Page 2 of Tiger's Destiny
The last door opened into a dining room where a table had been set for two. The servant pulled out a chair and gestured that I should sit before he quietly left the room. I toyed with my butter knife as I waited. My stomach twisted with nerves, and I wondered how I’d be able to face Lokesh alone. On our previous quests to break the Tiger’s Curse, I’d battled a Kraken and a megashark. But somehow those beasts didn’t seem quite as dangerous as the evil I was now up against, the monster that had turned my two Indian princes into tigers more than three centuries ago.
“How nice of you to accept my invitation to dinner,” Lokesh said, suddenly appearing in the seat across from me.
He looked different from the last time I saw him. Younger. Though I still recognized the black malice swirling behind his black eyes, I was able to pull myself together. Lokesh picked up my hand and kissed it roughly.
“It’s not like I was given a choice,” I replied.
“Yes.” He smiled and squeezed my hand just a bit too hard. “I didn’t give you a choice of clothing either,” he continued, “and yet, here you are, dressed in a different garment. Might I inquire as to where you obtained it?”
In one smooth motion, I covered my knife with my dinner napkin, scooped it onto my lap, and slid the utensil carefully into my pocket. Hoping he hadn’t noticed, I remarked derisively, “When you tell me whereyourpower comes from, I’ll be happy to show you how to create a wardrobe from the air.” A new surge of courage ran through me now that I finally had a weapon of sorts.
To my surprise, Lokesh laughed. “How delightful it is to be around a woman with spirit. I think I shall be tolerant of you,for now. But don’t test my patience.”
His smile turned into a leer. Up close, Lokesh looked more Asian than Indian. His dark hair was cut short, parted on the side, and smoothed to the nape of his neck—quite unlike Ren, whose hair always fell into his blue eyes.
The sorcerer moved with tight control, keeping his shoulders and back stiff. He was more muscular and handsome than before, even striking. But I knew the madman lurked beneath, and his features still carried an undercurrent of darkness.
Food was brought and our plates were quickly filled with spicy Indian selections. The servants were efficient and utterly silent. I picked at my meal, struggling to find my appetite.
“Did you use sorcery to look younger?” I asked cautiously.
His black eyes darkened but then he smiled. “Yes, do you find me handsome? Does it make you more comfortable to see me closer to your own age?”
Strangely, it did.
I shrugged. “I’d be uncomfortable no matter how you looked. Why do you care anyway? I’m surprised you don’t have me chained in the basement preparing to drive screws through my thumbs.”
A crackle of blue light caught my attention, and I looked up. But if it had been there before, it was gone now. Lokesh frowned and rubbed his fingers.
“Would you prefer to be chained in the basement?” Lokesh asked casually, teasing in a disturbingly lecherous way.
“No, I’m just curious. Why am I getting the special treatment?”
“You get thespecial treatmentbecause you are special, Kelsey. As you demonstrated tonight, you have powers of your own, and I’d prefer not to stifle them.” He clucked with disappointment. “It would seem that you don’t understand me at all. I’m sure my cause has been misrepresented. Now that you have the chance to get to know me better, I think you’ll find that I am not a difficult man to please.”
I leaned forward, seeing an opportunity to challenge him. “Somehow, I doubt Ren would agree with that assessment.”
Lokesh dropped his fork with a clatter and then smoothly covered his rage. “Theprincerebelled at every opportunity. That is why he was treated so . . . harshly. I hope thatyourresponse to me will be different.”
I cleared my throat and answered, “I suppose that all depends upon what it is that you want from me.”
Lokesh took a sip from his goblet while eyeing me shrewdly over its edge. “What I want, my dear, is the opportunity to show you what a man of power truly is. It would be a mistake to continue to ally yourself with the tigers. They have no real power, not like you or I. In fact, the amulet cursed them. It was never meant for them. I am the one destined to unite the pieces. I am the one the Damon Amulet calls to.”
I dabbed my lips with my napkin, stalling, as a crazy plan started to come together.If it’s a powerful opponent he wants, I’ll give him one. Time to put my one drama class to good use. Act One: Dinner with a mysterious girl with superhuman powers, a bad attitude, and nerves of steel. It’s showtime. . . .
“As you probably know, I no longer have a piece of the amulet. If you were hoping toflatterme out of my piece, you will be sorely disappointed.”
“Yes, your precious tigers must have it. Perhaps they will bring it with them when they try to rescue you.”
Startled, I paused, but only for a split second. “And what makes you think they’re coming?”
“Come now, my dear Kelsey. I’ve seen how they look at you. You’ve captivated them even more effectively than my daughter Yesubai did. You are not as beautiful as Yesubai, but there is daring and defiance in your eyes. I suspect the only reason that Dhiren survived my interrogation techniques is because he wanted to return to you. Both princelings are crippled by their love for you. It makes them weak and stupid.”
Here goes nothing.I gave Lokesh a simpering smile. “Perhaps you will fall into the same trap they did,” I threatened.
“Are you saying that youtrickedthe princes into falling for you? For if you did, my estimation of you has risen.”
While terrifying at first, the playacting actually strengthened my spirit. My fear melted down to a little nub in the pit of my stomach, becoming just small enough to ignore. I licked my lips in a deliberately slow attempt to distract him.
