Chapter 405

“I can try to aid you to rid yourself of the poisonous influence, but it will fight to keep ahold of you.” And it would leave him vulnerable to attack, perhaps even from the jaguar.

It was a risk, not even a good one, but Kane felt compelled to help. The jaguar species, both man and beast, was losing the battle for existence just as his specie was. Tied to the jaguar now by blood, he could feel his alarm. He was no young man, cocky and full of bravado; he was old enough to know the danger of the vampire, and he had been questioning what was happening among his kind for some time.

The cat crouched low and nodded the broad head, the gaze shifting from him to their surroundings, as mindful of the danger as him. In the canopy above them, the leaves rustled ominously. Clouds moved across the dark skies, bringing the promise of more rain. Already the air was heavy with moisture and the rivers and streams were swollen beyond the banks.

Water poured over rocks and out of b