Lair of the Lion

The lion seemed to flow over the ground, stalking her in slow motion. Although men and horses surrounded her, it looked only at her, staring with deadly intent.
    The horses were rearing and plunging, dragging their riders with them in all directions as they tried to escape. The men were forced to abandon their mounts in order to protect themselves and Isabella. The odor of fear was pungent. Sweat broke out on their bodies, but to a man they stood frozen in place while the storm raged around them.
    The lion suddenly exploded into a dead run, its speed unbelievable, smashing into the circle of men, swiping with razor-tipped claws, so that they ran for their lives, leaving a clear path to Captain Bartolmei, Sergio Drannacia, who stood shoulder to shoulder with him, and Isabella. The beast leapt, hundreds of pounds of solid muscle, going straight for Isabella. Sheer terror found a home in her heart, in her soul. She stood frozen, watching death come to her.
    A second lion emerged from the storm, a great shaggy beast with a thick golden and black mane. Larger and even more heavily muscled, it roared a challenge as it intercepted the first lion, distracting it from reaching its prey. The two lions slammed into each other in midair, crashing together so hard that the ground shook. At once the fight became a frenzied battle of teeth and claws. Ferocious and mesmerizing, the roars reverberated through the air, drawing other lions. Blazing eyes burned brightly through the snowflakes.

    Isabella watched the second lion closely. It was well muscled, in its prime, and obviously intelligent. She could see it driving in again and again for the weakened areas where blood already marked the other male. The sound of bones crunching chilled her, horrified her. In the end, the large predator held the smaller lion helpless in its grip, teeth buried in the throat until the fallen animal strangled.
    Captain Bartolmei signaled to Sergio. "Now!" They both leapt toward the victorious lion, swords ready.
    "No!" Isabella shouted, brushing past the two men to place her body between them and the lion. "Get away from him."
    The men stopped abruptly. Silence fell, leaving the world white and dazzling, and nature held its breath. The lion swung its great head around, its muzzle still bloody. The eyes fixed on her, blazed at her, a peculiar amber that seemed to glow with knowledge and intelligence. With sorrow. "No," she said again very softly, her gaze trapped in the lion's.
    "He saved us."
    As she stared at the great cat, the wind gusted and blew snow all around them, momentarily blinding her. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision. The wind blew the snow aside, and she found herself staring into wild amber eyes. But the victorious lion was gone. The amber eyes belonged to a human predator. She was no longer seeing a lion standing over the fallen beast, but Don Nicolai DeMarco. He stood tall and straight, his long hair blowing in the wind, snow falling on his broad shoulders and elegant clothes.
    Isabella's stomach somersaulted, and her heart melted. She blinked to remove the snowflakes from her lashes. The don's tall frame blurred and wavered so that his long hair seemed a golden, flowing mane around his head and shoulders, deepening in color from tawny to black as it cascaded down his back. His hands moved, drawing her attention, and the illusion had her looking at two huge paws. Then the don moved, and the strange, wavering mirage disappeared, and she was once more looking at a man.
    He glanced down at the body of the defeated lion, and she saw the shadows in his eyes.
    He hunkered down beside the great cat and buried one gloved hand in the thick fur, his head bowed for a moment in regret. Behind him was a small army of men on horseback. Don DeMarco rose to his feet and signaled the riders to hunt for the runaway horses.
    He walked right up to Isabella and took her hand in his. "Are you injured, my lady?" he asked softly, gently, his amber eyes capturing hers, holding her prisoner, setting butterfly wings fluttering deep inside her.
    Mutely Isabella shook her head as she looked down at her hand in the palm of his, almost afraid she would see a great paw. His fingers closed around hers, and he pulled her close to the warmth of his body. Her body was trembling in reaction, and as hard as she tried, she couldn't stop herself. Don DeMarco removed his cape and swirled it around her shoulders, enfolding her with his body warmth. He reached