Part 47 (1/2)

Rachael rose up under the waterfall, lifting her head to allow the water to cascade over her face. She pushed back the heavy fall of her hair and smiled with the sheer joy of being alive. The water was an amazing shade of blue, the white mist hovering above in the canopy like fluffy clouds. Twilight was falling, a soft gray sky that brought out the bats, wheeling and dipping as they darted for insects over the water. She glanced across the small pool toward Rio.

He was stretched out full-length on a large gray slab of rock, his vivid green gaze fixed on her intently.

”I love this place, Rio. Do you come here often?”

”When I want a good long soak and a lazy swim.” He didn't lift his head, just watched her standing waist deep in the water looking like a tempting water nymph. ”There aren't any leeches in the water here, so it's safe to swim.”

Rachael smiled at Rio and began wading toward him. Birds lifted up into the air from the branches of several trees around them, wings fluttering strongly, filling the air with a humming noise. She froze in midstride, looking up toward the airborne flock. Her heart began to pound. She looked across the water at Rio. He was no longer lying lazily but crouched on the rock, all senses alert.

He signaled to her without looking at her, moving his hand in a semicircle.

Rachael glanced at the two small clouded leopards

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lying partially hidden in the overgrown fern. Sleepy from their rough-and-tumble play, the two had been drowsing in the shelter of the fronds; now they were as alert as Rio, mouths open wide, ears up, scenting the air. She forced her body to move, heading in the direction Rio signaled. He wanted her out of the water and into deeper cover immediately. The forest sentinels were on the alert. A hunter had moved into their realm.

Rio's arm swept around her. ”It's all right. We knew this was coming. It's important for him to spot you.” He brushed a kiss across her temple. ”Just not until you get clothes on. We left a fairly clear trail leading to the small hut Tama and Kim and I put up for you. You'll look like a native woman trying to make it on your own.”

Rachael leaned into him for comfort. Rio's arm tightened. ”We don't have to do it this way, sestrilla. If you're afraid, we can find another way to let him see you.”

She shook her head decisively. ”No. I want to be the bait. Armando has held my life over Elijah for so long, it feels good to be able to do something positive.

I don't care if it is acting like a ninny in a native hut to put on a show for Armando's spy. It makes me feel empowered against that horrible monster. He destroyed Elijah, and he used me to do it.”

He nuzzled her ear, all the while walking her out of the water and into the shelter of the trees. ”We s.h.i.+ft here, Rachael. Armando's spy can't see you as a leopard. We have to give him a wide berth and get you back to the hut. We don't want him coming across your scent as a leopard and identifying you as a s.h.i.+fter.

Let him see you from a distance in human form. I'll be covering you. If he makes a wrong move, I'll kill him.”

She winced over his bluntness. That was so like Rio. ”You're certain he's alone, it's just the spy and not my uncle?”

”Listen to the animals. It's the leopard, and he's heading toward the hut.”

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She let her breath out. ”What about Fritz and Franz? You'll have to make certain they stay away. I don't want them to get hurt. You know they'll follow you wherever you go.”

”Don't worry, we've hunted many times together. This will work, Rachael. Your uncle has too big an ego to just let his leopard handle it. If he thinks he can kill you under Elijah's nose, that's what he'll choose to do.”

”Don't worry about me. I'll admit to being afraid, but in a positive way. I finally feel useful to Elijah.” She turned her face into his shoulder and rubbed affectionately in the way of the big cats. ”I'll be fine.”

”He may try to grab you to bring you to your uncle, but I doubt it. I'm counting on this being a scouting trip, just to confirm your presence. Be alert anyway, Rachael, just in case I'm wrong.”

He stepped up onto the embankment and pulled her up with him so they were nearly hidden in the thick brush. He was already s.h.i.+fting, his fur brus.h.i.+ng her bare skin as he did so. That always amazed her, the miracle of change. It seemed incredible that she could plunge her hands into the fur of a leopard, even more incredible that she could stroke its back and rub its ears. In spite of the very real danger from her uncle, Rachael smiled happily as she allowed the change to take hold of her.

The trip through the forest was much longer, slinking carefully along the path leading away from their home. A small hut had been erected in a particularly thick grove of trees. The trunks were thinner and the trees closer together. Rio wanted to make certain a marksman would have a difficult time shooting through the trees. If Armando's. .h.i.t man wanted to kill Rachael, he would have to do it up close and personal. He would have to use his leopard form to attack her.

Rachael stayed close to Rio as they moved through the trees, making certain to show the gibbons and birds they weren't hunting. They didn't want the intruder alerted to

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their presence as they wound their way through the trees and brush to the three- sided hut. The fourth side was open and sheltered by the overhead canopy and thatched roof. It was the type of travelers' hut often used by the tribesmen as they moved from place to place.

Rachael's clothes were already stashed in the hut and she hastily s.h.i.+fted to pull them on. Rio remained in his leopard form, his unblinking, watchful gaze fixed on her as she tugged on her jeans and pulled on a s.h.i.+rt. She smiled at him, leaned down and brushed a kiss on top of the leopard's head. ”Be safe, Rio.

Keep Elijah safe for me.” Her heart was pounding, she knew her leopard could hear it, could smell her fear, just as she could taste it in her mouth. When the big cat rubbed up against her leg she wrapped her arm around the thick neck.

”Don't underestimate him. Armando Lospostos is a monster. You can't forget that, not even for a moment.”

Rio wanted to s.h.i.+ft, just for a moment and hold her in his arms to comfort and rea.s.sure her, but he didn't dare. The forest had come alive with news. Her uncle had done the unexpected, arriving with his large contingent of men along with his leopard spy. Armando was taking no chances of missing his opportunity. He sent the spy from his hunting camp already being established a few miles upriver. Rio hoped Elijah was listening to the chatter of the creatures as well as their human allies as they carried the news up and down the river and through the trees.

Rio rubbed against Rachael's body in a long caress one last time before leaping into the low-hanging branches of a tree near the open side of the hut. She looked alone and vulnerable. It was just the way she was supposed to look, but d.a.m.n it all, it still twisted at his heart. He disappeared into the thick foliage, knowing she couldn't see him, hoping she would feel him close. If the spy leopard made a move against her instead of just confirming her presence, Rio had no doubt he would have to make a kill.

It took the leopard a day and night of searching to find 344.