“Fragile?” Saria snorted. “You should have seen her reachin’ for the butcher knife when Dion refused to leave and we knew Robert was in the house but he refused to come out where we could see him. She even jumped up and put herself between Dion and me to protect me.”

His belly knotted up. “Is she crazy?” His voice dropped low. His scary voice. He even scared himself a little when he used that tone. He never knew exactly what he’d do. Robert and Dion Lanoux were going to get a visit from him in the dead of night and both would learn manners. No one threatened his mate or his sister. And certainly not in the home of the leader of the lair, or on Boudreaux property. They’d be lucky if they lived through the next night.

“I’d just told her I was pregnant, Remy. You would have been proud of her. I know you’re probably really upset with Dion and Robert but . . .”

“Don’ defend them,” he snapped, cutting her off. Saria had always had a soft spot for the two brothers. “They have to live by lair rules just like the rest of us. They don’ get to go into your home scarin’ you or threaten’ you and not leavin’ when you tell them to.”

“I know,” Saria said, all reasonable, which only pissed him off more, “But there were extenuating circumstances.”

“They’re men, Saria. I know Robert was at the crime scene. He stupidly left a partial paw print and even some fur. Forensics will find it, and what do you think is goin’ to happen to all of us? We’ll be hunted. No one will be safe lettin’ their leopards run and if we can’ shift and they’re caged up, you know what will happen. Robert’s a man. He needs to take responsibility instead of whinin’ to his brother and then whinin’ to you.”

He truly wanted to beat Robert Lanoux within an inch of his life. There would be chaos in the lair and Drake had worked hard to get everyone under control. Everyone who lived or worked in or around the swamp and bayou would be under scrutiny by their neighbor.

“They’re waitin’ here for Drake. Robert knows he screwed up and to be honest, I think Dion’s had it with him. I put them in the sittin’ room.”

“Are the boys there?”

“They arrived just a few minutes ago.”

He could tell by her voice that she was somewhere between annoyance and laughter. “I do believe Robert is properly intimidated, which I hope, for your sake, was your motivation. I can take care of myself and so can Bijou.”

He wasn’t touching that one. Anything he said could get him in trouble with his independent and touchy sister. Of course his brothers were there to protect both women. Saria was pregnant, wasn’t she? He admitted silently to himself that he would have sent the boys pregnancy or not. “Put Bijou on, please.” At least he remembered his manners. Saria could turn stubborn fast and he wasn’t taking any chances.