by Dianna Love
Wide jaws opened, coming at his jaguar.
Chapter 41
Siofra couldn’t take any more of watching Baatar struggle to change and Rory being shredded. She’d rushed around the circle to his boss. “Do something. Rory can’t hold two animals off forever.”
His boss’s eagle eyes were disturbed. Veins stood out on his head from strain. “I have done the only thing that might save them until Justin arrives to cut the titanium.”
From the opening in the netting above, a black turkey vulture flew in like a bomb being dropped and hit the ground hard. It shook its head and managed to stand.
Now this?
Dead eyes stared at Siofra. It’s beak opened and the voice of Mother Cadellus called out, “Where is my tiger? You should know that Hector tried to deceive me when he found out where Baatar had gone. He has paid with his life.”
Siofra couldn’t dredge up any sympathy at that news.
She didn’t get a chance to respond to the bird.
Rory’s boss had watched the vulture with deadly intent and said, “He is not yours, Cadellus. He belongs to me.”
The vulture turned and if a bird could sneer, this one did. “No. We raised him. You cannot just claim him, not unless you are ready to hand over one of yours. Do not dare to think I will stand by while you take one of mine.”
“Leave now, before you give me reason to hunt you.”
“Yes, come to me, mighty eagle guardian. I wish for that day.”
“Only a fool would wish for what I would do to anyone, especially a Cadell who dares to touch those who belong to me.”
She started screeching and the eagle guy pointed a finger at the vulture, which exploded into a fine dust.
It drifted to the ground.
Lesson learned. Never doubt that eagle shifter’s power.
Siofra asked, “Will she be back?”
“If she does, I will disperse her creature again. If she had Cadells nearby, they would have been here by now.”
A new Hummer burst through the woods from an entirely different direction than the one Tripoli’s guard’s had been taking. Rory’s friend jumped out.
His boss boomed at the bear shifter, “Justin, cut the cage door open. It’s titanium.”
“I’m on it.” Justin rushed to drag a tank and torch from the truck to the gate.
Siofra asked, “Will it take long to cut through?”
“No. That torch burns faster through titanium than steel,” eagle man said.
When Justin raced past her, Siofra followed him around the cage. From the top of the ramp, the scene inside couldn’t get any worse.
The jaguar shouldn’t be standing. His legs and body had brutal injuries with blood everywhere. How could he even see through so much blood on his face?
She had no idea, but his jaguar lunged for a final takedown on the tiger, ripping its throat apart. She’d feel encouraged if not for the way the lion waited patiently, not wasting energy yet.
Justin shouted, “The torch isn’t cutting fast enough.”
She ran down to see what he was talking about. Smoke billowed into her face. She swatted it away until she could see the problem.
The torch would flare against the metal then dim, struggling to burn. Had to be the spell Tripoli used to protect his secret fighting arena.
Rory’s jaguar stumbled under a vicious attack from the lion. Justin shouted, “Stand up, Rory. Get up.”
But Rory had defended Baatar longer than any one animal should have been able to do against two huge beasts and survive.
A deafening sound exploded from where Baatar had been struggling.
She couldn’t believe her eyes.
Baatar really was a tiger?
Not just any tiger, but a giant Siberian tiger, which leaped over the fallen jaguar and smashed into the lion. What followed was an unbelievable battle with throaty snarling, clawing and biting. Two giants fighting to the death.
Rory’s jaguar had battled the lion first, giving Baatar’s tiger a hand up in the fight. Baatar’s tiger moved with lightning-fast strikes born of raging energy.
It didn’t take long to finish off the lion.
The tiger lifted his big head, roaring over and over in triumph.
Then he lowered it and swung toward Rory’s jaguar with the same menacing snarl Baatar’s tiger had turned on the lion.
Justin moved to cutting the bars. It wouldn’t be fast enough.
Chapter 42
Rory praised Ferrell. You fought well, better than well. You did the impossible and battled both of those beasts. I’m proud of you, proud of all you’ve done even before today.
He wanted to ask Ferrell for forgiveness, but he didn’t deserve redemption after all the years he’d let his jaguar down.
Hindsight sucked, because it played out in the rearview mirror of life where nothing could be changed.
Had things been different, he’d have enjoyed the previous seven years with Ferrell and maybe even a lifetime with a mate.
Ferrell growled painfully low and pushed out, Love. Forgive.
Hearing two words, those two words, broke Rory. Love my jaguar, too, Ferrell. If we get out of here and I never have a mate, I will still try my best to keep you alive.
That’s when something special rolled over Rory. He could feel a stronger connection than he’d ever had with his jaguar.
Their bond, which had been missing all this time.
The titanium hole turned very quiet.
Ferrell had been lying on his side. He lifted his head to find the Siberian tiger Baatar had shifted into standing over a defeated lion. Good. Siofra would have her brother and she would help him adjust to being a shifter.
She had a heart so big she could love anyone who earned it.
The tiger roared and put his head down, heading for Rory’s jaguar.
Well, fuck. He hadn’t expected this.
It would kill Siofra to watch her brother rip Rory’s jaguar to pieces.
