It was a command. It was a plea. She heard both and she tried to stay focused on his eyes. She loved his eyes. Loved the way they were frozen, like she imagined Siberia to be, and yet, beneath those twin glaciers could burn a blue passionate flame. Right now they were all gold. Molten. Like his raging leopard. Why wasn’t his leopard reassuring him? That was just a little scary. Was she really that bad?

They both refuse to listen. Her female sounded annoyed. I’m supposed to take care of you. Not them. Very snippy. You’re mine.

Now Evangeline heard the worry just as she’d felt it earlier. Her leopard had done exactly the same thing when she was a child and the vile, scary male leopard had prowled out in the swamp looking for her. He’d caught traces of her numerous times, but she was very good at hiding her trail, even her scent. She’d learned about mud and dirt and other plants that would mask any odor. Her leopard had reassured her in a casual, almost offhand way, as if there were no danger at all, but as she’d grown, she knew the leopard was trying to spare her.

You said it wasn’t bad.

You hurt. He’s bad. The other one with the bad-tempered male. His wound is very bad. Your man knows. He worries for both of you.

The male claiming you is bad tempered.

Not with me, her female pointed out.

Evangeline made an effort to squeeze Mitya’s hand tightly, but the best she could do was a weak attempt. Her lashes drifted down several times. Each time, Alonzo tightened his hold on her throat as if by holding her like that, her pulse in his palm, he could keep her from stealing away.

“Net, net, Evangeline, don’t you try to slip away from me.” Alonzo pressed his mouth to hers. “Breathe, devochka moya.”

“They’re here,” Gorya announced. He stepped over two of the three dead bodies to unlock the door.

Two men swept in, one going to Mitya’s side, the other to Evangeline’s. They immediately began setting IVs.

“We’ll give you morphine for the ride,” the nurse said to Mitya. “You hold on, you hear me? We’re transporting now. We don’t have time to waste. Is she ready to travel?” he barked at his companion.

“Yes.”