"Thanks." A thought came to me, and I gripped his arm. "They aren't going to kill Gregory, are they?" Something passed over his face that tightened my grip on his arm. "They haven't killed him?"
"No," Micah said.
I let go of his arm and leaned back against the wall. "What are they doing to him, or what are they planning to do to him?"
"The penalty for killing the lupa is death in any pack. But the circumstances are strange enough that I think you will be allowed a chance to win him back."
"Win him back, how?" I asked.
"For that, you'll need to ask the Ulfric."
"I'll do that." I looked past him. "Someone get my cell phone out of my Jeep." Nathaniel went for the door without another word.
"What are you going to do?" Micah asked.
"I'm going to make sure that Gregory isn't being hurt. If he's okay for tonight, I'll go get Jean-Claude out of jail. If Gregory is in danger, then I get him out first."
"Priorities," he said, softly.
"Damn straight."
He smiled again. "I am very impressed. You've had several shocks in a very short space of time, yet you are clearheaded, and moving forward to solve the problems one at a time."
"I can only solve one problem at a time," I said.
"Most people let themselves be distracted."
"I'm not most people."
He gave that small smile again, shielding his eyes with his long lashes. "I've noticed."
Something about the way he said it made me suddenly aware that he was nude and I was wearing nothing but a towel. It was time to get on my feet and get dressed. I stood, pushing away his offer of help. "I'm fine, Micah, thanks anyway." I looked past him at Cherry and Zane still standing in the doorway "Do I have any clothes here?"
Cherry nodded. "Nathaniel brought your stuff from home. I'll go get it." She moved through the door.
"Weapons, too," I called after her.
She poked her head back around the doorway. "I know." That left just Zane standing in the doorway. "Do you have a job for me?"
"Not right now."
He flashed me a smile wide enough to show that he had dainty fangs upper and lower--kitty-cat fangs. Zane had spent a little too much time in animal form to come all the way back. "I'll go help Cherry then." He paused at the doorway. "I'm really glad you didn't die."
"Me too."
He grinned and left.
That left me alone with Micah. I looked into his yellow-green eyes and knew that they were also a sign that he'd spent too much time in animal form. We hadn't kissed, so I didn't know if he had dainty fangs like Zane. I hoped not, and wasn't sure why I cared.
"Do you mind if I start cleaning up?" he asked.
I shook my head. "Help yourself. I'm going to go look for my clothes." But Nathaniel came around the door with my cell phone.
I looked at the slim black phone. I'd only had it a few months. I'd tried not to buy one. If you had a cell phone and a beeper you were never truly free of the office. Of course, I was on vacation. Though, so far, it hadn't been all that relaxing.
I popped the phone open and dialed Richard's number from memory. There was no answer, just his machine. I left a message, then knew what I was going to do. I had to know what was happening with Gregory. I thought about Richard, the feel of his arms, the scent of his neck, the brush of his hair, and that prickling rush of energy rolled over my skin. I reached down the mark that bound me to Richard and found him standing on a podium. He was arguing with someone, but I couldn't see who. I never got as clear a visual through Richard as I did through Jean-Claude. Richard turned as if he could see me standing behind him, then he thrust me out, throwing up a shield so solid I couldn't feel him on the other side.
Nathaniel was holding my arm, steadying me. "Are you alright?"