Trancing the Tiger (Chinese Zodiac Romance Series Book 1)

by Rachael Slate

  No one challenged the Tiger.

  They zipped through traffic, bounding off car roofs and shop awnings, winding a path invisible to the world. He’d never enjoyed racing as much with anyone as he did Lucy. She challenged him to spring off the sides of buildings, to wend through narrow peaks in traffic. She kept pace with him and, often, set the pace. Monkey wasn’t much of a runner. Neither were Ox and Rat. In Lucy, he found a companion with the same interests.

  Well, aside from hunting prey.

  Who knew? Perhaps, with training and time, she would make a great partner. A leader.

  The thought spurred him to get to the Matchmaker’s that much faster. He had to stake his claim on Lucy before the Council handed down further commands against it.

  Or handed her over to Snake.

  Body thrumming with trepidation, he veered to the left, cutting a faster path to the Council Chambers. Lucy trailed behind him, Rabbit bounding through the streets with obvious bliss. With the map of the city in his mind, he tore through alley after alley until the sharp lifting of the hairs on the back of his neck made him screech to a halt.

  “Lucy, behind me. Now.” His heart pounded against his ribcage. This was the neutral zone. Dammit.

  “What’s wrong?” Rabbit faded, and Lucy’s eyes widened at him. No time to explain, so he shoved her behind a dumpster. Hopefully, the stench of refuse would mask her scent.

  “Whatever you do, stay hidden,” he barked, praying she would listen just this once. “Do not come out, yeah? Don’t make a sound.” Snake he could handle on his own, but if that motherfucker got a whiff of Lucy before Sheng sealed her loyalty?

  Screwed. They’d be screwed.

  A shiny black limo parked at the end of the alley, blocking the exit. A man stepped out, his fancy suit making Sheng choke on the bile in his throat.

  Snake had been born into a privileged life. His rich-ass, politician parents had cultivated his abilities ever since the Snake had been discovered in him as an infant. He might not have been gifted the fiercest spirit, the Tiger, but the Snake was damned cunning. He’d slithered his way to the top of the Ghee Hin Kongsi, bypassing the traditional levels of leadership.

  No Matchmaker for the Ghee Hin. The role of feminine leadership fell to another on the Council of Elders.

  The Empress.

  Yeah, that other bitch. As much as Sheng clashed with the Matchmaker, their differences were superficial. In the end, they would fight for the same cause and that was what tethered their loyalty to each other.

  The Empress was an altogether different class of harpy. She was Snake’s official partner, yet most likely pulled Snake’s strings. The Empress was the epitome of feminine wiles gone evil.

  While Sheng had almost slept with the Matchmaker that one time, he wouldn’t dive into the Empress’s snake pit for all the treasures in the universe.

  That shit was probably poisoned, anyway.

  Snake’s associate remained in the car. Tián Delun. Delun’s family had always graced the position of figurehead in the Ghee Hin. Snake dragged the fucking symbolic puppet around for show, but everyone knew Delun took his orders from Snake and not the other way around.

  Snake’s gleaming eyes passed over Sheng as he approached.

  Sheng met the glare straight on, one shoulder leaning against the dumpster.

  “Tiger.”

  “Snake.”

  This posturing couldn’t be over with soon enough. What the fuck did Snake want?

  “Last night, some yāoguài were executed on Ghee Hin territory.”

  Oh, that.

  Sheng carefully raised one brow, ensuring his expression displayed surprise. “Really?”

  Those coppery snake eyes shifted as though attempting to mesmerize him into revealing his involvement.

  Never gonna happen.

  “I thought perhaps you might know who was involved,” Snake scoffed. “However, we’ve already discussed how you wouldn’t step foot on Ghee Hin territory without an invitation, right?” He cocked his head. “Because you wouldn’t ever want us doing the same.”

  Though, inside, his gut churned, Sheng kept his features stoic. A threat to his home, his family. Lucy. “I follow the orders I’m given,” he bluffed. Was it too late to adopt a Boy Scout reputation? “You have more enemies than me. Besides, why would I kill a few yāoguài? Wouldn’t be worth my while.” He lifted a shoulder, feigning indifference.

