Trancing the Tiger (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 1) (21 page)

“Why did you fight them by yourself? I would have helped—”

“No way. They’re dangerous. The more human souls they consume, the bigger they get, like the ones I hadn’t anticipated running into last night.” An image of the two elephant-sized swine-like demons popped into his head. Only with Kassian’s help had he managed to distract them and slash their throats. “They damn near gored me in half.” He chuckled. “It was a fucked-up plan, but it worked, didn’t it? Ox and I killed those motherfuckers, and Rabbit finally came out.”

“Wait. Ox was there? He could have healed you last night.”

“Yeah.” He shrugged. “But then I never would have met Rabbit.” He slid his hands onto her shoulders and grinned.

She rolled her eyes. “You think you’re a real badass, don’t you?”

He leaned in and purred, “What’s that? You like my ass?” As she blushed, he plucked the carrot from her plate and dangled it in front of her face.

She opened her mouth as though she would chide him again, but closed it when she spotted the vegetable. “A carrot?” Her cute nose wrinkled as she examined the orange vegetable. “What do you expect me to, oh,
mmm…
” Rabbit sniffed out the offering, and Lucy munched on that thing as though she’d never tasted anything so delicious.

His shaft hardened as her white teeth sank into the thick stalk, pink lips wrapped around it, and a moan curling from deep within her throat. He shifted uncomfortably, focusing on anything but her luscious mouth. How warm it would be wrapped around his cock.

Her laughter broke through. “Well, that was weird.”

“Not as strange as you might think.” Smiling at her, he pointed to the hunk of rare steak on his plate beside the oyster omelet. “We’re not animals, but the spirits within us do color our preferences.” After slicing into the meat with his knife, he popped a chunk into his mouth. Tiger chuffed in appreciation. “You’re not likely to become a vegetarian or anything, but you’ll probably get some funky cravings.”

“Great. Like being pregnant?”

He chuckled at the flush of rose in her cheeks. Was she picturing the same image he was, of their bodies twisted together in ecstasy?

She cleared her throat. “Am I going to eventually turn into a rabbit?”

“Nope.” Sheng swallowed another mouthful of bloody meat. “You’re not a rabbit, you’re the host. Like I said before, Rabbit can never control you. You’re the master and can use any of Rabbit’s talents to heighten your own strengths.”

“Like hiding in the dirt?” She wrinkled her nose. “That hardly qualifies as a superior ability. More like, worst superpower ever.” She twirled the eggs around on her plate.

He tried to counter her statement, but yeah, he’d assumed the same when he’d first discovered she carried the Rabbit. Forcing himself to search beyond his disappointment, he recalled what he knew about the animal.

Gentle. Sensitive. Compassionate. Modest. Merciful. Yeah, none of those were all that handy in combat. He scraped at his brain, searching for a tidbit to brighten the mood.

“Well, you’re quick. One of the swiftest. In the story of the Great Race, the Rabbit was the fourth animal. That’s not bad.”

“Yeah, but the Tiger came in third.” She wiggled her brows and playfully shoved his arm.

He laughed along with her, winding his arms around her and dragging her against his chest. After planting a kiss on top of her head, he pulled back and searched her face. “If it’s any consolation, I’m glad you’re here. You might not be the fiercest animal, but you are, by far, not the weakest, either. You’re strong and I promise I’ll help you harness your abilities.”

She smiled, but it faded. “You really believe
we
can stop the Red Death?”

He nodded. “That’s why I’m bringing you to the Matchmaker. She’ll explain everything.”

She smelled so good, like a bed of delicate flowers, and he didn’t want to release her from his arms. If he never let her go, he’d never be able to keep her. Getting her to the Matchmaker was the first step in sifting through the bureaucracy separating them.

The future won out. He untangled from her and they finished their meal in silence. After cleaning up, he texted the others to meet them at the Matchmaker’s.

Lucy snagged her purse from the kitchen table and made for the door.

“Nope. We’re not going that way.” He wagged his fingers at her.

One eyebrow raised, she slipped her hand into his. He led her to the terrace. “I don’t like those cameras. I’m getting you out of here and it’s better your uncle not know about it.”

