All of the Carpathians reached with their senses to scan their surroundings. Sandu hoped someone else would be able to find what he could not. He knew they were being observed. He felt the danger to them, and he was certain it wasn’t the rogue jaguars, but he couldn’t ascertain where the threat was coming from.
Like you, Sandu, Siv said, I know something is there, but I can’t find it.
Dominic, what does your cat say? Did you send him out looking? Solange asked.
He says only that we are not alone, that other animals are aware of the rogues and watch for them. He is more interested in prowling around the temple. He can get inside to see what they are doing.
Solange sighed. “Sometimes I think that cat is useless. We can’t get near the temple if we’re going to lure them out into the open. If we can’t get them out, the shadow cat will go in after whoever doesn’t come out.” She kept her voice low, but as she stepped out of the shelter of the trees, she indicated the houses made of stone, most halfway collapsed, with the rooftops caved in or a wall crumbled.
Jubal walked a few steps away from the women, staring at the stone building Solange had indicated. Jasmine followed him, but stayed to the opposite side of the temple, making it more difficult for anyone inside to see her.
“I should have brought my camera, Solange,” Jubal said, his voice carrying clearly. “It takes excellent night shots. Jasmine, you could sketch this for me when we get back. It’s beautiful with the way the moon shines on it.”
“I think the positioning of the temple had something to do with the moon,” Solange said. “I didn’t pay that much attention to the history of the place. Did you, Jasmine?”
“Juliette is the historian in the family,” Jasmine said. “She loves everything old, including that lifemate of hers.” She laughed at her own joke.
Very funny, Sandu, Dominic said.
They are coming out on the opposite side, where you cannot see them, Benedek announced. Still in the body of the harpy eagle, he had a clear view of the men moving covertly out of the secret door built into the steps. Two carry a weapon that looks like the one Jubal says he invented. One leads; the other has the rear.
How many? Sandu asked.
Eight. Two remain inside, Benedek reported.
Our shadow cat and I will take the two inside, Dominic said.
Nicu, we will take these men, Sandu said. You have our backs. This thing in the forest is close. I still feel danger.
The two men with the weapons were the first that would have to go. They couldn’t afford to have any armament that could easily kill a Carpathian.
I will kill the last man in their column, Benedek said. He is breaking off to circle around and protect them. He is now hunkered down in the stones straight across from where you are standing, Jubal.
I will take the first man with the other weapon, Siv said. He has stepped aside to allow the others to move in front of him. He’s slipping into the forest and is trying to circle around behind the women.
That left Sandu, Solange, Petru and Jubal to dispose of the remaining six. Pick your targets, Sandu instructed. When they show themselves, we are not going to talk. We will simply strike at them. There is no reason to hash this out. He didn’t believe in having conversations with the enemy.
The six remaining rogue Jaguar men came out from around the temple. They were built solid, with the roped muscles of their kind. All wore loose clothing they could shed easily if they needed to shift quickly. They knew they had two of their kind covering them with weapons if Solange’s partner was anywhere around. They also had two others inside the temple watching.
Weapon secure, Benedek reported.
Weapon secure, Siv said nearly at the same time.
“I hope you remember me, little bitch,” Steve greeted Jasmine. “We missed you, didn’t we, Brett?” He turned to smirk at the man closest to him.
Jubal sent his weapon spinning from his wrist, the edges of the blades tipped in silver. It moved through the air so fast it was a blur, a silent, deadly projection slicing straight through Steve’s neck, cutting off his head so cleanly it stayed on his shoulders as the weapon retreated back to Jubal.
Simultaneously, Sandu, Petru and Solange attacked, Solange going for Brett, using her Carpathian strength and speed, driving straight at him, punching through his chest as she would a vampire. At the same time, she punched through his throat, staring him right in the eyes, letting him know this was retribution for her cousin. She let him drop to the ground and turned toward the next man in her line of vision.