Colleen Houck

I loved giving my readers all this background on Lokesh but my editor felt that it was too much like a Batman villain sharing his whole evil plan just before he gets caught. We moved some pieces to other places but some of it might be new for you. Extended Scenes Between Kelsey and Lokesh I stiffened my bearing and announced disdainfully, “I am not fond of immodest clothing.  Surely you recognize that I am not some garish strumpet who will hasten to obey your every whim.  Are you truly wanting an ally or are you only interested in a …

I loved this chapter and it was heartbreaking to cut. Some of the pieces we moved to different places but I’m very happy that you have the opportunity to read it in it’s entirety.   Chapter 6                   Diwali-Festival of Lights     After I got dressed, Nilima hustled me into the McLaren and we headed to town.  “Now will you tell me what’s going on?”  I asked. “Next week is Diwali and I’ll need your help to get ready.” “What is Diwali?” “It’s a festival of lights where we celebrate life, show gratitude for our blessings, and give gifts to …

In the first section Lokesh tells Kadam he hid a tracking device in Kelsey’s ring which she promptly throws as far away as she can. The second scene is a description of what it was like for Kadam to move them through time and space. Lokesh laughed.  “She’s close, my comrade, even now.  I’m tracking her, you see.  How did you think I found you in this wilderness?” “She has no tracking device under her skin.  We would have found it.” Turning his back on the trees, Lokesh mocked Mr. Kadam.  “And I thought you were the smart one of …

Tiger’s Destiny Deleted Scene-The Trees When I originally described Kelsey’s connection to the fire forest she could communicate with them. Here are two deleted sections. One, when they speak to her, warning her of danger and the other scene when Kelsey and Ren are using their connection to heal a tree she damaged with water. My sense of the tree expanded and I could feel the roots digging deep into the soil.  I followed along until I touched more roots and then shot up the trunks of several trees at once.  Their inner fire was even more beautiful than what …

Kishan and Kelsey went on a date when they were at Port Blair waiting to head out to the volcano. I thought it was significant that she wasn’t wearing her ring.   The rest of the week flew by quickly and it became harder to feign excitement over my new status as a fiancée.  When Kishan took me to dinner one evening, he picked up my hand and frowned.  “Where’s your ring, Kelsey?” “My ring?  Oh, it’s here.”  I pulled the amulet chain out from my shirt and showed him the shiny ring that I’d attached to it. “Why don’t …