Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Maya had to agree with his assessment. She would never have accepted a man’s claim on her. She would have suicided if she hadn’t believed she could get away—or kill the man attempting to claim her. Wraith had been so certain Rogue and Gorya were right for them. She recognized them to be their past rescuers. Maya was very thankful for Wraith’s interference, although she hadn’t been at the time.
“Just as we have extraordinary gifts, so do Rogue and Wraith. They’re stronger and faster than other leopards. They also have discipline and they’re much more intelligent as well. We watched out for them, but all along, they’ve guarded us. We were never alone, not for a single moment during the times we were so viciously treated.”
She couldn’t argue with that. Wraith had made herself known when Maya was a little child. The leopard had been her constant companion. They’d worked together to learn how to have her emerge. It hadn’t been easy, and it took a great deal of time, but eventually they had been successful.
“I always thought of myself as the strategist,” she admitted. “And perhaps the guardian. We both guarded each other. She was quiet and allowed me to talk to her when I was upset.”
Gorya smiled at her. “Rogue was a little more vocal. He’s never liked anyone, and his solution was usually to kill them.”
In spite of the dire situation, Maya found herself wanting to laugh. “That sounds like him—and maybe you. And me. We’re such a combination.”
“We are.” Gorya brushed more kisses over her mouth. “We’re lucky that Wraith has emerged before the Han Vol Dan. Few females have ever done so. That will give you relief. Both of us, in fact. Wraith and Rogue will go into the swamp and run. She’ll be seductive and lead him on a terrible chase.”
Maya gasped, pulling back so she could stare into his eyes. “No, there’s a reason a female leopard won’t emerge until she’s ready to mate. She isn’t ready. She’ll be calling every male within miles and marking everything with her scent. She’ll entice him and tempt him and tease him and then very cruelly rebuff him. She’s very small, Gorya, and he’s larger and stronger. He could really hurt her if he got upset with her.”
“He’s prepared for her behavior.”
“She’ll call to other males,” she reminded him, feeling desperate. Her heart accelerated so fast that her chest hurt. She was afraid for Wraith.
“I’ve sent them away.”
I would never hurt Wraith, Rogue unexpectedly assured Maya directly. I am fully aware nature will drive her. I will watch over her and protect her until this time passes for you both.
“I’m going to carry you to the window where the tree branch dips low, Maya. You’re going to shift, allowing Wraith to emerge,” Gorya decreed.
She wound her arms around his neck, pressing her body tightly against his. “If you sent all the males away, you have no security. It’s too important to have guards around you, Gorya. You know you’re a target. I know you’re trying to protect me, but you can’t forget the people in this lair want you dead.”
“We can handle them if they come after us,” he assured her with complete confidence. “I appreciate that you think you need to guard all of us, Maya, but for now, let the three of us watch over you.”
Gorya lifted her, standing smoothly, as if the leopard’s heat didn’t affect him in the least. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her over to the window. She rested her head against his shoulder, her heart soaring.
Wraith, are you certain you want to do this? Rogue? This won’t be easy.
It was such a sacrifice. She was supposed to take care of them, not the other way around, yet the three of them, Gorya, Rogue and Wraith, had come together to protect her. No one had done such a thing in her entire life—except when Gorya and Rogue had when she was a child. Tears burned behind her eyes, but this time it was from sheer happiness. She did have a family. She did have a partner. Three partners.
I love you so much, Gorya. All of you, she amended.
Gorya reached around her to shove open the window while setting her on the windowsill. He kissed her quite thoroughly.
I love you too. Let Wraith have fun. Remember, female leopards do this all the time in the wild.
I hope you know what you’re doing. It was going to be such a relief to shed her human body and allow her leopard to emerge. The fierce sexual burn was too much, even with Gorya distracting her.
Right there on the windowsill she let go of herself and allowed Wraith full ownership of their form. Wraith easily slid into her long, thick fur. She was small, with her frosty undercoat and wider-spaced rosettes. Her coat was quite beautiful. Brilliant frost-blue eyes shone out of her face. She tossed her head, swished her long tail, leapt from the branch and raced into the underbrush.