Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 141532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Another of Lazar’s most trusted men rushed up to the two leopards, putting the barrel of his gun almost right at Dymka’s head. Dymka had no choice but to release Artem and throw himself sideways to avoid the shot. A rifle sounded again, and a hole blossomed through the back of the man’s neck and out his throat. The spinal cord was severed instantly. Mitya knew him. He had been Lazar’s friend for over twenty years. He was just as perverted and corrupt as Lazar.
Artem was off and running again, determined to get away. Dymka refused to let him, not even when he rushed between two of Lazar’s soldiers. Before either could react, one was down, and the second shot was almost on top of the first. The second soldier went down hard. Dymka just had a glimpse of the spray of blood across the leaves and dirt. Artem had stopped to look back to see if the two men would shoot his pursuer.
Dymka hit the golden leopard in his side with enough force that it had to feel as if a freight train had struck him. The blow drove through the cat, breaking bones. Artem let out another scream and tried to get up. He managed to make it to his feet, but staggered, trying to turn. Dymka hit him from the other side, the blow just as vicious, breaking more ribs.
The leopard’s cry was a steady shriek now. Dymka had no mercy. He snapped the right back leg and then the left one, so that the cat couldn’t walk. Artem tried to drag himself away, but Dymka wouldn’t let him. Artem hadn’t helped Damir, and Dymka had always despised the golden cat anyway. He caught hold of the neck to deliver the suffocating bite and silence the shrieking for good.
As he held Artem in that death bite, waiting for the kill, a shadow emerged from the trees, yellow eyes staring malevolently. The eyes focused completely on Mitya and then the big cat swiped at the leaves and debris with his paw, indicating his contempt. He let out a roaring challenge.
There will be another someone close. Perhaps more than one, Mitya cautioned his leopard. Dymka had fought three cats. He’d run a distance. He had to be growing tired, which was what Lazar had counted on.
I smell them. They think to hide their stench from me by staying downwind, but it shifts every few minutes and I caught their scents. Lazar has two of his favorite partners stalking me.
Mitya could feel his leopard’s wrath, the rage that swirled in his gut and welled up like a volcano. Dymka wanted to rush Lazar’s cat. He was eager to meet the experienced fighter in a battle and see who emerged the victor. Mitya held him back.
Let him come to you. Take this opportunity to rest. He wants to issue a challenge, to intimidate and rile you up so you aren’t thinking in battle. He’s older, Dymka, but he’s experienced. You need to settle down and remember every battle technique. What he favors.
He favors having his lieutenants cheat and fight with him.
Dymka was not wrong. Lazar would fight, but he didn’t like to get ripped up. The moment a younger leopard looked as if it might score on him, he signaled to his allies and they rushed the leopard and delivered a savage retribution.
Lazar’s leopard rushed at them and then broke off before he got too close. Mitya had seen this type of challenge hundreds of times. Many male leopards used it, particularly when there was a female in heat they wanted to claim. Whether they liked it or not, the males were affected by Jewel’s heat. Lazar didn’t have as much control over his leopard as he used to, or he wouldn’t have allowed that particular challenge. Kazimer, Lazar’s leopard, knew Dymka was Jewel’s mate. The leopard had his own agenda for fighting Dymka that had nothing to do with Lazar’s agenda.
Kazimer wants Jewel for himself. Dymka snarled it.
Ania is sitting up there on that roof with a sniper rifle picking off anyone coming near us. She’s not going to let Kazimer or Lazar near her, Mitya assured. Stay in control. Fight your fight, not his.
Mitya had learned discipline in a hard school, and he was determined that his leopard stay controlled. They’d practiced daily for just this occasion. He wasn’t about to let Jewel’s pheromones make his leopard insane enough to make mistakes and lose this fight.
Take him down fast. Don’t challenge him. Just kill him.
Dymka watched Kazimer get closer and closer with each swipe of his paw, his sawing challenge filling the air. Bolstered by his own adrenaline and rage, and the need for the female, Kazimer grew bolder, coming once more at Dymka to issue his very vocal challenge.