Gerald nodded and held out his hand. Conner watched them leave with a sinking heart. He almost forgot to give the signal for safe passage, allowing the two tribesmen to get through the gauntlet of leopards on their way back toward their village. Rio trotted up a few moments later, still pulling on his shirt.

“Forest is getting crowded. What’s the news?”

“This just got very personal. It seems I have a little brother and Cortez took him along with the other children. If she finds out he’s leopard . . .” Conner’s voice trailed off. They’d never find the child. She’d hide him away and raise him herself.

Rio frowned. “That should get us some help from your village . . .”

Conner spun around, the growl rumbling in his chest a clear warning. The sound burst from his throat, a fullthroated roar. “We will not go near that village. Let’s get this bitch done.” He spun on his heel and stalked across the clearing back toward the cabin.

Isabeau looked up at Rio. His frown had deepened and now there were worry lines etched into his face. “His father abandoned the child,” she explained. “You can’t let him go near that man.” In a way, she felt as if she were betraying Conner, but instinctively she knew Rio had the best chance of keeping Conner from doing anything rash.

“Thank you,” Rio said, as if reading her innermost thoughts. “I needed to know.”

Scent. Isabeau looked around her and realized the leopards relied on scent to judge emotions in situations. They could read a lot more than their human counterparts. All of them used their leopard senses even while in human form, which afforded them advantages in any situation. She needed to learn how to do that.

She followed at a much slower rate, turning over and over in her mind the expression she’d seen on Conner’s face. All the while she tried to recall his scent. What had gone through his mind in that moment? Resolution for certain. He was determined to get his brother and that meant . . .

She swallowed hard and stumbled a little. He’d told her he wouldn’t seduce Imelda Cortez. They were going to try another way in, perhaps using one of the others, but that look on his face . . . He’d made up his mind to use whatever means possible and he wouldn’t give the assignment to another—not when it was his own brother. Not when he believed his mother would expect it of him. Conner was going to do exactly what she’d asked of him—seduce Imelda Cortez.