"no." he glowered at her. nothing on earth could make him endanger caitlyn's life.

"dammit," caitlyn muttered. she'd tried three times to throw a knife at igor, but each time the results remained the same.

"well, at least you're consistent." toni yanked the knife out of igor's groin.

"i really was aiming for his chest."

toni strolled toward her with an amused look. "are you sure you're not still harboring some anger toward carlos?"

"no. okay, yes. but i don't have a secret desire to castrate him. it would sorta defeat the purpose of lusting for him, don't you think?"

toni chuckled as she set the knives on the billiard table. "i am still in shock. i can't believe you two are...involved. just two days ago, i thought he was gay."

caitlyn's gaze wandered to the mat where she and carlos had rolled around in passion. "definitely not gay."

"i can see that. the sparks were flying off you two."

with a shrug, caitlyn slumped against the billiard table. "you heard him. he's determined to reject me."

"ian didn't think i was right for him either, at first, but i changed his mind."

"how?"

"fight for him and don't give up." toni yawned. "these men can be a little slow, but eventually they come to their senses."

"well, that's reassuring." caitlyn folded her arms across her chest. "how long have you known carlos?"

"about five years. he was my next door neighbor when we were going to nyu. you couldn't ask for a better friend. he helped me rescue my roommate when she was in trouble. and he saved my life once."

he was a true hero, caitlyn thought. she'd accused him of being a chicken, but she knew better. she knew he was brave and strong and everything she'd ever wanted in a man. "he rescued the were-panther children, too."

"yes. i don't know much about that other than he and fernando ended up as the kids' guardians."

"is fernando a were-panther, then?" caitlyn asked.

"no, he's mortal. i don't know how he fits in exactly. carlos has always been very close-mouthed about whatever happened in brazil. but you should be able to meet fernando this evening. he's flying in to stay with the kids while carlos goes on his trip."

caitlyn nodded. "i would like to meet him. and i'd like to see raquel and coco again."

"they told me about you. they really like you." toni yawned again. "i'll make sure you get to visit the school this evening."

"thank you. where is the school?"

"the location is secret. a vamp will teleport you there."

teleport? caitlyn smiled. that would be an adventure in itself. "great. i'm looking forward to it."

toni headed for the door. "let's take a break. i'm used to taking a nap in the middle of the day, so i can stay up late at night with ian."

caitlyn followed her up the stairs. "a nap sounds wonderful. i didn't get much sleep last night."

they crossed the foyer to the main staircase and found carlos on the landing. he appeared to be sanding a spot on the banister.

"what's wrong?" toni asked.

he straightened with a jerk. "nothing."

a surge of tenderness spread through caitlyn. how adorable could he be? he was repairing the holes he'd made with his claws. she wanted to run up the stairs and smother him with kisses. she wanted - her thoughts jolted with a sudden realization. she wanted to love him. she wanted to take him to her bed and never let him go. this was more than an attraction. more than lust. more than curiosity. she was falling in love.

he came slowly down the stairs. "i just checked on angus and emma. they're fine."

"we're taking a break for a few hours," toni explained as she started up the stairs. "i'll be on the fifth floor."

"all right." carlos reached the base of the stairs.

"i'm going to bed," caitlyn whispered.

his gaze met hers, and she could swear the amber flecks in his eyes were smoldering like hot coals.

why don't you join me? she wished she had the nerve to say it out loud. if the heat in his eyes was any indication, he was already thinking it.

"sleep well, catalina," he whispered, then strode to the kitchen.

her heart sank as she watched the kitchen door swing shut in his wake.

"hey," toni said softly, halfway to the landing. "don't give up."

caitlyn nodded and headed up the stairs. she knew carlos was attracted to her. he'd admitted to it himself. so why was he fighting it so hard? what was he protecting her from?

after a long nap, she took a hot shower and readied herself for a trip to the school where raquel and coco lived. she called shanna to learn more about the dragon nest academy. her sister had founded the school so that hybrid, shape shifter, and a few mortal children who knew too much could all learn in an environment where they would be free to be themselves.

the current roster of students included constantine, a group of ten outcast werewolf boys, five were-panther children, and two mortal students, bethany and lucy.

as the sun neared the horizon, caitlyn left her room to go to the kitchen. just as she started down the stairs, the doorbell rang. she quickened her steps so she could answer the door, then halted on the landing. carlos was already at the security panel, punching in the number to turn off the alarm. he opened the door to reveal a tall, handsome man with dark hair and a wide grin.

"carlos!" the man stepped into the foyer, rolling a large suitcase behind him.

"fernando." carlos grabbed him by the shoulders and quickly pecked each cheek. "thank you for coming, my friend."

caitlyn recognized the language as portuguese. she hesitated on the landing, reluctant to interrupt their reunion, but not wanting to eavesdrop, either.

fernando let a large tote bag slide off his shoulder to land on the floor. "you know i'd do anything for you." he wrapped his arms around carlos in a tight embrace.

carlos returned the hug, his eyes squeezed shut. as the two men continued to hold each other, caitlyn's psychic senses tingled. there were no words spoken, no language for her to comprehend, but still, she could feel a communication passing between the two men.

goose bumps skittered up her arms. this was deeper than communication. there was a connection between them, something that tied the men together. it was both strong and tender, and it had her completely confused.

her mind raced, searching for an explanation. they were both guardians of the children. had they rescued them together? did they witness the murders and face death together in order to save the children? whatever had happened, she sensed it had been traumatic for both men.

fernando leaned back and placed a hand on carlos's cheek. "i missed your face."

caitlyn's breath stuck in her throat. there was no mistaking the love in fernando's eyes. and carlos, his eyes were glimmering with tears. she pressed a hand to her chest. was this why carlos kept rejecting her? but he'd said he wasn't gay. it didn't make sense.

she stepped back. she had no right to witness this.

carlos lay his hand on top of fernando's and removed it from his cheek. "you miss his face."

his face? caitlyn tumbled deeper into confusion.

fernando stepped back, looking away from carlos with a pained expression. caitlyn eased back, but her movement caught his eye.

