Page 175 of Tiger's Voyage

I saw Lokesh’s evil visage crystallize in an admiring glance before turning his back on his doomed captive—and then he froze.

It was as if we had somehow stepped out of time and were ghosts in a white ethereal world.

I saw both Lokesh and Mr. Kadam look behind me and turn. Ren was silent, holding my limp form in his arms while Kishan murmured endearments and smoothed back my hair.

Lokesh addressed me for the first time. “Interesting. I assume you heard my recent exchange as I heard yours.” He studied the vision behind me. “I see you’ve captured the hearts of both brothers as my beautiful Yesubai did. How very …Machiavellianof you, my dearKelsey.”

“You will not speak to her,” Mr. Kadam’s form proclaimed.

“Ah,” Lokesh smiled evilly, “and has the young one caused evenyourancient heart to smolder with jealousy, my friend?”

Lokesh turned his gaze back to me, and his eyes burned with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. “I must admit,” he laughed casually but his hungry leer belied his pleasant demeanor, “she’s capturedmyinterest as well.”

“She is my ward and thus falls under the protection of the Rajaram house,” Mr. Kadam warned. “Donotlook upon her in that manner. I forbid it. She is an innocent and not meant for one such as you.”

Not meant forhim? Lokesh wanted … me?I felt sick, and the way he was looking at me made me want to scrub my skin with lye, gouge out my eyes, and pour bleach in my brain to cleanse him from it.

“Murderer!” I spat. “You killed Captain Dixon!”

“Come, come, my dear. It’s the fault of your precious tigers. They thought I was so feebleminded, so old, that I wouldn’t find the ship named after their mother? They are stupid. Weak. Like their father. Rajaram ran away rather than face me. He hid his family in the jungle and left his people to fend for themselves. They will leave you in the same way.”

“They will never leave me.” I clenched my teeth to keep from sobbing as hot tears ran down my face.

Lokesh thoughtfully considered me. “Think of all we could accomplish together, my young one. With the amulets united, I could rule the world, and you would stand by my side as my queen. I would lavish you with the luxuries of the ages. You have merely to wish for something, and whatever you desire would be granted. I am a handsome man, young.” The area around him shifted and blurred. “Young enough for a woman such as yourself to find … pleasing.”

Startled, I studied his features. He was right. Hewasyoung and handsome.Why did he seem older before? Is this some kind of trick?He was thinner and his hair was slicked back. He still had rings on each finger but instead of stubby digits, his fingers were long and tapered, and his body powerful and muscular.

“It’s an illusion, Kelsey. Ignore him,” Mr. Kadam pleaded.

Lokesh went on, “I could give you a good life.”

“What do youwantfrom me? Why me?” I asked. “Surely you can have any woman you want.”

“Justanywoman is notworthyof me. As to what I want,” he laughed suggestively as his gaze traveled slowly up my body to settle on the amulet, “there is one thing even a man of my power cannot do alone. Can you guess what it is?”

When the answer came to me, I sucked in a breath. “A child. You want a child?”

“Yes. I want a son. I choose you because you are strong and brave. Yesubai’s mother was weak. Only one other woman has ever affected me in the same way and sadly, she inconveniently disappeared.”

“Deschen,” Mr. Kadam whispered incredulously. “You wanted Deschen.”

“Yes. She was beautiful and fiery. Deschen would have given me a fine son, an heir. He would have been splendid—as tall and courageous as Dhiren, as brawny and powerful as Kishan, but with my own wisdom, cunning, and thirst for power. A son of my own blood.

“But you,” the sorcerer addressed me, “are the better choice. Not only are you bold, but you are also passionate and filled with power. Perhaps it only comes from wielding the amulet, but I think not. There is something special, something … different about you. And whether you want it or not, Iwillhave you.”

“No,” I whispered quietly. “No,” I affirmed as I shook my head in denial.

Lokesh tilted his head and considered me. “Perhaps, if you came to me willingly, I would allow your tigers to live, albeit on a tiny island far away, in a place where they would be of little consequence. I assure you, though, that once I choose a course of action, I am rarely thwarted.”

“That is enough! She will be under my protection, and you will never touch her as long as there is life in my limbs,” Mr. Kadam threatened.

Lokesh smiled. “Then we will have to see to it that life does not remain in your limbs much longer, my friend. I look forward to the challenge. Be forewarned, I am coming for you.”

“And I’ll be waiting.” Mr. Kadam finished.

Our bodies started to fade, becoming ghostlike.

I turned my worried eyes to Mr. Kadam, and he smiled, trying to reassure me.