black tiger (Black Tiger Series Book 1)

by Sara Baysinger

  “Not really, though. Titus will always be my superior. And after I return to the Garden tomorrow—”

  “Hold on.” He stops and turns to face me. And for reasons I don’t understand, he suddenly looks like someone ripped his heart out. “You’re not seriously thinking about going back, are you?”

  Why does he care? “Um.” I sigh. Bite my lip. Turn away from Forest. “I need to get home, Forest. I haven’t seen or spoken to my dad or brother since I was taken to prison. I have to let them know I’m okay. I have to let them know that…that I’m Titus’s…sister.” Wow. It sounds so strange saying that out loud.

  “It’s a whole different cultural experience for you.”

  “Exactly.”

  He nods. “I suppose I understand.”

  I look at him. “You do?”

  He presses his perfectly sculpted lips together and nods. “Yes. You need to see your family. You’re miserable here.”

  I can’t stop a short, pathetic laugh from slipping out of my mouth, because Forest is never this blunt. But he’s right. I am miserable here. And I’m so glad he understands.

  He reaches out and takes my hand in his. “Because of that, I will take you home myself.”

  I look sharply at him. “You will?”

  He offers a small, sad smile. “Whenever you’re ready.”

  “And you think…I mean…will Titus be okay with you leaving him for a day?”

  Forest laughs softly. “Have you forgotten? Titus and I are thick as thieves. He’ll understand completely. In fact, I’m sure he’d give us his full blessing. There’s no one he would entrust his sister to more than his best friend.”

  Best friend. Forest and Titus are best friends. And Titus and I are siblings. What a strangely small world we live in.

  “Are you sure?” I ask.

  “Positive.”

  “But, Olivia—”

  Forest tips my chin up, searches my eyes. “Don't worry about Olivia. Just say the word, Miss Carter, and I’ll drive you home.”

  And the truth in his eyes sets my heart on fire. Forest. My one constant since all this craziness began. He’s always been there. He’s always been my comforter, my safe haven, and I can’t stop myself from leaning in and embracing him. He takes a startled step back, but then lifts his hands to my back and hugs me in return.

  “Thank you, Forest,” I say, my throat closing. “My trip back to the Garden will be so much more enjoyable if you’re with me.”

  He combs his fingers through my hair and the small gesture sends a strange warmth into the pit of my stomach, and I rest my head against his chest. I listen to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. I close my eyes and inhale deeply, fill my lungs with the heady fragrance of cinnamon. He smells nothing like Rain. Rain smells of rugged masculinity with the occasional whiff of peppermint. But Forest smells clean, fresh. Rich. And I want to stay in his strong embrace forever.

  “Ember,” he whispers, his voice husky. The way my name rolls off his lips makes my blood grow hot. His fingers caress my chin, and he lifts it so our eyes meet. I search his honest blue eyes, so free of malice and deceit. “Everything’s going to be okay now,” he says. “Your records are clear. Titus trusts you. I trust you. And everything is going to be fine for you and your family. Do you understand that?”

  No, I want to say. Because I don’t remember a single time in my life that I’ve felt completely safe. There was always the fear of starvation, and then as Career Day drew nearer, there was the fear of the unknown. But everything is known now. Career Day is over. And despite the fact that Leaf won’t be there waiting for me when I go home, hope seizes me. It fills my heart like a wellspring, like a fountain of overwhelming joy, and I can’t stop a smile from easing on my lips.

  “You have a cute smile.” Forest taps my nose. “You should smile more often.”

  And I think, I probably will smile more often. Because everything is going to be great. Everything is going to be fine. After tomorrow, everything is going to be A-OK.

  “Thanks, Congressman Turner, for offering to help,” I say. “Chief Whitcomb already gave me the clear to leave first thing in the morning.”

  He offers a lopsided grin, and for a moment, he looks like Rain. “I’ll be at the front of the hotel at eight o’clock.”

  Relief washes over me like my first hot shower. “Thank you, Forest.”

