Drake was more interested in the trees rising up out of the lower marshes and the rake marks on them. Saria knew where she was going and followed a narrow trail to a flat spot up above the water line where she spread out the blanket and indicated he could sit.

“You didn’t have to provide me with lunch, Saria.”

Saria laughed as she opened the picnic basket. “No, I didn’t prepare lunch, although Miss Pauline is an incurable romantic and wanted me to tell you I did. She is certain the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. She did all this and wanted me to take credit.”

“She should know you better,” Drake said, “no way would you take credit if you hadn’t done it.”

“Not even to impress you?” she teased.

“You know you don’t have to impress me. I was impressed the first time you spoke.”

Her eyebrow shot up. “Spoke? Not my looks?”

“There are a lot of beautiful women in the world, Saria, and you’re certainly one of them, but your courage and honesty is a prize beyond everything. That and your loyaltyont>

“I don’ feel very loyal takin’ you out to the marsh,” she replied in a low voice as she handed him a bottle of cold water.

“What were you supposed to do, Saria, let him keep killing? Sooner or later he’d kill someone you knew. Someone you love.”

“What if it is one of my brothers?” Her hand trembled as she passed him a sandwich.

“I think it’s safe to say that if it was one of your brothers, the rest of your brothers would know and they’d stop him. We tend to police our own.”

“The reason the male leopard who marked me didn’ do it correctly might have been because it was a warning, not his leopard trying to get mine to accept his,” she pointed out.

He took the sandwich with a nod of thanks and slipped his arm around her. “Saria, your leopard didn’t accept his. She didn’t rise to the surface looking for a potential mate. She didn’t want him. And that male leopard probably has nothing to do with the note at all. You thought it was a warning, but he would have stopped at raking your back. He must have done that because his leopard was in a fury, but he bit your shoulder hoping your female would override you.”

“There’s a lot to this leopard business I don’ understand,” she said, leaning a little into him for comfort.

“Give it time. We’re just getting started. Your leopard retreats and stays hidden for long periods of time. You’re close to the emergence, but not quite there, and believe me, if any male leopard was to push her, she’d fight back ferociously.”

“What are we goin’ to do next?”

“I want to see the marsh where you found the bodies and then I think I need to pay a visit to your brothers.”

She went ramrod stiff. “I don’ think that’s a good idea.”

“I’m not going to go behind their backs, Saria. I need to talk to them about us.”

“I’m a grown woman. It’s not their business what I do.” She stuck her chin out.

Drake leaned toward her, brushing her chin with a light kiss. “They’re going to think differently. I would never respect a man who would try to steal my sister rather than court her properly with the knowledge of her family.” He pulled her closer, beneath the protection of his shoulder. “What are you afraid of, Saria? If they object, will you back out?”

“No. No, of course not. Why would you think that? I just don’ think it’s a great idea talkin’ to my brothers. They’ve been actin’ weird lately. Really weird.”

Which was another reason she worried the killer might be one of her brothers. Drake knew she wouldn’t voice it aloud again, but she was definitely worried.

“Weird how?”

“They never paid any attention to me at all while I was growin’ up. Well, Remy sometimes tried to tell me what to do, but he was always in a hurry and he’d leave after he’d give me some stupid order. They’ve lived their own lives and suddenly they’re all back and I can feel them watchin’ me. They want me in the house at night. Remy said not to go out into the swamp at night and more than once ’s checked up on me.”

He had to hide his smile at the disgust in her voice. “Imagine. Your big brother checking up on you,” he murmured.

She glared at him for a moment and then began to laugh. “I suppose that does sound silly. I don’ think any of them realized I grew up, and suddenly they’ve noticed and they want to put me back in my toddler suit. I’m so not appreciatin’ their attention.” She took a bite of her sandwich and chewed, thinking it over. “It’s strange when you think about it. I spent a good portion of my early years tryin’ to get their attention and now that I have it, I definitely resent it.”

He rubbed his shoulder against hers, a small feline gesture of affection. “I don’t think you were ever into authority figures, Saria. You just wanted to be part of them.”

She rubbed her chin on her knee. “I was happy when you told me about my leopard because all these years I’ve felt as if I didn’ belong with my brothers. It scares me, but at least I really have a family.”

He stroked a caress down her silky hair, his fingers lingering on the nape of her neck. “Of course you’re part of them, whether or not you have a leopard. You would still have all the instincts. I was injured some time back and couldn’t shift. I’ve been shifting since I was a boy. For the first time I experienced what it would be like for someone of our blood to have all the drives of a leopard without being able to unleash it.”