Page 12 of Tiger's Destiny
Kishan studied me thoughtfully. “I hope so too, Kells.”
I took his hand. Though my heart still stirred for Ren, I had made my choice: Kishan.Round pillow, square pillow, they’re both still pillows, I remembered, thinking fondly of Phet.
“Kishan, thank you for coming for me.”
His golden eyes gleamed. “Anytime, beautiful.”
Kishan left me to clean up, and I asked the Scarf to create a makeshift shower curtain and the Pearl Necklace to create a shower on a section of flat rock not far from the tent. I stuck my hand into the water and was surprised that it felt like a warm tropical rain. I scrubbed the makeup and perfume from my body and imagined I was washing away a thick layer of false skin, sloughing off the girl who would have been the bride of Lokesh.
Refreshed and feeling like myself again, it was time to go home. When Kishan asked me to ride with him, I glanced at Ren, who would not meet my gaze. I bit my lip and threw my leg over Kishan’s bike.
Wanting to get as far away from Lokesh as quickly as possible, we kept up a grueling pace. I got the feeling that the brothers only stopped for me and to refuel.
At a gas station, Kishan filled the bikes while Ren and I picked up a comb and a bottle of sunscreen. As I began working out the tangles in my hair, Ren insisted on rubbing the lotion over my arms, nose, and cheeks.
“How are you?” he asked quietly.
“I’ll survive.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” Finished with one arm, he moved to my other one. “Lokesh was making you marry him?”
“It was actually my idea. I wanted to . . . stall him as long as possible.”
Ren stiffened and his fingers gripped my arm for a moment. He looked me in the eye and asked carefully, “Did he . . . hurt you?”
I put my hand over his. “No, not the way you’re thinking.”
Ren nodded and cupped my face with his palm. “If you need to talk, I’m here.”
“I know. And Ren? I’m sorry about the kiss. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“I know why you did it. It hurt worse knowing you were a prisoner and not being able to save you.”
“Thank you for rescuing me.”
He sighed. “No matter where you are, I will always come for you,iadala. There is no need to thank me.”
“Still, thank you.”
Ren kissed my forehead. “Have I told you lately that you’re a very stubborn woman?”
“Not recently,” I replied playfully, enjoying our familiar banter and feeling a warm tingle flow throughout my body. “Let’s go home. I can’t wait to see Mr. Kadam. I have so many things to tell him.”
Ren reached out for my hand and pulled me closer, suddenly serious. “Kells, we . . . haven’t been able to find him. When Lokesh’s pirates ambushed us, he stepped in front of a harpoon meant for Nilima, and they both disappeared. We can’t locate them on the GPS. Both of their signals went missing. We saw yours, but not theirs.”
“What? That can’t be. Let’s go then. We need to find them.” My mind filled with new worry for Mr. Kadam and Nilima. Nothing would be right until we were all back together.
Ren held out his hand. “Will you ride with me?”
His question hung in the air. I looked over at Kishan, who had just finished filling the tires with air and gave me a merry wave.
Kishan is my boyfriend. I should ride with him, I thought.
“Please,” Ren added quietly. “I need to feel you near me.”
I lowered my eyes and took his hand. My resolve crumbled. “Alright,” I said, climbed on behind him, and wrapped my arms around his waist.
Ren wound his way over to Kishan and announced, “We’re riding together on this leg.”
