![]() | ![]() |
––––––––
Siofra yelled, “Hurry!”
Justin growled. “I am hurrying.” He’d moved from trying to cut the lock her energy had melted and fused to cutting the individual bars.
His boss called out, “Baatar, it is time to change back.”
The tiger made no such move.
Siofra asked, “Why doesn’t his command work?”
Struggling with the torch, Justin said, “He didn’t order him. He only suggested he change. We’re normally allowed the time we need to call up the change ourselves. Baatar is lost in his own mind right now. He can’t hear the Guardian, who I’m sure has been talking in Baatar’s head, trying to help him gain control. If the Guardian forces another immediate change, Baatar may never gain control and would have to be put down. But if Baatar attacks Rory, the Guardian will force his change.”
A fourth bar fell away, making a small, box-size opening.
When Justin moved to cut another bar to widen the gap, Siofra put her hands together and dove through the small space. Jagged edges snagged her skin and tore her clothes.
Justin yelled at her, but Siofra was the only one small enough to fit through the opening and get in the hole right now.
Waiting another ten seconds could be too late.
She ran over to stand in front of Rory’s jaguar, which struggled to change back to Rory’s human body.
Baatar’s tiger had been going for the defenseless jaguar, but pulled up short in front of Siofra. He growled and roared at her, slapping a paw against the ground.
She crossed her arms. “You are not a murderer, Baatar. The lion and tiger wanted to kill both of you, but Rory, this jaguar, stood strong to protect you. You will regret killing him for the rest of your life and you will have to go through me to get to him.”
The tiger roared, swinging his big head back and forth, the frustrated sound heart wrenching. He pawed at his head, raking the skin with a sharp claw.
Blood ran freely. He shook his head, then lifted it and roared some more.
Siofra hoped he was beginning to understand.
He took another step forward.
Nope, no one home.
Her brother would hate himself forever once he came back to his human form and realized what he had done. He was confused and angry, too gone in this form to know what was happening.
Rory grunted and his body still made sickening noises as he changed far too slowly.
Baatar’s tiger opened his jaws wide and she prepared to have her head snapped off.
A powerful arm grabbed her and swung Siofra to the side. Rory cursed at Baatar. “You would kill your own sister?”
Siofra said, “Put me down. I don’t think he’ll attack me, but he may think you’re stealing me.”
“No. You’re mine. He might as well get used to it right now.”
Thickheaded men would be the death of her. Even so, her heart thrilled that Rory still cared so much. “How about we all stay alive and discuss that later?”
Rory hugged her with his least-damaged arm. “He has to change on his own and right now. If he doesn’t, my boss will force him and—”
“I know. I heard that if your boss has to do it, Baatar will die.”
“Right.” Rory said, “I’ll put you down. You run back to the gate.” He hugged her and whispered, “I love you. If he kills me, don’t blame him. He’s out of his mind right now.”
“No.”
“Don’t fucking start that.”
She looked up at him. “Don’t curse at me.”
All of a sudden the backside of a big tiger paw slapped Rory across his head.
They both turned to find Baatar’s tiger right in front of them.
In a softer voice and with tears in her eyes, she said, “Baatar, I know you hear me. Come back to me.”
Insane eyes stared straight ahead.
Eagle man said, “Back away, Rory. I will call up his change.”
Rory said, “Please, don’t, sir. I won’t let him harm Siofra and she knows what will happen if you do it.”
Siofra said, “Please, brother. I need you to come back.”
The mighty beast dropped his head and shook hard, then began twisting and falling to the ground. In moments, Baatar’s naked body lay there.
Siofra slapped her hand over her eyes. “Ew, yuck. I don’t need to see that.”
Rory pulled her around and kissed her head. She cupped his neck and held on tight.
When he dropped his forehead to hers, he said, “You scared ten lives off me.”
“You scared twenty off me.”
Baatar’s human voice said, “You both make me crazy. Put her down.”
Rory sighed and said, “Turn around, Baatar. Your sister doesn’t want to see your junk.”
“What is junk?”
Justin yelled, “Your balls and dick, dumbass. Hang on.” In thirty seconds, a pair of gray warm-up pants fell into the hole.
Siofra watched Rory’s eyes cut to the side. She asked, “Is he decent?”
“Yes.” Rory put her down and a pair of warm-ups hit him against his head. “Very funny, Justin.”
“It was that or wait until you’re out for the boss to clothe you. There’s a spell preventing his magic getting past the titanium.”
Siofra ran to Baatar, who picked her up, hugging her. He sounded humiliated when he said, “I am shifter, sister.”
“I know.” She smiled. “But there’s good news. I find that I like some shifters.”
Baatar’s dark daze went to Rory. “You will find someone better.”
She wiggled out of his arms and stepped back. “No. I want him.”
Baatar said, “He is like me. Not like other shifters. Ha. I see by confusion in your face he did not tell you. You should know what he is before claiming him.”
She swung her face to Rory, realizing Baatar had a point. She loved Rory, but she’d heard everything eagle man had said. Did she know all there was to know about the man she’d fallen for?