After a time she realized how hopeless that task was of looking into the rain forest, straining her eyes when there was nothing to see, so she carefully closed and locked the shutters again before she put the kettle on. Tea might combat the shocky way she was feeling. At least the ritual of making tea kept her busy. Once the water had boiled, she poured it into the small pot over the tea leaves and placed a towel over it to steep. She needed something to revive her. There was no way to relax, not with Conner in danger.

She turned to go back to the window. Her heart jumped. Began to pound. Fear made her mouth go dry. Ottila Zorba stood not ten feet from her, his eyes glowing in the darkness, his stare fixed on her as if she was his prey. He’d obviously just shifted. She had no idea how long he’d been there, but his stark naked body, all roped muscle and obvious strength, was very aroused.

Chapter 18

18

OTTILA Zorba cocked his head to one side and inhaled, drawing Isabeau’s fragrance deep into his lungs. “He made certain to leave his scent all over you,” he greeted.

Isabeau wrapped Conner’s sweater closer around her body for protection. “What do you want?”

His green-yellow eyes drifted over her from head to toe. “You left your mark on me.”

She bit her lip hard. “I wasn’t raised with the leopard people. I didn’t know what was happening to me.”

“Your cat knew and she wanted me.”

Isabeau gasped. That couldn’t be true. Conner was her mate. She knew he was. She shook her head in denial. “I made a mistake and I’m sorry for that, but you deliberately provoked me. You knew I didn’t know what it meant.”

He shrugged and took a step toward her.

“Don’t.” Isabeau retreated, moving toward the table where the gun waited. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you give me no other choice.”

He smiled, baring his leopard’s canines, and held a weapon up. “Are you looking for this? You stared out into the night and all the while I prowled the room, removing your weapons under your nose.”

Her heart jumped painfully. Who could do that? She’d heard of leopards dragging victims out of their homes before even those sitting beside them knew what had happened, but she couldn’t conceive of anyone being that stealthy. She glanced toward the door, trying to judge the distance. To make it easier, she took another step toward the table, to keep it between them. As she figured, he stepped around toward the other side, giving her that extra step or two.