He felt sick, his stomach churning. The sweat that broke out on his body had nothing to do with the heat. The wind rarely touched the forest floor. It was always uncannily still there, the dense canopy shielding it, yet high in the trees, the wind whispered and played and danced through the leaves. The sound was soothing to him, the rhythm of nature.

He could understand the laws in the forest. He could even understand the necessity for violence in his world, but he couldn’t imagine what Rachael had done to deserve a death sentence. If one of his people had contracted to kill a woman in cold blood, he knew the assassin would never stop until the deed was accomplished. His kind was single-minded, and the ego of the male would now be bruised. The slow, smoldering anger would flair into a dark, twisted hatred that would spread until it became a disease. The male had missed twice and both times Rio and his clouded leopards, two lesser beings, had interfered. It would be personal now.

He stepped onto the verandah. “Rachael, I’m coming in.” He waited for a sound. For a sign. He didn’t realize he was holding his breath until he heard her voice. Tense. Frightened. Determined. So Rachael. She was alive.

Rachael was still in exactly the same position on the floor as when he had left. The fact that she trusted his expertise lifted his spirits even more. She looked up at him, sprawled out, his shirt barely covering her bottom, her legs splayed half under the bed, her hair tousled and wild, spilling around her face, and she grinned at him. “Nice of you to drop in. I took a little nap but was getting hungry.” Her gaze moved over him anxiously, obviously inspecting for damage. Her grin widened. “And thirsty. I could use one of those drinks you’re so fond of making.”

“And maybe a little help in getting up?” He found his voice was husky, almost hoarse, emotion catching him off guard. Fritz lay curled up at her side and the gun and knife were on the floor beside her hand.

“That too. I heard shots.” There was a little catch in her voice, but she managed to keep the smile on her face.

He knew he loved her. It was the undaunted smile. The joy in her eyes. The anxiety for his safety. He would never forget that moment. How she looked lying on the floor, blood seeping out of her leg, his shirt twisted around her waist exposing her luscious bare rump and her smile. She was so beautiful it took his breath away.

Rio hunkered down beside her, carefully inspected the damage to her leg. “We got lucky this time, Rachael. I know it hurts, but it isn’t that bad. I’m going to lift you up and it’s going to jar you some. Let me do the work.”