Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“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.
“You will surrender willingly, or this child dies right here. Right now,” Rud decreed.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Percy shake his head, whether to warn her or to disagree with Rud, she wasn’t certain. It didn’t matter. She felt she had no choice but to attack the leader of the jaguar shifters. That meant getting closer.
When she took what appeared to be a reluctant step toward him, Percy exploded into action, catching at her arm to restrain her. Simultaneously, Bacus shoved Jasmine out of the way, hard enough to send her sprawling to the ground behind him.
Around them, in three places, the ground erupted. Dark geysers of whirling dirt, rotted vegetation, leaves and twigs rose high into the air. Everyone froze as a man emerged from one of the geysers. He stood directly in front of Rud, facing him.
Two others were suddenly there as well, one standing to the side of Percy and her while the third man aided Jasmine to her feet. He did so gently and just as gently put her behind him so his body was between hers and Bacus’.
Chapter
7
Sarika found her heart pounding nearly out of control when the three men came up out of the ground. It was clear the troops had arrived, just not the one she was expecting.
All three men were clearly related. They looked like triplets, but it was the man standing directly in front of Rud she found imposing. She wasn’t the only one. Everyone’s attention was riveted on him—even Bacus’.
The aura he gave off was one of extreme power. Of total command. Of absolute calm. He was tall and broad-shouldered like the other two men. All three had long chestnut-colored hair and brilliant, glittering aquamarine-colored eyes. Those eyes betrayed intelligence and the cunning of the highest predator. There was no doubt in her mind that they were facing three extremely lethal beings.
What was even scarier to Sarika was that the three men felt like they were one person to her. They seemed to move in synchronization. They felt like lethal predators, giving off a vibe so much more powerful than Rud or any of the other jaguars.
Strangely, she couldn’t take her eyes off the man confronting Rud. No one could. To her, he was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen. He looked all man, nothing soft about him. Every muscle was sleek and defined. When he moved, those muscles rippled powerfully under his skin, but when he was still, it was almost as if he could fade into the background, becoming a phantom. He had tear-shaped scarring on the right side of his face from hairline to jaw. That should have detracted from his good looks, but she doubted if anything could.
The surrounding jungle had gone eerily silent. The familiar drone of insects she’d found comforting was no more. There were no wings fluttering overhead or the scream of monkeys. Snakes, frogs and lizards seemed frozen to tree branches. The tension was ratcheted up so tight that not a single mouse, vole or salamander scurried through the leaves on the forest floor.
The glittering aquamarine eyes focused on Rud. “Gentlemen.” Those eyes shifted for the barest of moments to rest first on Jasmine and then Sarika before they softened when his gaze touched Sandrine. “Ladies.”
His voice was the most compelling thing Sarika had ever heard. A wave of unexpected heat rushed through her veins. She could only stare at him with wide, shocked eyes. He’d come out of the ground right in front of her, and with one look, he commanded everyone. She waited, counting her heartbeats.
“Tomas,” Rud identified the stranger. He seemed frozen to the spot.
“I believe you are scaring young Sandrine, Rud.” That voice was pitched low, with no challenge, no warning, yet the threat was very clear.
She had no idea if the stranger was familiar with Jasmine and Sandrine, but by calling the child by her name and the way the little girl was looking at him, she believed he knew them—that he hadn’t just overheard her name.
Rud cleared his throat. “This is a jaguar matter, Tomas. Not Carpathian.” He took a quick look around, as did Sarika. Tomas’ brothers had faded even more into the background.
“I will have to respectfully disagree with you, Rud. I have an aversion to harming women or children, and it isn’t ever going to be done on my watch. It is best you remove your hand from around that child’s neck before one of us will be compelled to take action.” Again, he spoke in that low, calm voice. Almost gentle. But there was nothing gentle in his slashing eyes or the building waves of sheer menace coming from him.