  “No problem. I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”

  Oh. Dinner. Of course. The feast Titus prepared in my honor, as a welcoming home of sorts. How could I have forgotten about dinner? I nod, then I step through the doors of the hotel.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  Meals seem to be the way Titus corrals people together in this city. If he ever plans on killing people in one large group, I’m almost positive he would do it by inviting them to a banquet. By the time lunch rolls around, I’m wearing a slimming black toga with a still-darker velvet sash. I feel like a black tiger. A knock sounds at the door at noon, and I smile through gritted teeth, ready for Rain to step in.

  Instead, my escort is someone I’ve never seen before.

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Miss Carter,” he says with an exaggerated bow. “My name is Azar Smith.”

  I glance behind him. “Where’s Rain?”

  “Mr. Turner had business to attend to. I’m afraid he won’t be able to make it today.”

  I’m surprised at the stab of disappointment I feel at his words, but I shake the feeling. I should be relieved I won’t have to deal with Rain and his antics. But over the past few days, he’s kind of grown on me. I guess his cynicism reminds me of Leaf, and his recklessness is refreshing in a city full of snotty Patricians. And, honestly, I feel like I can be completely myself around him.

  Ah well. Too bad.

  I link my arm through Azar’s extended elbow and walk with him down to the commons. He’s quiet. His features are straight.

  I glance out the window. “Looks like a storm’s brewing. You’d think this giant Cupola they spent so much money on would keep out the rain.”

  “Yes. Quite the storm.” He doesn’t so much as glance out the window as he presses a button on the elevator.

  At least Rain makes me laugh. He makes the Frankfort experience somewhat tolerable. But now, escorted by a man as stoic as Mr. Smith, I’m not sure I’m going to make it through the meal. I might not even make it to the commons before I pass out by complete boredom.

  The meal is served buffet style. As in, stuff-your-face-until-you’re-too-full-to-walk-while-people-starve-in-the-rest-of-Ky style. Mr. Stoic leads me to a table, then offers to get my food. After he leaves to fill my plate, my eyes skirt the room, just to make sure Rain isn’t here and merely didn’t want to be in my presence today. Because that would be completely offensive. I’m the one who turns Rain down. I take in half the room before I hear a familiar voice slice through the air behind me.

  “Ember Carter Whitcomb.”

  I cringe at my new/original last name. I don't think I’ll ever get used to hearing the chief’s name with mine. I slowly turn to face my terrible instigator.

  “Olivia Forest’s Girlfriend Doss.” I grin. Forcefully. “Glad to see you’ve come to celebrate my welcoming party. I assume you had nothing better going on.”

  “Oh, I’m not here for you, Princess Whitcomb. I’m here for him.” She dips her chin and I follow her gaze across the room to Forest. And just the sight of him makes my heart forget how to beat. “I wanted to do something fun today, but he insisted we come here. He wanted to welcome back our chief’s sister.” She looks back at me, and arches a sculpted brow. “I have to admit, though, Carter, this party isn’t like anything I’m used to. I’m bored out of my mind.”

  “You and me both.”

  “So, why are you still here if you’re so bored?” She rests her forearms on the back of the chair beside mine. “As the chief’s sister, I thought you could do whatever you wanted. I seriously thought you’d hightail back to your little garden by now. But, I
suppose you need to soak up your fame a little longer, don’t you? You’re quite the Patrician, down to the very last blood cell. You must—”

  “I’m leaving in the morning.” I grin like I didn’t just completely cut her off. “First thing. Didn’t Forest tell you? He’s the one driving me home.”

  Something shifts in her eyes, and I almost regret saying that, because far be it for me to cause any tension between Olivia and Forest just before I leave. And now I really do feel like a snotty Patrician.

  “He’s driving you home?”

  Guilt lodges itself in my throat but I swallow it back down. “Yes.”

  “Hm. Well, good riddance. It’ll give you one last chance to humiliate yourself by staring at him with those pathetic puppy dog eyes like you really want to kiss him but you know you’re just not good enough for someone like him.”

  “Kiss him? Kiss him? I’m sorry, but I want nothing to do with your Congressman boyfriend.” Biggest lie ever. I want everything to do with Forest Turner.