  Snake studied him and, judging by his satisfied nod, accepted the lie.

  Thank fuck for that.

  Sheng eased off the dumpster. “Well, have a good one, Snake.” He dismissed his enemy before further contact revealed the truth.

  As he shifted away, a squeak came from the direction of the dumpster.

  Shit.

  Snake spun around just as Sheng did. They both stared at each other for an instant before whipping their gazes to the dumpster.

  Now she’d done it. And fuck him, because there was nothing he could do to hide Lucy from Snake.

  “A friend of yours, Li?” The haughty voice droned.

  Damn. Lucy clamped her hand over her mouth, but it was too late. A rat had startled her, and she’d freaked out. She’d never liked rats.

  Except maybe Fang.

  The smooth, cold voice of the man Sheng spoke with drifted to her. Sheng had told her to stay hidden no matter what, but she’d been discovered.

  She coaxed herself back to courage. Wasn’t she done hiding? Whoever this jerk-off was, holing up made her look weak. A stereotype she was quite eager to rid herself of.

  C’mon, Rabbit. Let’s show ‘em we’re not afraid.

  Lucy rose and emerged from behind the dumpster. She caught sight of Sheng first. The glare he sent her was one of pure fury. Did he really expect her to stay hidden?

  She shrugged, stepping into the sunlight to greet his companion.

  Oh, him. Crap. The man from the Botanic Gardens. Closer, the dude was…hot. Not dangerously sexy like Sheng, but attractive in a classic sense. With strong Asian features and a tall, muscular frame, he looked to be around thirty. Tailored to perfection, his chic suit enhanced the high-bred carriage of his shoulders.

  His eyes flickered an unnatural shade of orange as he shifted to scrutinize her.

  The second she stared into those orbs, his aura flipped—like a hologram—revealing the form of the Snake. A giant-ass cobra.

  Rabbit bolted back into hiding so fast, she doubled over. Sheng snatched her, scooping her to the safety of his side. He tilted his stance, blocking most of her from the man’s calculating smile.

  “Well, well. This is who you’ve been hiding, Li?” The gleam in his eyes was like a predator seizing upon its next prey.

  She was the prey.

  Lucy shuddered in Sheng’s arms. His body, though tense, was firm and in command. She drew strength from his unwavering confidence. He’d never allow this fiend to hurt her.

  Spreading her fingers across his lower back, she glided them beneath his shirt to caress the warmth of his skin. The heat of his body soothed her, and she regained her composure.

  “I’ve been searching for you, Little Rabbit.” Snake smirked, but didn’t appear in the least surprised she hosted the Rabbit. Odd. “A pleasure to meet you at last. You must forgive me if I frightened you at the Gardens. I merely intended to introduce myself to you in a more private setting, not to scare you. My name is Fù Zhao.” He dangled his fingers toward her, flourishing his charismatic brazenness.

  As though she’d become the trophy in this cockfight.

  She stiffened, not buying anything he said. The smugness on his face strengthened her resolve. She slipped away from the security of Sheng, ignoring the warning growl he sent in her direction. Sliding her fingers against Zhao’s cool, manicured hand, she introduced herself. “Lucy Yeoh.”

  “Yes, I know.” His perusal dipped over her as though peeling through her layers of clothing. She resisted crossing her arms. He wasn’t trying to undress her, even if that was what
it seemed like. He sought a much greater intimacy.

  Another glimpse of Rabbit.

  Well, better luck next time. The bunny burrowed so deeply, even she barely sensed its presence.

  Zhao’s nostrils flared as his gaze slithered over her. Snake’s forked tongue flicked, making her skin crawl.

  “The Rabbit, Li?” he sneered. “Didn’t your Kongsi claim the Dragon was coming?” To add to his taunt, he extended a hand mockingly to a street quite empty of the Dragon.

  “No offense, Lucy.” Those glinting eyes refocused on her. “The Rabbit isn’t worth anyone’s time. Just like Chicken wasn’t either.” He shot the word “Chicken” to Sheng, who flinched in a fleeting manifestation of raw, wounded emotion.

  Sheng’s gaze flicked to the limo. Who was inside?

