Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Colletion_ Books 6-10 - Laurell K. Hamilton [423]
A knock on the door saved us from further discussion. I drew the Browning and put my back to the wall near the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s Verne.”
I parted the drape and looked out. He seemed to be alone. I opened the door and ushered him inside. The moment his back was to me, I pressed the gun barrel into his back and kicked the door closed.
He froze. “What’s up?” he asked.
“You tell us,” I said.
“Anita,” Asher said.
“No, he’s the Ulfric. He’s supposed to have his pack under solid control.”
I felt his ribs expand through the gun barrel. “I can smell the shit in the carpet, the sheets. Colin pay a visit?”
I shoved the barrel tight enough into his back to leave a bruise. “He left a present.”
“He gave us one of his presents once,” Verne said. “I know what I’m smelling in here because I held Erin’s hand while he rotted to death.”
“Why should I believe you?” I asked.
“If you have a problem with Colin’s people, why pull a gun on me?”
“One of your wolves lured Nathaniel away and delivered him to the vampires.”
Again I felt the movement through the gun barrel as he turned his head to look at the bed. “Why isn’t he dead?”
“That’s our business,” I said.
He nodded. “Which of my wolves delivered your cat to Colin?”
“Mira,” I said.
“Shit,” he said. “I knew she was pissed that Richard had stopped seeing her, but I never thought she’d go over to the vampires.”
Asher walked to us. “By rules of hospitality, you can be held responsible for the actions of your pack.”
“What can I do to make up for this breach of protocol?” The words sounded way too formal for Verne’s down-home drawl.
I leaned into him because the gun couldn’t get any closer without going into his body. Had to make my point somehow. “How do I know you didn’t tell her to do it?”
“I told you what he did to Erin. Colin said we were getting above ourselves, forgetting that vampires are more powerful than any animal. How the hell did you cure your leopard?”
“His name’s Nathaniel,” I said.
Verne took a deep breath, let it out slowly. “How did you cure Nathaniel?”
I flicked my eyes past Verne’s body to Asher. He gave the slightest of nods, and I backed up enough steps that I’d be out of reach in case Verne was upset about the gun. But I kept the gun pointed at him, because I was still closer than ten feet. Even a normal man armed with just a knife can close that distance quicker than most people can upholster a gun.
“At great risk to ourselves,” Asher said.
“How?” Verne asked. He moved towards the bed as if I was of no importance.
Asher told him how we’d healed Nathaniel.
“And neither of you were poisoned by it?” Verne asked.
“Damian was affected,” Asher said.
Verne searched the room. “You mean the red-haired vampire?”
Asher nodded.
“I can hear him in the bathroom. He should be dead.”
“Yes, he should be,” Asher said.
Verne turned and looked at me then. “Our vargamor said she felt your power tonight. Said you conjured up some sort of spell.”
“I don’t know the term vargamor,” I said.
“A pack’s wise woman or wise man, a witch usually, but not always. Sometimes just a psychic. Most packs don’t bother with them anymore. How did you save the vampire once he started to rot?”
I holstered the Browning. One, I couldn’t keep the gun naked in my hands forever; two, I was beginning to believe Verne. “I’m a necromancer, Verne. Damian’s a vampire. I healed him.”
His eyes narrowed. “Just like that?”
I laughed. “No, not just like that. We damn near didn’t save him, but we did it.”
“Could you cure one of my people?”
“Did Colin do one of your people tonight?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No, but if we stand with you against him, he will.”
“Why would you stand with us on this?” I asked.
“Because I hate that bloodsucking son of a bitch.”
“If that’s true, then Mira broke pack law,” Jason said.
Verne nodded. “Normally, I’d kick her ass. She disobeyed me, but she injured you. Your grievence takes precedence.” He glanced at Asher,