She was so proud of him.
Flinging herself flat on the floor of the cave, she crawled to the edge and positioned herself for the best angle. She shot a cougar as it turned toward Jackson, then shot another that pranced beneath Warlordas ropes, shaking them like a boy shook an apple tree. She shot one bullet after another, and did as Warlord had instructeda"she made each one count. She emptied the pistol, and as she thrust more bullets into the clip she looked for Warlord.
He hung there like a target.
Blood covered his arm. Using one hand he descended a few feet, shot at the beasts below, descended again.
She had to give him the time to get to the ground. She had to keep the Varinskis at bay. Nothing she had ever done in her life was as important as that.
Her fingers shook, and she counted each bullet as she pressed it in place. Five, six, seven . . . She heard a roar from below, and glanced up.
Innokenti was on his feet, weaving back and forth. He looked around his battlefield.
His victory was slipping from his grasp.
Angry color flooded his face. He fixed his gaze on Warlord, grinned evilly, and strode toward the cliff to wait.
Karen didnat have time to load her weapon.
She refused to watch helplessly.
Grabbing the dangling rope, she kicked off, and from a height of twenty-five feeta"more than a two-story buildinga"she flung herself at Innokenti.
Maybe the Varinski blood in her made her stronger than ever in her life.
Maybe she was secretly a ninja warrior.
Maybe it was the strength of her love for Warlord.
She didnat know. She knew only that when she slammed onto Innokentias shoulders, every bone in her body crunched, but the impact knocked him flat on his face. And she was still alive and fighting.
As he lifted his head, she smashed her gold-clad wrists against his ears. The bracelets clanged against his bolt earrings.
His head dropped again. He shook it like a dog shaking off water.
With a haste born of desperation, she wrapped the length of the rope around his neck and twisted.
Warlord was going to make it. He would be okay now.
But she . . . she was in trouble.
Beneath her, Innokentias ma.s.sive body bucked like a maddened bull. He choked. He gagged. He gasped for air.
But his Varinski blood was pure.
Inexorably he rose. He reached over his head. As she rode his shoulders, he grabbed her thighs, lifted her high, and flung her as hard as he could.
As Warlord landed, feet on the battlefield, he heard a cry of pain.
A Varinski fell from the top of the cliff and splattered on the rocks. Up above, his brothers were fighting, and winning at least one victory.
He glanced back toward Karen, but she was gone. Innokenti stood, flexing his fists, looking dazed and chagrined.
Warlord had never imagined a woman could fight like that, like an Amazon, tackling Innokenti from such a height. Head bet Innokenti had never imagined it, either.
She had just kicked Innokentias a.s.s.
Now somehow shead freed herself and fled.
Smart girl. Smart Karen.
Warlordas arm was broken, the bone shattered by Innokentias bullet.
So what? Now it was his turn to fight.
He faced a charging cougar.
The cougar bowled him over, straddled hima"and while Warlord was on the bottom, he cut out the cougaras heart with his knife.
While the creature became human, while it twitched, while the last of its blood drained away, he called, "Innokenti."
The big b.a.s.t.a.r.d insolently looked him over, noting the blade and the blood. "Little man, this time I will kill you."
"You should have done it when you had me in chains." Warlord leaped at Innokenti, and as he did he changed. The sleek black panther struck Innokenti full in the chest, knocking him backward, landing with all his weight.
Innokenti began his change, transforming himself into a panther, large, strong, sleek, spotted.
But he wasnat quick enough. While he was caught in the stage between man and big cat, Warlord ripped out his eye with one swipe of his claws.
For Magnus.
Innokenti shrieked with rage and agony.
Now the battle was even; Warlordas arm was shattered, but Innokenti was blind on one side.
Warlord struck again, aiming at his throat.
Innokenti jerked back, but barely in time.
His sharp white teeth snapped at Warlordas chest.
Warlord lowered his head and smashed it into the bleeding wound that was Innokentias face.