  Lucy peered past Zhao into the open door of his waiting limo. Another man sat inside, observing this confrontation, she was sure. Obscured by the tinted windows, she noted his large, imposing form and the tailored pant of one leg.

  As though catching her staring, he leaned forward. Shadows shrouded most of his face, and she sensed no spirit animal within him, yet a magnetism about this man left her…ensnared.

  “Ah, you must forgive my companion, Tián Delun, for remaining in the car.” Snake’s voice jolted her to the present. “I can assure you the members of the Ghee Hin are not as barbarically ill-mannered as our encounters with you have suggested.” His brows drew together and he regarded her with augmenting interest. “Intriguing. Can’t tame this one either, eh, Li?” His question shot to Sheng, but his scrutiny never left her…as if he tried to penetrate her, break her, make her yield to him.

  She placed her hands on her hips. Either? His taunt worried her. Who the hell was Chicken? The spirit must be a black mark in their history together. But, black for whom? Both Snake and Sheng stiffened at the spirit’s mention. Each appeared angry at the other.

  “You should drop by the Ghee Hin residence sometime, Lucy. We own the best beach in Penang. Just make sure this riffraff doesn’t follow you. The Hai San have a tendency to sneak around, uninvited.”

  Yeah, no. Playing Snake’s beach bunny was definitely not on her sightseeing list. “Well, it was lovely to meet you.” She pasted on a fake smile and forced her voice to sound perky. “We have an appointment and we shouldn’t be late. Sheng?”

  Sheng took a moment to break his stare-off with Snake before nodding at her proposal. He shoved his hand possessively beneath her elbow and she permitted the gesture. Between the two men, she’d much rather be led away by Sheng.

  Better the devil she knew, right?

  Sheng might not be a devil, but he certainly wasn’t a saint either. New shadows fogged the dark mystery surrounding his past, and she was determined to unmask each one.

  ***

  Sheng clenched his jaw. Fuck. A string of curses pounded through his mind. He was in such deep shit. Going against the command of the Elders had seemed brilliant yesterday when Lucy was the sole concern in his mind.

  Snake knew. He fucking knew Sheng had killed those demons yesterday. If he hadn’t already sent a warning to the Hai San to stay off Ghee Hin turf, he expected Sheng to deliver it to them.

  It wasn’t the notion of peace that kept the Hai San from engaging the Ghee Hin. It was bloody survival. They were outnumbered.

  That bastard Snake was right—he could invade Kek Lok Si and wipe them out.

  Despite being a sly motherfucker, Snake did possess a few admirable qualities. Like honor. Respect for the Elders. More than anything, he was motivated to prevent the taint of shame from tarnishing his family name.

  If he aspired to make a conquest, he’d do it in such a way no one would question the righteousness of his actions.

  The family name meant everything to Snake. He didn’t seek to merely control his territory. He aimed to go down in history for being great. Bringing honor and respect to his family and all that bullshit.

  Lucy tugged his arm. “Sheng?”

  He cast one last glimpse in the direction Snake had slunk off. A hundred times, he’d imagined tearing out the douchebag’s throat. He’d begged, pleaded on his knees for the Elders to give him permission.

  Had Snake asked for the same about him?

  The Elders remained convinced the two Kongsi would learn to work together, eventually. Fuck that. Chicken was the perfect example of why that would never happen. The mention of her sent spikes of remorse jabbing into his heart.

  “Let’s go.” He didn’t cloak this time. The Council Chambers lay two blocks away, and he refused to risk Snake being in the vicinity to snoop on the extent of Lucy’s abilities. Especially since Snake had been aware of her presence in the Gardens.

  If the bastard had gotten his claws on her before Sheng had rescued her… He clenched his fists and forced the image of Tiger tearing out the man’s throat from his mind.

  They trekked in silence. He damn near heard the questions strumming through her mind, but she held her tongue. Another display of fortitude he hadn’t expected from her. Even with Snake, she’d done her best to conceal her intimidation.

  A thousand layers to Lucy. Would he ever delve through every one? The questions she sought to ask…she had every right to the answers. He just didn’t know how to give them to her. He halted in front of the archival building. The augmenting rumbling of motorcycle engines signified the other Chosen were arriving. Fantastic. Monkey was better at this sort of thing.

