Her fur was beautiful and thick, a gorgeous gold with black rosettes covering every inch of her. The piercing green of Siena’s exotic eyes was even more striking on the cat. With a flick of her long tail she leapt through the window, ignoring the loud crash as the door sprang open across the room. The moment her cushioned toes hit the ground, she took off running across the open area toward the tree line and heavier brush, avoiding the smell of man.

Siena directed the leopard to take toward the main road leading to the front of the Lospostos estate. It was a distance away, but if she made it, she could call a taxi to pick her up. Once she was away, she could find a place to hide from everyone until she could get out of the country.

It was a good plan. A solid one. But for one thing. The moment her little female hit the trees and sprinted through the brush, she heard the heavier male coming after her. He let out a husky, sawing roar that sent her heart pounding. The female shivered and chose the path of least resistance, rather than trying to hide.

Leopards were built for stealth, not sprinting, and she grew tired very quickly. The female had only been out on a couple of occasions and she hadn’t built up her ability to run, play or fight. She slowed her pace at Siena’s urging, even though she knew the much larger male was gaining ground.

He came out of the trees in front of her. Clearly he was far faster and much more experienced. The female’s only encounter with another leopard had been Paolo’s male, and it had attacked her. Siena’s female skidded to a halt and watched the male carefully. He approached slowly, and she hissed and batted at him with one paw, claws out, a clear message to stay away. The male backed off patiently and circled around to try to get behind her.

The female turned, keeping a leery eye on him. The moment she had a clear pathway to move forward, she took it, leaping forward and sprinting once again. The male fell in beside her, although keeping his distance, pacing along, not trying to stop her, but every now and then, he moved up, forcing her to turn off course.

Siena realized, after a time, what Elijah was doing. He didn’t use brute strength, but rather cunning, his male herding the female away from the road and freedom. He kept her moving, or, when she tired and sank down to rest, he harassed her by continually circling her, looking for an opening to claim her.