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)
Percy hadn’t answered her question immediately. In fact, he was silent for so long Rud roared with rage. “You tell her I’m the leader, Percy,” he demanded, very belligerent. He even took an aggressive step in Percy’s direction. Sandrine cried out when his fist tightened around her bicep and he gave her a little shake, dragging her with him.
“Rud.” Jasmine held up a placating hand. “She’s very little.”
She sounded pleading. Trying to appease his anger. It was exactly what Rud wanted and needed to feed his tremendous ego.
Sarika couldn’t imagine Luiz making such a mistake as hurting a child in front of everyone and demanding another proclaim him the supreme ruler. Even if Percy endorsed Rud’s leadership, anyone hearing the exchange could be forgiven for thinking Rud had intimidated him into complying. Rud was no leader in any sense of the word. She despised him just for the way he was treating the child.
“He took over leadership,” Percy said, his voice quiet. Thoughtful. “He expects all shifters to follow his lead. And he believes that he has the right to any female shifter, old or young. Brodrick, the previous leader, taught that concept during his reign.”
“Women were meant for breeding,” Rud stated. He drew the child closer. “Jasmine doesn’t have a clue who the father of this little brat is. But we know he was a shifter. That means she is one. We know she can shift. Eventually, if she doesn’t cooperate and show us her jaguar, we’ll beat it out of her.”
Sandrine had burst into tears the moment Rud said her mother didn’t have a clue who her father was.
“Baby, we know exactly who your father is,” Jasmine whispered. “Don’t you doubt it for a minute. Jubal will come for you. Rud and Percy and Bacus are not going to want to fight him because your father is strong and brave and decent. He’ll come for you.” There was complete conviction in her voice.
“Jubal is at the market. Did you think we weren’t keeping track?” Rud sneered. “He can’t possibly make it back in time, even if word got to him that his precious brat was gone along with her slut of a mother.”
“Call me whatever you want, Rud.” Jasmine lifted her chin at him. His accusations appeared to steady her. “Just let Sandrine go.”
Rud swung the little girl into his arms and took another step away from Jasmine. He narrowed his gaze at Jasmine, looking more sinister than ever. “I’m taking her, Jasmine. If you want to come, that’s your decision.”
“Oh my God, Percy, he is a pedophile. That child is a baby.” Sarika poured alarm into her voice, sent it winging through the forest, her voice a compulsive tool, powerful when needed.
The surrounding jungle seemed to hold its breath. No movement. No sound. And then it erupted into a wild cacophony of protest. Overhead, monkeys screamed and leapt up and down on boughs, shaking the trees. Birds took flight. Colorful frogs and lizards skittered up and down the trunks. Snakes raised their heads and hissed. Vines shivered and undulated in protest. Flowers climbing the trees closed their petals.
“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.