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)
“If it isn’t the fact that I killed Rud, what is it about me that frightens you?”
He queried her gently. So softly, his voice pitched low, and again, she had the sensation of velvet brushing over her skin. For a moment she was so caught up in the strange sensation she almost didn’t hear his question. When it finally registered, she felt heat rush under her skin. She despised the fact that she blushed. Did other jaguar shifters blush? It seemed childish. Teenagey. A dead giveaway.
She took a breath, common sense telling her to avoid answering, but her weird reaction to him demanded that she tell the truth. And that was it in a nutshell.
“I don’t understand my reactions to you,” she admitted honestly. Maybe that wasn’t the brightest idea, but she felt compelled to tell him the truth. “Clearly, you’re Carpathian. I had never heard of your species until Luiz and I met. It was our first time meeting. My first time being here in this rainforest. My first time encountering other jaguar shifters. None of it has been good. The things Luiz could do so casually were frightening.”
Once again, her hand crept up to cover her neck, and his gaze locked in on her trembling fingers. She was giving herself away, not only blurting out truths like an idiot but reinforcing them with silent gestures.
Tomas nodded, his eyebrows drawing together in a slight frown. Expressions, she decided, were important. He’d had such a mask earlier, and that contributed to her rising fear of him. Most likely because Luiz wore a similar mask and both men were intense. She’d rather read what they were thinking than guess at it. Now that no one was around, Tomas seemed to be more relaxed and willing to show her what he was thinking or feeling—at least a little bit.
“Do you mind me asking you what your cousin did that has you so afraid of Carpathians?”
If she said the word blood, would that be some kind of trigger for him? Why was he looking at her as if he knew her? As if he knew everything about her? Was he reading her mind? He hadn’t taken her blood, and from what Luiz said, that was a prerequisite for that ability, wasn’t it?
“He took my blood after I absolutely told him I didn’t want him to. And he did it without my knowledge. Well, I suspected and asked him. He was truthful, but he still went against my wishes, and he didn’t feel in the least remorseful.”
Tomas nodded, his eyes going soft. Gentle. “And then I made certain you didn’t see me kill Rud. That must feel like a takeover. I had to make a split-second decision, and I wanted to spare you any real fear. I can see I only added to your concerns over our species.”
Tomas crossed the short distance between them. At once she was aware of the difference in their heights. Up close, she felt his power even more. He wasn’t touching her, but he was close enough to feel his body heat. He indicated the forest.
“We need to get moving. It is always possible Rud’s enforcers will attempt to retaliate. I would prefer that you were out of harm’s way.”
“He has enforcers?” Her voice came out as a squeak. The idea that those male shifters might be anywhere near her galvanized her into action. She began to walk toward one of the largest trees with low branches.
“Sarika.” He said her name in that low, gentle way he had. “No shifter will touch you. Luiz would come at my call—or yours—as would my brothers if I thought I couldn’t handle them myself. There’s no need to panic.”
She despised that she looked like such a coward to him. She’d never been one to retreat in the face of an enemy, but she was so out of her depth. She didn’t look at him. She couldn’t. She knew she looked weak, and it embarrassed her.
“Is there a way to contact the boats so I can arrange to go home?” She didn’t know where home was anymore. She’d hoped it would be here in the rainforest, where she’d been born. Where her family had died. Where there was Luiz.
She crouched low and leapt to the overhanging branch. She didn’t want to give him any ideas, like Luiz, of turning into a bird and carrying her back to the tree house. She was decisive about her leap. He made no sound when he leapt behind her. She didn’t feel his weight on the branch, but she knew he was there. She felt his body heat. More, she had that shivery feeling inside that she was so unfamiliar with but only he could produce.
“The moment I heard your name, I knew who you were. So did my brothers. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want anyone else to know our connection.”