"we have company," fernando murmured, still speaking in portuguese.

carlos glanced at her, and his jaw ticked.

"i'm so sorry," caitlyn said in english as she hurried down the stairs. "i didn't mean to interrupt. i was just going to the kitchen to find some supper."

"i ordered some pizzas," carlos grumbled. "they'll be here soon." he motioned to his friend. "this is fernando castelo."

"how do you do? i'm caitlyn whelan." she rushed forward to shake hands with him.

"ah, you are caitlyn." he smiled, speaking with a slight accent. "coco and raquel told me about you on the phone. they like you very much."

"the feeling is mutual," caitlyn assured him. "i can't wait to see them tonight."

"what?" carlos frowned at her.

"i'm going to the school with you," caitlyn explained.

carlos shook his head. "no, you're not."

"yes, i am." caitlyn lifted her chin. "toni invited me."

carlos's frown deepened into a scowl, and she glared back.

"interesting," fernando murmured. "could i interrupt the staring contest, carlos? i've been on a plane since yesterday, and i'd like to clean up a bit before we see the children."

"of course." carlos's face flushed a ruddy color. "you can use my room. i'll show you." he grabbed the handle of the big roller suitcase and hauled it up the stairs.

fernando picked his tote bag off the floor. he leaned close to caitlyn and whispered, "don't worry. he's not gay."

"i heard that," carlos growled from the stairs.

fernando chuckled, then winked at caitlyn and followed carlos up the stairs.

she watched the two men disappear up the stairs. how did a mortal man like fernando end up as a co-guardian for five were-panther children? there was a great deal she still didn't know. if she let carlos go on the expedition without her, she might never get to know him better. he might find a were-panther mate and forget all about her.

if she wanted a chance with him, she needed to accompany him. tonight, she would make her case to emma.

chapter sixteen

"oh, i like it," caitlyn said as she entered coco's and raquel's dorm room at the dragon nest academy. "it's so colorful."

"this is my bed." coco leaped onto a twin bed with a bright purple comforter with hot pink hearts.

"mrs. macphie let us pick out our own stuff," raquel said in portuguese. she climbed onto her bed, covered with a hot pink comforter dotted with purple princess crowns.

caitlyn perched on the end of coco's bed as she looked around. the walls had been painted pink, and a purple shag rug rested on the floor between the two beds. toni had tried hard to make the two girls feel welcome. even so, the dresser and bedside table looked sadly bare of toys and girly things.

caitlyn dug inside her silk tote bag and pulled out two russian nesting dolls. "i have too many of these, so i was hoping you would look after these two."

"oh, they're pretty." coco crawled up close.

the little girls gasped when caitlyn pulled one of the dolls apart.

"there's another one inside," raquel whispered.

caitlyn handed each girl a matryoshka.

"thank you!" they quickly opened each doll, laughing and chattering in portuguese.

caitlyn smiled. her treasures were bringing her even more joy now that she was sharing them.

she'd been at the school for over an hour now. it had taken a few trips for the vamps to teleport her, toni, carlos, and fernando and his luggage. the were-panther children had been eagerly awaiting their arrival, and the foyer had filled with happy squeals and laughter as they hugged fernando.

caitlyn couldn't help but notice that he was much more at ease, hugging and talking to the children, than carlos. she didn't doubt that carlos loved them. she could see it in his eyes. and she knew he was fiercely protective of them. but for some reason he was reluctant to bond emotionally with them.

the oldest were-panther child was sixteen-year-old emiliano. he was lanky and a bit awkward, but caitlyn had no doubt that he would eventually be as handsome and graceful as carlos.

the next two were-panther children were twelve-year-old twins, teresa and tiago. teresa was wearing a ton of makeup, as if she desperately wanted to look about eight years older. caitlyn made a mental note to herself to get to know her better, so she could convince the girl she was naturally beautiful and didn't need to try so hard.

when raquel and coco ran up to hug caitlyn, her heart squeezed. the nine-year-old and six-year-old always looked so young and vulnerable to her. she suspected they touched her so much because she had been nine years old when shanna had left. she'd felt abandoned and alone, even though she still had parents and a brother. raquel and coco were even more alone.

all of caitlyn's life, lost cats and dogs had come to her for help. instinctively, they had known she would understand them and open her heart to them. with raquel and coco, that phenomenon had risen to a new level, and her heart had responded.

they walked on each side of her, holding her hands as toni took everyone on a tour of the school. dragon nest academy was housed in a three-story h-shaped mansion. the center section was reserved for administrative offices and schoolrooms. the west wing held dorm rooms for single males on the second and third floors. a few married couples, like ian and toni and phil and vanda, had rooms on the first floor.

the east wing was for single females. coco and raquel shared a room on the second floor, and they had been eager to show it to caitlyn. she'd gone with them while carlos helped fernando move into his new room in the west wing. fernando had announced he was officially ready to crash after his long plane trip.

caitlyn lounged back on coco's bed. "where is teresa's room?"

"she's next door," coco said as she spread the five nesting dolls out across her pillow.

"they lock the east wing off every night," raquel said.

caitlyn sat up. "you can get out, can't you? in case of a fire?"

"oh yeah, we can get out," raquel said. "but no one can get in."

coco laughed. "uncle carlos is afraid one of the werewolf boys will like us. he said dogs and cats can't mix."