She couldn’t look away from his eyes. It was difficult not to believe him. He seemed invincible and absolutely sure of himself. She touched her tongue to her lip, for one awful moment considering going with him. By why hadn’t he just knocked her out and taken her out of the cabin? This wasn’t about choice, it never was. It was about something altogether different. Her brain went click, click, click as pieces fell into place.

“You were always going to kill him, right from the beginning, weren’t you?”

He caught her around the throat, letting her feel his immense strength. Isabeau didn’t struggle. There was a warning in his eyes she heeded. “He’s been inside you. His mark is on you. He can’t live.”

She swallowed hard. “You were never going to share me with Suma.”

“Not in a million years.

She lifted her chin and indicated the tea. “Tell me what’s in that.”

“I don’t want you to feel what I’m going to do to you.” Her heart slammed so hard against her chest she was afraid it would burst. Fear breathed through her like a living entity. He said it so matter-of-factly, not blinking, no sympathy, no remorse.

“What are you going to do to me?”

“Not you. Him. He has to be made to suffer. To be off his game. His leopard will go into a rage and he won’t be able to control it. I’ve studied him. He’s methodical. And good. I don’t believe in being stupid. I need an edge and the only way I’m going to get it is to hurt you, or crawl into the doctor’s house and savage his young friend. Either would set him off.”

She knew he deliberately threatened Jeremiah to coerce her to drink the drugged tea. “You’re going to hurt me?” she echoed. He was right, Conner would never forgive himself and he’d turn the rain forest inside out looking for Ottila. He’d follow him right into a trap. She looked into Ottila’s eyes, forcing courage into frozen muscles.

“You need to punish me, don’t you?” In his own sick way, he felt she’d betrayed him—betrayed their relationship. She’d been deceived by his absolute calm.

“Drink the tea, Isabeau,” he instructed softly.