"If we're lucky," I said.
He put his head to one side, puzzled.
Richard looked down at himself. "Can I get some pants on?"
I smiled. "Seems a shame," I said, "but yeah."
"I will fetch my robe from the bathroom," Jean-Claude said.
"Help yourself," I said.
"No comment about how it is a shame that I am getting dressed?"
I shook my head.
"Cruel, ma petite, very cruel."
I smiled and gave him a little bow.
He returned the smile, but there was a challenge to his eyes as he walked towards the bathroom.
Richard was sliding into his jeans. I watched him zip them up and button them into place. It was fun just to watch him dress. Love makes the smallest movements fascinating.
I walked past him, towards the door, leaving him to put a shirt on if he was going to. The only way to ignore him was to just not look. The same theory worked with Jean-Claude most of the time.
I walked to the door. My hand was reaching for the knob when Richard grabbed me from behind, lifting me off my feet, carrying me back from the door.
My feet were literally dangling off the ground. "What the hell are you doing? Put me down."
"My wolves are coming," he said, as if that explained everything.
"Put me down."
He lowered me enough for my feet to touch the floor, but his arms stayed wrapped around me, as if he was afraid I'd go for the door. His face was distant, listening. I heard nothing.
A howl echoed up the corridor and raised the hairs on my arms. "What's going on, Richard?"
"Danger," he almost whispered it.
"Is it Raina and Marcus?"
He was still listening to things I could not hear. He pushed me behind him and went to the door, still shirtless, wearing nothing but his jeans.
I ran for the bed and the weapons. I got the Firestar out from under the pillow. "Don't go out there empty-handed, dammit." I dragged the Uzi out from under the bed.
A chorus of howls went up. Richard flung the door open and raced down the hallway. I called his name, but he was gone.
Jean-Claude came out of the bathroom in his black, fur-lined robe. "What is it, ma petite?"
"Company." I slipped the Uzi's strap across my chest.
The sounds of snarling wolves came distant. Jean-Claude ran past me, the long robe flying out behind him. He ran like a dark wind. When I got out to the corridor, he was nowhere in sight.
I was going to be the last one there. Dammit.
27
Running full tilt towards a fight was not the best way to stay alive. Caution was better. I knew that, and it didn't matter. Nothing mattered but getting there in time. In time to save them. Them.I didn't dwell on that; I ran, the Firestar gripped tightly in my right hand, the Uzi in my left. I was running like an idiot, but at least I was armed.