“His death would have accomplished very little. I needed the kid alive to delay your man. Now he’ll have to live with the fact that he made the wrong choice in helping the boy. Each time he tries to touch you”—the pad of his finger slid over the wounds on her breast—“he’s going to see my mark, my brand.”

She wanted to slap his hand away, but she was too cowed. She’d never been beaten in her life. He’d done it with such objectivity, as if he was completely removed from the act. She tried to crawl away from him, finding the wall to lean against, the only way to hold herself up.

His fingers circled her ankle like a shackle. “Make certain you don’t get pregnant with his baby. I’d hate to have to kill a cub, and it would be much harder for you to forgive me.”

How could he think she could forgive the beating he’d given her? He’d terrorized her on purpose, a punishment that in his twisted mind she deserved. “Tell him to meet me and to come alone. If he doesn’t, I’ll be back periodically to visit until he does.”

“Where?” She whispered the word.

“He’ll know.”

She slid down the wall when he let go of her, crying softly, terrified for herself—for Conner. Ottila stood over her, once again taking his human form. Both were intimidating. “I can get to you anywhere. Anytime. If he tries to run with you, you’d better believe he can’t protect you, no matter where he takes you, I’ll find you. You tell him that.”

She bit down hard on her lower lip and stayed very still, afraid to move. He leaned into her, his mouth finding hers. She held herself very still, trying not to sob as he explored her mouth with his tongue, taking his time, his hands once again gentle. It was disconcerting, to have him go from violence to almost loving. He didn’t protest when she remained passive. He pulled back and looked into her eyes.

“Next time, you might remind him that leopards like to go high.”

He shifted right in front of her, a male leopard in his prime, his tail switching as he leapt up into the beams with casual ease and disappeared into the small attic. She didn’t hear him after that, but she remained huddled against the wall, terrified that he hadn’t really left and would come back.