The Tiger at Midnight (The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #1)(71)

A fragment of memory from that sun-stained summer flitted into her mind as his eyes flashed in annoyance, his pale eyes turning a savage yellow. A wildness she had seen only once before, in the eyes of a Samyad queen.

She gasped, memories flooding her as the sounds of the jungle rushed back in. Esha remembered the first time she had met Kunal’s mother—the late princess Payal Samyad, the last queen’s youngest sister. She had bent down to be eye level with Esha, taking her small hand in her own and solemnly asking her to be a good friend to her son, to take care of him throughout the summer.

It was only later, after the coup, that she had discovered that Princess Payal had been unmarried, that Kunal had been born out of wedlock and had spent most of his life hidden away. Esha supposed it had been her position as the ambassador’s young daughter that had allowed her to be his playmate for a summer.

She had never dwelled on it, thinking her friend had been dead for all these years, but now?

Kunal drew back, alarmed, his eyes fading to amber, and raised a hand to his temple.

“You have shape-shifter blood,” she whispered. “How could I have forgotten?”

He said nothing, staring at her. Esha grabbed his arm and dragged him into the shadows of the jungle, where Rakesh couldn’t see them if he woke.

“What are you talking about?”

Esha doubled back in shock. He didn’t know?

“Kunal, you’re a Samyad. You have royal blood, shape-shifter blood, from the gods.”

“No,” Kunal laughed. His face fell when he caught her eye. “No,” he said more firmly.

“You’ve never felt like something was constantly caged inside? Something you had to control for fear of letting it out?” Esha said, recalling how Harun had described being a shape-shifter, the fire before he turned into his animal form.

Kunal’s face drained of color.

“You’re a Samyad, Kunal. Do you realize the danger you’re in? The rebels are on the way. Even my prince—if he finds out you have Samyad blood, he will never let you leave.”

Many nobles had claimed some Samyad blood throughout the years in an attempt to build rebellions against Vardaan, but now Kunal was the only true living descendant of the deceased Queen Shilpa. He had the best claim to the throne, even if he didn’t want it. She grabbed his arm, shaking it, trying to get him to understand. “Your hopes and dreams for your life? Gone.”

Kunal shook his head.

“I’m just a soldier.”

“Wake up, Kunal. Your mother was murdered along with the other Samyad royal family—your family. You are the only living direct descendant of Queen Shilpa. You are a threat to Vardaan—his enemies will want to have you on their side to bolster their claim to the throne. And you will become a pawn. A very valuable one.”

“This is ridiculous. Even if it was true, I wouldn’t want any part of it—Jansa is meant to be a queendom,” he said.

“It’s not just about the throne, Kunal. The janma bond, you know it’s broken. You’ve seen the drought and the dying land. The Blades have been desperately looking for a solution, but we’re not the only ones. I’ve been in contact with the best scholars in Mathur to see if there’s a workaround having a Samyad woman and Himyad man for the renewal ritual,” she said, pausing. “Your family were the keepers of Jansa’s bond with the gods. There’s a chance you could use your blood to stem the spread of the drought. It won’t solve the problem, but it might help.”

“My family?” he said quietly. “My powers?”

Kunal stood still in the breeze and though he stared at her, he didn’t seem to see her.

Didn’t seem to notice the way his body was vibrating, as if barely contained. His eyes flashed, yellow and gold, gold and fire.

“Kunal,” she said, her voice insistent. “Listen to me.”

“No,” he whispered. “You’re wrong. It’s impossible. My mother—”

Fury shot up Esha’s veins as she looked at him, worry a close companion. She had to show him, prove to him what he was.

Esha pushed him away, causing him to stumble backward and finally look at her, really look at her. She could see the battle raging in his eyes, as he decided whether to believe her.

She just needed to show him, but how?





Chapter 46


Kunal struggled to take in what Esha was saying. It was as if his body and mind had gone numb.

“My uncle said I needed to learn control because I was weak, too emotional.”

“Your uncle?” she asked. He blanched, having realized what he’d revealed. “The general,” Esha breathed. “I had forgotten that your father was his brother.”

Kunal saw the way her face clouded over, as if she was torn between shock, dismay, and—regret?

“This whole time—I never knew. Taking me back was about more than just becoming commander, wasn’t it?” she asked quietly. “The general was your family.”

He stared at her for a beat. “I wanted to honor his memory, but there was so much I didn’t know about him.”

“But he took you in. How he must have hated that his own brother had fallen in love with a Samyad princess,” she said, almost to herself. Her expression shifted and she reached for him, grasping his arms. “Kunal, your emotions make you who you are. You are the son of Princess Payal. Own your birthright.”