Part 44 (1/2)

Rachael's eyebrows flew up. ”Elijah, you can't be carrying a garrote.”

”I forgot about it.” Elijah reached up to remove the necklace from around his throat. He handed it to his sister to be added to the growing stockpile of weapons.

Rachael heaved an exaggerated sigh. ”The two of you are crazy.”

”Probably,” Rio conceded. He took the gla.s.s of water she gave him and tipped the entire contents down his throat. ”I take it Elijah didn't try to kill you.”

”Tony was working for Armando.” She busied herself making coffee so she wouldn't have to look at either of them. Her hands were shaking. Her knees felt weak. She had dreaded this moment for so long and now she didn't know how to feel. She almost didn't trust the relief sweeping through her and she was afraid she might start crying all over both of them. ”You had it figured out. Elijah is a s.h.i.+fter.”

”So of course you couldn't go to the police. The first rule is we keep everything in our realm.” Rio let out his breath slowly. ”And Armando is using s.h.i.+fters as a.s.sa.s.sins.”

”He bribed a couple of s.h.i.+fters in South America. Or maybe he blackmailed them, I don't know: He's capable of anything. He could have threatened to burn down the rain forest, or take a major hunting party in to wipe everyone out.” Elijah stretched his legs out in front of him, his black eyes gleaming like obsidian in the night. ”I'm not certain he's human. I went into his house one night. The leopard can go in so stealthily, I was certain I could take him.” He sighed and shook his head. ”He isn't a man, he's a devil. He had a double in his room and he was nowhere to be found.”

”How many s.h.i.+fters does he have?”

”Two that I know of. I doubt if he has more. We're an elusive bunch, and he doesn't spend a great deal of time in South America. Duncan was one of them.”

320.

The elder came in and inclined his head. ”I must go back to the village and care for my grandson. I thank, you for what you did, Rio.”

”I was happy to be of some small service, Elder,” Rio replied. ”I do want news of Drake should you hear. I was unable to get near Joshua and no one else volunteered the information.”

Rachael's head snapped up. She glared at the old man. ”Who did you say was civilized?” She asked sweetly.

”Hafelina.” There was more love than reprimand in the single endearment.

Little cat. She knew it now. Knew what he called her. The long-forgotten language was one she distantly remembered from her childhood and it was beginning to come back to her.

Elijah sat up very straight, a frown on his face. He shook his head but remained silent as the older man came into the room. There was a dignity about him that demanded respect.

”Don't reprimand her for speaking her mind or defending you, Rio,” the elder said. ”She is a woman of courage and integrity. I am no longer a member of the council, but I am bound by our laws. I'll do my best to change what was decreed, but I face punishment for my actions. I wish that I'd taken action some time ago instead of waiting until a personal crisis happened. I'll send word of Drake's condition immediately. Don't get up, I'll s.h.i.+ft on the verandah. My pack is out there.” He smiled at Rachael. ”I am blessed I had such an opportunity to meet you and exchange ideas.” His gaze went to Elijah. ”Your sister has taught an old man it is never too late to right a wrong. You know the right path.”

Elijah gripped the arms of the chair hard, nails digging deep. ”There is no redemption for what I've done.”

Delgrotto smiled. ”Even the sacred high council can be wrong. Who can measure the worth of a man but his own sense of honor?”

321.

Elijah looked away from the warmth in those old eyes. ”If I can't forgive myself, how would I ever accept forgiveness from others?”

”No council can turn away the request of asylum, of sanctuary. It matters little where you were born. There are few true s.h.i.+fters left in this world. We can't afford to lose any of them.” The elder moved into the shadows of the verandah, shedding his clothes and packing them carefully in the traditional leather bag he strapped around his neck before s.h.i.+fting.

There was a long silence. Rachael sighed. ”I really wanted to detest that man.”

”He's a good man,” Rio said. ”He's right to believe in the laws that govern our people. We can't be judged by human standards and we can't take our problems to the police. We have to protect and patrol our own ranks.”

”I see what's going on here,” Elijah said. ”Only a man who has found his mate refers to her as sestrilla or hafe-lina. You can't have Rachael. You can't possibly protect her from Armando. I didn't keep her alive this entire time to let her die out here in this jungle.”

There was a whip to his voice and Rachael winced visibly. Ignoring Elijah, she took a bowl of the vegetable soup and a cup of coffee to Rio. ”Eat all of it, you need it,” she encouraged. ”And don't give me any guff over your precious elder. He isn't a bad man, he's just not as wise as a woman.”

Elijah groaned. ”Don't get her started with the women being superior to men argument, we'll get nowhere with this. Rachael, you can't stay. I can tell you feel something for this man, but you can't stay.”

”I'm in love with him, Elijah.” Rachael said it quietly, staring into her brother's eyes as she handed him a bowl of soup.

”d.a.m.n it, Rachael.”

Rachael huffed out her breath in exasperation. ”Why is it men always say that to me? I seem to bring out swearing in the male species.”

322.

She curled up across from Elijah, settling on the arm of Rio's chair, her arms curving around his neck. She had to touch him, her fingers smoothing his s.h.a.ggy hair. She wanted to inspect his body and make certain there were no scratches to get infected in the humidity of the forest. She had to be content with teasing the nape of his neck with her fingers.