Desperate, Cordeau’s cat fought to get free, fleeing uppermost in his mind now. Self-preservation had finally kicked in. The tawny male used his last remaining strength to stagger a few steps, trying to dislodge the black leopard, but Eli’s male clamped down all the more viciously, determined to end the fight. Determined to destroy his rival. Determined to get to his mate to see how bad her injuries were.

Cordeau’s male’s fur was dark with blood. He fought one more savage moment, trying to turn, to use his flexible spine to hook claws into Eli’s male, but the black leopard countered the movement, his bite relentless. He cut off the airway and simply held on, a ruthless, merciless kill. Eli felt no remorse and even less compassion.

He knew Catarina would hurt over this kill, but he also knew it was necessary. Cordeau had allowed his leopard to go rogue, and in doing so, the same madness infected him. No shifter could allow that. No shifter would allow it. Hunting human men or woman in the swamp was absolutely murder and they all knew it. It was forbidden, against every law they had.

Cordeau couldn’t see the inside of a courtroom. He had to die and his body had to be burned and then buried deep where no one would ever find the evidence. His three lieutenants had to join him. Catarina might not like it, but she would understand. She had to understand, because he wasn’t losing her over Cordeau’s death and his part in it.

Cordeau’s large male gave one more shudder and then went limp. Eli’s panther knew better than to drop him. He kept a relentless, merciless pressure, a stranglehold that would suffocate the other cat, but he couldn’t let go too soon, although the need to get to his mate was nearly overwhelming.

Eli had discipline and he used every ounce of it. Waiting. Feeling the life drain from the cat until he was completely a dead weight. Still he held on. Elijah’s leopard ventured close. Eli fought down the urge to attack, realizing his leopard was still in battle mode. Elijah must have known it, because he was careful to approach with caution. He shifted just his arm and hand, checking Cordeau’s animal for signs of life. His cat shook his head, and Eli knew Cordeau was gone.

His black panther dropped the other cat and he spun around, uncaring of his injuries. Uncaring that he was exhausted from the intense, brutal battle between the two male leopards. He shifted as he ran, reaching Jake, reaching Catarina.

His heart stuttered in his chest when he saw her. It nearly stopped. Terror lived and breathed in him. He hadn’t known terror. Not even as a young boy when his parents had died. Grief. Overwhelming sorrow. But not terror. Not like this.