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her for a few
more
moments in silence, then simply withdrew, pulling
back into himself. He moved outside his own body, gathering himself into a ball
of pure energy. It was fascinating to observe his healing abilities. She stayed
merged with his mind, watching him not only break down the chemical compound so
he could view each separate element and identify it, but also send the
information to someone else with a warning to pass it on to the prince of their
people and as many of their hunters as possible.
    Sending the information over a distance was draining and Riordan faltered.
    Where are you
? The demand was strong in her mind. Male and
frightening, it carried a command, a hypnotic draw that was very powerful and
sent shivers of fear down Juliette's spine.
Riordan. I feel your pain
.
    Riordan hesitated.
Do not come to me. I will be able to push the poison
from my body and replenish myself
.
    Juliette found herself holding her breath. She didn't want to meet the man
behind that voice. There was a merciless, ruthless, frightening quality to the
voice.
    She felt Riordan touch her with his mind, a reassuring, caressing stroke.
    I will not allow you to be recaptured. You were sent to check out the
research lab to see what they were doing.
    The Morrison research laboratory was a front for a vampire controlling
the human society that hunts our people. I have destroyed the building. The
animals they captured on pretense were allowed to go free. I will come home when
I have healed.
    Where is the vampire?
    He is hunting us
. Riordan broke off the communication and glanced
over at Juliette. "My eldest brother is very exacting about our staying alive."
    â€¢"Families are like that. My sister will probably be worried about me. I need
to get back home." She watched his face, hoping to read his response, but his
sculptured features went carefully blank.
    Riordan stared down at his arms. She felt the gathering of his strength. Very
slowly the poison began to respond, moving with reluctance as he shepherded the
damaging compound toward his pores. Some of the droplets oozed through his skin,
golden, thick liquid carrying the ability to paralyze his race.
    Juliette pulled a small plastic container from the bag hanging around her
waist. She leaned forward and pressed the lip of the container to his arm,
capturing as much of the liquid as possible before she screwed the lid on tight.
"This might come in handy if your people need to study this."
    He leaned against the boulder, his head back, fighting for air, his strength
gone. Juliette immediately opened her mind to his, sending him as much of her
remaining strength as she could give. She knew the jungle, better than most,
every rustle in the undergrowth, every sound the birds made. Something evil was
stalking them, and the jungle was alive with the news. In her present state she
couldn't escape, but she had no doubt Riordan could fight if given the strength.
    He wasted no time removing every drop of the toxic compound as quickly as
possible. The moment he was certain he had gotten rid of all of it, he dunked
his head into the stream, rubbed the cold water over his arms to scrub off the
thick, sticky residue. Riordan spun around and reached for Juliette, dragging
her onto his lap, cradling her against his chest.
    She felt a jolt through her body, an electric shock as their bodies came into
contact. Her mouth went dry. "What are you going to do?"
    "Exchange our blood. Your blood will help me get us somewhere safe where I
can heal, and my blood is ancient and will restore the strength you have so
generously given to me."
    "Will it tie us together?" Her voice might have been an invitation, but her
palm went up in a defensive gesture, fingers splayed wide against his chest.
    "Yes." His strong fingers slid over her chin, pushed stray tendrils of hair
from her shoulder. "But we are already tied together." He bent his head, his
face buried in the warmth of her