Jasmine nodded. “I’m the easiest target. Solange would be nearly impossible to capture, let alone hold. I doubt they know she’s Dominic’s lifemate. She has a certain reputation and most jaguars fear her. It is known that Juliette is with Riordan De La Cruz. If you take on one De La Cruz, you are taking all of them on. No one in their right mind wants to do that. I’m not a fighter, although I’ve tried to learn how to be one. I’m not the same girl I was when they got their hands on me the first time.”
A little shudder went through her body. Her voice trembled slightly at the end of her declaration. Jubal moved his arm around her and pulled her under his shoulder, sliding right into her chair, lifting her onto his lap as if he did it all the time. He nuzzled her neck.
“You’re strong, Jasmine. You were then and you are now. You have Sandrine and you’ve made her strong.”
Jubal Sanders looked extremely fit. An outdoorsman. There was nothing soft about him. Nothing. He had the body of a natural athlete, a fighter, a man who could handle himself in any situation. If the rumors were true, he had Jaguar blood in his veins. Judging by the ropes of muscle on his body, Sandu could believe it. There was no doubt that he had psychic abilities and he was telepathic. He’d already proven that. He was well respected and was treated as if he belonged in the Carpathian community.
On his wrist, he wore what appeared to be a bracelet made of solid metal, the color silver. Sandu’s gaze strayed often to that bracelet. He noticed Nicu’s did as well. Both were certain that was no ordinary decoration on his wrist but a weapon of some kind. He wore boots like the others, and inside his, there were built-in sleeves for knives and a gun. He had other weapons set by the doors, ready to grab as he hurried out. Sandu caught glimpses of them in Jubal’s mind when he’d spoken telepathically.
Jasmine smiled up at the man. “You always make me feel strong, Jubal. I love that I can put my designs on paper and you make them come to life. When we first started working together, I had no self-esteem, and you gave it back to me. You gave me confidence in myself again so I could give that to Sandrine.”
Jubal shook his head and brushed a kiss on top of her head. “You always had it, honey. Always. You just lost your way for a little while. That was understandable. You focused on your baby. Now you’re back to seeing the entire picture again.”
Laughter bubbled up. A little pixie giggle that made Sandu want to laugh with her.
“You mean you, Jubal. You’re the entire picture again?”
Jubal lifted an eyebrow, looking down into Jasmine’s face. “Aren’t I?” He looked around the room, then at Solange. “I am, right?” He kept his features deadpan.
Solange, for the first time, actually smiled. More than smiled. She burst into laughter. “I’m certain you are, Jubal,” she confirmed.
The tension in the room completely dissipated.
Do you wish for me to track these men, Sandu? Benedek asked.
Sandu caught the impression of the harpy eagle sitting in the branches of a tree, watching the old ruins carefully.
Dominic answered. We do not want to tip them off that we are on to them if they are still in the vicinity, Benedek. Would you mind keeping watch?
I am very comfortable sitting here, Benedek responded immediately.
There is a hidden door, Solange said. It leads inside the temple. If they simply disappeared, most likely they are inside there. It is a large area, and there is plenty of breathable fresh air. When I was a child, we hid there. Eventually, that hiding spot was taken from us, too.
I will watch, Benedek assured them.
Sandu sent out the call for more information. Petru? Siv? Anything at all will help us. We are trying to gather as much data as possible to ascertain what we might be facing.
Afanasiv replied first. I scanned a large area, looking mainly for the undead as I made my way toward the village beside the river. Several times I found myself uneasy, but there was no clear reason why. I fed and returned to take a closer inspection of the area. That is what I am doing now. The animals and reptiles are not showing alarm unless I approach too closely to the ruins of the old Mayan site.
Dominic threaded his fingers through Solange’s. What do you mean, Siv? Can you describe the unusual behavior?
Lizards and frogs have retreated. The baboons and monkeys I generally see with family units in the neighboring trees have deserted the area. They have gone so far as to invade other territories at the risk of war. There has not been all-out fighting, but certainly posturing and verbal threats between the males. The females are cowering but refusing to take their young back to their own territories, and the male isn’t forcing them to go. If anything, he’s indicating he is willing to fight for new territory.