The attack, when it happened, came from a completely unexpected source—his Heart’s Blood. He’d prepared for an emotional outburst on her part should Reyna arrive to the same conclusion he himself had come to believe. Tariq had been ready to soothe Reyna and convince her to give Alvaro a chance to tell his side of the story. What he hadn’t anticipated was the violence of her reaction.
Reyna’s form blurred at his side. Between one heartbeat and the next, she’d morphed from warm female companion to a snarling, screaming, ravaging beast. She launched herself at Alvaro. Pandemonium erupted.
Everyone rushed forward, talons and fangs bared, ready to protect the High Lord. It didn’t matter Reyna was his Heart’s Blood. She and her species were an unknown element and obviously a threat. Due to his negligence, they were unaware of the underlying issues.
“Stand down,” Tariq ordered sharply, even as he rushed forward in a burst of speed to intercept the leaping cougar. He was fast, damn fast, with preternatural ability. The Felini male was quicker.
Jorlan shifted on the fly, catching Reyna mid-body. The force of the impact knocked them several feet away.
“Give them room,” Tariq ordered when several of his masters made moves, their intent to restrain one or both felines obvious.
“What the hell is going on here, Tariq? Who is that women? Why did she attack me?” Alvaro demanded to know.
Though Tariq had instigated this, he didn’t have time to deal with Alvaro now. His concern was for his Heart’s Blood. Her side of the bond had completely shut off, but Tariq didn’t need the link to know what was in her heart. Pure hatred glowed in those feral, golden eyes. It’s focus? Her father, Alvaro.
She kept trying to get to him. The male Felini blocked all her efforts. They fought in a flash of fur, teeth, and claws, almost too fast for even his enhanced senses to track. Tariq tried talking to her, hoping to calm her fury. The fact he couldn’t feel her didn’t mean she couldn’t feel or hear him.
“Mi corazon, Reyna, I’m sorry. I should have warned you of my suspicions and not sprung this on you. Please, calm yourself and let us get to the bottom of this.” Tariq repeated his plea mentally and aloud, hoping one would get through.
“Suspicions about what?” Alvaro asked. “How does this involve me?”
His focus on Reyna complete, Tariq ignored his friend. The male cougar had her bleeding, heaving form backed into a corner when suddenly he shifted and knelt before her. “I’m sorry, Kitten. I know how much you must be hurting right now, but it’s the truth. Your mother loved your father. Everything you’ve been told about what happened between them was a lie.”
A stunned hush fell on the assembly as those gathered finally realized something significant was occurring. His Heart’s Blood shook her head and even furry, everyone could see her shock and confusion. As this truth sank in, all could see the devastation it caused.
One minute Reyna was there. The next she was gone. She hadn’t even needed to shift back to her humanoid form to teleport. Tariq was highly impressed. His Heart’s Blood was a force to be reckoned with. They were an excellent match, a sentiment he’d be sure to tell Reyna once she’d had a chance to calm.
Jorlan turned to him, his gaze wild. “You have to go after her. They’ll kill her!”
“Would someone kindly explain to me what just happened?” Alvaro demanded.
“Who’ll kill her? Didn’t she return to her lair?” Tariq asked sharply. He hadn’t been able to follow the conversation between her and Jorlan, though it was obvious they’d been communicating telepathically.
“The main pride in Arizona. Reyna’s gone after Isabella to demand answers. If the elders discover Reyna in the den, they’ll kill her. It’s why Isabella sent her away,” Jorlan said, his voice urgent.
“Isabella is dead,” Alvaro said, sounding shaken.
Tariq cursed and paced restlessly. “I thought she’d gone to her lair to lick her wounds. I can’t track her when she’s in her feline form. Can’t get a fix.”
Jorlan crossed the room to grab Alvaro by the shoulders. “You have to take us to her. You can use your bond to track Isabella.”
Alvaro’s olive complexion turned a sickly gray. “She’s dead, I tell you. You think I wouldn’t know if my Heart’s Blood was alive? I saw the proof with my own eyes,” he said raggedly.
A sudden thought struck Tariq. “What form was she in, humanoid or feline?”
“Her cat form,” Alvaro said dismissively. “What does it matter? You think I wouldn’t know my Heart’s Blood no matter which form she took?”
“You told me yourself. We can’t read the Felini when they’re in their feline form. What if it wasn’t her you saw?” Tariq asked, believing he was on to something.
Jorlan shook Alvaro, hard, gaining his attention. “We don’t have time for this. Isabella’s alive but if we don’t reach her soon, this time they really will kill her.”
Tariq remembered Alvaro’s warning about the Felini elders, whom he’d unwisely assumed to be no threat. If Reyna really had gone to seek answers from her mother, she was in grave danger. Heart pounding in fear, Tariq added his persuasion to Jorlan’s. “Alvaro, the time to question is later after we’ve assured the safety of our women. Please, I beg you. Test the bond with your mate.”
Tariq felt sick. He’d contrived to bring Reyna and Alvaro together. If he lost her now after barely finding her, he’d never forgive himself.
Before his eyes Alvaro managed to pull himself together and show exactly why he was the High Lord Master of the western portion of the North American continent. Wrapping his power and authority about him like a cloak, Alvaro shook off his confusion and astonished disbelief and leveled a steady gaze on Jorlan. “You will tell me what this is all about. Everything.”
“Yes, anything. Just hurry,” Jorlan said.
Alvaro’s gaze lost focus as he searched inwardly for a link. For a moment, sheer wonder transformed his features. “She’s alive!”
A second later he was gone, taking Jorlan with him.
Tariq said to Conall, “Arm a core group of our best men and follow me.”
Then with Alvaro as his link, he went after his Heart’s Blood.