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And I'd thought I'd been subtle。
〃What would you have done if Raina had e？〃 Sylvie asked。
Everyone was watching me； except Richard。 Their eyes were very intent； and I knew the question meant more than it should have。 〃I'd have killed her。〃
〃Not just shot her or wounded her？〃 Christine asked。
I shook my head。 〃She got her free pass last night。 If she es after Stephen again； I'll kill her。〃
〃You mean that； don't you？〃 Sylvie said。
〃Every word；〃 I said。
There was a hum of energy in the room； almost as if they were all sharing some telepathic message。 I don't think they were； but something was happening。 The energy level in the room was rising； and I didn't like it。 I sat the coffee mug on the floor。 I wanted both my hands free。
Sylvie grabbed me around the waist and rolled us off the couch。 We were on the floor with her riding my back before I could react。 I went for the gun； and her hand was there first。 She jerked the gun out of its holster and tossed it away。 She wasn't fast； she was miraculous； and I was in deeper shit than I could get out of。
The bend of her arm was tucked under my chin like in a strangle hold； positioned just right so she could black me out without killing me。 Her legs locked around my waist； as close as she could get and not climb down my shirt。
A half dozen werewolves flowed between her and Richard。 He was standing； hands in fists at his side。 His power poured through the room； deeper and higher； until it was like being buried alive in some kind of static charge。
〃Don't；〃 I whispered。 I wasn't talking to Richard。
I felt something open inside Sylvie； a trembling； vibrating energy flowed from her skin across my body。 It was almost hot； like opening the door to an oven。 Where her skin touched me； I shivered。 It was painful； like small electric shocks。
〃What are you doing； Sylvie？〃 Richard asked。 His voice had gone low and growling deep； it didn't sound human。 I expected his eyes to be amber； but they were the same solid brown as always。 Human eyes； but the look in them was not。 The beast stared out of Richard's eyes。 I knew in that moment that he was truly dangerous。 I also knew that all that impressive power wouldn't save me if Sylvie wanted to rip my head off。
My pulse thudded against her arm like a trapped butterfly。 I forced my voice calm。 〃What's going on？〃
〃I'm going to make you his mate。〃
〃You're not contagious in human form；〃 I said。
〃Really？〃 she said。 The arm around my throat grew warm； pulsing like a beating heart。 I felt the muscles slide under her skin。
〃Richard。〃 My voice sounded high and wispy。 Fear will do that to you。
Rafael and Louie were on their feet now。 The werewolves that had joined Sylvie in this little protest fanned out to cover the rats； too。
I couldn't see Stephen。 He was somewhere behind us； crouched on the floor； last I saw。
Jason crouched at Richard's feet； facing the other werewolves。 But at least ten of them just sat there； watching； not taking sides。 〃You've been holding out on us；〃 Jason said。
Sylvie flexed the arm around my neck。 I had a glimpse of a long…clawed hand。 〃Only Raina is higher in the pack than I am； Jason。〃
Richard faced the werewolves。 He brought his hands upward； making a soothing gesture like he'd done at the movie set。 The prickling energy in the room went down a notch。 He was forcing their power back。
〃All it takes is a scratch； Richard；〃 Sylvie said。 〃You'll never reach us in time。〃
〃I forbid this；〃 Richard growled。 〃No one is to be infected against their will。 Especially Anita。〃
〃Why？〃 Sylvie said。 〃Because if she wasn't human； you wouldn't want her？ Not taking the pack to your bed is just another way of denying what you are； Richard。〃
Something passed over his face behind the anger and the power： uncertainty。
I knew in that moment she was right。
Sylvie whispered in my ear； her breath warm on my face。 〃See his face。〃
〃Yeah；〃 I said。
〃He accuses you of not being able to sleep with him because you think he's a monster； but if I make you one of us； he won't want you。 He thinks of all of us as monsters； but not good old Richard。 He's better than the rest of us。〃
〃I will hurt you； Sylvie。 I'll bleed you； do you understand；〃 Richard said。
〃But you won't kill me； will you？〃 she said。 Her arm flexed； long claws tickled down my face。
I put my hands on her arm； trying to hold it away from me； and not succeeding。 〃I'll kill you；〃 I said。
She went very still against my body。 〃For changing you into one of us？ For losing you Richard's love when he sees you monstrous and furry？〃
I spoke very low； very carefully。 〃You hate what you are； Sylvie。〃
Her arm convulsed tight enough that I couldn't breathe for a second。 〃I don't hate what I am。 I accept what I am。〃 Her arm loosened。
I took a shaky breath and tried again。 〃I saw the look on your face when I accused you of being jealous。 You are jealous of me being human； Sylvie。 You know you are。〃
She held her other hand up in front of my face； letting me get a good look at the long； thin claws。 The hand at my throat bed claws through my hair。
〃You know that Raina has forbidden us to make you lukoi。 She's afraid if you joined us； you'd be a better bitch than she is。〃
〃How flattering；〃 I whispered。 I looked at Richard through the backs of the werewolves。 His eyes had gone amber and alien。 Even now； I knew； he wouldn't kill Sylvie。 Even if she bled me； infected me； he wouldn't kill her。 It was there in the pain on his face。 The confusion replacing the fear。
Maybe Sylvie saw it。 Maybe she'd made her point。 Whatever； she uncurled herself from my body and stood carefully on the other side of me。
I scuttled away on all fours as fast as I could go。 It wasn't pretty； it wasn't slick； but it was effective。
I crawled until I came to the far wall。 I stayed sitting against it； as far away from everything in the room as I could get。
The other werewolves had faded away。 Sylvie and Richard stood facing each other。 Sylvie's eyes had gone a strange liquid grey； wolf eyes。
Richard flung his power outward。 It ate along my skin； tore a gasp from my throat。
Sylvie stood in that flood of power and didn't flinch。 〃The power is impressive； Richard； but it means nothing as long as Marcus lives。〃
He backhanded her； in a blur of motion that was too fast to follow。 Sylvie careened into the wall and slid to the floor； stunned。
〃I am pack leader；〃 Richard's voice roared； and he raised clawed hands to the sky。 He fell to his knees； and I didn't go to help。 I stayed huddled against the wall； wishing I'd packed an extra gun。
Richard crouched on the floor； rocking gently。 He curled on his knees into a ball； and I felt him swallow the power back。 I felt it drain away。 He stayed crouched on the floor； hugging himself for a long time after the power vanished from the room； head down； his hair hiding his face。
Sylvie got to her knees and crawled towards him。 She crouched beside him； smoothing his hair back on one side。 〃We would follow you anywhere if you would kill for us。 She will kill for us。 If your mate； your lupa； will kill for us； it might be enough。〃
Richard raised his head up with a shudder。 〃No one is t