Mitya didn’t answer. His father wouldn’t have saved him if he was there. Most likely he’d been the one to order the three men to kill him. And he didn’t feel there was anything to say to this cruel coward of a man.
Dymka went inside Kronya’s protected shoulder, raking his teeth down neck, shoulder and side, so that streaks of red dripped from the fur. He leapt back as Kronya attempted retaliation, whirling around and striking out with his front legs. Dymka seemed to hesitate and Kronya turned his injured side away from the large cat.
Dymka attacked, using his weight and the dense muscles to drive him forward. He used his legs to propel him with blurring speed, a battering ram, slamming into Kronya’s side, knocking him off his feet, sending him sliding across the dirt so that leaves and dirt geysered into the air to mix with the mist and fog.
Dymka followed the leopard, his teeth closing around the throat with a vicious snap, driving for the suffocating bite that would end the life of one of his father’s most trusted men. As he bit down with great satisfaction, Taras, guided by the sounds of the battle and half-mad with rage and pain, tore at Dymka’s hindquarters.* * *• • •
ANIA watched the reddish-colored leopard race toward them, only stopping to sniff Jewel’s alluring aroma. He sprayed over the bushes and trees as he went from place to place, claiming Jewel for his own. He roared at her to come to him. Jewel made herself smaller, trying once to shift out from under Ania.
We’ve got this, baby, Ania cooed. He’s too big to get to you. The branches can’t handle his weight. Dymka will come when we need him.
She couldn’t see the leopards as well through the rapidly thickening mist. It was just as well. She needed to keep her wits about her. This leopard was scaring the hell out of Jewel—and her, if she was truthful. She had to believe Dymka would come if she needed him.
Jewel was becoming desperate, needing a mate. That fire burning so hot had transferred to Ania as well. Every part of her ached and burned as she felt Jewel’s frantic need. The male was close now, coming around to the correct side of the tree where Jewel’s scent was the most potent. He stared up at her with those gleaming, malignant eyes.
He looked evil. Wholly evil, as if he’d been consumed by a demon. There was no trick of the light, not with the fog and night falling fast. Whatever was inside that leopard was wholly corrupted.
Ania shivered and took a better grip on Jewel. She had to be in control at all times, so her leopard wouldn’t accidentally shift when she was needed the most to keep the other leopard’s main focus and attention on her.
The creature roared a command. It was clear he was telling Jewel she had to get out of the tree. Jewel cringed, but she didn’t move. She remained very still, looking down a little defiantly at the male. Ania was proud of her. She knew the female was hurting, was desperate for a mate, yet she didn’t give in to nature. She followed Ania’s lead and remained in place.
The male slammed his retractable claws into the tree trunk. Those claws could be used for cutting, holding, killing, fighting or climbing. A ligament was attached from the thick, hooked claw to the bone at the tip of each toe. Muscles, tendons and ligaments allowed the front claws to be used like switchblades. They were lethal weapons when needed, and right now, the male ripped at the bark, sharpening them with deadly intent.
Keeping his eyes on Jewel, holding her terrified gaze captive with his malicious one, the male began to climb. Ania waited until the cat was closest to the spot where he would have to circle around the tree to the other side in order to climb up farther.
His head appeared between the branches, and she shifted just one of Jewel’s legs, or tried to. It wasn’t nearly as easy as she thought it might be. The upper half of her body shifted, leaving her head, torso and arms exposed. The yellow eyes flared. The nose crinkled into a snarl as he drew back lips to expose his stained teeth.
Ania flung a rock into his face. She snapped it, very hard, using her leopard’s strength. The rock hit him right on his nose and the animal slipped backward. He howled in rage as he dug his claws into the trunk to keep from falling.
Ania wanted to move, to follow his descent with more rocks, but she held steady to her place. He could possibly get to her if she went to the lower branches. They were stronger and would hold his weight. Not their combined weights, but definitely his if he stood on them and reached for her.