Animal or magic? Julia wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
“It’s the best way to watch the hunt,” Raphael remarked, pointing to the gold and black cats breaking through the trees, stopping momentarily, nostrils flaring, mouths open, trying to catch a scent before taking off once again.
Parish’s roar after he’d read her note still echoed through Julia’s mind and body. She’d hoped he’d have that kind of reaction, and she couldn’t wait to curl up against him later and show him just how happy he made her, and how deeply touched she felt about Fangs.
A loud, feral squeal tore through the mist then, and ripped Julia from her thoughts. What was it? she wondered. The prey they sought? Or an injury to one of the Hunters, perhaps?
She felt equal pangs of curiosity and horror, but along with everyone else on the boat, she lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes on the bank. At first she saw nothing but green, stands of trees and moving fur. She heard growling, followed by another squeal, then a cut off feral scream.
She turned to Raphael, so did Ashe.
“That was quick. Parish is fired up.” Raphael grinned at his woman. “My cub will have bacon tonight.”
Ashe turned slightly pale. “Oh, jeez. Not a visual that’s working for me right now, my love.”
“Sorry, ma chère. I promise, no more details—”
“Look!” cried the female beside Julia. “They’re coming.”
“Maybe you want to keep your eyes closed, my love,” Raphael said gently as the boat slowed, then stopped.
Turning from Ashe, Julia scrambled to her knees. Her gaze shot to the bank. She combed the water’s edge until— There. She watched as the group emerged from behind a stand of cypress. Julia’s heart jumped into her throat and she grinned. Out in front strode Parish’s slate gray puma. Broad and fearsome, he searched each boat with his golden gaze. When he spotted her, his cat grinned with pride, blood covering its muzzle and teeth.
Julia beamed, waved at him. She’d never felt so proud, so possessive. That was her puma. The Hunter, the protector.
But her giddiness came to an abrupt halt when the boat jerked violently and she was tossed backwards onto the metal floor. Pain slammed into her elbow, and she saw the male Pantera passenger fall into the water, followed by something else. Her vision blurred and she felt slightly nauseous. All she could think was that they’d hit something, a rock or a tree. The wind was knocked from her lungs, and as she tried to capture breath, she heard Parish’s roar ringing in her ears, then Raphael’s cry.
Cry? Why was he crying?
She tried to push herself into a sitting position. Her elbow stung and stars swam before her eyes, but at least air was coming in and going out. She heard Raphael again. Then a female Pantera. They were screaming, roaring. But who were they screaming—
Ashe.
Oh, god…they were screaming for Ashe.
The boat rocked and jerked, and Julia heard a loud splash to her right, then water hit her face. She gasped as sound rushed her from all sides. Everyone was screaming, calling out for Ashe.
“The bastard took her over the side with him!” someone yelled.
“Who was it?” said another. “What Faction?”
“I think he’s Nurturer.”
Julia blinked several times, trying like hell to get her bearings. What the hell was happening? Her vision cleared just as Raphael roared from somewhere in the water, “He’s swimming toward the other bank! We’re close to the border! Go! Fuck! Go after him. I have Ashe.”
Fully alert now, her heart slamming against her ribs, Julia scooted over to the edge of the boat. The water and the bank were complete chaos. Pantera were everywhere. She scanned the water for Raphael and Ashe. When she spotted them, her heart stopped. Raphael was swimming madly toward shore, Ashe tucked against him on her back. Julia could see the woman’s face clearly in the burgeoning light of day. She looked cold and pale and quiet.
Without thinking, Julia dove into the water and swam hell-bent for shore. Once there, she scrambled to her feet and ran, neither noticing her aching lungs or how dripping wet and cold she was. She needed to get to Ashe, to her patient.
Pantera crowded around Raphael and his mate, but Julia pushed her way through. She slid to her knees beside Ashe, put her face near the woman’s mouth and assessed her breathing.
“She’s bleeding.”
Julia glanced up.
It was Raphael. He stared at Julia, horror-struck, terrified beyond measure. “The baby.”
CHAPTER 9
PARISH had lost the piece of shit right as he’d crossed the border of the Wildlands.
Poof. Gone.
The instant his traitorous feet had touched down on human soil.
Parish had no idea how such a thing could be possible, or how a traitor had lived among them without detection. Because that was exactly what the bastard was. Ashe was Raphael’s mate, which made her and her child Pantera. And when you attack within your clan you’re a goddamn, good-for-nothing-but-gator-bait traitor.
But Parish and his Hunters were going to find him. In fact, every Hunter he had was patrolling the border at this very moment. Except Bayon. The male was tight with Raphael, and had insisted on staying by his side at Medical. If anyone could keep Raphael from knocking down the door to Ashe’s room, it was Bayon. Julia had made both Bayon and Parish promise to keep Raphael out until she knew what was going on. But it was becoming a nearly impossible task. Understandably, the Suit was losing it. He looked feral, terrified as shit, pacing and cursing and swearing that once he knew Ashe was all right he was going to find and disembowel the one who’d dared to hurt his woman and child.
It had been one hour since they’d arrived, since Julia and several other Pantera doctors had whisked Ashe away. Parish was so proud of his female. He’d never seen hands that worked so quickly, eyes that saw everything, a mind so clear and strong.
“Julia will have news soon,” he told Raphael, who looked as though he wasn’t even aware of Parish’s presence.
“She’s a good doctor,” Bayon added, his gaze on Raphael even though he was speaking to Parish. “We’re lucky in that, as are you, Parish. She’s going to make you a fine mate.”
It was news to Raphael, but he didn’t acknowledge it. He was pacing, hissing, cursing at nothing but his thoughts.
“You must go to the Elders,” Bayon continued. “I’d like to see their face when they hear another Pantera has taken a human as his mate.” His eyes once again cut to Raphael. He was trying to pull the male back into reality. “Where will you live?”
Parish eyed the other Hunter, nodded. “Not in my cave. Can’t have a female and child there.”
“Child?” Raphael stopped in his tracks. “She’s not pregnant?”
Bayon released a breath, cursed.
“Not yet,” Parish told him. “But if you can make cubs with your human, so can I. For now, we’ll take a house close to town, and to Medical.”
The door behind Parish opened then, and Julia, along with three Pantera doctors, emerged. Her thoughtful blue eyes flickered momentarily to Parish, then quickly focused on Raphael.
“First, let me say, the baby’s perfect. All vital signs are normal; heartbeat, fluid within the—”
“Ashe?” Raphael demanded, his expression terrified as he rushed toward her. “Is she all right? Tell me!”
“Easy,” Parish said, holding the male’s shoulder.
“She’s okay,” Julia said quickly. “Stable, and her vital signs are good.”