Hot Blooded

converted you immediately and you would be
fully under my protection
. It was far too late to correct his mistake now.
He was locked beneath the earth, and she was in terrible danger. He switched
tactics, feeling her slight withdrawal. He didn't dare lose their connection.
Zacarias, awaken. I need your help. Manolito, we need you
.
    Juliette held her breath, waiting. She knew Riordan was powerful, and she had
already experienced his eldest brother's tremendous abilities. Hope surged
through her.
    Manolito is traveling to the Carpathian Mountains
. Zacarias answered
his call.
I will feed you my strength when needed. Warn the women that
should your lifemate fall, so will you, and in such a way that they cannot
conceive of the monster that will be unleashed
.
    She understood more than they realized. She was already adept at reading
Riordan's memories. She honestly didn't know whether or not she would have bound
Riordan to her and converted him immediately if she were the one that could be
consumed by the madness of the vampire. Juliette sent him as much reassurance as
she could.
Thank you, Riordan. Please thank your brother
.
    She turned to her cousin. "They are with us, Solange."
    Solange handed her back the water bottle. "I'll trust your man if you do.
Stay here and wait for the signal. I'll see what we're up against. That should
give you another few minutes to rest."
    "We go back-to-back, Solange, like we always do. If Jasmine is safe, we stall
until Riordan is able to rise. If not, hopefully they can help us." Already she
noted the storm clouds floating above them, helping block the sun and protect
her eyes. The wind shifted completely, bringing the strong scent of the jaguar
male to them. Juliette turned and pushed her way through the shrubbery, careful
to keep from making noise. Solange had already melted away, lost in the forest
of orchids and fungi and fern. Few could surpass Solange's ability to blend into
the forest and remain unseen. Juliette had complete faith in her cousin. She
moved into position, a distance from the small encampment.
    The jaguars were using a small cave, man-made, dug into the side of the
embankment. The opening was a mere slit between two boulders. Solange worked her
way in a circle around the area, knowing there had to be a back entrance. The
jaguars would never risk being trapped in the cave. The wind shifted as she
moved, always in front of her, giving her the exact location of the sentries. A
jaguar male, obviously trusting in the forest warning system, rested in the tree
branches to the left of the cave, sleeping in the late afternoon, tired from the
two-day rush through the forest. The second guard crouched in human form near a
large group of ferns. Solange was certain it was the bolt-hole for emergencies.
She made her way back to Juliette to confer.
    The two lay side by side in the grasses. Solange pressed her mouth to
Juliette's ear. "I couldn't hear anything in the cave. I think they're resting.
I'm fairly certain I can get close enough to the guard in his human form to kill
him, but neither of us is going to be able to do much with the jaguar. He's big
and he's a fighter." She touched her side. "He's fast too."
    "We don't stand much of a chance inside," Juliette pointed out. "With the one
up in the tree, I counted five. We're not going to win against five fully grown
jaguars."
    "Four," Solange said firmly. "After I take out the guard. You're right
though, we have to draw the others out of the cave to have any chance at all."
    "I can do that," Juliette said with confidence.
    No
! Riordan's harsh command was sharp. She heard the echo of
Zacarias's protest.
Wait as long as possible
.
    "Riordan wants us to wait, Solange," Juliette reported uneasily. She had no
idea how her cousin would react. "He will try to rise before sunset to help us."
    Solange nodded slowly. "I guess it makes sense, Juliette. We don't have to
like it, but we don't have much chance against five males."
    "I want to get closer, just to make certain they aren't touching her,"
Juliette said.
    "I'll go. I can be invisible." A small, humorless smile tugged at Solange's
mouth. "Well, not like your Carpathian, but I manage."
    "You have a gift," Juliette acknowledged.
    Solange began to circle back around toward the rear entrance, presuming
Jasmine was being held as deep in the cave as possible. Once the jaguar in the
tree stirred, yawned, his mouth gaping open to show sharp