Page 98 of Tiger's Destiny
I bristled again while Kishan added, “I’m sure Kelsey would find that most welcome.”
As soon as Anamika stepped outside the tent, I folded my arms across my chest and turned to Ren and Kishan. “Let’s get one thing straight right now. I don’t care what century we’re in or even what planet we’re on. You two don’t speak for me. If either of you has got it into your heads to make me play the role of the little fiancée who needs a big strong man to think for me, you’d be wise to reassess your position! You are not going to send me off to my room so that I miss out on all the important discussions.”
Kishan said, “Kells, I didn’t mean . . . I wasn’t trying to get rid of you. I just wanted you to be comfortable.”
“I’m perfectly capable of making myself comfortable.”
“I know, it’s just . . .”
“Just what?”
“It’s just that we don’t exactly fit in. Our clothes are different, our speech, our mannerisms. Kelsey, I announced our betrothal and made efforts to see to your comfort to protect you. A single woman doesn’t fend for herself. Not in this kind of environment.”
“What about the Queen Bee over there? I don’t see a ring on her finger, and she seems to be fending for herself just fine.”
“It’s different for royalty,” Kishan explained. “She is likely protected by her man-at-arms or even a group of bodyguards.”
“But you’re forgetting that I can protect myself.”
“It doesn’t hurt to keep up appearances.”
As I stewed over his words, Ren added, “I apologize for leaving you out of our conversation. I was simply trying to assess who she is and what languages she speaks. It will help us to determine where we are and what point in history we are in without asking outright.” He took my hand. “I didn’t intend to brush you aside. I’m sorry.”
“Oh,” I sighed. “Well, I don’t like her, and I don’t trust her. We should leave.”
“Where else do you expect us to go, Kelsey?” Ren asked.
“We should be looking for Lokesh.”
“We don’t know where to find him,” Kishan stated. “I don’t like the harridan either, but our best option is find out what she knows.”
The harridan? I raised my eyebrows. Kishan had never treated a woman with anything but respect.
“What exactly doesdurbalamean?” I asked Ren as Kishan busied himself inspecting the tent.
“It depends on how it’s used, but the word can mean ‘small,’ ‘sickly,’ or . . . ‘impotent.’”
I clapped my hand over my mouth to stifle my giggle. “No wonder he’s mad.”
Ren gave me a lopsided smile, retrieved our backpack, and sorted through everything to count all of our weapons.
Picking up Anamika’s fallen hairbrush, I twirled it thoughtfully and remembered her blistered feet. “Well, she’s obviously not the goddess, so why does she look like Durga?” I wondered aloud.
Ren took the trident from his belt and ran his fingertips down the length of it before placing it into the backpack. “I don’t know, Kells. But we were brought here for a reason. We just need time to figure out what that reason is.”
“Are you hiding our weapons?”
He nodded. “For now. They are of exceptional quality. I wouldn’t want someone to see the gold and make plans to take them. Speaking of which . . .” Ren rose and gently lifted the sleeve of my T-shirt. His fingers brushed against my skin, and I shivered as he slid Fanindra down my arm. Bright blue eyes sought mine, and a familiar lopsided smile appeared as he watched my reaction to his touch. Saying nothing, he let out a soft sigh and placed Fanindra into the backpack; then he moved on to retrieve Kishan’s weapons.
Anamika returned, followed by several men carrying rugs, pillows, and platters of food. They positioned the bedding behind a curtain, set the food on a low table, and waited at the entrance.
“Kelsey will stay in my tent,” Anamika announced.
Kishan was about to protest when Anamika raised her hand.
“I allow no impropriety among my men, and I won’t make any exceptions for you and your betrothed. I will, however, give you my vow that she will remain safe with me. The two of you will be assigned a tent to share and will be given proper clothing and . . . boots.”
I had forgotten that Ren and Kishan had no shoes. They’d switched from tigers to leap through the vortex and wore only their loose shirts and pants.