A shudder rippled beneath her skin so he hauled her closer, into the crook of his arm.

“What other way out is there?”

He winked. “Down.”

Not giving her the chance to panic, he released her, slipping on Tiger’s cloaking. After he nodded at her to do the same with Rabbit, he slunk to the edge of the rooftop.

She didn’t join him, so he encouraged her. “You can do it. Trust me. I’ll be right beside you the whole way down.”

She stared at him but, after a minute, Rabbit’s cloaking surrounded her.

He made sure not to touch her lest Rabbit decide mid-air to change its mind, but he did tilt his head for her to climb down first. He had to give her credit. Most people would balk at the fifty-foot drop between here and the next ledge, but she set her shoulders and hopped off.

He leapt a second after her, landing beside her.

Her eyes were bright with exhilaration as she beamed at him. He grinned back and made for the second ledge, a thirty-foot drop.

She vaulted onto that one and, before he’d pointed out the next, she’d vaulted over the ledge ahead of him, her fluffy bunny tail disappearing from view.

She hit the ground before he did. Her chiming laughter made elation bubble inside his chest. Giving Tiger the chance to stretch out, he tossed his head for her to follow him as he sprinted through the crowded streets. With Tiger cloaking him, no human could detect him. Monks or those with pure faith would, but they’d keep a respectable distance from the beast.

No one challenged the Tiger.

They zipped through traffic, bounding off car roofs and shop awnings, winding a path invisible to the world. He’d never enjoyed racing as much with anyone as he did Lucy. She challenged him to spring off the sides of buildings, to wend through narrow peaks in traffic. She kept pace with him and, often, set the pace. Monkey wasn’t much of a runner. Neither were Ox and Rat. In Lucy, he found a companion with the same interests.

Well, aside from hunting prey.

Who knew? Perhaps, with training and time, she would make a great partner. A leader.

The thought spurred him to get to the Matchmaker’s that much faster. He had to stake his claim on Lucy before the Council handed down further commands against it.

Or handed
her
over to Snake.

Body thrumming with trepidation, he veered to the left, cutting a faster path to the Council Chambers. Lucy trailed behind him, Rabbit bounding through the streets with obvious bliss. With the map of the city in his mind, he tore through alley after alley until the sharp lifting of the hairs on the back of his neck made him screech to a halt.

“Lucy, behind me. Now.” His heart pounded against his ribcage. This was the neutral zone. Dammit.

“What’s wrong?” Rabbit faded, and Lucy’s eyes widened at him. No time to explain, so he shoved her behind a dumpster. Hopefully, the stench of refuse would mask her scent.

“Whatever you do, stay hidden,” he barked, praying she would listen just this once. “Do
not
come out, yeah? Don’t make a sound.” Snake he could handle on his own, but if that motherfucker got a whiff of Lucy before Sheng sealed her loyalty?

Screwed. They’d be screwed.

A shiny black limo parked at the end of the alley, blocking the exit. A man stepped out, his fancy suit making Sheng choke on the bile in his throat.

Snake had been born into a privileged life. His rich-ass, politician parents had cultivated his abilities ever since the Snake had been discovered in him as an infant. He might not have been gifted the fiercest spirit, the Tiger, but the Snake was damned cunning. He’d slithered his way to the top of the Ghee Hin
Kongsi
, bypassing the traditional levels of leadership.

No Matchmaker for the Ghee Hin. The role of feminine leadership fell to another on the Council of Elders.

The Empress.

Yeah, that other bitch. As much as Sheng clashed with the Matchmaker, their differences were superficial. In the end, they would fight for the same cause and that was what tethered their loyalty to each other.

The Empress was an altogether different class of harpy. She was Snake’s official partner, yet most likely pulled Snake’s strings. The Empress was the epitome of feminine wiles gone evil.

While Sheng had almost slept with the Matchmaker that one time, he wouldn’t dive into the Empress’s snake pit for all the treasures in the universe.

That shit was probably poisoned, anyway.

