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His smile widened； a brief flash of teeth； almost a snarl。 〃Yes。〃
I tried to pull away； but his hands tightened。 〃You're doing it；〃 I said。 My heart was suddenly thudding in my throat。 I'd thought to be afraid of a lot of things tonight； but not of Richard。
〃We're supposed to share power。 That's what I'm doing。 But it has to be my power； Anita。 The pack won't be impressed with zombies。〃
I swallowed past my beating heart and forced myself to stand very still。 Made myself return the grip of his hands。 I hadn't thought what it would mean。 I wasn't going to be in charge。 Not my power but his。 I was going to be fuel for his fire； not the other way around。
〃It's Jean…Claude's mark；〃 I said。 〃That's what's doing it。〃
〃We hoped it would work this way；〃 Richard said。
And I knew that the we he was referring to didn't include me。 〃How does it work？〃
〃Like this。〃 That trembling energy broke over his skin like a rush of warmth。 It plunged through his hands into my hand。 It rode like a wave over my body； and everywhere it touched； the hair and skin of my body raised and shivered。
〃Are you all right？〃
〃Sure；〃 but my voice was a breathless whisper。
He took me at my word。 Some barrier went down； and Richard's energy crashed into me like a fist。 I remembered falling； and the feel of Richard's arms around my waist； catching me； then it was like I was elsewhere。 I was everywhere。 I was over there in the trees； staring at us with eyes that tried to turn and see me； but I wasn't there。 It was like the wind that opened inside me when I walked a cemetery； except it wasn't power that was spreading outward。 It was me。 I flashed through a dozen eyes； brushed bodies； some furred； some still skinned。 I hurried outward； outward； and touched Raina。 I knew it was her。 Her power lashed out like a shield； casting me away from her； but not before I felt her fear。
Richard called me back； though call implies a voice。 I slipped back inside myself in a rush of curling golden energy。 I could see the color behind my eyes； though there was actually nothing to see。 I opened my eyes； though I wasn't a hundred percent sure that they'd been closed。 That golden energy was still there； swirling inside； along my skin。 I curled my hands over Richard's shoulders and felt an answering energy in him。
I didn't have to ask what I had just experienced。 I knew。 It was what it meant； at least for someone as powerful as Richard； to be alpha。 He could fling his essence outward and touch his pack。 It was how he kept the werewolf from changing form two days ago。 It was how he could share blood。 Marcus couldn't do it； but Raina could。
Jean…Claude's power； even my own power； never felt so alive。 It was like I was drawing energy from the trees； the wind； like being plugged into a vast battery； as if there was enough magic to go on forever。 I had never felt anything like it。
〃Can you run？〃 Richard asked。
The question meant more than just the words； and I knew that。 〃Oh； yeah。〃
He smiled； and it was joyous。 He took my hand and flung us into the trees。 Even if he'd been human； I couldn't have kept up with Richard in a dead run。 Tonight； he didn't run so much as flowed into the woods。 It was like he had sonar telling him where every branch； every tree root； every fallen trunk would be。 It was like the trees moved away from him like water； or maybe moved into him like something else that I had no words for。 He pulled me with him。 Not just with his hand； but with his energy。 It was like he'd entered me and tied us together somehow。 It should have been intrusive and frightening； but it wasn't。
We spilled into the great clearing and Richard's power filled it； flowed over the lycanthropes like a fire springing from one dry branch to another。 It filled them and made them turn to him。 Only Marcus； Raina； Jamil； Sebastian； and Cassandra were untouched。 Only they kept him out by force of will。 He swept everyone else before him； and I knew that part of what let him do that was me。 Distant as a dream or a half…remembered nightmare； was Jean…Claude； down that twisting power that was almost buried under Richard's shining light。
I felt every movement。 It was like the world was suddenly crystalline； almost like the effect from an adrenaline rush； or shock； where everything seems carved and hard…edged and terribly； frightfully clear。 It was like being dipped in reality； as if anything else would forever be a dream。 It was almost painful。
Marcus sat in a chair that had been carved from rock so long ago the edges were rounded with weather and hands and bodies。 I knew that this clearing had been the meeting place for the lukoi for a very long time。