  A soft laugh escapes her and she runs a slender finger down my shoulder. “Oh, Ember. You were always bad at lying. Lying to Forest. Lying to the chief about the spies in your room.”

  I forgot how open everyone’s lives are in Frankfort.

  “But,” she continues, “I can see right through you. I know you have a thing for Forest. And you know he’s engaged. But you also know that there’s no way he could ever go after a measly little farm girl like you. Not when he has a successful woman on his arm, like me. But for some reason, Forest has taken an interest in you. Call it pity. Call it self-promotion. But it’s there. So listen to me and listen close. It’s common knowledge that the lion kills the male cubs to stop any future rivals from challenging him for the pride. So, keep your distance, little kitten. Or you’ll have the lion to deal with.”

  And she smiles that brilliant Patrician smile like she didn’t just completely decapitate my pride. What good is it to have the chief bloodline when no one’s going to respect you anyway? I could probably stake my claim in this society. I could probably claim my bloodline, my status, accept the title of a princess and have ultimate rule just below Chief Whitcomb, and people like Olivia wouldn’t get away with threats like that.

  But it sounds like a lot of work to live in nobility, to deal with all the drama. And I just want to go back to my simple life in the Garden. So I watch her. I watch her walk away. And the worst comeback I can come up with in my head is, stupid lion.

  I scrunch up my nose to hold the sudden flow of tears back because what she said kind of hurt, and what she said is true. I am a measly farm girl. And Forest belongs to Olivia. And after tomorrow—after tomorrow I will resume my life in the Garden and I can forget all this chaotic emotional experience in this purgatory known as Frankfort.

  I look up to find Forest staring at me from across the room, his hands shoved into his pockets, and I almost look away, but then I think, Olivia’s right. I need to stay away from him. And I need him to not take me home tomorrow.

  Mr. Stoic arrives with two plates of food and places one in front of me. “Here you go, miss.”

  I stand just as he sits. “Thanks. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  His solid features finally transform into something resembling disappointment, but I’m already off before I can feel too bad. Forest is starting to walk toward Olivia’s table when I catch up with him. I grab his arm.

  He turns and smiles politely down at me. “Good afternoon, Miss Carter. I hope you’re enjoying the feast prepared in your honor.”

  “I would honestly have been happier if the food was distributed to the poor and not stuffed into the Patrician’s mouths—” I stop short at the devastated look in Forest’s eyes. “I mean. Yes. I’m enjoying it.”

  Despite the fact that your girlfriend just ripped me a new one, is what I don’t say.

  “Forest, can I…have a moment? Alone with you?”

  He casts a glance at Olivia who happens to be glaring at us.

  “Perhaps later—”

  “No. I need to talk now.”

  He furrows his brows slightly, then looks at Olivia and holds up a finger, signaling her to wait. I turn and smile too sweetly at her, ignoring the death threat she gave me earlier. Then I link my arm through Forest’s and lead him out of the banquet hall. We walk through the hallway and into another empty room where curious stares aren’t everywhere. The last thing I need are wagging tongues gossiping about how I’m trying to steal Forest away from Olivia.

  Taking a shaky breath, I look at Forest. “I don’t think you should take me home tomorrow.”

  He frowns. “Why not?”

  “I just…don’t think…it would look too good. I mean, you’re engaged to Olivia, and I don’t really want to stir up drama on my last day here—”

  “Did Olivia put you up to this?” His jaw tightens.

  “No—no,” I say.

  “Then you don't wish to spend time with me?”

  I want to spend all the time in the world with you, I don’t say.

  “No,” I say.

  He reaches out, gently takes my elbows in his hands, and the warmth of his touch sets my skin on fire.

  “I really want to go with you,” he says quietly. And the honesty—the desperation in his voice rips my heart open. “I really want to meet your father and brother,” he says. “I want to see where you live. I want to meet your friends. In fact, I was hoping—” His voice catches, and he swallows. “I was hoping you would let me stay…for…a few days.”

