Leopard's Prey

goin’ to stick close to the Inn when I’m not around. My brothers will keep their eyes on you when I’m workin’. Do you have anything important goin’ on in the next couple of days?”
    “Arnaud asked me to go to the openin’ of his gallery showin’. That’s tomorrow night.” Her smile widened. “It gives me a chance to dress up. It’s a black tie affair.”
    “
Don’
be usin’ the word
affair
in the same breath when referrin’ to that Frenchman,” Remy groused. “He’s all over you.”
    “No, he isn’t. We’re just good friends. I’m worried about him. He doesn’t pay any attention to the news or what’s happenin’ around him. He spends half his time drawin’ and the other half workin’ on his sculptures. It’s rare for him to show up at a gallery and actually talk to anyone who wants to purchase his work. I don’ want him to be an easy target for this killer.”
    “You’re worried that if he’s around you, he might be next.”
    She pressed her lips together and nodded. “I’m worried about you too, Remy.”
    He gave her his leopard grin. Dangerous. Predatory. “Worry about the other guy,
chere
.”

15
    R EMY glanced out the window of the Inn and froze. “What idiot let him go out there
before
he talked to Robert?” He swung around to glare at his brothers.
    “You know Drake. He just gets that look on his face and you back off and let him do whatever he wants to do.”
    Saria moved up beside her brother to stare out at her husband. She gasped, one hand going defensively to her throat. “Can you stop him if he tries to kill Robert?”
    “What do you mean,
tries
?” Remy demanded. “Robert doesn’t stand a chance against Drake. Not even if Dion was stupid enough to try to help him. Robert challenged him, and you’re pregnant. What do you think his leopard is goin’ to do?”
    “No one said anythin’ about Saria bein’ pregnant,” Lojos pointed out with a pious expression.
    “Do you have any idea how bad this is?” Remy asked, worry edging his tone. “Two male members of Drake’s lair came into his home uninvited. His pregnant wife asked them to leave repeatedly and they didn’t. One laid out a challenge for leadership of the lair in Drake’s own backyard. He’s always in control of his leopard, but this is too much. Mine would be killin’ both of them by now.”
    Bijou slipped her hand into Remy’s back pocket. He glanced over his shoulder at her. Her face looked pale.
    “The laws of civilization don’ apply to leopards. We aren’t exactly civilized,” Remy explained, trying to gentle the words with a softer tone.
    “Absolutely lethal,” she whispered. “That’s what you’re sayin’.”
    “Yes. I’m sorry. That’s who we are. Robert has been leopard for years and he
chose
to take such a risk.” Remy’s gaze went back to the large leopard tearing up the trees in a rage. Drake wasn’t known for being a hothead. If anything, he was always the voice of reason. If there was one man who could always keep his leopard under control, it was definitely Drake. He didn’t look under control at the moment.
    “I shouldn’t have been so detailed when he asked me,” Saria whispered, looking up at her brother. “Maybe if I’d skipped the part about Dion and Robert just comin’ in . . .”
    Remy put his finger over his sister’s lips. “Leopards don’ lie to one another. Especially mates. You had to tell Drake, and both Robert and Dion knew the chance they were takin’ goin’ into this.” He looked out the window again. “You’ll just have to trust Drake as your husband and our leader to know the right way to handle this.”
    He stepped back from the window and turned to face the two men sitting straight in their armchairs. Dion appeared resigned, but Robert looked as if he might try to bolt at any moment.
    “Before Drake gets in here, Saria,” Dion said. “I didn’t know you were pregnant and I never would have brought this to you had I known. I know that doesn’t much matter now, but I wanted you to know, I am sorry we upset you.”
    Remy reached behind him and took Bijou’s hand. He had nothing normal to give her. There was nothing typical about their lives nor would there ever be. She had never been normal and now, for certain, she never would be. She was a gentle person, a caring soul. He knew all about the foundations she’d established and the way she took care of the people she’d employed for so long. It was no wonder Rob