Year of the Tiger by Heather Heffner Read Free Book Online Page A

something. My throat told me I was saying “thank you,” but all I heard were the grunts of an animal.
    “I’ve had a lot of time to explore the palace. No one will think to look for you up here.”
    We were climbing stairs. Colleen was amazingly patient, helping me determine the distance between one step and the next. I stumbled against her like a newborn colt.
    “God, who did you piss off?” She helped me down onto a hard cot. I had the impression of magpies peering at me through rosy-tinted glass.
    “No way you’re dying and leaving me here all alone. I need you to keep your sister Marisol in line. She really doesn’t like competition for Duck Young, if you couldn’t tell,” Colleen muttered, propping small pillows behind me.
    I said, “Thank you.” I heard myself this time.
    ***
    My greatest fear, of course, was that Donovan would find me. Colleen had her hands full with defending me. She spoke with great assurance now, chasing off the other girls with a mixture of sarcasm and intimidation. Only I, who held her hand, knew of the cold sweat that broke out over her fingers whenever she faced them. She was frightened that one day they would call her bluff. Then what would we do? I hadn’t heard so much as a peep from Khyber since the night his mother had blinded and deafened me, although I often thought I saw a shadow that stood stiller and darker than any of the others.
    Fuck him, I thought, standing by helplessly as Colleen shooed off another group of naysayers. This is real friendship. Standing next to someone when they’re at their worst.
    “Why arethey scaredofyou?” My new voice ran low and guttural.
    She took my hand and wrapped it around two metal pommels that clicked together. I followed the groves down, and then she pushed my hand away, laughing.
    “Careful. You almost hit the latch. This is a balisong , a butterfly knife. Prince Duck Young gave it to me. If I throw it, the wind will carry it where it needs to go.” I heard the knife click open. “Lady Amrit told me the princes only give such gifts to the forerunners. The girls they fully intend to pursue.”
    “Does hestill callyou Dewdrop?” I slurred.
    An angry gasp. “Does Khyber call you anything?”
    “My name.”
    “I’ve been helping the prince track down something important. There’s a softer side to Duck Young, Raina. The side that wants to find his family. To discover what he’s lost. My photo awakened that part in him. But he can’t show it. Don’t you understand, Raina? The princes are prisoners of the Vampyre Queen, just as we are. Prince Duck Young, in particular, is in trouble. The Queen is questioning his competence now that an important object has fallen into enemy hands. If he can’t climb back into the Queen’s favor, then God knows what she will do! If Prince Duck Young goes, then Marisol and I are as good as dead, too!”
    I heard a distinct tremor in her tone whenever she spoke of “the Queen.” Not Maya , or that vampyre bitch . The Queen. The story of what Maya had done to me must have really struck a nerve. Or something worse was going on.
    I fumbled for her shoulder. She remained as cold as a statue, giving me no help.
    “Colleen, if Duck Young is in danger, then he brought it upon himself. He’s the enemy. You can’t sympathize with him. Remember, vampyres hunt by seduction.”
    “Actually, he didn’t bring it upon himself.” Her voice was strangely stiff. “Your other sister, Citlalli, did this to him.”
    In an instant, I knew what this was about: Duck Young’s soul. I wondered if she actually expected me to apologize for my sister kicking some ass. Citlalli could burn Duck Young’s soul for all I cared. And then hand the remains over to Khyber to do away with.
    “Just be careful, okay, Raina?” Colleen spoke again, and suddenly she was the scared fourteen-year-old again. “Prince Duck Young already did really awful things to Marisol in retaliation. That’s why I’m his right-hand woman