Marcus wore a brown satin…lapeled tux。 The shirt was of gold cloth； not gold lamé； but the real deal； as if they'd melted down jewelry and beaten him out a shirt。 Raina curled on the edge of the stone chair。 Her long auburn hair was done in an elaborate swirl of soft curls on top of her head； down along her face。 A gold chain cut across her forehead with a diamond the size of my thumb in it。 More diamonds burned like white fire at her throat。 She was absolutely naked except for a sprinkling of gold body glitter； done thick enough on her nipples to make them seem metallic。 A diamond anklet glittered on her right ankle。 Three gold chains rode low on her hips； and that was it。
And I'd plained about my outfit。
〃Wele； Richard； Anita；〃 Marcus said。 〃Wele to our happy family。〃 His voice was deep and thick。 It flowed with its own edge of power； but it wasn't enough。 It would never be enough。 Richard could have worn his jeans and T…shirt； and still he would have won them over。 There are things beyond clothing that make a king。
〃Marcus； Raina。〃 Richard released my hand slowly； and as he pulled away； the tie remained。 It was a shadow of the way I'd bound Richard and Jean…Claude's auras to me； but more。 He took a few steps away to stand a little in front of me。 I could feel him like a large； shimmering thing。 His energy was amazing。 The closest thing I'd ever felt was the power of a Daoine Sidhe； a fairie of the highest court。
〃You naughty boy；〃 Raina said。 〃You've made her one of us。〃
〃No；〃 Richard said； 〃she is what she always has been： herself。〃
〃Then how can you ride her power？ How can she ride yours？〃 Raina pushed away from the chair； stalking along the ground in front of it； pacing like a caged animal。
〃What have you done； Richard？〃 Marcus asked。
〃She is my mate。〃
〃Raina； test it；〃 Marcus said。
Raina smiled； most unpleasant； and stalked over the open ground。 She swayed； transforming walking into a seductive dance。 I felt her power tonight。 Her sex rode the air like the threat of lightning； prickling along the skin； drying out the mouth。 I felt every male watch her； even Richard。 I didn't resent it。 Hell； I watched her。 She was magnificent in her sheer； naked lust。 It was like sex for Raina was power； literally。
I slipped off the long； black coat and let it fall to the ground。 There was a collective gasp from the human throats。 I traced my hands over the bare skin of my waist； trailing down my leather…clad thighs。 I laughed。 A loud； joyous bark of noise。 It was Raina。 I was riding her power； dancing along the edge of her energy。
I stalked towards her； not waiting； but meeting her in the middle of the circle。 We moved around each other； and I could match her dance。 I pulled her aura of sex and violence into me； pulled it like a hand reaching inward and stealing bits of her。 Fear widened her eyes； brought her breath faster。
She knew how to protect herself against another werewolf； but my brand of power was just different enough that she didn't know what to do with me。 I'd never done anything like this before； didn't understand exactly what I was doing； until Raina backed off。 She didn't run back to Marcus； but the shine was gone。 She slunk back with her tail between her legs； and I could taste her inside my mind like I'd licked her skin。
I turned back to Richard and stalked towards him in the high…heeled boots。 I felt every man watching。 I knew it。 I wrapped it around me and threw it all back into Richard。 He stood almost frozen； his dark eyes filled with a heat that was part sex； part energy； part something else。 And for the first time； I understood that something else。 I heard that music； felt it dance inside my body。
I grabbed the leather cloak and pulled him down to me。 We kissed and it burned； as if more than flesh was mingling。 I released him abruptly； and my eyes didn't go to his face but fell lower。 Without touching him； I knew he was hard and ready。 I could still feel the pack； distant； but touchable。 Jason's great wolf head brushed my thigh。 I dug my fingers into that thick fur and knew that if Richard and I made love； the pack would know it。 Here tonight； they'd be along for the ride。 It wouldn't just be sex。 It would be magic。 And it didn't seem shameful or pagan or wrong。
〃You can't let them do this；〃 Raina said。
Marcus pushed himself to his feet。 He seemed tired。 〃No； I don't suppose I can。〃 He looked at Raina； naked； beautiful； fearful。 〃But it is not your blood that will be spilled tonight； is it； my love？〃 The irony was thick enough to walk on； and for the firs