The Year of the Tiger (Book 3 of The Almair Series) (Completed)

Chapter 63

Marcus sighed and moved a hand through his hair. "I think it is time," he said finally after a moment's pause. "You still have training to complete and more information that you need to gather."

"Even though there is a high chance that I won't be a tiger before then." I stood and stretched before I rubbed my eyes, wanting nothing more than to take a nap but knowing that I couldn't.

"That won't stop you, will it?" Marcus asked, and I stopped rubbing my eyes and gave him a deadpanned look. He didn't say a word and still looked at me with that worried expression on his face. "Well?" he asked.

I sighed and shook my head. "No," I said. I grabbed the book that Kalron and Hermes had for me and walked to my bag. "I can't."

"Why not?" he asked, even though he knew the reason why I couldn't stop. However, he wanted me to say it. He wanted me to voice the reason why I couldn't stop or give up on being a tiger.

"Because I need to bring the clans together," I replied. "The tigers are a part of the clans, and they are the last piece until there is unity."

Marcus pursed his lips. His eyes turned a darker brown, and his eyes were filled with pain and sorrow. "As much unity as you can get with the second under someone's command, that is not his leader," he grumbled. He sighed and shook his head while he moved a hand through his hair.

Marcus blamed himself for much of this; I could tell. He wanted to help the clans by being under house arrest and control; he couldn't. He couldn't help them like he wanted to, and we both knew that he could tear the clans apart if he weren't careful or if I wasn't nearby while he spoke.

"As long as I know that this part of you is on my side, then I am fine with you still being the second," I said. I raised my hand and silenced him. "I know the risk that I am taking by letting you stay in command. I know that the other clans will be wary of you, especially when you are fully under their command in their presence."

Marcus closed his mouth and hesitated before he nodded. Guilt filled his eyes, and I knew that he didn't think it was a good idea for him to be the second. "I c-"

"I know," I said, interrupting him. "Those that do get convinced will have a choice. They can either tell me what has happened or don't."

"And their lives will be compromised. I could have sent them to their deaths."

"Yes, and no," I said slowly. "You don't have a choice in what you say or do. They do. They have a choice to obey your orders while you are controlled or don't. If they have a good reason as to why they followed your orders, then they'll be safe. If not..." I shrugged.

I hated the idea of killing an innocent. I couldn't do it, not in my heart of hearts. I couldn't live with myself if I did. I hated that death was an option on the table if someone crossed paths with me, but I knew that it had to be an option to protect the innocent and those who couldn't protect themselves.

Marcus hesitated but nodded. Conflict still filled his eyes, and I knew that it would be there until the end of time. He had to live with this and the deaths that had happened not by him but by those that controlled him.

I placed the book into the bag and grabbed the cream that would put him back under their control. I walked over to him and stayed silent while I handed him the cream.

He looked at the jar and then looked at me. His eyes were a darker brown, and I knew that he knew what this would do. "One last hug goodbye before I have to be back under their control?" he asked and raised an eyebrow.

I smiled and nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Guilt settled on me like a warm blanket and cocooned around me until it felt suffocating, and I couldn't breathe. I couldn't give him the life that he deserved, and that hurt more than anything.