“What the hell?” Rud snapped, looking around him warily. “It isn’t yet sunset.”
Just that observation voiced aloud told Sarika that Rud was leery of her cousin. He seemed aware that Luiz wouldn’t join them until the sun had set. It wouldn’t be much longer. She needed to distract him. To stall. He had no idea that the strange reaction in the forest was because of her compelling voice.
“You’ll need to reveal yourself to him if you want to keep him here long enough for Luiz to show up. If he takes that child, he’ll kill her.” The whisper reached her, and at first, she just froze, trying to analyze it. Close. Very close.
Bacus. Now she knew where he was, and it wasn’t a good scenario. She hadn’t even felt the shiver of branches as the heavier male climbed into the tree. The male voice came from above her. The thread of sound didn’t carry beyond the tree she was in, leading her to believe he could direct his voice in any direction, as she could.
“Why would you help us when you’re playing second to him?” She directed her voice solely to him. He already knew she was capable.
“I don’t take children from their mothers.”
“But you haven’t challenged him.”
“I have no desire to lead the jaguar people. I attached myself to him in order to try to stop his worst crimes.” There was no inflection in his voice. No way to use his tone to determine if he was telling the truth.
Did she believe him? Could she? If he was capable of manipulating his voice, he could sound truthful when he was a liar. She didn’t trust him. She didn’t trust anyone, not even Luiz. This forest was a labyrinth of deception and depravity due to its inhabitants. She didn’t understand why Jasmine resided there with her daughter when, clearly, they were in danger every moment they stayed.
“Don’t trust Percy. You can’t trust any male associating with Rud,” Bacus continued.
“You associate with him,” she reminded and then raised her voice. “Rud, I’m coming down to talk to you about this situation. I can’t believe a man who has leadership over such difficult shifters would harm a child for no reason. Give me a minute. I’m in human form, and I don’t know the forest yet or the easy way through the trees.”
“Show yourself,” he shouted. He’d taken two steps toward the interior, swinging Sandrine onto his hip. “You better be still,” he hissed to the child, “or I’ll break your neck and then kill your mother. Do you understand me?”
He spoke softly, directing his voice to the little girl, but he didn’t have Bacus’ talent. Sarika heard every word. She was fairly certain everyone heard. Jaguars had excellent hearing.
As far as she was concerned, Rud was the worst of the worst. She couldn’t believe anyone would follow his lead. He was a monster.
The child went absolutely still, her terrified gaze seeking her mother. Jasmine gasped, one hand going to her throat. She looked at the surrounding trees. Sarika couldn’t tell if Jasmine was praying the woman they all wanted revealed would show herself or if Jasmine wanted her to run. She was running, all right, but to join the fray.
Sarika sprinted along the outstretched branches, leaping from tree to tree, not bothering to hide her route from the male shifters. In anycase, Bacus followed her. He was silent and didn’t make the trees so much as shiver, but she was tuned to him now and felt him behind her. Close. Too close.
How long until sunset? Every minute seemed to drag by. She didn’t want Rud or the other two male shifters to think about the time. As she ran, she tried to come up with a plan to continue stalling.
She dropped from the tree nearest Jasmine but allowed several feet between them so it wouldn’t be easy for the male shifters to get their hands on either of them. She expected Bacus to leap from the tree behind her, but he didn’t. Again, she had no idea where he was. He’d been running easily on the branches behind her, and now he was somewhere back in the shadows, something else for her to worry about.
Rud’s expression changed as Sarika slowly straightened. His eyes went dark with lust, his face flushed. Percy stepped closer to Sarika, only two steps, but Rud instantly held up his hand to indicate for him to stop moving.
“You can shift.” He made it a statement.
Jasmine’s breath hitched, and she shook her head. “Don’t say anything to him. Don’t give him any information.”
Sarika smiled at her, keeping her expression calm. Jasmine’s anxiety had grown, not lessened, with her having shown herself. Even though she had a child and the circumstances seemed dire, she clearly was opposed to Sarika putting herself in danger. Sarika liked her all the better for that.
“Jasmine, I’m Sarika Silva. My uncle Alois and aunt Gemma raised me. Uncle Alois was the oldest Silva brother.” Deliberately, she tried to impart information that wouldn’t be harmful, but so Rud might allow the interaction to go on for a couple of minutes. That was all she wanted. Eking out time, minute by minute. She willed Jasmine to follow her example.
“I’m Jasmine Sanders. My husband is Jubal. He’s also a shifter, and he comes from a royal line.” She looked down her nose at Rud. “If he desired, he would be leader.”
Rud sneered. “Jubal doesn’t have the balls to lead the jaguars. He would never do what it takes. It offends his sensibilities.”
“Be very careful, Rud. You haven’t seen him when he’s riled,” Jasmine cautioned. “You can tell yourself a million times that you’re faster and stronger than he is, but bloodlines provide remarkable gifts. You know that. Just look at Solange.”
Sarika wanted to kiss her. She clearly understood the mission and was willing to engage with the male shifter as long as possible.
“Solange?” Sarika deliberately questioned. “I’m afraid I am unfamiliar with that name.” She was certain Luiz had mentioned Solange but just in passing. She didn’t really know much about the woman.
“She’s a legend, isn’t she, Rud?” Jasmine challenged. “She single-handedly rescued female shifters over and over. She fought and killed several males to do that. She strikes fear in the hearts of the male shifters. Not only that, but Brodrick the Terrible was her father. She killed him, freeing many females until Rud took over.”
Sarika swung her gaze to Rud. His face had darkened to pure rage. “She single-handedly drove our species to near extinction. Brodrick was a great man. A true leader.”
