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Nathaniel offered a suggestion。 〃Feed him。〃
I looked back at him； and the look must have been enough； because he put his hands out empty； and went to stand by the fireplace。 Everyone else had taken a seat； except for Gil； who was huddled beside one of the chairs on the floor； clutching a pillow。
I turned to Jean…Claude； and it was Micah's voice that turned me back again。 〃I've seen Anita in the 〃 he changed whatever he was going to say 〃grip of the ardeur； and this doesn't look like it。 She's way too calm。〃
Jean…Claude looked past me at him； seeing him； I think； for the first time； at least in person。 His gaze traveled up and down his body； an assessing look； like he was thinking of buying or was trying to be deliberately insulting。
Micah either didn't catch the insult or was proof against it； because he started walking towards us。 He moved in a well of his own power； as if even here； surrounded by Jean…Claude's things； he was supremely confident； totally at ease。 He moved like a dancer； pact； graceful； strong。 The sight of him tightened things low in my body。 Jean…Claude made a small sound。 I started to turn towards him； but it was too late； his shields shattered and the ardeur roared over me。 My skin ran with heat； my breath stopped； my vision was gone in streamers of color。 Jean…Claude's need marched over me； through me； inside me。 It screamed in my head； danced down my nerves； flowed through my veins。 In that instant if he had asked anything； anything at all； I would have said yes。
My vision cleared and I found Jean…Claude on the floor； half…caught in a spill of draperies that he'd pulled from their hangers； so that he sat in a nest of white and silver。 His face was almost slack with need； his eyes already a spill of blind blue fire。
I was on my knees； too； and didn't remember falling。 Micah was there； taking my arm； I think to help me stand； but the moment he touched me the ardeur leaped； and he fell to the floor beside me； like someone had struck him with a hammer； his legs just stopped holding him。 He whispered； 〃Oh； my God。〃
The bodyguards moved in then； and I had to scream； 〃No！〃 There must have been something in my voice； because all three of them froze in mid…motion。 〃No one touches us； no one。〃 My voice was high； frantic。 There was a very real chance that the ardeur could spread through the whole room； one touch at a time。 We had enough problems without that。
Micah had released my arm； his hands nerveless in his lap； but the tie had been made； and the act of touching； or not； didn't change it。
Jean…Claude crawled from the bed of glittering cloth； slowly； every move something graceful and dangerous。 He'd never looked more predatory than he did at that moment。
〃Jean…Claude；〃 I whispered； 〃don't。〃 But I couldn't move。 I watched him like a tiny bird fascinated as the serpent glides closer； caught between terror and the sheer beauty of him。
Asher was suddenly there in the space between the cloth。 Jean…Claude froze； but it wasn't that stillness that the old vampires could fall into； there was a thrumming energy to him； more like a big cat about to pounce than something cold and reptilian。
〃Jean…Claude； you must control the ardeur better than this。〃 He was hugging his arms as if he felt at least a brush of it himself。 He'd noticed the new faces and used a practiced shake of his head to spill his golden hair across the scars； only revealing the perfect half。
Jean…Claude's voice came low and harsh。 〃I cannot。〃
I'd been afraid； now it was sheer terror。 I looked up at Asher and saw him through a film of all the times we'd touched him； all that beauty； all the beauty that I still saw。 I whispered； 〃Help us！〃
Asher was shaking his head。 〃If I am dragged in as well； it will help no one 〃
〃Asher； please！〃
〃Once he feeds； all will be well； simply let him feed。〃
I shook my head。 〃Not here； not like this。〃
Micah said； 〃If it will help； why not let him feed？〃
I looked at him； and just turning to him made my mouth part； my breath catch。 It was almost like the ardeur remembered him； like a succulent food that it wanted to taste again。
It took two tries to say； 〃You don't understand。〃
Zane said； 〃Anita doesn't let Jean…Claude feed off of her。〃 He and Cherry were sitting on the far edge of the couch； watching with wide eyes； not ing near us。
〃I thought she was his human servant；〃 Micah said。
〃She is。〃 Jean…Claude whispered it。
Something in those two words made me look at him； made me stare into those glittering blue eyes。 He couldn't trap me with his gaze anymore； because I was his human servant； but tonight there was a pull to those eyes。 I wanted to cradle his face in my hands； wanted to taste those half…parted lips。
〃Anita！〃 Asher's voice jerked me around； made me look at him。
〃Help me。〃
〃He can feed on me。〃 Micah said it； voice soft。 We all turned and stared at him。
He looked a little less sure。 I think something he saw on our faces made him hesitate； but he said it again。 〃If a little blood will cure this； then I'm willing。〃
〃He has fed on blood tonight already；〃 Asher said。 〃It is not blood he needs but 。。。 voir les anges。〃
〃English； Asher； even I didn't understand that one；〃 I said。
He waved his hands as if erasing what he'd said。 〃He needs release； a 。。。 〃 He said several things in rapid French； and I couldn't follow it。 Asher was in great distress if his English had abandoned him。
I was careful not to look at Micah when I tried to explain。 〃It's the ardeur that Jean…Claude needs fed。〃
〃He needs sex； not blood；〃 Nathaniel said。 His voice was soft； but a glance showed him standing as far across the room as he could get。 I didn't blame him a bit。
〃The first time you fed on me it wasn't intercourse； just contact；〃 he said。
I nodded； still trying not to look at any of the men。 〃I remember。〃
〃Contact is okay；〃 Micah said。
I had to look at him； and the surprise was great enough that for just a second I almost fought free of the ardeur； I could almost think。 〃What kind of contact？〃
〃Sexual contact。〃 His face was very serious； eyes solemn； as if he； too； could think again。 〃I said I would do anything to be your Nimir…Raj； Anita。 What do I have to do to convince you I mean it？〃
〃What are you offering； Micah？〃
〃Whatever you need。〃 He looked past me to Jean…Claude。 〃Whatever you both need。〃
I felt Jean…Claude's attention sharpen； almost like a physical force； and the ardeur was back； thick enough to drown in。 My breath froze in my throat； my pulse was too fast to swallow。 Jean…Claude's voice came； I think in my head； because his lips never moved。 〃Be careful what you offer； mon ami； my control is poor tonight。〃
Micah answered； as if he'd heard Jean…Claude too。 〃You were a ménage à trois with the Ulfric。 He's gone。 I'm here； and I'm staying。 I will be Anita's Nimir…Raj； whatever that means。〃
I managed to say； 〃Who said that we were a ménage à trois？〃
〃Everyone；〃 he said。
I wondered who everyone was； because I knew it wasn't everyone。
Jean…Claude was moving forward again； painfully slow； every movement so full of energy； so full of potential violence and grace； that it almost hurt to watch。 It made m