A young slim man inclined his head. "I am Akkarat from the Akha village. I ventured into tiger territory a year ago, searching for my cousin. I found him here. He'd fallen in love and didn't want to leave. When I met his mate's sister, I didn't want to leave either."
The young woman seated next to Akkarat gazed up at him with adoring eyes.
"My cousin and I decided to become were-tigers so we could be fitting husbands and worthy of our chosen mates." Akkarat glanced sadly at a young woman who sat alone with tears in her eyes. "My cousin did not survive the transformation."
"I'm so sorry." Caitlyn's heart sank. What Carlos had said was true. She could die. "I was at the Akha village, and Ajay mentioned you and your cousin. They believe you were both killed by a man-eating creature."
Akkarat snorted. "We fell in love."
Raghu growled deep in his throat. "Everyone accuses us of being man-eaters." He pointed at the plate in her lap. "We eat chicken. Try it."
She bit into a piece of grilled chicken and nodded. "It's very good. We're actually on our way back to the Akha village. I could tell Ajay that Akkarat is alive and well."
"No, you must not," Raghu said. "It is good that they fear coming into our territory. We must keep our existence secret."
She nodded. "I understand." If Carlos's tribe had kept their secret better, they might still be alive. She glanced at him. He was watching her with a worried look.
"What have they been saying?" he whispered.
"They confirmed what you told me. Not everyone survives the transformation." She set the plate of food aside, too tired and depressed to eat.
"You look worn-out. You didn't sleep at all last night."
She gave him a wry look. "You slept like the dead."
He smiled and brushed her damp hair back from her brow. "Maybe you should rest for a while before we continue our trip."
"I would love that." She was suddenly feeling very weary. The night in the cave had been emotionally wrenching. Booby-traps, Tanit's death, Carlos's death and resurrection, the finding of an American soldier trapped in a forty-year-long coma. It was a lot to take in. And now she had another emotional quandary to deal with. Should she risk death to become a were-panther?
She turned to Raghu. "Is there a place where we can rest for a while?"
"Of course. Your clothes will not be dry until tomorrow, so you will be spending the night."
"Thank you. You are very kind."
Raghu inclined his head. "We are honored to have a were-panther and his mate as our guests. He fears losing you, doesn't he? That is why he hasn't bitten you."
"Yes."
"A man must conquer his fear so he can be with his chosen mate." Raghu glanced at Malai with love in his eyes. "Now we are expecting our first child."
"That's wonderful."
He turned toward Caitlyn. "You cannot give him were-panther children if you do not transform. If you remain human, your children will be human."
She closed her eyes briefly. Everything had seemed so perfect in the grotto, and now it all seemed wrong. "He needs to have were-panther children. His people are in danger of extinction."
"He is searching for other were-panthers?" Raghu asked. When Caitlyn nodded, he continued, "There are a few panthers south of here, but they are not shifters."
"Oh." Her heart plummeted further.
"There are a larger number of panthers east of Chiang Mai, close to Laos," Raghu said. "He may have better luck there."
"I'll tell him. Thank you." She rose to her feet, and Carlos stood beside her. "I'd like to rest now, if you don't mind."
Carlos woke when Caitlyn stirred in his arms. They'd been shown to a small house on stilts on the edge of the tiger village. Their backpacks were inside, and he'd quickly checked on their weapons. Then he'd stretched out on the pallet beside Caitlyn and they'd slept.
She stretched and opened her eyes.
He smiled. He always loved looking at the beautiful turquoise color. "Sleep well?"
"I dreamed the Terra-Cotta Warriors were chasing me through the jungle." She sighed. "What time is it?"
"The sun's still up. I estimate late afternoon, but I'm not sure. I suspect one of the tiger children is sporting a new watch."
"You took yours off when we stripped?"
He nodded. "How are you?"
"I'm wondering what I'm doing in Thailand when you never really needed to search for a mate."
"I still need to find more of my species."
She frowned. "Raghu said the panthers south of here aren't shifters."
Carlos rolled onto his back and stared at the thatched roof. Had he come all this way for nothing?
"He said there are more panthers east of Chiang Mai close to the Laos border," she continued.
There was still hope. "We'll go there after we take care of the soldier in the cave."
She sat up and hugged her knees. "I need to decide if I should become a were-panther."
"No." He sat up beside her. "We can't risk it. We'll just live like normal people."
"With normal children? What about your endangered species?"
He shrugged. "It can't be helped. I suppose the were-panther children will have more children when they grow older."
"We can't unload that burden on them. And I want my children to be like you, Carlos. I love you. I want little were-kittens like you."
"It's not going to happen. I'm not risking your life."
"It's my life, so it's my decision to make."
He winced. This was what he had feared would happen. It was the main reason he had avoided telling her the truth. "I'm not allowing you to sacrifice yourself."
"Then you would sacrifice your species? How could you live with me as a mortal without hating me someday for forcing you to give up who you are?"
"How could I live with myself if you died? It would kill me, Caitlyn."
She rested a hand on his cheek. "We can't be sure I would die. I'm terribly stubborn you know."
He snorted. "Sheer willpower might not be enough."
"How about love?" She smoothed her hand through his hair. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too." He kissed her brow. "I couldn't bear to lose you."
She tilted her head to meet his mouth, and he kissed her slowly and thoroughly. Her mouth parted for him and he stroked her tongue with his.
Already his groin was tightening, but he refused to take her quickly. He wanted to explore every inch of her. He was curious to see how she looked and tasted, curious to watch her body react to his lovemaking. Something about being a cat, he supposed.
He nibbled on her neck as he slid a hand down her thigh to the hem of her tunic. When he pulled it up, she lifted her hips to help him. He tugged it over her head, then pushed her gently down on the pallet.
Her ni**les fascinated him. With just a look he could make them pebble. With some suckling he could turn them a darker color of red. With a flick of his tongue he could make the tips harden into tight buds.
Caitlyn's moans were like music, and each time she gasped his name, he wanted to roar with victory. His woman. His wife. The muscles in her stomach trembled as he kissed and nibbled his way to the feast between her legs.
With a moan she opened for him. He rested his head on her thigh so he could watch her reactions to his fingers. She shuddered, and moisture seeped from her core. Her scent made him grow harder. Her folds grew swollen and wet. Her clitoris darkened to a delicious looking red. Her passage was tight and slick around his fingers.
He stroked the inside of her as he leaned closer to flick his tongue on her clitoris. She jolted and let out a keening cry. So close. He sucked her clitoris into his mouth, and she screamed. Her passage clamped down on his fingers.
It was more than he could bear. He withdrew his fingers and plunged inside her. He didn't last long. She was still throbbing, and it sent him over the edge. With a hoarse cry, he pumped into her, then collapsed beside her.
He gathered her into his arms and held her tight. He would never risk losing her. Even if she decided she wanted to risk the transformation, he had the power to stop her. All he had to do was refuse to bite her.
The next day, Caitlyn said their farewells to the were-tigers, then she and Carlos headed toward the Akha village. It was a misty morning with the clouds settled low in the mountains. Her freshly washed clothes soon felt sticky against her body, but she reminded herself that extra humidity was good for her skin.