Hot Blooded

They were doing their best to tolerate him and trust him because they loved
Juliette. "She wants me to heal your wounds, Solange. I do not think she will
leave this place and be calm without me doing so." It was the only leverage he
had. If Solange didn't comply he would have no choice but to use his other
gifts.
    "Get it over with then." Solange never took her eyes from her cousin. "I am
not going to your ranch. I'll destroy these bodies so our race remains secret,
and Jasmine and I will go to our home at the edge of the rain forest, far from
this place. We'll wait there for Juliette's return. Jasmine and Juliette will
not be happy being apart." It was a clear warning.
    Riordan nodded. "I am fully aware of that." Not wanting to waste any more
time on talking, Riordan immediately allowed his physical self to fall away,
called his spirit into a strong ball of healing energy and entered Solange. She
had many wounds. Most were superficial, but some went bone deep, just as he had
found in Juliette. He spent precious time healing from the inside out, shocked
at how difficult it was to keep his mind from Juliette and the fact that time
was slipping away from him. He was always focused, yet it required a tremendous
discipline to shut out all thoughts and concentrate on his task.
    Solange lay watching him. Her gaze never wavered. Her eyes never blinked. Her
hand remained in Jasmine's, but her attention was fixed on Riordan. When his
body swayed and the soothing warmth disappeared from inside of her she let out
her breath. "Jasmine, he's got to take Juliette now. We have to be strong a
little longer."
    Jasmine leaned over immediately and kissed Juliette. She didn't look at
Riordan when she spoke. "Thank you."
    "You two must be safe. If you go to my ranch—"
    Solange shook her head. "No, I can't. Please try to understand. I know you've
helped us, but we haven't had very good experiences with men and we feel safer
alone."
    Riordan couldn't help but see the shudder that went through Jasmine. Juliette
squeezed her sister's fingers. "I am sorry. I really have to take her to a safer
place for the conversion. I do not like leaving the two of you alone and
unprotected."
    "Thanks to your healing skills, I'm able to protect us." Solange looked
around her at the bodies lying on the ground. "Most of our enemies are dead.
Take her before we lose her."
    Riordan gathered Juliette in his arms but stopped when Jasmine made a soft
sound of distress. "What is it, little one?" He used his most gentle voice.
    "How long?" Jasmine clung to Juliette as if she couldn't let her go.
    "Can you be separated two days? That will give her time to heal enough to be
safe rising. Solange knows of my people. Our word is our honor. I give you my
word, we will return at once to you, the moment we rise. Juliette would want
nothing else."
    Jasmine nodded and reluctantly allowed her sister's hand to drop limply from
hers. She leaned into Solange for protection. Solange wrapped her arms around
Jasmine. "Go now, we can be unselfish enough to let you take her. I'll take care
of things here."
    Riordan didn't wait for a second invitation. He already felt the first
stirrings in Juliette's fragile body, a wave of unease, a ripple of fire. Time
was running out. He launched himself skyward, hugging Juliette to him, hearing
Jasmine gasp then begin to sob. Glancing down he could see Solange sitting up
slowly and gathering her young cousin to her.
    I should be with her, with Jasmine.
    It should never have happened
, Riordan replied grimly. He had no
idea how he managed to keep the black anger swirling inside him at bay. He had
Juliette's memories now, the intensity of her love for her sister and cousin.
The memories of her aunt and her mother dying at the hands of deviant males. His
every protective instinct was aroused, and rage lived and breathed inside of
him.
    Thank you for caring about them. And thank you for what you did for my
cousin. I know it was uncomfortable not being accepted.
    Fire blossomed in her stomach, spread through her body, engulfing every
organ. He shared the pain, shocked at the intensity. He was as unprepared as
Juliette for the violence of it. She shivered in his arms, biting back the cry
of pain and trying to break the merge between their minds.
    Riordan increased his speed. He couldn't make the protection of his ranch, or
even get close to his home range, but after centuries living and hunting