Tiger's Promise: A Tiger's Curse Novella (The Tiger's Curse Series) by Colleen Houck

Author:Colleen Houck [Houck, Colleen]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2014-05-31T23:00:00+00:00

Though I tried to avoid Kishan, he seemed to always know where I was. He was one of the only men allowed inside the women’s room. I found him reclining at his mother’s feet, talking with her, on more than one occasion. Each time, he tried to engage me in conversation, but I’d make my excuses and leave. When we dined, I’d catch him watching me, and he often volunteered for guard duty when I walked about the grounds to appease Hajari.

Kishan seemed to sense my relief at having him near, and when we walked, I almost forgot that Hajari was even with us. Kishan had the ability to make me feel safe. It was similar to how I’d felt in the garden. It wasn’t just that he was a big man, it was something else. I didn’t realize until the third day that what I felt around him was hope. No one could be around Kishan and not be affected by his steadiness, by the way he was grounded.

Like the trees, his roots went deep, and I daydreamed that if he wrapped me in his arms, he could safely tuck me away within his branches and hide me from the world. He was shaken by nothing. He feared nothing. Watching him spar with his soldiers, I could see that they respected and trusted him utterly. What was more, I was getting dangerously close to feeling the same way about him.

All too quickly, Deschen announced that the caravan was ready to take me to meet Dhiren. As I was loaded into the carriage, I lifted the curtains, seeking Kishan’s face, but he didn’t come to see me off. I told myself it was for the best and settled in for the long trip to the far side of the empire.

When I met Dhiren, I was struck by how handsome he was. He looked more like his mother than his father. His eyes were startlingly blue, but as kind as he was, I missed the warmth of Kishan’s golden gaze. We spoke at length. He was polite, well-mannered, everything a woman should want in a man, but there was something missing. There was a distance between us that felt too wide to breach. Though I watched him carefully during the time we were together, I never saw a cord about his neck indicating he wore a piece of the amulet my father sought.

It was obvious that the difficulties he’d encountered with my father’s army had distracted him, but he never blamed me for the fact, and he didn’t even discuss the diplomatic aspects of our union. He merely said he looked forward to our marriage and had a great hope that we would be happy together.

Documents were signed, and he was courteous and attentive in making sure I had every comfort he could afford for my journey back, but when he pressed his lips against my hand in farewell, all I could feel was regret. He was a good man, a wonderful one even.

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