Rio shifted to human form, strapping on weapons as fast as possible, his expression grim. Only after his guns were checked and his knives concealed did he drag on the clothes and attach the small medical kit to his belt. Feeling the impact of the leopard’s focused stare, he whipped around, rifle up and ready, finger on the tr igger.

“You’re up early, Drake.” His voice was pleasant, relaxed, casual even, but the barrel never wavered from dead center on the cat’s brain and he didn’t take his finger from the trigger.

They stared at one another for a long moment. Drake’s form contorted, lengthened, muscles reshaping to form the man. He glared at Rio. “You want to tell me why you’re still pointing that thing at me?”

“You want to tell me what you’r e doing here?”

“I spent most of the night tracking you and that rogue leopard. You, I lost, he wasn’t as good. You wounded him and that made it easier for me to track him.”

“Why?”

Drake frowned. “You tick-ridden son of a bearded pig. I decided to go back to guard your butt out of concern for your well-being. By the time I got back to your place, you and Rachael were gone and I had to track you through the forest. It was slow going when I realized the sniper was tracking you as well. He lost you a few times and I stayed behind him, wanting to see what he did.” Abruptly he stopped and glared. “Damn it, Rio, put the rifle down. It’s not only insulting, it’s annoying.”

Rio slung the rifle over his shoulder. He kept his hand free, ready to go for his knife even while he grinned at Drake. “I am not tick-ridden.”

“That depends on who you ask. Where’s Rachael?”

The smile faded from Rio’s face. “Did the elders send you, Drake?”

“What is wrong with you? Why would the elders send me to protect your sorry butt, Rio?”

Rio didn’t smile. His eyes gleamed with piercing intelligence, smoldered with danger. “Did they send you after Rachael?”

Drake frowned. “I never made it back to the village. I went with Kim and Tama upriver toward their village, but changed my mind and doubled back. As far as I know, the elders have never heard of Rachael. And if they have, they certainly don’t know she’s with you. Tama and Kim would never say anything. You know them. You know they could be tortured and they’d never say anything. What’s this all about?”

Rio shrugged. “He was one of us. Not our village, I doubt if he was born in this country, but he was one of us. Why would he hire out to kill one of his own kind? A woman at that?”

“We aren’t a perfect species, Rio, you should know that.” The moment the words escaped, Drake shook his head. “I’m sorr y, I didn’t mean it that way. There have been a few rumors over the years. A few going after money, women, power. We aren’t immune to those things, you know.”

“I guess not. I appreciate you watching my back, Drake. Sorry for the reception.”

“The pitiful reception. I trust you got him.”

“He’s dead. He left his clothes behind last night and there was nothing in them, not even a label. I needed matches.”

“You haven’t told me where Rachael is. You didn’t leave her alone, did you?” Drake sounded anxious.

“She’s fine. She has a couple of guns and a few knives. She’s handy with a stick too. I’ll tell her you were expressing your concern.”

A slow grin spread over Drake’s face. “You’re jealous, Rio. You’ve been bitten by the green-eyed monster. I never thought it would happen, but you fell like a tree in the forest.”

“I’m cautious, Drake. There’s a difference.”

“I think you just tried to insult me, but I’m laughing too damned hard to care. Where is this mystery man? You go get your lady and I’ll take care of the mop-up. I’m heading back to the village to call up the unit. We’re going in after that church group.”

“Who’s guarding your worthless butts, Drake?”

Drake shrugged. “Conner is a crack marksman. He isn’t you, but he’ll handle it.” He held out his hand for the matches.

“I don’t like it, Drake. Breaking up the unit is a bad idea.”

“What’s the alternative? You can’t leave Rachael alone. Unless you bring her to the village. You know that would be risky. You two belong together. I don’t know how well that’s going to sit with them.”

Rio handed him the matches. “I’m heading home, Drake, call me on the radio when you’re going in.”

Twelve

Rachael leaned against the cavern wall for support as she put weighton her injured leg. Surprisingly, the pain she expected didn’t flood her entire body. The puncture wounds had stopped draining. She felt strange, itchy. Something crawled under her skin. Her body seemed foreign to her—sexual, intensely feminine. She could barely stand the feel of the shirt against her skin and slipped the buttons open, wanting to be free of the slight weight of it. She would have torn it off of her but it retained Rio’s scent.

She inhaled sharply, drew him into her lungs, into her body, and held him there. Her breasts ached unexpectedly, nipples tightened and her feminine sheath wept for him. She burned. There was no other way she could describe what was happening, her skin burning with need, her body unable to stay still.

She turned to the cavern wall and placed her hands high over her head, curled her fingers into the dirt wall and raked downward, leaving behind deep grooves.