“I’m sorry, honey,” Jake whispered, his voice crooning.

She hadn’t known he could sound so sweet, not unless he was talking to Emma or his children. He didn’t use that voice on anyone else, at least she didn’t think so. He kept his distance from most people. She thought he tolerated her for Emma, but his voice indicated affection.

“I’m going to turn you. It’s going to hurt.”

There was distaste in his tone, as if the thought of hurting her more was absolutely abhorrent to him. His hands were gentle as he turned her away from the ring of leopards watching the terrible battle. The movement made her sick. She knew she was going to vomit.

Jake was suddenly there, holding her head to one side, pulling her hair out of the way. The moment she emptied her stomach, he shifted her away from the mess and once again pressed something deep into the wound on her side. She wanted to pass out. She even reached for that oblivion, but it didn’t happen. She felt the terrible pressure again, as if he’d poured gasoline on the fire that burned into her side.

“He raked you on both sides,” Jake explained. “He got you with his claws. Three deep rakes on each side. I know it hurts like hell and you’re losing too much blood, but he didn’t hit anything vital.”

His voice steadied her. She was really listening to the sounds of the battle between two large males in their prime fighting to the death. Eli. Rafe. Only one would walk away alive, she knew that. No one would interfere in the battle between the two leopards. That was the shifter way. That was their justice. But Rafe was rogue, and these shifters would kill him even if he won the battle with Eli. She wished they’d just get it over with. She didn’t understand the strange code of shifters, nor did she care to, not when it put Eli’s life on the line.

“I’ve got to look at your shoulder and neck, honey.”

He was already sitting her up, moving her body against his. It was strange to be in such an intimate position with a man other than Eli. Neither wore clothes, and yet she felt nothing, not even embarrassment. She didn’t think about it once the thought moved through her head. With Jake holding her up, she could at least look again at the two leopards.

Rafe was a short distance from Eli, his leopard’s evil eyes fixed on the black panther. The tawny head was down, sides heaving in and out as the leopard tried desperately to drag in air. He took a step and staggered. Eli’s leopard hit him fast, hard, driving him from his feet. The sheer savagery of the attack left her breathless.