so that it withered and fell, leaving Isai and Blue a clear opening to reach their targets.
She is receptive but worries for her mate. Vasile has him and will retaliate against her by killing him.
That brought Isai up short. Julija? Did you hear that? We cannot allow that to happen. They have deliberately separated the cats and will kill the other if one escapes. I will have to free them simultaneously.
How is that possible? You cannot be in two places at the same time, she objected.
No, but you can battle your brother, keeping him occupied to give me time to free the male. I’m sending Blue to him now.
Isai, have you assessed Vasile’s magic? Blue could get caught in his trap.
Blue says no, he is part of Vasile’s magic, so he can see the traps clearly.
That is so. Just tell me what you want me to do. Julija’s assent was clear in Isai’s mind, confirming that she thought the shadow cat could reach out to the male cat Vasile held.
While I am engaging Avram and freeing the female cat, you throw some of your attitude at Vasile. Do not let him think you can best him. I want him countering your every move. I want him full of himself, believing he can best you and willing to show you.
That won’t be difficult. He has a big ego.
You have to keep him fully focused on you, Julija. If he realizes his brother is gone and so is the female cat, he will retaliate against the male. You are the male cat’s only chance. Tell me if you think you cannot do this.
I have spent most of my life annoying Vasile. He has spent most of his trying to prove to his mother that I am very, very far beneath him.
Isai couldn’t wait to meet Vasile. He inched closer to Avram. The man was average height, and very slender. Almost thin, but not quite. Isai had come across a great many men with such a build and many were extremely strong. Watching this one, he doubted if that was the case. This man relied on his magic for everything, including lifting. He was very pale, and now he was sweating. Isai smelled fear. The fear wasn’t of him—but of Julija. Like Isai, Avram recognized that she was the wielder of tremendous power.
“Little sister. Come home. There is no need to test your abilities. You know the outcome and it only makes you feel small. I have allowed you to shred my magic, so you can see I just want you home. You belong with your family. Whatever has happened to cause this rift can be fixed. I will go to our father myself and speak for you.”
Silence followed his plea. The sincerity in Avram’s voice bothered Isai more than his actual words. The entreaty should have sounded like a lie to his ears, but the voice was deceptive. He couldn’t imagine Julija growing up listening to lies couched in sweet, sincere tones. How would she ever be able to trust? How would she be able to trust him? He had not only asked for her faith in him, he had demanded it from her.
I am in your mind.
Her voice was gentle, accompanied by little brushes of her fingers, caresses that were unexpected and intimate.
Yes, you are, sívamet. He couldn’t help but send her the way he felt about her. The fierce need to possess her. The overwhelming softness she created in him. Love. He hadn’t known what that was, and yet now, the emotion was beginning to encompass him entirely. I would like you to engage with Vasile while I finish here. He didn’t want her to witness what he had to do.
At once he felt her withdrawal and across the small valley, on the peak closest to where Julija waited with the cats, he saw a sudden ring of green slapped to the ground by a black hand.
He shifted and became a shadow cat, moving swiftly through what would have been a minefield of traps had his woman not disposed of the traps for him. He was fast, sliding in and out of cover until he was beside the female cat. He approached her cautiously, not wanting her to give away the fact that he was close.
Avram built his defenses quickly, trying to surround himself with tougher strands of magic. Unfortunately for him, the enemy was already inside the weave. Isai slipped up right beside the female cat. He nuzzled her