  And now I’m confused. Because why would a congressman show any interest in farm life? Maybe he wants to see what life is like in the Garden. He told me that before, how he dresses up like the citizens so he can see how they live.

  Or maybe he really is attracted to me. Because he did kiss me, once. And Forest isn’t really one to go around and just kiss anybody. Either way, he needs to know.

  “The Community Garden is nothing like Frankfort,” I say. “We’ve no plush mattresses to sleep on or fresh food to eat.”

  He offers a crooked grin and pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “I think I can handle myself.”

  He holds my gaze and I want to look away—I need to look away but I can’t. I can’t because his eyes are drowning me in their sea of blue, and I want to look at him forever I could stare at him forever and it hurts my heart that he belongs to another girl.

  “Please,” I say. “Don’t come.” Because it’ll make my soul ache if I have to linger in your presence a moment longer when you’re completely unattainable.

  His jaw clenches and unclenches. “I’ll see you tomorrow at eight.” And he spins around, and walks out of the room.

  An invisible weight seems to lift off my shoulders. I wasn’t really ready to say goodbye to Forest yet. I’m not sure I will ever be. Smiling, I head back to the dining hall, steeling myself for a long, boring lunch with Mr. Stoic.

  Fortunately, Mr. Smith didn't have the patience to wait for me. His plate lies empty next to mine. A tinge of guilt eats at me for abandoning him, but it’s short-lived as I find Rain sauntering my way, his flask in hand, as always.

  “You ditched me for lunch,” I say through clenched teeth. “Too rainy outside for Rain?”

  He smirks. “Didn’t think you’d miss me. Turns out you have deeper feelings for me than you care to admit.”

  I roll my eyes and shove past him to my table, smiling to myself when he follows. “I was just surprised. That’s all.”

  “Surprised?” He pulls out a chair, turning it so the back is facing me, then straddles it and rests his arms on the back and his chin on his arms. “Or disappointed?” He picks a grape off my plate and pops it into his mouth.

  “Surprised. I thought, now that I’m sister to the chief, you’d want to escort me everywhere for the sake of popularity.”

  “Ah yes. The mystery of your Patrician blood is finally out.” He grins. “How does it feel to be royalty?”

  I shrug. “The same.
I guess.”

  “The same?” He snorts and plucks another grape. “You had less power than the lowest Proletariat three nights ago, and now you have more power than Forest. And you feel the same?”

  I look down. “I don’t—I’m still powerless against the chief, and the chief gets the final say in everything.”

  “Yes, but you’re not powerless against everyone else.”

  “True.” What I don't say is that I unknowingly grew up with this sort of power. I’ve always been able to tell people what to do, persuade them to be on my side, apparently because of my Patrician blood. So it doesn’t really excite me to suddenly have power. In fact, it’s kind of disappointing. I mean, I feel kind of guilty because I’ve been carrying around all this power all my life, wielding it just because I could, and I didn’t even know it. I honestly thought people just liked me. Now I wonder how likable I really am.

  I look at Rain. “Well, one good thing comes out of this power. I don’t have to take any more grief from you.” I grin. “One offensive remark, and I could have you sent to the black tigers.”

  His brows shoot up. “And Chieftess Whitcomb strikes. I have to admit, Carter, you’re kind of sexy when you go all macho on me. But don’t worry. I’ll make up for all the mean things I said to you. Tonight.”

  My eyes widen and he laughs out loud at the look on my face. “Not that. No offense, but I’m not really interested in getting my hands into your pants—er—dress. I have a cool place to show you. A historical site that might interest you.”

  “Oh. But isn’t the chief giving a speech or something?”

  “Trust me. If you didn’t like the Feast of St. Nick, which is supposed to be fun, you won’t like the chief’s festive speech.”

  “But won’t he be disappointed if I miss it? I mean, I think he’s going to say something about my being his sister…or something.”

  “Who cares? Seriously, when did you start worrying about our beloved chief’s feelings? Is it because he’s your brother? You suddenly care about him enough to sit through his incredibly boring speech?”

  “I don’t care—”