Page 145 of Tiger's Voyage

“No,youwon’t.” I turned at the sound of the threatening male voice. Ren leaned against the doorway with his arms folded across his chest. “I’ll throw all the scissors into the ocean.”

“Go ahead. I’ll figure something else out. Maybe I’ll use thechakram. You wouldn’t dare throw that into the sea.”

“Try it. You’ll have to deal with the consequences, and youwon’tlike them.”

I frowned at the stubborn expression on his face until Nilima turned my head and began snipping again.

“Shall I go on?” Mr. Kadam asked.

“Please,” I said, tight-lipped.

“There’s also Phineas, who was punished for revealing too much about the gods. He was blinded and put on an island with a buffet full of food he could never touch.”

“I remember him,” I said. “Jason and the Argonauts saved him. They fought the harpies so he could eat, and then he told them how to get through the Clashing Rocks at Bosphorus.”

“Correct. Polyphemus was the cannibalistic Cyclops blinded by Odysseus. I can’t see a connection with that story, but I thought I’d mention it. Then there was Oedipus, who took his own eyes after discovering he’d fulfilled the words of the oracle in marrying his own mother. He found her dead after she committed suicide and gouged out his eyes with pins.”

Acerbically, Ren said, “Perhaps taking a woman belonging to another would apply.”

“First of all,Mr. Subtle, Kishan didn’ttakeme anywhere I wasn’t willing to go. Secondly, I don’t believeLaiustold his wife to get lost. And thirdly, I don’t think the story of Oedipus has anything to do with this!” I spat hotly. “Theobvioustheme here, which you could figure out if you could control the green-eyed monster currently inhabiting your body, is prophecies and oracles.”

Mr. Kadam cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I would tend to agree with you, Miss Kelsey.”

I smirked at Ren, who sighed deeply and said, “So you think Kishan is supposed to become some kind of an oracle? That he’ll lead us to the fourth dragon?”

“Only time will tell.” Mr. Kadam rose. “Perhaps I will go check on him now.”

“He was sleeping when I left,” I added as he made a hasty exit.

Ren accused, “Yes. You’ve been the best of nursemaids. Offering him the softest of pillows to rest his weary head on.”

“Umm … perhaps I will go with Grandfather,” Nilima said. She set down the scissors, looked at my expression, and then changed her mind and took them with her. She quickly slid between Ren and the door, making her escape.

I pulled a rubber band out of my pocket and began braiding my hair. “Has anyone ever told you, you sound petty when you’re jealous?”

“Do you think I care what I sound like?”

“Obviously you don’t.”

“You’re right. I don’t. And yes, I’ll admit, Iamjealous. I’m jealous of every minute you spend with him, of every concerned expression you send his way, of every tear shed, of every glance, every touch, and everythought. I want to rip him to pieces and purge him from your mind and from your heart. But I can’t.”

I swiveled in the chair, stood, and tossed my braid over my shoulder. “Kishan needs me right now, and I’m sorry if you can’t accept that.”

He took a step closer. “Kishanisn’t theonlyone who needs you, Kelsey.”

I sucked in a breath. “Maybe not. But his need is more immediate.”

“For now. But the fuse is lit. You can run all you want to, but you leave a trail of gunpowder in your wake. There’s going to be a reckoning eventually.” He took another step forward and cupped my chin, tilting my head up until I looked in his eyes. “You should know that I was there in the dragon’s lair too. I was in that foggy dream world with you. I heard your secret confessions. Iknowthe innermost feelings of your heart. You will never belong to him. You belong to me, and it’s about time you came to terms with that.”

I bit my lip and stewed. He had a point, but I was irritated. “It’s very bold to assume that Ibelongto you. I’m not some slave girl or some bartered bride you can buy from her father. There’s no contract governing my affections. I make my own decisions. I’m my own person, and I belong to who Iwantto belong to, for aslongas I want to. Don’t ever presume that you have the right to do with me what you will. Just because you’re aprince, doesn’t makemeyour subject. So get off your high and mighty horse, yourhighness, and find some other girl to intimidate into submission.”

We stood toe-to-toe and nose-to-nose. I was breathing hard. His eyes narrowed and then darted down to my lips. He smiled dangerously.

“‘Teach not thy lip such scorn, for it was made for kissing, lady, not for such contempt.’”

I was about to protest when he yanked me against him and crushed his lips against mine. I ineffectually pushed against his chest as his lips bruised my mouth. He held me in an inescapable grip. He found my hands and trapped them at my sides so I couldn’t flail against him any longer. I tried to kick him, but he adjusted his stance so I had no leverage. He bit my lip softly, and then instead of trying to escape, I moaned and kissed him back feverishly. He took my braid in his hand, wrapped it several times around his wrist, and yanked my head back to deepen the kiss. It hurt but in avery…good…way.

When he finally raised his head, he smirked.