“No move, else miss, and cut head off,” Zafira ordered.
Determined to not show any weakness—despite knowing it would hurt—Phoenix held still as Zafira slashed him across the belly, a deep cut that sent him to his knees in breathtaking agony that lasted mere seconds before he swapped into his stripes.
Phoenix stood on four paws and shook out his fur before cocking his head.
Farah inspected him while Johan frowned. Zafira appeared surprised. She honestly thought he’d lied. Ha. He showed her.
A murmur of conversation had Farah running a hand over his flank and seemingly pointing out stuff to Johan. He crouched and placed his fingers against him, and Phoenix would havesworn he measured the width of his stripes. Not too surprising, as Nadirah had mentioned his weren’t the same as the Malaysian-born tigers.
After a time, Farah addressed him. “Could you show us what you can do?”
He made a noise of confusion.
“Can you climb a tree? Swim? How fast can you run?”
The first proved easy. He bounded over to the nearest trunk and hooked his claws in the bark, hoisting himself to reach the highest bough that would hold his weight. Then he leapt from that branch and raced for the river, soaring from the bank to splash into a deep spot. He misjudged the strength of the current and struggled to swim to shore.
He emerged panting and shaking his bedraggled fur. To his surprise, while he’d been gone for his dunk, Zafira had changed into a tiger. She scratched the ground and glanced up the shoreline, an obvious invitation to race.
While it had been a while since he’d stretched his four legs, he rose to the challenge, his surefootedness streaking him across the uneven ground, his focus on the lone tree half hanging over the river.
He reached it and had time to sit before Zafira joined him, looking miffed she lost the competition. Rather than walk back, her tail between her legs, she chose to throw herself into the current and let it float her back to her grandfather.
Since it seemed like fun—not to mention refreshing—he followed suit. Only when he reached shore, while Zafira managed to switch right away, Phoenix remained a wet kitty.
Farah crouched in front of him. “You require injury to change back?”
He nodded. He’d not yet revealed his shameful allergy to meat while in his tiger shape.
Farah glanced at Zafira, who seemed almost gleeful to be cutting him again. It hurt just as much as the previous time, but thankfully, he quickly shifted.
As he dressed, Johan muttered, “Same, but different.”
“Are all the harimau in your ambush the same variety?” Phoenix asked, sliding on his shoes.
“Yes,” Farah replied for Johan and paused before adding, “But my grandfather did tell a story about a foreigner, who, like you, was a tiger not native to our land.”
“Indicating there might be other tiger ambushes.”
“It seems likely, but like us, they remain well hidden.”
“So now what?” Phoenix asked, since once more, Johan and his granddaughter both had their heads bent close, whispering as they headed back to the village.
“Now we advise the others that you are indeed a tiger.”
“Meaning no more talk of killing me?” He sounded a tad too hopeful.
“Some will still insist, but hopefully, those of us with calmer heads will prevail. I will remind them that having fresh blood and perspective might be beneficial.”
He almost blurted out he didn’t plan to stay long, only to hold his tongue, because, in truth, where else did he have to go? Canada, with its cold winters and lack of tigers? And, then there was Nadirah. He wasn’t entirely ready to say goodbye yet, especially once he saw her bright smile of welcome when he returned to the village.
She raced for him and flung her arms around his body, whispering, “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
He was, too. Although, he’d really have to do something about the ache in his blue balls.
Chapter Fifteen
SeeingPhoenix return safe from his excursion in the jungle had Nadirah flinging herself at him. The entire time he’d been gone she’d been a mess of nerves.
