Page 106 of Tiger's Voyage

I nodded and Ren and Kishan climbed onto the dragon’s back while I approached its reddish head and pressed a warm kiss onto its blackbearded cheek.

While the dragon shook its mighty head, I heard tinkling laughter in my mind.

What a pleasant gift. Climb on quickly, my dear. The stars are waning.

Kishan pulled me up, and in the instant I had commanded the Divine Scarf to create ropes to wrap around our legs and secure us, the red dragon dove over the floor of its sky palace and spilled into space like a hapless pebble over a waterfall.

16

The Blue Dragon’s Pet

If I thought going up on dragonback was bad, going down was much worse. Lóngjn plummeted hundreds of lengths straight down, and then spun and wove through the sky like a great snake. Kishan’s arms locked around me, holding me tight. I fell against Ren’s back and closed my eyes as I desperately tried not to throw up. I breathed a sigh of relief when we finally reached the water.

When the red dragon met the sea, it didn’t submerge but glided on top of it. The ocean was still quiet, fortunately, and the dragon raced quickly across the water. As we reached the boat, Lóngjn raised its upper body to the top of the wheelhouse to let us off and impatiently shook its head to further motivate us to disembark as soon as possible.

Kishan and Ren leapt off quickly, but I wasn’t fast enough, so the dragon gave a final quick thrust of its body that shot me straight up into the air. I rose up, screaming to the accompaniment of tinkling laughter. Just as I started falling over the side of the wheelhouse, both Ren and Kishan leaned over to grab an arm. I was unceremoniously yanked up and landed with a thud on the deck between the brothers.

After I could suck in a breath again, I said, “Thanks … I think,” and spun around to stare over the edge with the guys. They were watching the dragon’s retreat. It bounced across the water, then gathered its body and sprang into the air. As it climbed higher, the three of us watched it fly up into the stars and vanish. In the blink of an eye, it was gone.

With a heavy thump, Ren grabbed the sextant from Kishan and disappeared over the side of the wheelhouse, presumably to confer with Mr. Kadam.

Kishan rolled toward me and gently pushed the hair away from my face. “Are you alright?” he asked. “Do you hurt anywhere?”

I laughed then groaned. “I hurt just about everywhere, and I could sleep for a week.”

Kishan raised himself up on an elbow. “Come on, then. Let’s get you to bed.”

He helped me down the ladder of the wheelhouse and briefly ducked his head inside. “I’m putting Kelsey to bed.”

Mr. Kadam nodded and dismissed us with a wave, being already absorbed in his new toy, but Ren looked up and studied me briefly before bending over to look at something Mr. Kadam was showing him. Kishan walked me down to my room, stripped me of my gear and shoes and asked, “Clothes or pajamas?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“On if you plan on staying to help.”

He grinned and rubbed his jaw. “That’s an intriguing question. What would youlikeme to do?”

I poked him in the chest. “Why don’t you wait here while I change in the bathroom.”

His face fell in disappointment, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

I changed into my pajamas with my eyes closed because I was so tired, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and groped my way back toward the bed. My hand bumped into Kishan’s broad chest, and I was quickly scooped up off my feet and placed between the cool sheets. Kishan turned the light to its lowest setting and knelt beside the bed. My weary head immediately sank into the pillow. I shifted slightly and whimpered.

“Where does it hurt, Kells?”

“My elbow.”

He examined my bruised elbow and pressed a soft kiss against it. “Anywhere else?”

“My knee.”

He pulled down the sheet and slid my silky pajamas to above my kneecap. He squeezed my knee gently. “You’ve skinned it, but I think it will heal.” His lips touched my knee as he kissed me sweetly there as well. “Next?”

Drowsily, I pointed to my cheek. He pushed my hair back and kissed me a dozen times across my forehead and cheeks. His lips trailed down to my ear as he stroked my hair. He whispered, “I love you, Kelsey.”

I was just about to answer him when I fell asleep.