Page 71 of Tiger's Destiny
When he looked to me for approval, I smiled at him and promptly collapsed into his arms. I heard a terrible roar from one of the tigers, a variety of hisses and calls of distress from the Rakshasa, the throaty laughter of the bound queen, and then heard nothing more.
qilin
When I finally came to, I blinked and tried to lift my head—only to lower it again carefully when I felt an excruciating pain explode behind my eyeballs.
Kishan knelt next to me and touched his palm lightly to my cheek and neck. “How are you feeling?”
“Like the Kraken chewed me up and spat me out,” I mumbled and tried to rub my aching forehead.
Kishan caught my wrist before I made contact. “Hold on there. You’ve got to be careful with those things. You might put your eye out.”
Confused, I glanced at my hand and groaned softly when I saw that I was still disguised as a Rakshasi queen. My fingers sported deadly black claws dripping with venom. I placed my arm at my side. “Lovely. How long have I been out?”
“A few hours.”
“Where’s Ren?”
“He’s supervising the feast and distracting the warriors while I use my considerable magic to heal you.” Kishan tapped thekamandalat his throat and then readjusted my pillow. “You have no idea how many demons are absolutely enamored with you. He has to keep them at bay, in fact.”
I snorted. “They aren’t interested in me. It’s my power they desire.”
Kishan raised an eyebrow, looked me up and down in my Rakshasa disguise, and then grinned. “I think you may be underestimating your appeal.”
I felt my face go hot at the compliment, and my tattoos flared red. Kishan’s smile widened. He softly traced the outline of the tattoo on my cheek.
“The light flickers under your skin, especially when I touch you.”
Uncomfortable with the attention, I shifted slightly and hissed in pain.
Kishan pulled back to examine my healing shoulder. “Just lie still and let the elixir work until you fully heal. The scratches weren’t mortal wounds. I wonder why they affected you so badly.”
I took the cup of water he offered and sipped while he helped me lift my head. “It was the poison in her claws,” I answered between swallows.
I twitched my dangerous digits and concentrated to retract the claws. Kishan then took my hand and brought it to his lips for a kiss and said, “The most beautiful creatures are often the most deadly. At least the mermaid’s elixir is healing you.”
I closed my eyes and leaned into his broad chest. Kishan massaged the back of my neck to help with my throbbing headache.
A short time later, Ren ducked his head into the tent and frowned. “You are supposed to be healing her, not taking advantage of her weakened state.”
“Her shoulder is healed,” Kishan explained, “but her head still hurts.”
Ren crouched down across from me, and his expression changed to one of concern. The pain was so sharp I had to squint at him though the tent was lit by only firelight.
“What is it?” I asked.
Ren studied me quietly for a moment, and then said, “I won’t be able to hold them back much longer. They want to see the new queen. Apparently, your victory is not complete unless you prove to them that you are alive and well and that Desecration’s venom didn’t kill you.”
I nodded slightly and was grateful that the motion didn’t hurt. “Can you buy me five more minutes?” I asked.
He leaned over and pecked my forehead. “I will. She’s hot, Kishan,” he said as he ducked out of the tent.
“It’s okay,” I explained to Kishan. “Hot is my natural state as a demon.”
He laughed softly and continued massaging my head with his fingertips. “Hot is your natural state all the time,bilauta. Just relax and breathe. Focus on your heartbeat.”
The quiet crackling fire in the tent soothed me. I concentrated on inhaling and exhaling, and little by little the pain diminished. I peacefully drifted in Kishan’s arms until we were disturbed by a clamor outside the tent.
Ren’s voice was raised. “I promise you that she is alive. She has been resting these last few hours.”