  “You ready for this?” Mei stopped her bike alongside the staircase of the Council’s office building and slid off. Kassian and Fang followed suit.

  “Nah.”

  Mei rolled her eyes. “Not you, Li. Lucy. The universe doesn’t revolve around you, you know.”

  He grinned as she linked her arm through Lucy’s and led her through the opening doors.

  The same monk who’d led them last time, did so now. They entered the large chamber and the Matchmaker lifted her head from her perusal of the papers scattered across her lap. She lifted an ornate Chinese fan off the table beside her and set the papers in the fan’s place. Then she tapped the papers into a neat stack, folded the fan, and laid it on top. Fuck, she’s meticulous. Probably enjoyed taking her time in making him squirm, too.

  One finely shaped brow lifted at Sheng. “I didn’t summon you.”

  He shrugged to hide the swallowing of his concerns. Lucy had healed him last night. Rabbit was ready and, after meeting Snake, he refused to put the ceremony off any longer.

  Rabbit had to join with Tiger. Now.

  “You asked me to test her, to secure the Rabbit, and I’ve done it. Why so surprised, Matchmaker?”

  Her blood red lips curved in a haughty smile. “Well, with you, one can never anticipate when you might have a sudden bout of impotence.”

  He scoffed at the pleased smile pursing the woman’s lips. She’d never let him forget that night. Not for one second.

  “Well, Matchmaker, consider yourself lucky.”

  “Lucky?”

  “Yeah.” He leaned forward, bent to whisper so she, alone, heard. “I would’ve fucked you so well, Turtle wouldn’t know where to stick his puny dick.”

  Her eyes fumed. His jibe had struck a sensitive note. Everyone assumed the Matchmaker banged Turtle, which made Sheng’s skin crawl. The Elder had to be close to a hundred years old and his visage was as wrinkled as his namesake.

  That shut her up. Because to admit or deny his comment, either way, she was screwed.

  She made a tiny growl in the back of her throat before her seething glare dismissed him from her presence.

  Right. A grin tugged at Sheng’s lips. He’d looked forward to proving everyone wrong about him, about Lucy.

  “Little Rabbit, I am glad to see you once more.” She rose and unclasped her hands, long red nails clacking together.

  “Matchmaker.” Lucy inclined her head, revealing how she’d picked up the respectful nuances. Tradition this and ritual bullshit that.

  A warmth
spread throughout his chest. Once this was finished, he’d take her home. To his bed. Let them try to order him against that. Tiger remained riled up from the confrontation with Snake, from the anticipation of this moment. Slap everything together, and Sheng had more agitated energy than he knew what to do with.

  Well, other than pursuing Lucy.

  ***

  The Matchmaker scraped her long red fingernails along Lucy’s cheek, making her tense. No one bothered to explain to her what they were doing here, but this initiation of sorts would bring her one step closer to the truth.

  To saving lives.

  Adrenaline thrummed through her body. The second she’d stepped foot inside this building, Rabbit had crept out of hiding. Now, with the Matchmaker, Rabbit cloaked around Lucy. The spread of white fur coated her body like a blanket of freshly fallen snow before fading back inside.

  “Good, good.” The Matchmaker murmured in approval. “Very well, Li. You may proceed with attempting the joining. If you are successful, you may complete the circle.”

  “Joining? Circle?”

  “Yes, Lucy. Do you recall the chamber I showed you with the statues?”

  She glanced at the anteroom.

  “After Rabbit submits to Tiger, your spirit animal will be beneath the dominance of Sheng’s. Part of Tiger’s circle. The process of securing loyalties must be repeated with each new host. Do not worry. We will instruct you on what to do.”

  As the Matchmaker stepped back, Sheng waved for Lucy to stand facing him. He stared deeply into her eyes, flashing reassurance at her. “Cloak Rabbit, Lucy.”

  She swallowed hard and let Rabbit’s essence surround her. Sheng did the same, fearsome Tiger forming a hazy image over Sheng.

  Inside her, Rabbit thrashed against its walls. She clamped down on every ounce of control, but Rabbit pulled a full-on panic attack—thumping, bounding, dashing left and right.