Innokenti shrieked again, and clawed at Warlordas ear.
Warlord felt the pull, heard the flesh rip, knew it hurt . . . but he didnat feel it. He didnat feel the pain of his arm. He knew only one thing.
Innokenti did feel the pain. Innokenti was stunned by his wounds. Innokenti had never suffered defeat of any kind . . . and this glimpse scared and crippled him.
Warlord attacked, and attacked again.
Innokenti whirled and roared, ripping at Warlordas arms, his belly. But Innokenti was on the defensive, always on the defensive.
Blood coated the ground beneath them, the smell of it inciting Warlordas fighting instinct. Over and over he took pieces of meat off the giant cat that was Innokenti.
Then . . . the moment head been waiting for.
Weakened and in pain, for one betraying second Innokenti lost his panther form. He became a man.
And Warlord ripped his throat out.
For Karen.
He gave a roar of triumph. He burned with glory. He was a panther. He was mighty. He had defeated Innokenti. He had won.
He looked around for other battles to fight.
There were no more.
There should have been celebration, yet it was silent. So silent.
The Varinskis were fleeing, limping, crawling into the trees.
He spotted his brothers, both of them. They were alive. Theyad made it down the cliff and stood at the base, looking down at one of the bodies.
Jackson Sonneta"Warlord recognized him from his picture on the Interneta"stood there, too, scratched and covered with blood, apparently hale and hearty, but frozen in place.
No one was talking. No one was moving. This wasnat right.
He walked toward them. He glimpsed the slight, still figure crumpled against the cliff.
Not a Varinski. That was not a Varinski.
No. Oh, no.
Triumph turned to ashes.
Warlord ran, and as he ran he changed. He was human once more. Blood covered hima" Innokentias, his owna"but true to his heritage, he was already healing.
When Warlord reached Karen, Jasha caught his shoulder. "Careful. He threw her against the rocks. Sheas hurt. Sheas soa""
Warlord struggled free. He flung himself on his knees in the snow beside her.
She was alive. She was still alive. But . . .
"No." He ran his hands lightly over her face.
Her complexion was ashen, her lips blue. She struggled to breathe. Yet at the sight of him she smiled a glorious smile. "You . . . killed him." Her voice was a whisper.
"Yes. Karen . . ." She had suffered internal injuries. Horrible internal injuries. He didnat dare move her.
"Trusted . . . you. Knew . . . you would." She lifted her hand.
Good. She wasnat paralyzed. That was a good sign.
He took her hand. Cold. Not a good sign. "Give me a blanket," he said fiercely. "Something to warm her with."
Jackson handed him his coat.
Warlord tucked it around her.
She examined him anxiously. "Youare hurt."
"Not badly." The bones in his arm shot pain through his shoulder. The skin around his ear oozed. But compared to her wounds . . . "Karen, youave got to fight."
"Did." She closed her amazing aquamarine eyes. Opened them. "We won."
Pain blossomed in him, grew, choked him.
"Won . . . because . . . we knew each otheras . . . secrets. You knew my . . . fears. I knew . . . you were part . . . part of a deal with the . . . devil." She fought for every word. "With your blood in me . . . I am, too."
"Stop talking. Youave got to save your breath." He was frantic, sick with anguish.
He wanted to gather her into his arms.
No. No, he shouldnat, because moving her might make her internal injuries bleed more. Might jar her spine and paralyze her.
She had to live. Oh, G.o.d, she had to live.
"No. Nowas the time . . . for talk." She smiled again, but her lips were trembling. "Iave thought . . . about it. Will . . . definitely . . . marry you."
She was slipping away, and he could do nothing. "Then you have to stay."
"Next . . . time." She smiled at him. "I love you."
He stared into her eyes. "I love you, too. Thatas why weare meant to be together. Karen . . ."
But she was dead.
Chapter Thirty-three.
"Karen!" Warlord shook her, desperate to bring her back. "Karen!"