"The police. I've got to find a phone." I leaned back against Richard's chest. His hand squeezed my shoulder. I stared at the vampire in front of me. Would Jean-Claude hurt him after I'd gone? I wasn't sure.
"You got a cross on you?" I didn't bother to whisper. Jean-Claude would have heard me anyway.
"No."
I half turned. "No! You're out after dark without a cross?"
He shrugged. "I'm a shapeshifter. I can take care of myself."
I shook my head. "Getting your throat ripped out once wasn't enough?"
"I'm still alive," he said.
"I know you heal from almost anything, but for God's sake, Richard, you don't heal from everything." I started pulling the silver chain of my crucifix out of my blouse. "You can borrow mine."
"Is that real silver?" Richard asked.
"Yes."
"I can't. I'm allergic to silver, remember."
Ah. Stupid me. Some preternatural expert offering silver to a lycanthrope. I tucked the chain back in my blouse.
"He's no more human than I am, ma petite."
"At least I'm not dead."
"That can be remedied."
"Stop it, both of you."
"Have you seen her bedroom, Richard? Her collection of toy penguins?"
I took a deep breath and let it out. I was not going to stand here and explain how Jean-Claude had managed to see my bedroom. Did I really have to say, out loud, that I didn't sleep with the walking dead?
"You're trying to make me jealous, and it won't work," Richard said.
"But there is that worm of doubt in you, Richard. I know it. You are my creature to call, my wolf, and I know you doubt her."
"I don't doubt Anita." But there was a defensiveness in his voice that I didn't like at all.
"I don't belong to you, Jean-Claude," Richard said. "I'm second in line to lead the pack. I come and go where I please. The alpha rescinded his orders about obeying you, after you nearly got me killed."
"Your pack leader was most upset that you survived," Jean-Claude said sweetly.
"Why would the pack leader want Richard dead?" I asked.
Jean-Claude looked past me at Richard. "You haven't told her that you're in a battle of succession?"
"I will not fight Marcus."
"Then you will die." Jean-Claude made it sound very simple.
My beeper sounded again. Same number. "I'm coming, Dolph," I muttered.
I glanced at Richard. Anger glittered in his eyes. His hands were balled into fists. I was standing close enough to feel the tension coming off him like waves.
"What's going on, Richard?"