The Guardian’s voice came into Rory’s head. I have tried to reach Baatar, but he’s caught in the chaos of his first shift under stress. He probably thinks my voice is just another crazy voice in his head. I can’t use my power to stop him. They’ve spelled the titanium cage. It would take a while to break the spell.
Rory had never heard his boss sound so upset. He told his boss, I understand, sir. Thank you for coming. I won’t hold this against Baatar. Please tell Siofra that and keep her safe.
His boss did not offer false hope of surviving this, which Rory appreciated. If anything could be done, it was happening. The Guardian said, I failed you and your jaguar. I should have known sooner what was happening. I am sorry.
Not your fault, boss. It’s all on me. Then Rory realized he could talk to Baatar. He drew on all the strength he had left to send a telepathic message. Baatar, I am your friend. You smelled Siofra on me, because I love her.
The tiger stopped and shook his head as if something clung to him. Then he focused on Rory again.
If that didn’t work, nothing would.
The gate clanged and Siofra shouted, “Stop, Baatar,” she pleaded. “Don’t kill the jaguar. He’s mine. He. Is. Mine!”
Justin stood next to her, doing his best to cut through titanium bars, because the lock had somehow melted.
Baatar snarled at Siofra as if she understood tiger talk and kept coming toward Rory.
Ferrell struggled to his feet, prepared to meet Baatar standing, but Rory knew without a doubt his jaguar would not harm Siofra’s brother. Rory did the only thing he could with thoughts of sparing his jaguar and Baatar.
Ferrell shouldn’t have to face this.
Not this time. Rory had to return to his human form and hope Baatar had the Gallize sense of honor built into his animal form, and would not attack a shifter in the middle of a change.
Rory began changing, but it was so slow he had doubts about making it all the way as the tiger moved toward him.
Chapter 43
Si
ofra yelled, “Hurry!”
Justin growled. “I am hurrying.” He’d moved from trying to cut the lock her energy had melted and fused to cutting the individual bars.
His boss called out, “Baatar, it is time to change back.”
The tiger made no such move.
Siofra asked, “Why doesn’t his command work?”
Struggling with the torch, Justin said, “He didn’t order him. He only suggested he change. We’re normally allowed the time we need to call up the change ourselves. Baatar is lost in his own mind right now. He can’t hear the Guardian, who I’m sure has been talking in Baatar’s head, trying to help him gain control. If the Guardian forces another immediate change, Baatar may never gain control and would have to be put down. But if Baatar attacks Rory, the Guardian will force his change.”
A fourth bar fell away, making a small, box-size opening.
When Justin moved to cut another bar to widen the gap, Siofra put her hands together and dove through the small space. Jagged edges snagged her skin and tore her clothes.
Justin yelled at her, but Siofra was the only one small enough to fit through the opening and get in the hole right now.
Waiting another ten seconds could be too late.
She ran over to stand in front of Rory’s jaguar, which struggled to change back to Rory’s human body.
Baatar’s tiger had been going for the defenseless jaguar, but pulled up short in front of Siofra. He growled and roared at her, slapping a paw against the ground.
She crossed her arms. “You are not a murderer, Baatar. The lion and tiger wanted to kill both of you, but Rory, this jaguar, stood strong to protect you. You will regret killing him for the rest of your life and you will have to go through me to get to him.”
The tiger roared, swinging his big head back and forth, the frustrated sound heart wrenching. He pawed at his head, raking the skin with a sharp claw.
Blood ran freely. He shook his head, then lifted it and roared some more.
Siofra hoped he was beginning to understand.
He took another step forward.
Nope, no one home.
Her brother would hate himself forever once he came back to his human form and realized what he had done. He was confused and angry, too gone in this form to know what was happening.
Rory grunted and his body still made sickening noises as he changed far too slowly.
Baatar’s tiger opened his jaws wide and she prepared to have her head snapped off.
A powerful arm grabbed her and swung Siofra to the side. Rory cursed at Baatar. “You would kill your own sister?”
Siofra said, “Put me down. I don’t think he’ll attack me, but he may think you’re stealing me.”
“No. You’re mine. He might as well get used to it right now.”
Thickheaded men would be the death of her. Even so, her heart thrilled that Rory still cared so much. “How about we all stay alive and discuss that later?”
Rory hugged her with his least-damaged arm. “He has to change on his own and right now. If he doesn’t, my boss will force him and—”
“I know. I heard that if your boss has to do it, Baatar will die.”
“Right.” Rory said, “I’ll put you down. You run back to the gate.” He hugged her and whispered, “I love you. If he kills me, don’t blame him. He’s out of his mind right now.”
“No.”
“Don’t fucking start that.”
She looked up at him. “Don’t curse at me.”
All of a sudden the backside of a big tiger paw slapped Rory across his head.
They both turned to find Baatar’s tiger right in front of them.
In a softer voice and with tears in her eyes, she said, “Baatar, I know you hear me. Come back to me.”
Insane eyes stared straight ahead.
Eagle man said, “Back away, Rory. I will call up his change.”
Rory said, “Please, don’t, sir. I won’t let him harm Siofra and she knows what will happen if you do it.”
Siofra said, “Please, brother. I need you to come back.”
