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He scoffed "Caitlyn, I died last night to protect you You can trust

Malai returned with another plate filled with food and set it on the bahu "They bicker too much"

He nodded "She’s a fiery one He should wear her out with a long bout of sex"

The village led

Caitlyn’s face grearru hen-pecked?"

She groaned inwardly "Irong to doubt your trustworthiness You illing to sacrifice yourself in order to protect rateful than I can say"

When he reached for her, she stepped back and lifted her hands to stop him "But I’m still upset that you didn’t tellthat I could be your mate and a mother for your children"

"And I knew the transformation would most likely kill you"

She paused, stunned

"It’s true, Catalina I’ve seen ony, unable to survive the transformation"

She sed hard "Are you serious?"

"My cousin h the transformation, she died a ed, he massacred my people"

Caitlyn swayed from the impact of his words All those people had died because a worabbed her arht?"

"I" She shook her head She could actually die? This couldn’t be right It was too cruel a twist of fate She and Carlos were perfect for each other It had nearly killed her when she’d thought he was dead And now, if she tried to becoed on her arm He waited for her to sit beside him, then placed the plate of food in her lap "You look pale You should eat"

She glanced down at the food without seeing it

Then she looked around the circle of villagers ere all watching her like she was on prier language to Raghu "Your mate is froer now," Raghu answered proudly and se?" Caitlyn asked

Raghu’s s Only those with the heart of a tiger survive it"

Caitlyn gulped

"Akkarat," Raghu said to one of theslie I ventured into tiger territory a year ago, searching for my cousin I found him here He’d fallen in love and didn’t want to leave When I met his mate’s sister, I didn’t want to leave either"

The young wo eyes

"My cousin and I decided to beco husbands and worthy of our chosenwoman who sat alone with tears in her eyes "My cousin did not survive the transformation"

"I’m so sorry" Caitlyn’s heart sank What Carlos had said was true She could die "I was at the Akha village, and Ajay mentioned you and your cousin They believe you were both killed by acreature"

Akkarat snorted "We fell in love"

Raghu growled deep in his throat "Everyone accuses us of being man-eaters" He pointed at the plate in her lap "We eat chicken Try it"

She bit into a piece of grilled chicken and nodded "It’s very good We’re actually on our way back to the Akha village I could tell Ajay that Akkarat is alive and well"

"No, youinto our territory We must keep our existence secret"

She nodded "I understand" If Carlos’s tribe had kept their secret better, theyher with a worried look

"What have they been saying?" he whispered

"They confirmed what you told me Not everyone survives the transformation" She set the plate of food aside, too tired and depressed to eat

"You look worn-out You didn’t sleep at all last night"

She gave him a wry look "You slept like the dead"

He smiled and brushed her damp hair back from her brow "Maybe you should rest for a while before we continue our trip"

"I would love that" She was suddenly feeling very weary The night in the cave had been e Booby-traps, Tanit’s death, Carlos’s death and resurrection, the finding of an A coma It was a lot to take in And now she had another emotional quandary to deal with Should she risk death to becohu "Is there a place where we can rest for a while?"

"Of course Your clothes will not be dry until toht"

"Thank you You are very kind"

Raghu inclined his head "We are honored to have a were-panther and hisyou, doesn’t he? That is why he hasn’t bitten you"

"Yes"

"A man hu glanced at Malai with love in his eyes "Noe are expecting our first child"

"That’s wonderful"

He turned toward Caitlyn "You cannot give him were-panther children if you do not transform If you remain human, your children will be hu had see "He needs to have were-panther children His people are in danger of extinction"

"He is searching for other were-panthers?" Raghu asked When Caitlyn nodded, he continued, "There are a few panthers south of here, but they are not shifters"

"Oh" Her heart pluer nuhu said "He may have better luck there"

"I’ll tell him Thank you" She rose to her feet, and Carlos stood beside her "I’d like to rest now, if you don’t mind"

Carlos hen Caitlyn stirred in his arms They’d been shown to a se Their backpacks were inside, and he’d quickly checked on their weapons Then he’d stretched out on the pallet beside Caitlyn and they’d slept

She stretched and opened her eyes

He s at the beautiful turquoise color "Sleep well?"

"I dreale" She sighed "What time is it?"