Page 27 of Tiger's Dream
“I wanted you, and I didn’t care who I hurt or how it made you feel. I was angry when you asked me to back off. I wanted you to want me in the same way, and you didn’t. I wanted you to feel the same way about me that you felt about Ren, but you couldn’t.”
“But, Kishan—”
“Wait . . . let me finish.
“Maybe it’s what that idiot bird did to me in Shangri-La, but I’ve been able to see more clearly since then—not only about my past and about Yesubai but also about you, about my future. I knew that I wouldn’t be alone forever. I saw that in the Grove of Dreams.”
I reflected for a moment on the visions given to me in the Grove of Dreams. Perhaps it had been pride that motivated me to hide the knowledge that Kelsey’s baby had my eyes. That sweet little babe with golden eyes being cradled by his beautiful mother was an image that haunted my every waking moment.
She’d named him Anik. That much I’d told her, but what I didn’t share was that his middle name was Kishan. Anik Kishan Rajaram, my golden-eyed son. Maybe if I had told her what I knew, she would have felt differently. Our relationship might have been easier. Ren less of an influence. But my ego got in the way. I wanted her to choose me because she lovedme, not because of a vision.
Stupid! What difference would it have made? Kelsey made a decision without having all the cards on the table. How could I expect her to stay when she didn’t know what I knew? I turned my attention back to the scene playing out in the candlelight.
I saw the Kishan below touch Kelsey’s lips. If I closed my eyes, I could still feel the velvety-smooth texture of them on my fingertips.
“I wasn’t really ready to be in a relationship then. I didn’t have anything to give, anything to offer. Not to a woman of this time. But Shangri-La gave me something more valuable than six more hours a day as a man. It gave me hope. A reason to believe. So I waited. I learned how to be patient. I learned how to live in this century. And now . . . most importantly, I think I’ve finally learned what it means to love someone.”
My old self had at least a drop of common sense. He, or I, had been patient, and that patience had paid off. Perhaps if I could gather a bit more patience, things might end up okay. There was still time. Loads of it, actually. There was no reason a wedding had to happen. I could stop it before it went too far.
I heard a squeak as Ren stepped into view. He crouched on the deck just below mine and watched the couple below with the same fascination and attention I’d been giving. His fingers tightened on the deck chair next to him.
The old Kishan said, “So I suppose the only question remaining, Kelsey, is . . . are my feelings echoed in your heart? Do you feel even a small part of what I feel for you? Is there a piece of you that you can reserve for me? That I can name mine? That I can lay claim to and keep forever? I promise you that I will cherish it. And I will guard it jealously all of my days. Does your heart beat for me at all, love?”
After a brief moment, Kelsey responded, “Of course it does. I won’t let you be alone ever again. I love you too, Kishan.”
I watched the kiss, remembering the power and passion of it, and was jealous of my old self for having that experience at that moment. Kelsey’s words echoed in my mind. A piece of her belonged to me and always would. I knew that to be true. As Ren lost his mind, threw a deck chair, and general chaos ensued, I quietly murmured the words of Kelsey’s promise into the dark, balmy air. “I won’t be alone.”
“Of course you’re not alone,” a scoffing female voice declared behind me.
Chapter 6
Capture
Spinning at the sound behind me, I found a smirking Anamika. My instinct was to grab her arm, but seeing the look she gave me made me pause, and I caught myself just in time.
“What are you doing here?” I hissed.
She shrugged. “You’ve been gone for a while.”
I was about to say I’d return the next morning and it didn’t really matter how long I was gone, but obviously I hadn’t returned or she wouldn’t be here now. The fluctuations in the timeline gave me a headache. Instead I asked, “How long was I gone?”
“Two weeks. How long have you been here observing yourself fawning over Kelsey?”
“None of your business.”
She took a step closer and gazed at the scene below. As she passed me, the soft jasmine scent of her skin and hair swept over me. Her presence made me angry and the fact that I liked her scent made me angrier.
“How did you get here anyway?” I whispered.
“Shh.” She held up her hand.
“Are you . . . all right?” the old me asked Ren.
“I am now.”
“What happened to you?”
“The veil of concealment was lifted.”
