Page 176 of Tiger's Voyage

“Oh, one last thing,” Lokesh added with a smooth leer. “I’m sure if he could, Captain Dixon would have expressed his sorrow at being unable to serve you any longer. His new position is one that is … interminable.”

Lokesh noted the tears slipping down my cheeks and laughed madly. The terrible sounds rang in my ears as the scene before me disappeared.

I woke with tears on my face. Kishan reached for me, and Ren reluctantly let me go.

“What is it, my sweet? Can you tell us what happened?”

Brushing away the tears, I leaned back against Kishan’s chest and told them I’d seen Mr. Kadam and Lokesh in a vision. When they asked what Lokesh had said, I lied.

“Just the usual,” I hedged. I didn’t want to burden either of them with the knowledge of what Lokesh wanted. It would serve no purpose for them to know. It would only madden them to the point of insanity, and I thought they had enough to deal with for the time being. I’d tell them about Captain Dixon later too.

For a fleeting moment, I considered the offer Lokesh had made. In a tiny part of my heart, I thought,What if? What if we lost and acceptingLokesh would save them? There was no reason for them to know that I nowheld tightly onto a trump card. If, in the end, the only thing that would savethem would be my sacrifice, then so be it.

The tigers were anxious to leave. Strong enough to stand, I took a step away, adjusted mydupatta, and patted my hair. When I looked up, I found Ren staring at me and blushed, remembering him kneeling at my feet, but this time his face was stricken.

“What is it?” I asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Kishan. He … he’s Shiva. He has to be with that third eye, his clothes, and then the way he presented you with the Necklace—” he trailed off.

“And that makes you—”

“Indra,” Ren declared wretchedly.

“Right. So what does that mean? What are we supposed to do?” I asked.

Ren’s face tightened. “We do what we came here to do.Indraslays the beast andShiva,” his eyes darted to my face briefly, “claims his bride.”

Kishan had moved up behind me and cupped my shoulders. I felt both of us stiffen at the same time. Kishan relaxed first and squeezed my arms without saying anything. Ren walked over to the window and studied the black sea beyond. I turned, smiled at Kishan, and patted his hand, and then walked over to Ren and touched his arm. I bit my lip, thinking I was right to keep the desires of Lokesh hidden. They could barely tolerate the idea of each other as rivals let alone adding their nemesis into the mix.

“Youaren’t Indra. You may be dressed like him, and I may be dressed like Parvati but I’m not her. I’m Kelsey, you’re Ren, and he’s Kishan. If thereisa beast to slay, Indra won’t do it. Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan will do it together. We may be trapped in a myth, but we will make our own story. Okay?”

Ren nodded and grabbed me in a fierce but brief hug, and then set me aside. I could tell he didn’t necessarily believe me, but he was trying.

“I’ll get our things,” he said softly.

I watched him walk off then went back to Kishan, who wrapped his arms around me in a hug of his own.

“He’s upset,” he said.

“Yes. But it’s more than the Indra thing. I had a talk with him in the ice palace. I told him that I couldn’t be with him anymore and that I was choosing you.”

Kishan froze. “You did?” He asked hesitantly, “What did he say?”

“He said that he will always be my protector and friend.”

“Really? That’s it?”

“Yes. Did you expect something else?”

“Honestly? Yes. I’ve been expecting you to break up with me for a while now.”

“Well, I’m not going to.”

“I see.” He rubbed his jaw and frowned.

“Do you … not want me anymore?”

“Notwantyou?” he asked incredulously. “There is nothing I want more than to belong to you. To remain with you. I guess I have to admit, I’m surprised. Why didn’t you go back to him?”