(Gonna be using some lines from the book into this chapter but I do not own any of it, it all belongs to Colleen Houck)
Ren approached Kelsey slowly "Hello Kelsey, its me Ren."
"What? What did you say?" she asked
I stepped forward "Guess my father never told you my name either, I'm Akira"
She looks more confused "Y-Your father?"
I nod "Yes my father is Mr. Kadam." she tensed and started to look around as if she was gonna make a break for it "Look Kelsey I know that this seems overwhelming but you must believe that we are the tiger and wolf that you have been traveling with, look." me and Ren turned over our hands to show the collars and ropes that were attached to us
She shook her head "No.. You cant be." she started to back away from us and as she fell backwards over the wall in front of the house Ren reached out catching her wrist, steadying her.
"Why don't we go inside? The owner is not home right now, you can sit down and relax. We will explain everything" Ren suggested in a calm soothing voice, she hesitated but then let him lead her into the house with me behind them
"So, what are you?" Kelsey asked as she sat on the bed "Are you a man who became a tiger or a tiger that turned into a man? Or are you like a werewolf? If you bite me, would I turn into a tiger too?"
I chuckled at her questions while Ren tilted his head with a confused look on his face, "Well technically I am the werewolf here, he is the weretiger. Personally I think my form is better" I grin. Ren raised an eyebrow at me and I held my hands up in surrender
He turned back to Kelsey "Do you remember the story of Prince Dhiren that Mr. Kadam told you at the circus?
"Yes. I remember. Wait. Are you saying-?"
"That story was mostly accurate. I am the Dhiren that he spoke of. I was the prince of the Mujulaain Empire. It's true that Kishan, one of my brothers, and my fiancée betrayed me, but the end of the story is a fabrication. I was not killed, as many people have been led to believe, My brothers and I were cursed and changed into tigers." he explained
Kelsey turned her attention to me "So if you are Mr. Kadam's daughter how did you end up being cursed?"
I look down the memory of it still free in my mind as if it happened yesterday instead of almost 300 years ago "My mother was dying of a terrible illness, this was I guess the day after the princes were cursed but I had met with the same man that put the curse on them without knowing who he actually was. He had told me that he had certain abilities that would help heal my mother, all he need was a drop of my blood on a talisman and the next thing I remember was waking up in Nalin's arms.." Ren takes my hand and rubs it comfortingly,
"Who is Nalin?" Kelsey asked
"He is one of my brothers," Ren replies, "Him and my other brother Kishan are twins. I know trekking through the jungle has been unpleasant but please don't blame Mr. Kadam for it, it was my idea.. Because you see Kelsey.. We need you"
She twitched uncomfortably in her seat "Wh.. What do you mean you need me?"
"We have reasons to believe that you are the only one who can break the curse." I replied "You were already able to set Ren free from his captivity"
"But, I didn't set him free, Mr. Kadam is the one that purchased his freedom."
"No. Mr. Kadam was unable to purchase my freedom until you came along. When I was captured, I was no longer able to change into my human form or gain my freedom until something, or should I say someone, special came along." Ren met her eyes "That someone special was you."
She looks down and nods before looking back at me, "Okay but what do you need me for? What do I have to do."
"Well," I begin leaning back against the wall of the hut "We came here for a reason, the man who lives here is a shaman, a monk, he is the one who can fully explain your role in all of this. My father and I have visited once not long before Ren called us and he wouldn't share anything until you were found and brought here. He also insisted that he speak with us alone. That's why we had to leave my father behind."
"Would you please wait here with us and at least hear what he has to say?" Ren asked "And after if you still choose to leave, Kadam will arrange for you to be transported back to the states."
I was about to comment to what he said but I grunt and fall to my knees throwing my head in a pain filled yelled
"Is she okay?" I heard Kelsey asked but Ren just motioned her to be quiet. He still had a few minutes but mine was up, this was always the part I hated when I morphed willingly it didn't hurt as much but when my time was up the wolf forced itself out. I shook my head vigorously as my mouth elongated into a muzzle with sharp teeth forcing themselves out of my gums, when it was over I shook out my russet brown fur and collapsed onto my side panting from the exertion
Ren leaned down and stroked my side, "We only have twenty-four minutes a day in our human form, she used hers up." he turned back to her and continued to explain the frustrations of having to be stuck in his tiger form for so long until finally he was forced to change back to his tiger.
Kelsey announced that she was going to take a bath and shooed Ren out of the room but she decided to leave me lying on the floor, "Your a girl so its better" I wagged my tail at her comment before closing my eyes and falling into a deep sleep.