Page 28 of Tiger's Voyage

“Fine! Then why don’t you gallop on back to the Jeep,Champion?”

“Fine!Then I will!”

I spat with barely controlled rage. “Good! And don’t let the jungle hit you on the way out!”

He stared into my eyes as he stalked past me. He was breathless with anger and frustration, and, heaven help me, all I could think of was grabbing him and kissing him.

He spoke softly as I glared back at him. “I pity poor Kishan, who has to walk the rest of the way back with you.”

“I’m sure he’ll survive,” I replied acerbically.

He glanced at Kishan, and looked his brother up and down coldly. “Nodoubt. I’ll meet you back at the Jeep.”

Kishan nodded, and Ren hesitated.

I folded my arms. “Well? What are you waiting for? A good-bye kiss?”

His eyes darted to my lips. “Careful what you wish for,mohini stri.”

For a brief second, I panicked thinking he’d accept that challenge, but he tilted his head, smiled an infuriatingly knowing smile, leapt over the fire, and was gone.

Kishan stared at the hole in the forest where Ren had disappeared. Then he turned to me and put his hands on my shoulders.

“I’ve never seen you so angry before.”

“What can I say? He brings out the best in me.”

Kishan frowned. “It would appear he does.”

“What did those words mean?”

“Mohini stri? They mean ‘siren,’ or ‘fascinating woman.’”

I grunted. “Figures he’d take the opportunity to mock me further.”

Kishan gave me a puzzled look. “I don’t think he’s mocking you.”

“Ofcoursehe is. And I’m warning you right now: I’m not in the mood to start another tiger fight, so if you want to take off after him, then by all means feel free.”

“Kelsey, I have no intention of leaving you alone. And I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Well, at least one of you is a gentleman,” I muttered as I started gathering my things to leave. I picked up the crumpled poem and smoothed the paper regretfully as I slipped my abused journal carefully into the backpack.

“Kelsey, despite what you think, Ren wouldn’t have left you alone either. If I wasn’t here, he would have stayed.”

“Yeah. Right. I could walk off the side of a cliff for all he cares. Why are you defending him anyway? I thought you wanted him out of the picture!”

“That’s not … exactly true.”

“Oh! I see. SoKelseyis the one at fault.Kelseymisunderstands everyone’s intentions. Then let me make sure I understandyourmotives. Do you still want to be with me, or don’t you?”

He scowled. “You know the answer to that.”

“Fine. Then now’s your chance! Kiss me.”

Kishan studied my face carefully and shook his head. “No.”

“No? Don’t you want to?”