JК
The Harlequin :: Гамильтон Лорел
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«But you have more control of it now,» Lisandro said, «and you know what's happening.»
«I've got more control, yes, but as to what's happening… pick a topic.»
«Somehow you've got three or four different kinds of lycanthropy inside you. But you haven't shifted into any of them.»
«Yeah, so?»
«But you're starting to be attracted to the different animals, the way you were to the wolves and the leopards. I'm just saying that if you pick a new animal, can't it be someone powerful, instead of weak? Why can't you choose someone who will help you power up, instead of hurting you?»
Nathaniel shifted beside me.
«Nathaniel doesn't hurt me,» I said, but part of me was thinking about our fight earlier. There was room to get hurt, but not the kind of hurt that Lisandro meant.
«He doesn't help you either, not the way Richard helps Jean-Claude.»
I could have argued that part. Richard was so conflicted about what he was, and what he wanted out of life, that he crippled the triumvirate among the three of us, but if Lisandro didn't realize how reluctant a partner Richard was, then I wasn't going to share it.
«What do you want from me, Lisandro?»
«Just, if we're going to put our bodies between you and a bullet, can we have some input into the next animal you pick?»
«No,» I said.
«Just no?» he said.
«Yeah, just no. This is so not in your job description, Lisandro, not you, or Remus, or anyone. If you don't want to risk yourself, then don't. I don't want anyone guarding me who feels like it's a bad idea.»
«I'm not saying this right.»
«Then stop saying it,» I said.
«Stop explaining and just say what you want Anita to do,» Nathaniel said.
Lisandro frowned, then said, «I think Joseph was wrong when he forced you to send the werelion Haven back to Chicago. Joseph keeps trying to feed you his weak-assed pride of lions, and they aren't any better than Nathaniel. No offense, even Joseph's brother, Justin, isn't that much stronger.»
It had taken me a moment to remember who Haven was, because I still thought of him as Cookie Monster. He'd had hair dyed that color of blue, and had sported several Sesame Street tattoos. Haven was also an enforcer for the Master Vampire of Chicago. Haven had helped me handle the lion part of my metaphysical problem, but he'd also picked fights with three of the local werelions, including Joseph, their Rex, their leader. Haven and Richard had had a fight. Richard had kicked his ass, proving that Richard could be damned useful when he wanted to be.
«But you have more control of it now,» Lisandro said, «and you know what's happening.»
«I've got more control, yes, but as to what's happening… pick a topic.»
«Somehow you've got three or four different kinds of lycanthropy inside you. But you haven't shifted into any of them.»
«Yeah, so?»
«But you're starting to be attracted to the different animals, the way you were to the wolves and the leopards. I'm just saying that if you pick a new animal, can't it be someone powerful, instead of weak? Why can't you choose someone who will help you power up, instead of hurting you?»
Nathaniel shifted beside me.
«Nathaniel doesn't hurt me,» I said, but part of me was thinking about our fight earlier. There was room to get hurt, but not the kind of hurt that Lisandro meant.
«He doesn't help you either, not the way Richard helps Jean-Claude.»
I could have argued that part. Richard was so conflicted about what he was, and what he wanted out of life, that he crippled the triumvirate among the three of us, but if Lisandro didn't realize how reluctant a partner Richard was, then I wasn't going to share it.
«What do you want from me, Lisandro?»
«Just, if we're going to put our bodies between you and a bullet, can we have some input into the next animal you pick?»
«No,» I said.
«Just no?» he said.
«Yeah, just no. This is so not in your job description, Lisandro, not you, or Remus, or anyone. If you don't want to risk yourself, then don't. I don't want anyone guarding me who feels like it's a bad idea.»
«I'm not saying this right.»
«Then stop saying it,» I said.
«Stop explaining and just say what you want Anita to do,» Nathaniel said.
Lisandro frowned, then said, «I think Joseph was wrong when he forced you to send the werelion Haven back to Chicago. Joseph keeps trying to feed you his weak-assed pride of lions, and they aren't any better than Nathaniel. No offense, even Joseph's brother, Justin, isn't that much stronger.»
It had taken me a moment to remember who Haven was, because I still thought of him as Cookie Monster. He'd had hair dyed that color of blue, and had sported several Sesame Street tattoos. Haven was also an enforcer for the Master Vampire of Chicago. Haven had helped me handle the lion part of my metaphysical problem, but he'd also picked fights with three of the local werelions, including Joseph, their Rex, their leader. Haven and Richard had had a fight. Richard had kicked his ass, proving that Richard could be damned useful when he wanted to be.