The Tiger Prince by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page A

displeasing my father by her deceit, of course. What other risk would I be speaking about?”
    “And in return you’ll arrange a meeting with your father?”
    “Yes.”
    “And offer what influence you possess to gain us what we seek?”
    “Just what do you seek from him?”
    Ruel shook his head. “I believe we’ll not discuss that at the moment.”
    “You expect me to promise blindly?” Abdar didn’t wait for an answer. “Oh, very well, it doesn’t matter. Bring me Kartauk and I’ll give you whatever you wish.” He turned and strode across the room. At the door he paused, glanced over his shoulder at Ruel, and for a moment a curious smile curved his lips, “I believe I would like you to pose for Kartauk.”
    “What?”
    “The molding of your features has a certain beauty that rather reminds me of the sun god the Greeks favored. When I get Kartauk back, I’d like you to pose for a golden mask for the wall in my study.”
    “I think not.”
    “I can be very persuasive. We will discuss it later.” The next moment the door had closed behind him.
    “Arrogant bastard,” Ian said.
    “Yes.” Ruel’s tone was absent as he gazed at the carved panels of the door. “But he just may be able to give me Cinnidar.”
    “You’re going to look for this Kartauk?”
    “No.” He started toward the door. “I’m going to find Kartauk.”
    Ian frowned as he followed him across the room. “I’m not sure we should have dealings with this Abdar. Kartauk may have had good reason to leave the court.”
    “I’m sure he did. But no better than I do for finding him.”
    “You’re obsessed.”
    “Possibly.”
    “Even if you do find him, you won’t turn him over to Abdar.”
    “Don’t bet on it. I’ll make that decision when I find him.”
    “I’ll bet on it,” Ian said placidly. “You intend to watch and follow the woman?” “Probably.”
    “But Abdar said she hadn’t met with Kartauk in two weeks.”
    “Which should make her very frustrated and eager to bed him at the earliest opportunity.”
    “Even if it places him in danger? What could justify that?”
    Ruel’s lips twisted cynically as he murmured a single obscene Anglo-Saxon verb.
    Ian immediately shook his head. “Carnal pleasure isn’t that important.”
    “Perhaps not to you.” Ruel inclined his head in a mocking nod. “But to self-indulgent voluptuaries like Jane Barnaby and myself, it can cause a temporary fever that makes it seem worth quite a few risks.”
    “You don’t know if he’s telling the truth about her either.”
    “True. I admit he painted her a little too black. Eventhe most lustful of whores usually has some discrimination when choosing a bed partner. We’ll have to see.”
    Ian shrugged as he glanced back at the statue. “Any man who can worship that monstrosity is capable of any falsehood.”
    “Probably.” Ruel smiled recklessly as his glance followed Ian’s. “But Abdar was right. His Highness and I do have a great deal of common ground. His lady isn’t my favorite goddess, but I’ve dealt with her before and I know her ways well.”
    “Which goddess is she?”
    “Kali.”
    “That doesn’t mean anything to me. You know I pay no attention to these heathen practices.”
    “She’s the wife of Siva.” Ruel strode quickly down the hall past two turbaned footmen and out the front entrance of the palace. He paused a moment on the top step, the wet heat robbing him of breath as he looked down at the muddy river Zastu winding snakelike past the palace. A scrawny, half-naked beggar crouched by the river shaded by a palm-leaf umbrella as he dispensed blessings on the passersby who tossed him rupees, and curses on those who did not.
    Kasanpore. Christ, what a miserable place. Hot, stinking, overrun by disease and snakes that crawled on the ground and walked on two legs.
    As Ian joined him, Ruel started down the hundred stone steps leading to their waiting ricksha outside the palace gates. “But that’s not