He shrugged his broad shoulders. "I was considering leaving my tribe, so I could experience the world and have interesting adventures. I thought I might find that with you and Carlos. I suppose I have."
She winced, hoping his search for adventure didn't get him killed. "Do you know what happened to Carlos?"
"No. I just woke up a few minutes ago, and he was gone. Who are those people?"
"They're working for a chiang-shih called Master Han."
"A chiang-shih?" Rajiv repeated. "I didn't know they were real."
"Apparently, they didn't know until recently that cat shifters are real." She stiffened when she heard the metallic scrape of a bolt sliding and a lock being turned.
The door cracked open and the muzzle of a rifle appeared. Rajiv growled and started to shimmer.
"Don't even think about shifting." A man swung the door farther open and shot tranquilizer darts into Rajiv. When Rajiv started pulling them out, the man drew a handgun from a holster. "Stop it. This one has real bullets."
Rajiv glared at him, then slowly slumped to the side. Two men hauled him from the room.
Meanwhile, the man pointed his gun at Caitlyn. "Don't move."
Her heart raced. "What have you done with Carlos?"
The man looked surprised. "You speak Thai?" He glanced out the door. "They're bringing your husband now."
Two men entered the room, carrying Carlos. She winced at the sight of his blood-soaked chest. They shuffled over to where she sat and dumped him on the pallet.
"Careful," she muttered.
"Why bother?" The man with the gun smirked. "The bastard is dead."
She flinched.
"That's enough, Sawat." The professor, Pat, entered the room. "Carlos's death is a tragedy."
The man with the gun scoffed. "He deserved to die. He killed a lot of our men."
"They died in the service of our Master," Pat argued. He turned to Caitlyn with an annoyed look. "You neglected to tell us you spoke Thai. We removed the bullets and tried to save your husband. We were too late."
Tears filled her eyes. She knew Carlos should revive in a few hours, but it still grieved her to think how much he had suffered. She brushed the hair back from his pale face, and a tear ran down her cheek. "Why are you doing this? Carlos considered you a friend."
"Master Han is in need of a powerful cat," Pat explained. "Once I realized cat shifters might truly exist, I knew they would be the most powerful cats in the world. I thought Carlos could lead us to a cat shifter. It didn't occur to me that he was one until Tanit told me."
Caitlyn sniffed as more tears streamed down her face. "Tanit is dead. We left him in the Temple of Death."
Pat inclined his head. "It is an honor to die in service to the Master."
She snorted. Then that was an honor she wished on the professor and the rest of his crew. "What are you doing to Rajiv?"
"We need him alive, so he will not be harmed. We are fitting a silver collar around his neck. I believe that will keep him from shifting. If not, we will have to keep him tranquilized until we can bring him to the Master."
"What will the Master do to him?"
"The real question is what will the cat shifter do to the Master?" Pat headed out the door, then paused. "We must keep you locked up until this evening. I may be able to release you at that time, but I do not know. The decision will not be mine."
She swallowed hard. "Who makes the decision?"
"Guardians of higher rank than I. I am merely a mortal, but they are chiang-shih. They will awaken in a few hours."
Pat and Sawat left the room, and she heard the scrape of a bolt sliding into place.
With a sigh, she touched Carlos's face. "I hope you wake up before the vampires do."
She wandered about the room, looking for a way to escape or something that could be used as a weapon. The window was covered with bars and boarded up. She found a clay pot under the table and figured it was the toilet. On top of the table was a bowl and pitcher full of water. She might be able to whack someone with the pitcher, but first she would put the water to good use.
She took the sheet off Rajiv's pallet and tore it into strips. Then she poured a little water into the bowl and set it next to Carlos. She washed the blood off his bare chest. He was still wearing his khaki pants and hiking boots.
She stretched him out on the pallet. Even though he couldn't feel anything, she wanted him to look comfortable. She emptied the bloodied water into the chamber pot, then washed her own face and hands. With nothing else to do, she lay down beside Carlos and waited for him to come back.
She must have dozed, for she awakened when she felt Carlos's body jerk. Yes! He was going to revive again. She sat up, her heart expanding in her chest.
His body jerked again and his eyes opened.
She grinned. "Carlos. Thank God." She smoothed a hand over his chest and abdomen. The wounds were gone.
"I died again," he whispered.
"You're all right now." She caressed his face.
He glanced around the room. "We're prisoners?"
"Yes."
He sat up, his eyes wide with alarm. "Is there another room where you can go?"
"No. We're locked up together."
"Merda." He pulled off his hiking boots and socks. "The Surge is coming. I can feel it."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not!" He unbuckled his belt. "Each time it happens, the panther is more powerful. I don't know if I can control it. Caitlyn, you can't let me bite you."
She drew a quick breath. If he bit her, she might become a were-panther. Or she might die.
He pulled down his pants and underwear. "Caitlyn, promise me you won't let me bite you."
She hesitated.
He grabbed her by the upper arms. "Don't even consider it. I will not be responsible for your death."
Tears filled her eyes. "You've died twice for me. Why shouldn't I risk it once for you?"
"Because you don't come back like I do!" He jumped up and paced across the room. His gaze landed on the window. He punched a fist through the bars and shattered the glass.
"What are you doing?" She grimaced at the blood on his hand.
He pulled a jagged shard of glass from the window and dropped it on the pallet beside her. "If I try to bite you, stab me. It won't kill me, but it'll help me come to my senses."
She shook her head. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You have to." He stepped back as his body started to shimmer. "Sometimes it hurts to do the right thing."
With a roar, his body shifted. He came down on all fours and arched his back. She winced at the sound of his bones crackling and elongating. He was by far the largest cat she'd ever seen. Larger than a male lion. She suspected he was larger than a saber-tooth tiger.
He turned his head toward her and growled low in his throat. She picked up the shard of glass.
He lifted a massive paw and set it down in her direction. His golden eyes gleamed, focused intently on her. His body lowered to a few inches off the floor.
She held her breath. She'd seen this move before with her kitten, Mr. Foofikins. It was the classic crouch stance before the pounce.
"Carlos?" Her heart stuttered when his eyes turned red and began to glow. How much of him was a beast? How much control would Carlos have? If he pounced on her, would he maul her to death? Or was he simply driven to bite her and make her his mate?
A growl rumbled low in his throat. His tail twitched. Then he pounced.
His paws hit her shoulders and knocked her back. He stood over her, his legs straddling her. He lowered his head with a grumbling sound in his throat.
She gazed into his red glowing eyes, searching for Carlos. His body trembled, and she realized he was there. He was fighting the beast.
She flung the shard of glass away. "Go ahead," she whispered. "Bite me."
He threw back his head and roared. She winced at the sight of his fangs. When he lowered his head, she turned her face away and squeezed her eyes shut. A wet, raspy tongue licked her neck, and she shivered.
Pop. She gasped. His fangs had broken her skin. He licked her once again, then backed away.
She touched her neck, then drew away her hand. There was blood on her fingers.
His body shimmered and shifted back. He wiped the back of his hand against his mouth and stared at the bloodstain. He looked at her, his eyes amber once again. They widened at the sight of her neck. "No, no."