Page 72 of Tiger's Curse
I got lost in my thoughts. How hard being caged up must have been. Ren had to endure centuries of that. I shuddered and kept hiking after him.
After another hour had passed, I spoke up again, “Ren? There’s one thing I don’t understand. Where was Kishan? Why didn’t he help you get away?”
Ren leapt over a huge fallen log. At the height of his jump, he changed in midair, dropping to the ground on the other side, silently, on two feet. I reached out for his hand to help steady me as I began to climb over the log, but he ignored it, reached over the log, and put his hands around my waist.
Before I could even form the words to protest, he lifted me up and over the log as if I were as light as a down pillow. He cuddled me close to his chest before letting me go, which made me stop breathing entirely. He looked in my eyes, and a slow smile spread across his face. He set me down before reaching out his hand again. I placed my slightly shaky hand in his warm one, and we set off again.
“Back then, Kishan and I tried to avoid each other as much as possible. He didn’t know what had happened until Kadam found him. By the time they’d figured it out, it was too late to do anything. Kadam had tried unsuccessfully to free me, so he persuaded Kishan to stay in hiding while he tried to figure out what to do. Like I said, he tried breaking me out, purchasing me, and hiring thieves for centuries. Not a single thing worked until you. For some reason, after you wished me free, I was able to call him.”
Ren laughed. “When I changed into a man again for the first time in centuries, I asked Matthew to place a collect call for me. I told him that I’d been mugged and needed to get in touch with my boss. He helped me figure out how to use the phone, and Mr. Kadam flew in right away.”
Ren changed back into a tiger again, and we continued. He walked close beside me, so I kept a hand on the scruff of his neck.
After walking for several hours, Ren stopped suddenly and smelled the air. He sat on his haunches and stared at the jungle. I listened intently as something shook the bushes. First a black nose emerged, followed by the rest of the black tiger, from the undergrowth.
I smiled happily. “Kishan! You changed your mind. You’re coming with us now? I’m so glad!”
Kishan approached me and held out a paw that changed into a hand.
“Hello, Kelsey. No, I haven’t changed my mind. I am glad to find you safe though.”
Kishan shot a nasty look down at Ren, who wasted no time morphing into human form himself.
Ren shoved Kishan’s shoulder and shouted, “Why didn’t you tell me she was out there! She saw the hunt, and you left her alone and unprotected!”
Kishan countered, poking Ren in the chest, “You left before I could say anything. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve been searching for her all night. You also packed up and left without telling me.”
I stood between them and interjected, “Please calm down, both of you. Ren, I agreed with Kishan that it would be best for me to go with him, and he watched over me with great care.Iwas the one who decided to watch the hunt, andIwas the one who chose to head back to camp alone. So if you’re going to be mad at someone, be mad at me.”
I turned to Kishan, “I’m so sorry that I made you search for me all night in a rainstorm. I didn’t realize it was going to rain, or that it would hide my trail. I apologize.”
Kishan grinned and kissed the back of my hand, while Ren growled menacingly. “Apology accepted. So, how did you like it?”
“You mean the rain or the hunt?”
“The hunt, of course.”
“Umm, it was—”
“She had nightmares,” Ren spat at his brother.
I grimaced and nodded, dipping my head in agreement.
“Well, at least my brother is well fed. It might have been weeks before he made a kill on his own.”
“I was doing just fine without you!”
Kishan smirked. “No, you couldn’t catch a limping turtle without me.”
I heard the punch before I saw it. It was a hard, teeth-rattling punch, the kind that I thought only happened in the movies. Ren had moved me deftly to the side and then socked his brother.
Kishan stepped away while rubbing his jaw, but he stood up to face Ren with a smile.
“Try that again, big brother.”
Ren scowled, saying nothing. He just took my hand and set off at a fast pace, pulling me along behind him through the jungle. I almost had to jog to keep up with him.
The black tiger whooshed past us and leapt into our path. Kishan changed to a man again and said, “Wait. I have something to say to Kelsey.”
