I stood meekly beside Luca, in human form while he spoke to Jarrod. "There is a cave near here. We will stay there until you are cured of your demon problem. As long as your people cause no harm to me or my companion they are safe to visit or travel or whatever. I'll be back." With that Luca looked at me and smiled gently. "Oriah would you like to change or are you traveling human?"

I glanced around me once at the villagers who had stopped their tasks to stare. Hatred coursed through my veins and I shifted into a black jaguar. The scent of the fear that wafted from everyone around me was intensely satisfying. Wolves were relatively common in the area. Three-hundred pound wildcats were not.

Luca laughed softly and started forward. Can you hear my voice, Oriah?

The feeling of his voice sliding through my mind suddenly made my tail twitch and my throat rumbled. Yes, Luca. I can hear you. I was unaware you could speak to me this way. Not really sure I enjoy it.

He shrugged. You are in animal form. Speaking to you is a touch necessary. I just wanted to compliment you on your choice of animal.

They deserved it. Evil bastards. I hate people. My skin twitched irritably but as the edge of the village slowly came and went I calmed. When we left the road and started up into the wilderness I shifted human, carefully changing forms with clothing. Luca smiled at me and continued walking up the hill.

"Do you eat, Oriah?" He asked quietly.

I shook my head. "Only if I choose to but I have to be careful. If I change into the wrong form it can make me extremely sick or even kill me. Do you mind if I ask what the village leader told you?"

He shook his head with a frown. "Not at this moment please. The cave is at the top of this cliff. I could carry you up or you could shift again." I regarded the face of the cliff momentarily and glanced at Luca.

I couldn't help the tremor that traveled across my frame at the thought of him carrying me. He must have seen the fear in me because all of a sudden his eyes flashed and his gaze turned cold. I swallowed my apprehension. "I'd rather not shift again if I don't have to. Are you sure you don't mind?"

"I could carry ten of you up this and not break a sweat. Come here, Oriah. I promise you'll be safe." Luca held out a hand to me and my stomach fluttered as I reached out to him. His hand closed on mine, enveloped it in warmth. He tugged me to him gently. There was a tenderness in his eyes and his touch as he placed his arm under my knees and cradled me effortlessly.

Quietly Luca spoke, "Wrap your arms around my neck to hold on. Don't be afraid."

I obeyed him, trying to ignore the ways our bodies touched. The warmth coming from his body was hard to ignore. Suddenly he leapt up and my thoughts shifted another direction entirely. The swift departure of the ground and approach of the cliff face made me squeak involuntarily and I buried my face into the base of his neck. I felt when he jumped again and my whole body tensed.

The air stilled around me but I remained where I was. "Oriah open your eyes." The soft command was impossible to ignore. I looked and gasped in wonder. The time it had taken to travel to Luca's little hideout had taken all afternoon. The sky gradually went from a brilliant orange to a deep violet. Small fluffy clouds were scattered randomly across the sky. The moon was just visible at the edge of the horizon.

"It's amazing, Luca." My voice was light as I took in the marvel. He didn't speak and I turned to see the oddest look in his gaze. A small smile was on his lips and a look of peace was in his eyes. For some reason my body heated. Attraction blossomed and I rolled out of his arms hitting the ground in a crouch. Neither one of us moved until his eyes flashed and narrowed and he turned and retreated into the cave.

I was shaken, so shaken. It took a moment for me to gather my senses and stand to follow him. He was sitting against a wall holding his sheathed sword in his lap. I sat about a foot away. "So what's after the village?"

He was quiet for a minute before speaking. "Not really sure. The farmers are unhurt for the most part. An attack two days ago was pretty nasty. I could see it in the man's thoughts. It smelled marshy. That factor alone could narrow it down quite a bit."

"What if it doesn't narrow it down?" I couldn't help but be worried.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw him flash a smile without opening his eyes. "I hope it doesn't. It'd be a little boring if it's just a pesky toad."

I couldn't help smiling. "Of course you would want it to be something exciting. Predictable male."

He smiled again and opened his eyes to glare at me. "Disrespectful woman."

I nodded. "Only a little. Goodnight Luca." My eyes were closed and I was half asleep when he responded quietly in turn. It felt like I had only been asleep for a few seconds when I jolted into a sitting position in a panic. Only the stiffness in my neck gave away how long I had actually been sleeping.

Luca was watching me, sitting alert. "What is it?"

I stood and rushed to the edge of the cliff. Painful heat beat at my insides as the panic washed over me. My body pleaded for the change. By the time I had recovered from the horrible wave, Luca was standing beside me. I turned to him and cringed at my grating muscles.

"I have to change. It hurts not to. I'm not really sure what it is. It may be your demon. I thought it was a nightmare but then I woke up and the feeling didn't go away. You can follow me or not but I have to move."

"Wait." Luca grabbed my wrist firmly holding me in place as I attempted to leap away. He closed his eyes and his nose flared. I could have sworn his ears shifted too. His eyes opened a moment later and he nodded. "It's the village. I'm not gonna try to control you, Oriah, but be safe."

I nodded and pulled away from him. "So now you get to see why I'm hated even by others of my kind." I took a deep breath and began to change.