Page 21 of Tiger's Destiny
“I will endeavor to treasure every word that passes from your lips, my goddess.” Kishan raised his head, and Durga leaned forward to touch his cheek. “If only you were always so . . . devoted,” she said.
Ren took my hand in consolation while my boyfriend made goo-goo eyes at the gorgeous goddess.
When Durga finally looked at me, her expression changed from wistful to gracious.
“Kelsey, my daughter. Have you flared well?”
“Umm, mostly. A giant shark took a bite out of my leg but other than that, I’ve been good.”
“A giant . . . shark?” She seemed confused, and her eyes darted toward Mr. Kadam.
Something strange is going on.
“Yes. A shark. But we got the Pearl Necklace for you. See?”
I showed her the Necklace, which she studied with a smile.
“Yes, I am glad. This gift will be very much needed in your next quest.” Durga’s eyes drifted to my face, and she took my hands with motherly concern. “Your hardest days lay ahead, my precious one.”
“You must help her,” she addressed Ren. “Shore her up. A cleansing comes—a burning of the heart and soul. When the three of you emerge from this you will be stronger, but there will be times when you may be tempted to ask for the burden to be lifted from your shoulders.
“Kelsey will need both of you in the days ahead. Think not of yourselves or of your dreams, but focus on what you need to do to save her and on what you must do to save the rest of us. We arealldepending on you.”
“The tigers get to be men full time after we find the next prize, right?” I asked.
Durga answered thoughtfully, “The form of the tiger was given to them for a purpose and soon that purpose will be realized. When this fourth task is completed, they will have the opportunity to separate themselves from the tiger. Come and take your last weapons.”
From her belt, the goddess drew a golden sword and, in one quick motion, split the blade into two weapons. With a flash of her arms, she spun the swords in each hand, twirling the weapons until both blades rested at Ren’s and Kishan’s throats. Her eyes gleamed with delight.
Ren demurred, and the goddess tossed him a sword, which he accepted gracefully. But she kept the tip of the other pressed against Kishan’s throat. His eyes tightened slightly, and I wondered if he was going to challenge the goddess.
Durga grinned at Kishan and twirled the sword again, but he anticipated her actions and avoided the blade. They did a deadly dance together, and Durga seemed delighted by his prowess. After a moment, she cornered Kishan, who froze, this time with the blade aimed at his heart.
I sucked in a breath while she teased, “Not to worry, my dear Kelsey, for the black tiger’s heart is very hard to pierce.”
Kishan glared at the beautiful goddess in fighting stance. Her orange gown was slit from hem to mid-thigh, and I couldn’t help but notice her taut and lovely long leg.
She might not be perfect, but her legs sure are. Even when I was practicing wushu regularly in Oregon, my legs never looked that good.
A scowling Kishan appeared to be noticing the same thing. His gaze traveled from her bare leg up her face, and when she raised a mocking eyebrow, he glowered at her.
I put my hand on his arm. “Kishan, she’s just demonstrating how to use the sword. Relax.”
He did, but the goddess grinned as if she could read his mind. He batted the blade away from his chest before sullenly taking the sword. The goddess straightened and removed two brooches from her golden belt. Taking a step down from the dais, she pinned one on Ren’s clothing and the other on Kishan’s. Kishan stood immobile, nodded hesitantly, and watched her every move as the goddess demonstrated how to use the seemingly innocuous pins.
Durga covered Kishan’s brooch with her palm and spoke. “Armor and shield.”
Immediately the brooch grew and golden metal shot out in every direction, encasing Kishan’s body. Soon, he was wearing a suit of armor and was holding his sword and a shield.
Durga pressed the brooch again and whispered, “Bruucha, brooch.” The suit of armor shrank back down until it was only a gleaming decoration once more. “Perhaps it would be better for the time being for you to remain in these . . .” she said in a low, sultry voice, running her hand over Kishan’s broad shoulder, “modern clothes. I have a weakness for handsome men dressed in battle gear.”
Kishan’s expression changed to one of surprise.
What was going on?Durga had never flirted with Kishan this . . . blatantly before. It was as if we were watching a badly acted soap opera.
“These brooches were created especially for the two of you,” Durga continued. She stared into Kishan’s eyes; the heat between them was palpable. “Do you like my gift, ebony one?” she asked softly.
Kishan sucked in a breath, stepped forward, and took her hand in his. “I think you are . . . I mean, I think it is . . . incredible. Thank you, Goddess,” he said and kissed her fingers.
