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th one large copper gold eye。 A heavy black stripe stretched back from the corner of his eye to his temple。 His movements were vaguely birdlike。 Other black…cloaked figures stepped away from the walls； dropping hoods to show themselves scaled； with the same stripes near metallic eyes and hands with curling claws。
My people fanned out around me； two going to either side。 〃Who are you？〃
〃I am Coronus of the Black Water Clan； though I doubt that will mean anything to you。〃
〃Marco mentioned you were new in town。 I'm Anita Blake； Nimir…Ra of the Blooddrinkers Clan。 By what right do you harm my people？〃 What I wanted to do was start screaming； but there are rules。 I couldn't be furry； or scaly； but I could follow the rules。
Coronus walked to the wall and stood next to the brunette chained to it。 She made small panicked sounds as he reached for her。 Sylvie moved a little closer to him； to the girl； as if she was waiting for an excuse。 Coronus traced a finger down the girl's cheek； the barest of touches； yet she closed her eyes and shivered。
〃I came here seeking swanmanes； and I found three of them。 They had already tied up the male。 We thought it was their leader； their swanking； or we would not have harmed him。 By the time we found we had the wrong animal； it was late in the game。〃
I glanced at the cloaks still held firmly in place； the impassive faces of the men as impossible to read as if they'd already bee snakes。 I noticed that one of the figures had breasts。 It was nearly naked where they showed above a scoop neck T…shirt。 I could see the chains reaching for the ceiling and down to the floor。 There was more blood； a lot more blood； on that side。
〃Let me see Nathaniel。〃
〃Would you not like to see your blond leopard up close and personal first？〃
I started to ask why。 I didn't like the fact that he seemed reluctant for me to see Nathaniel。 〃You want me to see Gregory first？〃
The man seemed to think about it； head to one side。 The movement looked animal…like； yet not exactly snakelike。 〃Up close and personal； yes； yes； I do。〃
I didn't like the way he kept saying personal； but I let it go。 〃Then you've made a request of me； Coronus。 If I do it； I can make one of you。〃 Sometimes the rules are helpful。 Rarely； but sometimes。
〃What would you have of me？〃
〃I want him unchained。〃
〃He was easily taken once by my people。 I see no reason why not。 Go； gaze upon him； touch him； then we will unchain him。〃
Jamil stayed at my side as I walked towards Gregory。 My gut was tight。 What had they done to him？ I could still remember the scream over the phone。 A glance from Jamil cleared the snake people away。 They stood as far away as the room would allow them to； on either side。 I had to step over the chains on the floor and under the ones that held Gregory's wrists up。 I came around to look in his blue eyes。 A black ball gag was stuffed in his mouth； the string tucked under his hair so it hadn't been visible from the back。 His eyes were wide； panicked。 His face was untouched； and my gaze followed down the line of his body almost against my will； as if I knew what I'd find。 His groin was a red ruin； healing； covered in dried blood。 They'd ripped him up。 If he'd been human he'd have been ruined。 I wasn't a hundred percent sure that he wasn't anyway。 I had to close my eyes for a second。 The room felt hot。
Jamil had let out a hissing breath when he saw what they'd done to Gregory； and his energy burned over my skin； fed by anger and horror。 Strong emotions make shapeshifters leak all over you。 My voice came out in a squeezed whisper； 〃Will he heal？〃
Jamil had to e closer to inspect the wound。 He touched it reluctantly； and Gregory writhed in pain at the gentlest of touches。 〃I think so； if they allow him to change form soon。〃
I tried to pull the gag out of Gregory's mouth and couldn't。 It was too tight。 I broke the leather string that held it in place and threw it on the floor。
Gregory took a sobbing breath and said； 〃Anita； I thought you weren't ing。〃 His blue eyes glistened with unshed tears。
We were almost the same size； so I could touch my forehead to his； hands on either side of his face。 I couldn't stand to see the tears in his eyes； and I couldn't afford to cry in front of the bad guys。 〃I'll always e for you Gregory； always。〃 Seeing him like this； I meant it。 I needed to find a real wereleopard to protect them。 But how was I going to give them away like stray puppies to some stranger？ But that was a problem for another night。
〃Unchain him；〃 I said。
Jamil moved to the manacles and seemed to know just how they worked。 No key was needed。 Great。 Gregory sagged as soon as the first chain went； and I caught him； holding him under the arms。 But when the second wrist restraint opened； his body fell against my leg and he screamed。 Jamil undid the last ankle chain； and I lowered Gregory to the ground as gently as I could。 I was stroking his hair； his upper body cradled in my arms； across my lap； when I had a sense of movement to either side。
Jamil couldn't guard both sides at the same time。 The knives in my boots were trapped under Gregory's body。 It was beautifully timed。 I rolled over Gregory's body； and felt the cloak rush over me； as talons slashed where I'd been。 I went for the boot knife； but never had a chance。 I saw the clawed hand ing for me。 Everything slowed down； like images caught in crystal so that you see every detail。 I seemed to have all the time in the world to draw the knife； or to try and dodge the slashing talons； yet a part of my brain was screaming that there was no time。 I threw myself back onto the floor； felt the air rush over me as the snake man stumbled； so sure of its target that it hadn't been prepared for me to move。 The rest was instinct。 I foot…swept the snake； and it was suddenly on its back。 I got a knife in my right hand； but the snake was on its feet； kicking upward like it had springs in its spine。
I felt more than saw something large and dark leap through the air over me； landing behind me。 My attention was diverted for a fraction of a second； but that was enough。 The one in front darted in； a movement so fast my eyes couldn't follow it。 I put my left arm out； taking the blow； as my right tried to stab forward。 My left arm went numb like it had been hit with a baseball bat。 I could have stabbed into the stomach； but I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and threw myself on my side on the floor as the second claw swept over me。 I slashed at the legs and opened a gash even through the boots。 The snake screamed and limped away。
The second snake came for me； claws outstretched。 I didn't have time to get off the floor or anything else。 I held the knife ready； my left arm only partially useable； and watched the thing fall on me like an iridescent nightmare。 A smaller black blur hit it from the side； and they both crashed into the wall。 It was Meng Die。 The claws ripped into her pale flesh as I watched。
I didn't have time to see more； because Coronus loomed up over me； blood dripping from his neck and shoulder； his shirt shredded。 Sylvie was behind him； struggling with Marco； trying to get past him to follow Coronus。 Her lovely hands had turned