“I could barely see him do it,” Jeremiah said, admiration in his voice. “I swear, I almost think I can’t believe my eyes.”

“No wasted motion,” Isabeau pointed out, unable to stay in the background. She hurried up beside Jeremiah to look at the watch. “That’s not even seven seconds. How can that be?”

“I’m not certain I really saw it,” Jeremiah said, still staring at the watch.

Isabeau crowded closer, brushing the naked leopard with her arm. Conner growled deep in his throat and the kid jumped back. All the men stiffened and turned to see Conner’s head moving slowly, following Jeremiah’s shriveling body, gaze burning brightly and focused on his prey.

“Conner,” Rio said sharply.

Shocked by Conner’s reaction, Isabeau instinctively moved away from Jeremiah. “You can’t possibly think . . .” She trailed off, one hand going defensively to her throat, although there was a mean-spirited part of her that found the situation amusing. “He’s a kid.”

“He’s closer to your age than I am,” Conner snapped.

She couldn’t suppress her laughter. “Come on, Conner, don’t be ridiculous.”

“Hey!” Jeremiah said. “Women can’t get enough of me.”

Conner snarled, his teeth elongating, curving, his claws bursting from the tips of his fingers. Isabeau made it worse by doubling over in laughter at the outraged look on Jeremiah’s face and the other men rolling their eyes, shocked that the boy didn’t have enough self-preservation to step back farther from Isabeau and close his mouth.

“Are you saying my woman wants you?” Conner demanded, stepping in close to the boy—too close. “That she prefers you to me?”

That sobered Isabeau immediately. She straightened, her eyes going green and glowing like two jewels. “I’m not your woman, you miserable excuse for a mate.”

Everyone ignored her. Jeremiah sucked in his breath. Those lethal claws were far too close to the most precious part of his body, and Conner looked mean enough to rip body parts off.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Jeremiah protested, realizing his mistake too late. Cats were notoriously bad-tempered with men around their mates, especially if the mate was close to a heat. He realized none of the other men had gone near Isabeau.

“What exactly did you mean?” Conner bit out.

Isabeau was very aware of the other men moving in now, presumably to save Jeremiah should it be necessary. Suddenly the situation was no longer about her. Jeremiah was in real danger from a man who had earlier rejected her advances. Whatever was driving him was real and dangerous.