Rachael pushed past her brother to wrap her arm around Rio’s waist. “You need to sit down. Did you get there in time?”

Rio kept his penetrating gaze on Elijah. “Yes. He’s going to be fine, Elder.”

Rachael couldn’t help smiling at the older man, but he turned his face away. She caught the sheen of tears glistening in his eyes, and his hands shook as he lifted them to wipe his face. “Thank you, Rio.” The voice was choked, barely audible.

“He’s a good boy.”

Rachael urged Rio toward the door. He was swaying with weariness. Rio bared his teeth at Elijah in a semblance of a smile and waved him toward the door first.

“Call off the others first,” Elijah said without moving. “I know they’re waiting.”

Rachael listened. She heard the moaning of the wind. The rhythm of the rain. “Fritz and Franz,” she turned her face up toward Rio. “Are they inside? Waiting for him to go in?”

Rio grinned at her. His face was pale and there was a sheen of perspiration coating his skin. “Of course. They like to hunt too.”

“Very funny. Call them off.”

Rio uttered a series of vocalizations. Rachael watched her brother’s face. He was frowning. She dug her nails into Rio’s bare skin. “What exactly did you tell them?”

“To be alert,” Elijah answered for her. “What are those two little cubs doing? I’ve never heard of training cubs for combat.”

Rachael rolled her eyes. “Don’t think for one minute those little demon seeds are cubs. They’re fully grown clouded leopards with bad manners, tempers and very lethal saber-toothed tiger teeth.”

“I take it you had a run-in with them.” Elijah hadn’t budged. He stared into the darkened interior of the house, but refused to take one step into the room.

“One of them nearly took my leg off. Don’t be a baby.” She was trying not to notice her brother’s throat was bleeding. He hadn’t once touched it. She tried not to notice the knife still in Rio’s hand, his gaze focused and unblinking on her brother’s face. “Rio wouldn’t have you go in if it wasn’t safe.” She tried to say the words with conviction, but her tone was more a question than reassurance.

“It might be a good way to get rid of me without guilt,” Elijah said.

“I wouldn’t feel guilt if I had to get rid of you,” Rio answered easily. “Go in.”