“They risk their lives every day.”
For the first time, Kyanite smiled. “Good genes. Take a chance, Tanja. Just let her decide. Let her have a look at him. Talk to her.”
Gorya wanted Maya to tell them to get on with it. He knew Kyanite was resolved, utterly resolved. He wasn’t going to back down. The Bostons had immigrated to the lair. They had Persian leopards, although they were Russian or Patva would never have allowed them entry. They were the second generation of the Primorye lair, and Gorya didn’t know the history of the family other than the fact that once Kyanite had left the lair, he’d traveled extensively, ended up with Donovan and stayed with his company a long while before traveling to the United States and coming full circle to work for the Amurovs.
Maya. I’m so afraid.Tanja reached out to her sister.Inever thought I would have a man of my own. Savior is eager for his leopard. She says this man is good and kind and that he genuinely wants me. I have physical problems beyond the normal. I can’t see without Savior. I can’t walk very well without her. This man is built like he could run for miles and never stop. What should I do?
I can only tell you he is one of the best men I know, and I am fond of few men. I don’t let them close to me. My past experiences were rather terrible. When Gorya’s leopard claimed mine, I nearly suicided. I wanted to. He was as broken as I was, but he convinced me to give the relationship a try. We made it work on our terms. We communicated our fears and what each would need to go forward. So far, I’ve never been happier in my life. He makes me feel safe for the first time in my life. I know I can trust him fully. He listens. I believe Kyanite will listen to you and put your needs first, but you have to be willing to give the relationship a real try if you decide to give your leopard her chance at happiness.
Gorya thought that last part was very clever of Maya. By including Savior, she was reminding Tanja of everything the leopard did for her. The cat did deserve to have her mate.
“Okay, then. What do I have to do?” Tanja’s voice trembled, but there was determination in her tone.
Kyanite gave her another smile. “Unquestionably a warrior woman. Never say you’re not. Turn around and place your palms on the rock behind you. I’m going to raise your top to your neck and allow Bahadur to come to the surface. He’ll do his best not to hurt or frighten you, but he’ll inject his hormones into your bloodstream. If Savior is willing to be his mate she’ll rise and touch him, injecting him with her hormones in return. It’s an exchange of acceptance between them. A promise. From that time on, he’ll be there to protect both of you. We both will.”
Again, Tanja hesitated, and then she took a breath. Maya took another breath with her, and her sister turned and placed her hands on the rock. Kyanite bunched her shirt in his fist, tracing her spine with one finger as he drew the material to the nape of her neck. The feel of fur against Tanja’s back was soft, almost alluring. Hot breath exploded against her shoulder. A rough tongue lapped there and then the leopard bit down in a holding bite while he injected the male hormones into her bloodstream to call to the female. Tanja cried out. Kyanite soothed her with one paw.
There was the briefest hesitation as the female leopard studied the male. He was patient. Steady. Calm. The way he always was. Just the way Kyanite was. Gorya waited, wanting this for a man he considered more than deserving. He respected any man who could manage to win Maya over even a little bit. Sometimes with Kyanite, her laughter was genuine.
The female suddenly rose and touched her nose to Bahadur’s in complete acceptance. Tanja caught her breath as the male leopard carefully withdrew his teeth and used his saliva to lap at the wound to close it. For one brief moment, the large animal nuzzled Tanja’s neck with his head before Kyanite shifted fully back to his form. He pulled the small first aid kit from the pack he carried.
“Do you need to sit down for a minute while I do this?”
“No, I think I’m fine. This is just unexpected. I had planned to take her away until her heat passed. I’ve been masking her from any males when they’ve been close. How did you know?”
Kyanite used antibiotic cream over the punctures and covered them before dropping her shirt. “Bahadur knew. We were a distance away, but he went wild. He just kept telling me he’d found her. I’ve never felt his joy like that. Thank you, Tanja, for taking a chance on us. Let’s get down to the others. We have an army waiting to take downKrylov and we’re on a limited time schedule. The main players are in Panama. After we remove Krylov and establish new leadership here, we’ll go there and destroy the main power. If we manage to take them down, this ring is permanently broken.”
As he gave her the information, he slipped on his shoes and began the walk down the mountain to Gorya, Maya, Gedeon and Meiling. He should have been surprised when he caught a glimpse of a small shadow moving just ahead of them toward the same destination. Meiling, watching his back. That made him smile.
“You plan to hit them tonight?”
“That’s right. We don’t have much time before Panama will be warned. We’ve hit several of their major ports and there’s no way the mastermind isn’t going to figure out what’s happening, that he’s under attack.”
She’s a brilliant strategist,Gorya said.Do you feel her mind working with just the small bit of information he’s giving her?
Maya nodded. She indicated that she wanted to stand. He knew she wanted to appear strong so her sister would respect her. It was the first time he could remember Maya caring about anyone’s opinion of her.
She’s going to love you, baby. How could she not?
I’m so broken, Gorya. I don’t want her to see those pieces of me. She’s so strong. Look at what she’s done here.
Look at what you’ve done. She’ll be proud of you.He wrapped his arm around her and drew her beneath his shoulder.
Tanja came into view, Kyanite looking every bit as protective of her as Gorya felt of Maya or Gedeon did of Meiling. Tanja had the same diminutive build as Maya, although she was much curvier. Her hair was just a little more like spun gold, but she had the same curls. Her eyes were a darker blue, with deep green and golden flecksrevealing Savior studying them through her eyes. Mostly, she was taking in Maya, just the way Maya was taking in her.
Tanja clutched at Kyanite’s wrist. “I had no idea you were alive. I would have searched to the ends of the earth to find you had I known. I’m so sorry, Maya.” It came out a whisper.
“I didn’t know you were alive either. I thought everyone was dead.”
“What happened to you? After they took you? How did you survive? Where did they take you?”
Maya hesitated. Gorya knew she was very conflicted. She glanced at Kyanite and then up at Gorya’s expressionless features.
You don’t have to give details.
She’s my sister. She deserves the truth.
His woman. So brave. He held her tighter, trying to give her courage.
