Closing my eyes, I tried to remember how Ana used the power of the amulet. I was attempting to open a passageway to Lady Silkworm, one that only Kelsey could see, but instead, I created a moth. Frowning, I tried again, my lips moving as I tried whispering my instructions again. This time the moth beat its wings and light pulsed behind the carvings in the stone.
Like I was doing warm-ups in Tai Chi, I pushed my hand forward, palm out, and Kelsey’s body was thrust into the wall. I panicked for a second and hurried behind her, relieved to see she was unharmed. I followed along, nudging her with my power until we entered the bubble in time Ana had created for Kells to meet with Lady Silkworm. I watched the two of them talk and sew. I got distracted by my own thoughts when she spoke of practicing and patience. It reminded me of kissing practice with Ana.
Lady Silkworm told the story of the boy she loved, the one I couldn’t save, and guilt flooded me. I knew Kadam had his reasons, but if anyone had told me to just let Ana die, I would have punched them in the face, even if it was Kadam, and done everything in my power to save her.
As she embroidered with Kelsey, she went on, telling her story. There was no mention of me at all. The only thing the poor girl could remember was the goddess rescuing her. I wondered if I should confess my part in it all, but then decided against it. Nothing would change because of it. To bring it up would just cause further suffering.
When it was time for Kelsey to return, I used the same method as before. I closed my eyes and gave her a mental push, but at one point, she got turned around or stuck. I wasn’t sure if I lost focus or if I just wasn’t doing it right. Then I heard a voice. It was Ren. I wasn’t sure if Kells heard it or not but she definitely angled her body toward him. Without my help, Ren somehow breached the time barrier and clasped her hand, pulling her out to safety.
Maybe it was their connection as an incarnation of Durga and her tiger. The two of them had a connection as powerful as the one I shared with Ana. Now that I had experienced the full weight of that bond, it was shocking to think of the self-control Ren had in giving up Kelsey. I don’t think I could have done it. It was hard enough to leave the girl I loved and give her to my brother when we weren’t bonded. It must have killed Ren to walk away from Kells. I couldn’t even imagine walking away from Ana now as a man or as a tiger.
Returning for the woman I’d left behind, I waited patiently for her to gather her things. When she stood, she gave me a discerning look.
“Where is the goddess?” she asked.
“Resting. She is tired from her exertions and bid me return you home.”
“Is there…is there something you wish to ask me?” she said.
I furrowed my brow. Is there something? I hadn’t thought it until she mentioned it but after she did, a question rose to the surface. “Will you make a gift for her? For Ana, I mean. Maybe a veil for her hair, or a dress? Something that will show her how I feel about her.”
“And how do you feel about her?”
That’s the question of the hour, isn’t it? There was no denying that I was attracted to her. That I missed her when she wasn’t around. That I’d already made up my mind that I’d be spending the rest of my life with her. Why is it so hard to define what I feel emotionally? As a boy, I was infatuated with her. I could have easily told the young Ana that I cared about her and wanted her to be happy. But the woman? I wished I could have talked about it with Ren. He had a gift for words. Telling Kells I loved her or even Yesubai that I wanted to marry her didn’t seem nearly as difficult as confronting Ana and confessing my feelings. Maybe that difference meant something.
Lady Silkworm was waiting. “You seem uncertain,” she said. “But for a gift from the heart, I must know your heart. May I?” she asked.
I nodded but I wasn’t sure what she was asking me to do until she placed her hand on my chest. Lady Silkworm closed her eyes for a moment and I felt a warm heat penetrate my skin. My heart burned in my chest, hotter and hotter, until I thought my skin would catch on fire. When she stepped back, her eyes opened wide. “Well,” she said. “That was…surprising.”
Striding away, she tapped her bottom lip, then turned suddenly, her eyes bright. “I know exactly what I’ll make. Not to worry. You’ve given me a task no mere mortal could accomplish, but then again, I have access to things beyond the imagination of mere mortals now. I won’t fail you…or her.”
“I’m certain you won’t,” I said, though I had no idea what she was talking about. “Shall we go?”
“Yes. Time is short and there is much to do.”
She took my offered arm and we sped away. I left her at the tapestry leading to her suite of rooms and went off in search of Ana. She was sleeping in her room, her fist tucked under her cheek. I sat down next to her and stroked my finger down the length of her arm on the inside, where she especially liked it. She moved before I could blink and had a knife pressed to my throat. I held up my hands.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
She heaved out a breath and collapsed back down on her pillow, shoving the knife beneath it. “It is I who am sorry,” she said. “I did not mean to frighten you.”
“I wasn’t frightened. Just surprised.” I leaned closer. “It wasn’t exactly the welcome home I was hoping for.”
Her eyebrows rose. “And how would you prefer to be welcomed home?” she asked.
“Oh, you know. Feasting, dancing, celebration, and lots of kissing.”
Shoving my arm away so she could get up, she said, “I hope you are not anticipating that I will line up pucker-lipped, nubile maidens to welcome you upon your return in the future, Sohan.”
Ana picked up her hairbrush and drew it through her hair in rough strokes. Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I kissed her ear. “There’s only one nubile maiden I’m interested in. Did you sleep? I tried to time my return so you could rest.”
“I did.” She turned but I didn’t allow her to escape my arms. I lifted an eyebrow and smirked as she struggled against me, but I could tell she didn’t really want me to release her, she was just too stubborn to admit what she really wanted. She squirmed, trying to figure out how to be comfortable and relaxed with me holding her in such a way.
Finally, she settled with her hands pressed lightly on top of my biceps and a good six inches between us. It wasn’t as close as I would have preferred, but it felt like a victory all the same. It turned out my victory was short-lived.
“I’m glad you are well,” she said and clapped my arm awkwardly in a hard thump, the way a soldier would congratulate his surviving comrades after battle.
“Lesson two in romance,” I said, cupping her hips and drawing her closer. “It’s perfectly acceptable to hug or hold one another. Especially when reuniting. Kissing doesn’t always have to be a part of it, but an affectionate peck on the lips, cheek, or forehead works to reassure the other person that your feelings haven’t changed during your time apart.”
“Ah. Then your feelings have changed?” she teased lightly.
I answered by kissing her softly on the cheek. “No. If anything, my feelings for you are more acute than they were before.”
“Your eyes are copper right now,” she said, tilting her head. “Does this mean you speak in jest?”
“I assure you, I am in earnest.”
Ana pursed her lips. “Very well.” She touched her velvety lips to my chin. “Is that sufficient?”
I sighed. “A man could hope for more.”
“Perhaps when he deserves more, he will receive it.”
As I laughed and pondered what I could do to deserve more, we disappeared and materialized atop a high mountain. Ana pulled away to study our surroundings. “Where are we?” I asked, peering through the fog. The air was thin and cold and it filled my nostrils with damp and the sharp tang of minerals. In the distance, I heard the sound of rushing water.
“We are to find dragons in this place.”
“Dragons?”
“This is all I know from Kadam’s list,” Ana said.