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)
That was genius, sheer genius. The part that got to Tomas was that she was telling the jaguar the strict truth, making herself vulnerable, treating the jaguar as a respected elder. She wasn’t playing the cat; she was sincere. That was part of Sarika’s magic. She took the time and listened. She didn’t judge. She heard and acknowledged another point of view, and she respected what others had to say.
The jaguar was silent again for a long time. Tomas realized that the animal was actually thoughtful. He had become a shadow in Sarika’s mind because he had already judged the animal as being violent and harmful. He worried for Sarika’s safety as well as that of the baby. But he was wrong. The animal not only was hurt with the feelings of betrayal but had genuinely convinced herself that Solange needed to be saved. She was a wise and deadly opponent, and she played the long game, not one of instant gratification.
I was present when he courted her, but to give her privacy, I stepped back. I trusted him with her at the time. The jaguar was thoughtful. Admitting the truth to herself for the first time. I believed he was good for her.
The cat lifted her head and stared directly into Sarika’s eyes. I told her to trust her heart. I give you the same advice. Trust your heart. Don’t have your eyes closed. Try to see him for who he is, both good and bad traits. Do not love an illusion, a fantasy that is in your mind. See him for what he truly is, and if he is right, love him for that. That was my advice then, and it stands now.
Sarika frowned, the expression as delicate as the emotion she portrayed. But then you withdrew your approval. What did he do that made you suspicious of him?
Solange always talked important matters over with me. Always. Even when I knew she had made up her mind, she would still discuss those things with me because I have always been important to her. She did not. Conversion can take away your jaguar—did he tell you that? If your cat is important to you, the conversion can change who and what you are. She accepted the risk that she would lose me without even talking it over with me.
The hurt of betrayal was once more weighing all three of them down, Carpathian ancient, Sarika with her feminine power and the jaguar. They weren’t the only ones. A small cry came from a distance, so low as almost not to be heard. A baby calling out in pain.
The jaguar lifted her head alertly. She is hurting.
She feels your pain of betrayal and shares that with you. You are important to her because Solange has made you important to her. Or rather the imposter, the illusion of you. Did you ask Solange what happened at the time of the conversion?
Tomas felt the soothing warmth she surrounded the baby with. He also felt she was beginning to tire. She was putting out a great deal of energy, psychic energy, that cost her. She would need his blood to bolster her. She was unable to eat solid food and, to his knowledge, wasn’t hydrating. The effect of blood exchanges often left an unconverted lifemate unable to keep food down.
He also felt the vicious headache pounding at her. He couldn’t interfere and heal her as he would have wished. As that strong protective streak demanded. He would give away his presence, and everything Sarika had accomplished would be for nothing.
I did not ask, the jaguar admitted. I was too hurt, and I convinced myself Dominic was to blame. There was no evidence of that, just that Solange had always protected me as I did her.
You need to ask her. My understanding is she delayed the conversion over and over in order to ensure nothing would go wrong with you. Each blood exchange, it was you they both monitored, not her. She was used to protecting you, and she would not have gone through with it had there been a single sign that she would lose you. Or that you would be harmed. I wasn’t there, but when she shared some of her memories with me, that was what I observed. I could have read it wrong, or her character incorrectly.
The jaguar female bristled in annoyance. Solange’s character is not in question. She leads her life with honor.
Sarika inclined her head. You taught her those things. You instilled those traits in her. She is counting on you to do the same for her daughter. It hasn’t occurred to her that you would think she betrayed you. According to my cousin, Luiz, Solange spends quite a bit of her time as a jaguar. She believed the illusion because she knows you so well and gives the false jaguar everything she knows and loves of you.