Gabrielle's skin went dead white and she turned her face into Gary's shoulder at her mother's rejection. Joie and Jubal sprang in front of their sister, blocking her from her parents' view. Mikhail moved with blurring speed, putting his body between the hysterical mother and her daughter. Gary swept Gabrielle into his arms, holding her close, and Traian stepped between Joie's parents and his sister-in-law, shielding them with his larger frame.
Mrs. Sanders dropped to her knees, her keening wail rising, filling the house. Mr. Sanders tried to bring her to her feet, but she struggled against him, shaking her head from side to side, wailing the entire time. «Mom! Get control,» Jubal snapped. «It's Gabrielle and
she needs you to be strong, not turn away from her.»
Traian and Mikhail exchanged an apprehensive glance.
Joie raised her chin. «She is what I am. If you can't deal with Gabrielle as a Carpathian, you'd better know that I'm one and so is Traian. We stand with Gabrielle.»
Mrs. Sander's entire demeanor changed. She rose slowly to her feet, her eyes going opaque, her body suddenly fluid and catlike. Her head went down in a classic stalking manner. «Get away from my daughter.» She enunciated each word.
«Marissa,» Mr. Sanders reprimanded sharply.
She growled at him, a deadly hiss accompanying the warning. Her fingers began to curl and her body stretched, muzzle elongating. Bones cracked and her spine bent.
«Mom!» Joie sounded horrified. «Mom, stop!»
Traian stepped in front of his lifemate, his heavier body shoving her back. At the same time he swept her brother behind him with one powerful arm.
«Mom.» Jubal added his plea. «What are you doing?»
Mikhail stepped up to Traian's side. The two Carpathians stood shoulder to shoulder facing the threat. «Mrs. Sanders.» Mikhail was calm, trying to reach the mind of Gabrielle's mother.
He found a red haze of anger, a cauldron of fear. Seams burst. Material ripped. Fur burst across skin and she was on the floor, teeth filling her muzzle. Mr. Sanders tried to put a calming hand on her, but she ripped at him with razor-sharp claws.
Traian sprang forward, using preternatural speed, a blur of motion, scooping up Joie's father and shoving him toward his daughter. Mr. Sander's arm bled from the long, deep scratches, and Joie sobbed as she hastily reached for her father.
«Dad, what's wrong with her? You obviously know. Tell us.»
«What is she?» Jubal demanded.
«Jaguar,» Traian supplied. «She is from a pure jaguar bloodline.»
The cat crouched, tail switching in agitation, eyes on the two Carpathian males blocking her path to her goal.
Mikhail, step back, Traian warned. She is about to attack.
She is Joie's mother, Mikhail reminded him. We cannot hurt her.
There is no we. Get back. Traian edged forward in an effort to protect Mikhail as well as his lifemate and the others.
«She never did that when we were in school and she was really upset with our teachers,» Jubal said. «What the hell, Dad? Did you know?»
«Shut up, Jubal,» Mr. Sanders snapped. «Now is not the time for levity. She is very dangerous.»
«You think? You've got blood dripping all over the floor.»
«What triggered this?» Mikhail asked calmly.
Mr. Sanders shook his head. «I have no idea. She seemed to accept everything you told her.»
«All of you back out of the room. Let Traian, Mr. Sanders and me handle this,» Mikhail ordered.
I am on my way, Mikhail. Wait for me. Gregori, as always, was perfectly calm.
Oh, now you want to help. I think I can take care of one jungle cat.
If you got so much as a scratch on you, your daughter would have my head on a platter. Besides-you are getting old and slow.
As Joie, Jubal, Gabrielle and Gary began to slowly inch their way out of the room, the cat became more agitated, leaping to its feet, running at the two Carpathian males, a roar of rage shaking the house. Her children stopped.
The jaguar exploded into action, leaping over furniture to hit Traian squarely in the chest. Her weight and the suddenness of the attack pushed him over backward. She went for his throat, trying to sink her teeth deep. He caught her between strong hands, holding the snarling cat off.
Gabrielle screamed. «Don't hurt her!»
That's my mother! Joie cried.
Traian hesitated, and the cat raked his chest with her hind legs, tearing great lacerations, all the while driving its teeth toward his throat. It suddenly switched tactics, claws raking his chest, digging in for traction as she gathered power, pushing off with her hind legs to leap at Gary. She struck hard and fast, going in for the kill.
Powerful hands wrapped around her neck, holding her off, and she stared into the black eyes of the prince. He had moved with blurring speed, inserting his body between the jaguar and its prey.
«Mom! Stop!» There was panic in Joie's voice. «What are you doing?»
Traian had no choice. He was sworn, as all Carpathians, to protect their prince. He circled the strong neck in a half nelson, prepared to break the neck should she persist in her attack on Mikhail.
The jaguar fought, using its flexible spine, but neither male yielded.
«Please, Traian, don't. You can't kill her,» Joie pleaded, rushing forward to grab his arm.
It was enough distraction that the jaguar twisted, nearly getting away from Traian, the claws tearing at Mikhail.
«Enough!» The command thundered through the room as a tall, broad-shouldered man strode in. His silver eyes gleamed with lethal intent. Ignoring Joie and Jubal's pleas, Gregori reached past Traian and yanked the jaguar's head around to stare into its eyes. «I said enough. If you persist in this action I will slay you immediately. You are human enough to understand me. Go into the other room and regain control now.» There was no give, no compassion. He didn't even glance at the others in the room. He simply picked up the jaguar and flung it toward the door.
The cat landed hard against the wall, slid down and lay for a moment, sides heaving. There was a small silence broken only by the jaguar's heavy breathing. Then it turned its head and snarled.
Gregori let out a long slow hiss, eyes glittering. He took one threatening step toward the cat. «I will not tell you again. You attacked my prince and the penalty is death. There are three Carpathians in this room and by all rights you should be dead. Go before I lose what little patience I have.»
The jaguar slunk off, and Gregori reached down and helped Mikhail to his feet. «Next time, if you do not protect your prince, you will answer to me. I do not care who attacks him, or for what reason. It is your duty to see to his safety whether he likes it or not.» His eyes touched on first Traian, then Joie and Gabrielle. «Do I make myself perfectly clear? Because if I do not, I will go in there and break her neck and show you what one does to keep their prince from harm.»
Traian nodded and reached for Joie. Gabrielle kept her face buried against Gary's shoulder. Mr. Sanders rushed into the other room to attend to his wife.
«I was safe, Gregori,» Mikhail said quietly.
Gregori whipped around to glare at the prince. «Do not tell me you were safe. She was going straight for your throat. Do you think I couldn't read her mind? She intended to rip it out.»
This is fine way to begin our first Christmas celebration. Raven is not going to be
pleased.
Raven would not be pleased if that woman had ripped out your throat. This is not finished, Mikhail, and do not make light of it. Traian and Joie have a lot to answer for. I can excuse Gabrielle, but not the others.