Snake’s associate remained in the car. Tián Delun. Delun’s family had always graced the position of figurehead in the Ghee Hin. Snake dragged the fucking symbolic puppet around for show, but everyone knew Delun took his orders from Snake and not the other way around.

Snake’s gleaming eyes passed over Sheng as he approached.

Sheng met the glare straight on, one shoulder leaning against the dumpster.

“Tiger.”

“Snake.”

This posturing couldn’t be over with soon enough. What the fuck did Snake want?

“Last night, some
yāoguài
were executed on Ghee Hin territory.”

Oh, that.

Sheng carefully raised one brow, ensuring his expression displayed surprise. “Really?”

Those coppery snake eyes shifted as though attempting to mesmerize him into revealing his involvement.

Never gonna happen.

“I thought perhaps you might know who was involved,” Snake scoffed. “However, we’ve already discussed how you wouldn’t step foot on Ghee Hin territory without an invitation, right?” He cocked his head. “Because you wouldn’t ever want us doing the same.”

Though, inside, his gut churned, Sheng kept his features stoic. A threat to his home, his family. Lucy. “I follow the orders I’m given,” he bluffed. Was it too late to adopt a Boy Scout reputation? “You have more enemies than me. Besides, why would I kill a few
yāoguài
? Wouldn’t be worth my while.” He lifted a shoulder, feigning indifference.

Snake studied him and, judging by his satisfied nod, accepted the lie.

Thank fuck for that.

Sheng eased off the dumpster. “Well, have a good one, Snake.” He dismissed his enemy before further contact revealed the truth.

As he shifted away, a squeak came from the direction of the dumpster.

Shit.

Snake spun around just as Sheng did. They both stared at each other for an instant before whipping their gazes to the dumpster.

Now she’d done it. And fuck him, because there was nothing he could do to hide Lucy from Snake.

Chapter 16

“A friend of yours, Li?” The haughty voice droned.

Damn. Lucy clamped her hand over her mouth, but it was too late. A rat had startled her, and she’d freaked out. She’d never liked rats.

Except maybe Fang.

The smooth, cold voice of the man Sheng spoke with drifted to her. Sheng had told her to stay hidden no matter what, but she’d been discovered.

She coaxed herself back to courage. Wasn’t she done hiding? Whoever this jerk-off was, holing up made her look weak. A stereotype she was quite eager to rid herself of.

C’mon, Rabbit. Let’s show ‘em we’re not afraid.

Lucy rose and emerged from behind the dumpster. She caught sight of Sheng first. The glare he sent her was one of pure fury. Did he really expect her to stay hidden?

She shrugged, stepping into the sunlight to greet his companion.

Oh,
him
. Crap. The man from the Botanic Gardens. Closer, the dude was…hot. Not dangerously sexy like Sheng, but attractive in a classic sense. With strong Asian features and a tall, muscular frame, he looked to be around thirty. Tailored to perfection, his chic suit enhanced the high-bred carriage of his shoulders.

His eyes flickered an unnatural shade of orange as he shifted to scrutinize her.

The second she stared into those orbs, his aura flipped—like a hologram—revealing the form of the Snake. A giant-ass cobra.

Rabbit bolted back into hiding so fast, she doubled over. Sheng snatched her, scooping her to the safety of his side. He tilted his stance, blocking most of her from the man’s calculating smile.

“Well, well. This is who you’ve been hiding, Li?” The gleam in his eyes was like a predator seizing upon its next prey.

She was the prey.

Lucy shuddered in Sheng’s arms. His body, though tense, was firm and in command. She drew strength from his unwavering confidence. He’d never allow this fiend to hurt her.

Spreading her fingers across his lower back, she glided them beneath his shirt to caress the warmth of his skin. The heat of his body soothed her, and she regained her composure.

“I’ve been searching for you, Little Rabbit.” Snake smirked, but didn’t appear in the least surprised she hosted the Rabbit. Odd. “A pleasure to meet you at last. You must forgive me if I frightened you at the Gardens. I merely intended to introduce myself to you in a more private setting, not to scare you. My name is Fù Zhao.” He dangled his fingers toward her, flourishing his charismatic brazenness.