The mighty beast dropped his head and shook hard, then began twisting and falling to the ground. In moments, Baatar’s naked body lay there.
Siofra slapped her hand over her eyes. “Ew, yuck. I don’t need to see that.”
Rory pulled her around and kissed her head. She cupped his neck and held on tight.
When he dropped his forehead to hers, he said, “You scared ten lives off me.”
“You scared twenty off me.”
Baatar’s human voice said, “You both make me crazy. Put her down.”
Rory sighed and said, “Turn around, Baatar. Your sister doesn’t want to see your junk.”
“What is junk?”
Justin yelled, “Your balls and dick, dumbass. Hang on.” In thirty seconds, a pair of gray warm-up pants fell into the hole.
Siofra watched Rory’s eyes cut to the side. She asked, “Is he decent?”
“Yes.” Rory put her down and a pair of warm-ups hit him against his head. “Very funny, Justin.”
“It was that or wait until you’re out for the boss to clothe you. There’s a spell preventing his magic getting past the titanium.”
Siofra ran to Baatar, who picked her up, hugging her. He sounded humiliated when he said, “I am shifter, sister.”
“I know.” She smiled. “But there’s good news. I find that I like some shifters.”
Baatar’s dark daze went to Rory. “You will find someone better.”
She wiggled out of his arms and stepped back. “No. I want him.”
Baatar said, “He is like me. Not like other shifters. Ha. I see by confusion in your face he did not tell you. You should know what he is before claiming him.”
She swung her face to Rory, realizing Baatar had a point. She loved Rory, but she’d heard everything eagle man had said. Did she know all there was to know about the man she’d fallen for?
Chapter 44
Rory’s heart thumped painfully. That look on Siofra’s face worried him.
Our mate. Ferrell sent Rory a picture of Siofra with a ring on her hand. Then he sent a picture of Siofra smoothing her hand over the jaguar’s clean coat.
Then he sent a picture of Rory and Siofra kissing.
The last image was of Siofra with a rounded middle.
Rory cupped his forehead, pleading with Ferrell to cut it out before he got a migraine.
The images stopped immediately.
Maybe things would improve between them now.
But his jaguar did not understand that Siofra could not get pregnant. He silently told Ferrell, Please give me a minute to talk to Siofra.
Yes. Happy mate. Happy mate. Happy mate.
Why had Rory complained about Ferrell’s limited communication before? His jaguar wouldn’t shut up now.
Justin hooted as he finished cutting the titanium. “Got it. You can all leave now.”
Rory glanced over to see the gate open with chopped bars sticking out along the edges.
The Guardian appeared behind Justin.
That man could move like lightning.
Justin asked, “What about the spell?”
The Guardian said, “It appears the magic had been fed into the structure and cutting through enough bars destroyed the circuit.”
Justin stepped into the cage and then to the side, allowing room for the Guardian, who strode over to stand between everyone. He said, “Siofra, would you please give us a moment.”
Baatar clamped his hand on her arm. “No.”
Rory snarled and started for them.
The Guardian lifted a hand and everyone stopped.
Even Justin.
“Now, you can leave, Siofra. Please wait above,” the Guardian said.
She looked to Rory, who couldn’t even wink at her. With a last glance at Baatar, who could not move either, she shook her head and walked out of the hole.
Once she was gone, the Guardian released Rory an
d Baatar.
Baatar raised his fist and shook it at the Guardian. “You will not—”
The fist turned around and stopped short of Baatar’s nose. He looked at it cross-eyed for a moment then glanced at the Guardian, who had established his position.
When Baatar’s arm fell to his side, he lifted it up and looked at his hand, closing and opening his fingers, then gave up and crossed his arms. “I am slave to no one.”
Rory said, “Give me a fucking break. We’re not slaves.”
The Guardian arched an eyebrow at his language.
“Sorry, sir.”
Nodding acceptance of the apology, the Guardian turned to Baatar. “You will be no one’s slave. You are correct in thinking we are not like other shifters. We are an elite group of apex predators, to which you belong. You are exceptionally powerful, just as Rory is or he would not have been able to battle a tiger and a lion while protecting you.”
Baatar’s eyebrows lowered sharply at hearing Rory had protected him. He stared at the ground as if trying to recall everything. When his gaze lifted to Rory, he said, “I remember jaguar standing before I am tiger.”
“That’s right.”
“Why would you do that? You do not know me.”
“First of all, we don’t attack a human form or a shifter in the middle of change. We’re so powerful it would be like a man killing a child. That’s murder. Secondly, I knew you were Siofra’s brother, at least she considers you one. Why do you think I didn’t shift when it was just the two of us in here at first? I would have fought you as long as I could in human form. If it had come down to you or me, I would not have taken the only family Siofra has and leave her alone.”
The Guardian said, “I know this is all strange for you, Baatar, but we are a close-knit group. My Gallize take care of each other.”
“Gallize? What is Gallize?” He shook his head. “Just make me not shifter again.”
Instead of the Guardian explaining how that was not going to happen, Rory’s boss asked, “Were you happy before you changed into a tiger, Baatar?”
Siofra’s brother didn’t answer.
