“He was a mass murderer. A madman who tortured and killed his own people,” Jasmine countered. “You may admire him all you want, but you know it is absolutely the truth that he murdered young women and even men in his rages. Children. Very, very young children. I know you’re following in his footsteps because you threatened to kill Sandrine.”
Sarika pulled in her breath sharply. It wasn’t a good thing to remind Rud of the child when he was obviously furious.
“Children who couldn’t shift. Those women were betraying our kind, sleeping with humans, having their children instead of doing their duty to our people,” Rud said righteously.
“Babies,” Jasmine emphasized. “He even tried to kill Solange, believing she wouldn’t be able to shift. He thought he’d killed her, buthe was wrong. He was wrong about quite a few of those children, but he slaughtered them all the same.”
Sarika stroked her fingers down her throat, her breath catching. The things Jasmine was saying followed the history Luiz had given her, just from a different perspective. This Solange had to be a powerhouse. A part of her wanted to stick around to meet her, but she knew that would be crazy. As far as she was concerned, the quicker she got out of the rainforest, the better off she’d be.
She had all but forgotten Bacus in the ensuing conversation, but Rud made a small gesture with his chin. It appeared as if he was signaling someone. That someone could only be Bacus.
“We’re getting off track,” Rud said. “You need to answer the question of whether or not you’re able to shift.”
She was carrying a small pack with her, one easily identified by shifters. She thought it would be better not to lie to him. “Of course I can. I told you, I’m Luiz’s first cousin.”
“How is it no one has ever mentioned you?”
She shrugged. “I wasn’t raised here. I told you my uncle and aunt raised me in the States. I’m just visiting Luiz. My stay will be very short.”
“Not anymore,” Rud decreed. “We need female shifters. It’s your duty to provide offspring for our people.”
His attempt at sounding clinical failed completely, mostly because looking at her even affected his breathing. It was clear he was aroused—and entitled. She studied him carefully as he slowly put Sandrine on the forest floor. He retained his hold on her arm, but he didn’t appear to be hurting her.
“I don’t fall under your rule,” Sarika pointed out. “I’m a visitor, not a resident.”
“You were born into our realm, and that makes you subject to the rules.” He gestured toward Jasmine. “Just as she is.”
“It sounded to me as if Jasmine has a family. A male, a father for her child. Are you saying that she should be with other men?”
“She needs to provide other children for our species,” Rud said.
“Can’t she do that with her man?”
“It isn’t right that she is only with one man when so many others suffer,” Rud answered.
“Still, she provided Sandrine, and she’s capable of providing more. If her man, this Jubal, has royal bloodlines, wouldn’t it be preferable for him to father any children?” She tried to sound as though she were asking an innocent question.
Rud looked annoyed. His patience was clearly wearing thin. Sarika’s heart rate nearly doubled. She knew she had only a few more minutes, if that, to keep the shifter from attacking her or Jasmine. Where was Bacus? Why couldn’t she spot him?
“I don’t like that your friend Bacus is nowhere in sight,” Sarika said. “What are the three of you planning?”
Percy edged closer to her. “You know I’m your friend. Nothing is going to happen to you, Sarika.” He tried to sound soothing.
“If you were my friend, you would be removing that child from Rud after the casual way he talked about killing children.Anychildren, let alone those of our species.” She meant that. If Bacus was listening, she meant it for him as well. Who would take a chance on a child’s life when Rud spoke so easily of murdering children?
She turned her head to look directly at Percy. She was unsure of him. She felt he was in solid with Rud, following his lead, able to enjoy all of Rud’s castoffs. That didn’t mean he was. She didn’t care for the cunning look of superiority that came over his facial features or crept into his eyes when he’d spoken to her earlier. And on Luiz’s verandah, he’d been scary and demanding.
Just not like Rud. Rud felt completely off. Oily. Slimy. On the verge of insanity. Drunk on his own power and importance. Like the former leader they described, she had no doubt Rud would contribute to the downfall of their society—even the extinction of their species.
Once again, Percy edged closer. Now he was within strikingdistance of her. She knew how fast the shifters could move. Bacus suddenly emerged from the shadows, once again behind Jasmine.
Rud gave them both a superior smile. “I have claimed this female shifter, as is my right.”
Before the other two men could respond to that declaration, Sarika did. She was outraged that these men believed they had a right to her body without her consent.
“You can go to hell. That isn’t going to happen.”
Rud’s hand around Sandrine’s arm transferred to her throat, fingers lengthening to sharp talons. Jasmine gasped and took a step toward him. Bacus put a restraining hand on her shoulder.
