He was silent a moment, watching her. She seemed more fragile than he remembered, more beautiful, her skin nearly glowing, her hair shiny and rippling with a silken invitation. She was telling the truth. “Then we’ll have to get them out, won’t we,” he said softly.

Some of the tension eased from her body. “I thought you weren’t going to help me.”

“You really don’t know about the leopard world, do you?” he asked.

She frowned and looked at her hand. “I didn’t think that was real.”

He held out his hand. “Look at me, but stay very calm. I mean it, Isabeau, don’t make any moves or scream. My cat is hungry for you and I’m going to let him out just enough for you to know I’m speaking the truth. Don’t incite him any more than your scent already has.”

She looked more confused than ever, so he willed the change. His leopard leapt at his control, battering hard in an effort to emerge fully. Claws burst through his hands and fur raced up his arm. He felt the contortion of his muscles and, breathing deep, he fought the cat back. It took every ounce of strength. Sweat trickled down his body and muscles locked and froze as he urged the leopard under control.

Isabeau gasped, but she stood her ground. Most of the color leeched from her face, and her eyes seemed enormous. She rubbed at her arms as if they itched, as if her cat had leapt toward his beneath her skin. “How is this possible?” Her voice was a whisper of sound.

He glided toward her, afraid she might fall, but she stepped back and held up a defensive hand, shaking her head. He froze again, going completely still.

“The short version is, we’re a separate species, not leopard, not human, but a combination of both. Our female leopards don’t emerge until the Han Vol Dan, or the first heat for the leopard. Many females don’t know they are leopard. My guess is, the doctor delivered you, and not realizing you were leopard, as we’re a closely guarded secret, he decided to raise you when your birth mother died. We’d have to do some research, but he probably passed you off as his wife’s child, or quietly adopted you.”

“Why is it when I’m around you everything in my life goes to hell?” She pushed a shaky hand through her hair.

His leopard snarled a warning just as the cicadas ceased their song. A chuffing sound followed by a grunt of acknowledgment came from outside the cabin.

“Who followed you, Isabeau?” Conner was on her fast, gripping her arm and pulling her into the protection of his body, and away from the window. “Do you have someone else with you?” He dragged her onto her toes. “Answer me, now, before someone gets killed.”

Chapter 3

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