Richard because they're dating," Irving said. He looked a little worried.
"What implications?" I asked.
Marcus answered, "To ask pack members for their protection is to acknowledge they are of higher rank without having to fight them. If they give their protection, then you have agreed to help them fight their battles. If they are challenged you are honor bound to aid them."
I glanced at Irving. He looked ill. "She's not one of us. You can't hold her to the law."
"What law?" I asked.
"Pack law," Marcus said.
"I forfeit her protection," Irving said.
"Too late," Raina said.
"You place us in a quandary, Ms. Blake. A pack member has acknowledged you as higher rank than he is. Acknowledged you as dominant. By our laws we must accept that as binding."
"I can't be a pack member," I said.
"No, but you can be dominant."
I knew what the word meant in the real world. Marcus was using it as if it meant more. "What does it mean to be dominant?"
"It means you can stand as Irving's protector against all comers."
"No," Irving said. He brushed past Raina and stood in front of Marcus. He stood tall and stared him in the eye. It was not a submissive display.
"I won't let you use me like this. It's what you intended all along. You knew I'd ask her protection from Richard. You counted on it, didn't you, you smug bastard."
A low growl trickled out from between Marcus's perfect white teeth. "I would watch my tongue if I were you, youngling."
"If it offends you, I will cut it out." Alfred's first words were not comforting.
This was getting out of hand. "Irving is under my protection, Alfred. If I understand the law. You have to go through me to hurt Irving, is that right?"
Alfred turned cold, dark eyes to me. He nodded.
"If you kill me, then I can't help Marcus."
This seemed to puzzle the big fella. Great, confusion to my enemies.
Marcus smiled. "You have found a flaw in my logic, Ms. Blake. If you truly intend to protect Irving, to the letter of the law, then you would indeed die. No mere human could withstand one of us. Even the lowliest would kill you."
I let that comment go. Why argue when I was winning anyway?
"Since you cannot accept challenges, and you won't let us harm Irving, he is safe."
"Great, now what?"
"Irving can go, and he will not be harmed. You stay and hear our plea. You may decide to aid us or not, Irving will not suffer for your choice."
"That's mighty generous of you."
"Yes, Ms. Blake, it is." There was a look in his eyes that was very serious.
Raina might play sadistic games. Alfred might hurt you in an eager rush. But Marcus, it was just business. He was a mob boss with fur.
"Leave us, Irving."
"I won't leave her."
Marcus turned on him with a snarl. "My patience is not endless!"
Irving dropped to his knees, head bowed, spine bent low. It was a submissive display. I grabbed Irving's arm, and lifted him to his feet. "Get up, Irving. The nice werewolf isn't going to hurt you."
"And why is that, Ms. Blake?"
"Because Irving's under my protection. If Alfred can't fight me, then you sure as hell can't."
Marcus threw back his head, and gave a sharp, barking laugh. "You are clever, and brave. Traits we admire." The laughter died from his face, lingering in his eyes like a pleasant dream. "Do not challenge me too openly, Ms. Blake. It wouldn't be healthy."
The last of the laughter died out of his eyes. I was left staring into human eyes, but there was no one home to talk to. It looked like a human being, talked like a human being, but it wasn't one.
I dug my fingers into Irving's parka-clad shoulder. "Go on, Irving. Get out of here."
He touched my arm. "I would never leave you in a tough spot."
"I'm safe tonight, you're not. Now go, please, Irving."
I watched the struggle on his face. But finally after another dirty look from Marcus, he left. The door closed and I was alone with three werewolves. Down from four. The night was looking up.
"Alfred must search you now."
So much for the night
"What implications?" I asked.
Marcus answered, "To ask pack members for their protection is to acknowledge they are of higher rank without having to fight them. If they give their protection, then you have agreed to help them fight their battles. If they are challenged you are honor bound to aid them."
I glanced at Irving. He looked ill. "She's not one of us. You can't hold her to the law."
"What law?" I asked.
"Pack law," Marcus said.
"I forfeit her protection," Irving said.
"Too late," Raina said.
"You place us in a quandary, Ms. Blake. A pack member has acknowledged you as higher rank than he is. Acknowledged you as dominant. By our laws we must accept that as binding."
"I can't be a pack member," I said.
"No, but you can be dominant."
I knew what the word meant in the real world. Marcus was using it as if it meant more. "What does it mean to be dominant?"
"It means you can stand as Irving's protector against all comers."
"No," Irving said. He brushed past Raina and stood in front of Marcus. He stood tall and stared him in the eye. It was not a submissive display.
"I won't let you use me like this. It's what you intended all along. You knew I'd ask her protection from Richard. You counted on it, didn't you, you smug bastard."
A low growl trickled out from between Marcus's perfect white teeth. "I would watch my tongue if I were you, youngling."
"If it offends you, I will cut it out." Alfred's first words were not comforting.
This was getting out of hand. "Irving is under my protection, Alfred. If I understand the law. You have to go through me to hurt Irving, is that right?"
Alfred turned cold, dark eyes to me. He nodded.
"If you kill me, then I can't help Marcus."
This seemed to puzzle the big fella. Great, confusion to my enemies.
Marcus smiled. "You have found a flaw in my logic, Ms. Blake. If you truly intend to protect Irving, to the letter of the law, then you would indeed die. No mere human could withstand one of us. Even the lowliest would kill you."
I let that comment go. Why argue when I was winning anyway?
"Since you cannot accept challenges, and you won't let us harm Irving, he is safe."
"Great, now what?"
"Irving can go, and he will not be harmed. You stay and hear our plea. You may decide to aid us or not, Irving will not suffer for your choice."
"That's mighty generous of you."
"Yes, Ms. Blake, it is." There was a look in his eyes that was very serious.
Raina might play sadistic games. Alfred might hurt you in an eager rush. But Marcus, it was just business. He was a mob boss with fur.
"Leave us, Irving."
"I won't leave her."
Marcus turned on him with a snarl. "My patience is not endless!"
Irving dropped to his knees, head bowed, spine bent low. It was a submissive display. I grabbed Irving's arm, and lifted him to his feet. "Get up, Irving. The nice werewolf isn't going to hurt you."
"And why is that, Ms. Blake?"
"Because Irving's under my protection. If Alfred can't fight me, then you sure as hell can't."
Marcus threw back his head, and gave a sharp, barking laugh. "You are clever, and brave. Traits we admire." The laughter died from his face, lingering in his eyes like a pleasant dream. "Do not challenge me too openly, Ms. Blake. It wouldn't be healthy."
The last of the laughter died out of his eyes. I was left staring into human eyes, but there was no one home to talk to. It looked like a human being, talked like a human being, but it wasn't one.
I dug my fingers into Irving's parka-clad shoulder. "Go on, Irving. Get out of here."
He touched my arm. "I would never leave you in a tough spot."
"I'm safe tonight, you're not. Now go, please, Irving."
I watched the struggle on his face. But finally after another dirty look from Marcus, he left. The door closed and I was alone with three werewolves. Down from four. The night was looking up.
"Alfred must search you now."
So much for the night
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