Her brow crinkled. “What does hurting have to do with shifting?”
“It’s the only way I know how to change. Part of the reason why I want to find others of my kind. I’d really like to find a way to not turn furry if I stub my toe too hard.” It took more than that, but got the point across.
“Bodily trauma triggers your transition to the tiger?”
“Yeah. Also works in reverse, although, most times, it’s the taste of blood that brings me back. The general called me defective because of it. I take it the legends don’t make mention of that.”
She turned to ask her grandmother, who shook her head.
“She says she doesn’t know the secrets of the harimau.”
“Thanks for trying to help, and sorry about the trouble I caused.” He headed for the door, only to hear her exclaim, “You can’t go half naked. You will draw too much attention.”
“Do you have clothes I could borrow?” he asked hopefully.
“None that would fit you, but I’m sure Nenek and I can gather some things tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to put you through any trouble.”
“My job is taking care of tigers, and technically, that includes you.” An impish smile emerged. “Just don’t expect me to give you an enema to help you expel waste.”
His nose wrinkled. “I think I’ll survive.”
“Since we can’t do anything tonight, I’ll get some bedding for you. The couch won’t fit your length, but we’ve got enough cushions to make you comfortable.”
He would have been fine curling up on the rug, but he didn’t argue against the pampering, which included food the grandmother insisted he have. The hot shower felt amazing. The cotton shorts Nadirah loaned him, while pink, fit more comfortably than the smelly pants he’d taken off the asshole he’d killed.
When Phoenix bedded down on the floor in his nest, he didn’t think he’d be able to sleep. What if whoever hired thefirst killer sent more? How hard would the harimau be to find? What if he dragged these two nice women into danger? Could he actually find this tribe of shapeshifting tigers?
In the midst of his mind spinning, he fell asleep and woke first to the grandmother sneaking out with a basket over her arm, then to the soft tiptoe and scent of his hostess.
A woman who looked even more delicious in the morning.
Chapter Four
Sleep proved elusive,as Nadirah couldn’t stop thinking of the man sprawled on her living room floor. A man who could change into a tiger. She’d never been more shocked than to realize the old legends were true. That surprise helped her to overcome the violent attack at the zoo. She might have dwelled on it more but for the fact it truly was a life-or-death situation.
But what next? Phoenix wanted to find others like him, but that wouldn’t be easy. The harimau existed only in old stories and children’s tales. Until now. His existence had her wondering if indeed that video had been real, if weretigers lived amongst them. If they did, though, how could Phoenix connect with them? Or was Nenek right, and he’d have to wait for the harimau to come to him?
Nadirah woke early and crept quietly into the kitchen past the sleeping man. She’d half expected him to flee in the night—or that she would wake up and discover it had all been a dream. She stared out the window as she made some toast and only snapped out of her reverie when a burning smell caught her nose. Despite the fact it was mostly black, she buttered the slice lest Nenek chide her for wasting.
“Make a fresh piece. I’ll eat the burnt one if you want,” Phoenix offered. He’d woken and sat in his nest of blankets, which pooled at his waist, exposing his chest with all its muscles. What a tempting sight.
She quickly turned away and grimaced at the ruined piece of toast.
“I can’t let you eat that. It’s not fit for anyone,” she admitted and tossed it out. She’d buy a new loaf to make Nenek happy.
“Thanks for helping me out last night,” Phoenix said as he rose from the floor and joined her in the kitchen, wearing only the snug cotton shorts she’d loaned him the night before.
Once more she found herself staring—thankfully not drooling—and averted her gaze. “I think I should be the one thanking you. If you’d not taken care of that man with the knife, I might have been seriously injured.”Or dead.
“You were only in danger because of my presence. Speaking of which, I should get going before whoever hired that guy sends someone else.”
Her lips pinched. “You think they will try again.”
“Seems likely.”
“Who is after you?”
