?» Auggie said.

«She's a female of Belle's line. You want her?»

He laughed. «Not if she's this wild, no.»

«Auggie wouldn't need help to subdue one of his vamps,» Pierce said.

«Jean-Claude could subdue her, or even kill her, but she's chosen a place where there's an audience. Committing murder in front of civilians is a no-no,» I said.

«But once behind the scenes, will he kill her?» Haven asked.

I sighed. «Probably not.»

«Weakness,» Pierce said.

Auggie patted them both on the back, and again there was that tightening around their eyes. «Now, now, boys, some masters would have killed Bunny for her disrespect. Everyone runs his territory a little differently.» He was still cheerful, and charming, but there was an edge to it.

«What are you thinking, Auggie?» I asked. I didn't really expect an answer, but I got one.

«That Jean-Claude is too sentimental for his own good sometimes.»

I smiled, and knew it left my eyes cold. «You know, sentimental is not a word I would have used for him.»

«Then he has changed.»

«Don't we all,» I said.

Auggie nodded, the smile melting around the edges. «Taste them, Anita. taste your new toys.»

I shook my head, and said, «Can you stop touching them while I do it? I'd hate to confuse your tie to them with their power.»

He gave a small bow and stepped back. He even went to sit on the couch, where Octavius joined him. I stepped away from my own people. I fought not to look at one particular guard of ours. Our local lions were ruled by Joseph, and he was in the corner dressed as a bodyguard. He was ready to help if needed, but he and I both knew that he was mostly here to check out the new werelions. I was betting he liked them even less than I did.

I looked up at the two men in question. «Do you guys want this trade?»

That surprised them both, though Haven hid it sooner. He smiled. «I'm cool with it, if it works out.» His eyes were cooler when he said it, as if the smile were beginning to melt down his face. If I asked the right question I might even see the real Haven behind the smiling, hip exterior. Pierce glanced behind them at Auggie. I said what I'd said to the twins. «Don't look at your master, look at me, and give me an honest answer. Do you want to be traded to St. Louis?»

He started to look at the couch again. I touched his arm. A jolt of power ran through me, made me drop his arm. It stopped him midmotion, turned him back to me with his pulse pushing at the side of his throat. «What was that?»

I fought the urge to rub my hand along the side of my skirt. «I'm not sure. Power, some kind of power.»

«You're not sure?» He sounded as suspicious as he looked.

«I honestly don't know why there was a power jump when we touched. I didn't like it either.»

«I want to go home,» he said. «I don't like being traded away, and I really don't like being offered up for sex like some kind of whore.» He let the anger fill his voice, and the anger raised his power like heat across my skin.

Octavius said, «Be careful, cat.»

«No,» I said, «I want honesty. I've seen what happens if someone is forced to be in a group that they don't want to be in. The local lion pride works well; I don't want to queer their deal.»

«So you won't taste Pierce now, will you?» Auggie asked from the couch.

I shook my head. «Take him back home, Auggie. I'm surprised you brought him, him not wanting to come.»

«Bunny said Pierce was one of the best lovers she'd ever had. I thought you'd enjoy that.»

I couldn't control my face fast enough.

«What's wrong with that?» Auggie asked.

«The idea of Bunny, just — «I made a push-away gesture. «I'm fighting off a visual.»

«She could be crude, but she was very good at her job.»

I looked at Auggie. «And her job would be?»

«Sex.»

«She's your mistress, not your whore. Mistress means more than just sex.»

«Now that is Jean-Claude talking.»

«Maybe, but it's still true.»

He shrugged those massive shoulders. «You've met her, Anita, do you really think I sat around and had stimulating conversations with Bunny?»

I laughed, I couldn't help it. «No, I guess not.» Then another thought occurred to me. «Why would you date anyone that you couldn't talk to?»

He just stared at me, a look on his face that I couldn't read. «You mean that, don't you?» He smiled, almost sadly, shook his head, and wouldn't meet my gaze. «Oh, Anita, you make me feel jaded, and very old.»

«Do I apologize for that?» I asked.

He looked up, smiling still. «No, but that you meant that question makes me wonder about my choices for your pomme de sang . I looked for good sex, dominants, because everyone needs more muscle. I did not look for good conversation, or someone with interests like yours. I wasn't looking for a date. I was looking for food and fucking.»

«You need a woman in your organization, Auggie. Being all guys limits you.»

«Are you saying I need a woman's touch?»

«Yeah, and there isn't a woman of Belle's line that will go with you just to be your whore. We promised them that they'd have choices when they came here.»