Part 30 (1/2)

She was so proud of him.

Flinging herself flat on the floor of the cave, she crawled to the edge and positioned herself for the best angle. She shot a cougar as it turned toward Jackson, then shot another that pranced beneath Warlordas ropes, shaking them like a boy shook an apple tree. She shot one bullet after another, and did as Warlord had instructeda”she made each one count. She emptied the pistol, and as she thrust more bullets into the clip she looked for Warlord.

He hung there like a target.

Blood covered his arm. Using one hand he descended a few feet, shot at the beasts below, descended again.

She had to give him the time to get to the ground. She had to keep the Varinskis at bay. Nothing she had ever done in her life was as important as that.

Her fingers shook, and she counted each bullet as she pressed it in place. Five, six, seven . . . She heard a roar from below, and glanced up.

Innokenti was on his feet, weaving back and forth. He looked around his battlefield.

His victory was slipping from his grasp.

Angry color flooded his face. He fixed his gaze on Warlord, grinned evilly, and strode toward the cliff to wait.

Karen didnat have time to load her weapon.

She refused to watch helplessly.

Grabbing the dangling rope, she kicked off, and from a height of twenty-five feeta”more than a two-story buildinga”she flung herself at Innokenti.

Maybe the Varinski blood in her made her stronger than ever in her life.

Maybe she was secretly a ninja warrior.

Maybe it was the strength of her love for Warlord.

She didnat know. She knew only that when she slammed onto Innokentias shoulders, every bone in her body crunched, but the impact knocked him flat on his face. And she was still alive and fighting.

As he lifted his head, she smashed her gold-clad wrists against his ears. The bracelets clanged against his bolt earrings.

His head dropped again. He shook it like a dog shaking off water.

With a haste born of desperation, she wrapped the length of the rope around his neck and twisted.

Warlord was going to make it. He would be okay now.

But she . . . she was in trouble.

Beneath her, Innokentias ma.s.sive body bucked like a maddened bull. He choked. He gagged. He gasped for air.

But his Varinski blood was pure.

Inexorably he rose. He reached over his head. As she rode his shoulders, he grabbed her thighs, lifted her high, and flung her as hard as he could.

As Warlord landed, feet on the battlefield, he heard a cry of pain.

A Varinski fell from the top of the cliff and splattered on the rocks. Up above, his brothers were fighting, and winning at least one victory.

He glanced back toward Karen, but she was gone. Innokenti stood, flexing his fists, looking dazed and chagrined.

Warlord had never imagined a woman could fight like that, like an Amazon, tackling Innokenti from such a height. Head bet Innokenti had never imagined it, either.

She had just kicked Innokentias a.s.s.

Now somehow shead freed herself and fled.

Smart girl. Smart Karen.

Warlordas arm was broken, the bone shattered by Innokentias bullet.

So what? Now it was his turn to fight.

He faced a charging cougar.

The cougar bowled him over, straddled hima”and while Warlord was on the bottom, he cut out the cougaras heart with his knife.

While the creature became human, while it twitched, while the last of its blood drained away, he called, ”Innokenti.”

The big b.a.s.t.a.r.d insolently looked him over, noting the blade and the blood. ”Little man, this time I will kill you.”

”You should have done it when you had me in chains.” Warlord leaped at Innokenti, and as he did he changed. The sleek black panther struck Innokenti full in the chest, knocking him backward, landing with all his weight.

Innokenti began his change, transforming himself into a panther, large, strong, sleek, spotted.

But he wasnat quick enough. While he was caught in the stage between man and big cat, Warlord ripped out his eye with one swipe of his claws.

For Magnus.

Innokenti shrieked with rage and agony.

Now the battle was even; Warlordas arm was shattered, but Innokenti was blind on one side.

Warlord struck again, aiming at his throat.

Innokenti jerked back, but barely in time.

His sharp white teeth snapped at Warlordas chest.

Warlord lowered his head and smashed it into the bleeding wound that was Innokentias face.

Innokenti shrieked again, and clawed at Warlordas ear.

Warlord felt the pull, heard the flesh rip, knew it hurt . . . but he didnat feel it. He didnat feel the pain of his arm. He knew only one thing.