Page 97 of Tiger's Voyage

“How do you know that?” I asked.

“The seven dots are the seven pagodas. This one is the Shore Temple. There are corresponding numbers written in Chinese next to each temple. See here? The Shore Temple has the number one next to it.”

He traced a pattern starting at the symbol that looked like a hyphen and moved from dot to dot following Chinese numerical order.

“It’s a star!” I pronounced.

“Yes, I believe it is.”

“So, Mr. Kadam, you’re saying we should find the first dragon at the number two temple or pagoda?”

“Yes.”

“There’s a slight problem with your theory.”

“Yes, I know.”

Together we said, “There are only five dragons.”

Kishan leaned forward. “What do you think awaits at the last pagoda then?”

Mr. Kadam pressed his hands together and sat back, tapping his lip while thinking. Finally, he said, “I think the danger is not necessarily going to come from the dragons but from what you find at the last pagoda. In Chinese mythology, dragons are revered for being helpful, especially water dragons.”

“Then why do we have to go in order? If we know Durga’s Necklace is hidden in the last pagoda, why not just go there and be done with it?” I asked.

Mr. Kadam shook his head. “No. The directions were given to us for a purpose. Perhaps the dragons will guide you or help you get to the next temple. You couldn’t have skipped the four houses in Shangri-la. You had to be tested at each one before proving yourselves worthy of continuing on. I suspect meeting the dragons will be a similar test.”

I groaned. Mr. Kadam began telling us some stories about dragons, and before I knew it, I’d fallen asleep on Kishan’s shoulder.

I awoke when Mr. Kadam chuckled. “Why don’t you two head off to bed while I study this a bit further. Tomorrow I will teach you what I’ve learned of the seven pagodas. Meet me here after breakfast.”

Kishan squeezed my hand as I nodded sleepily. We said goodnight to Mr. Kadam, and Kishan walked me back to my room.

After brushing my teeth and changing into pajamas in the bathroom, I found Kishan reclining on my bed wearing only a pair of lounge pants that hung dangerously low on his hips.

“Uh … what’s up?” I stammered nervously.

He blinked open his golden eyes and looked at me. “I thought we could spend some time together if you aren’t too tired.”

“Oh.”

He patted the space on the bed next to him, and I approached hesitantly.

What is wrong with me? He is my boyfriend, isn’t he? If it was Ren on thebed I wouldn’t have paused. Why am I so nervous with Kishan?

He watched me with a mixture of curiosity and a twinge of sadness, so I wiped the errant thoughts from my mind and lay down next to him. He put his arm around me, cuddled me against his rather expansive warm chest, and rubbed my back. I eventually relaxed as sleepiness overtook me again.

“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

“Nothing, really. I guess I’m just nervous at the idea of being close to you physically.”

I heard a rumble in his chest. “You don’t need to be nervous with me, Kells. I’d never hurt you.”

My mind snapped back to a green-tinged fire. I’d been wrapped in Ren’s arms as he said those exact same words.I hope you know I’d neverhurt you, Kells.My heart beat lopsidedly. For a second, it felt like my heart would rip in half.

I put my arm across Kishan’s chest and hugged him. “I know you’d never hurt me. It’s normal for two people who are getting to know one another to feel … hesitant and a little awkward. Don’t take it personally. I like being near you like this.”

“Good,” he grunted, “because I’m not moving.” He took my hand and pressed it against his chest, holding it captive there. “Are you tired?”