The Hands that Treat (The Oubre Sisters #1)

Chapter 1 The Tiger

THE TIGER

She steadied the old revolver as the tiger moved slowly toward her.

A deep, rotund purr rose from the darkness as the tiger delicately moved from the shadowy corner of her bedroom. Its sheer presence was so powerful, so massive.

As it prowled closer, Ophelia felt her own breath adjusting to its audible pants. Moonlight streaming in from a crack in the linen curtains shimmered across the tiger’s striped coat as its muscles rolled under its fur. And its eyes— far brighter than the moon, jewels of amber— stared back at her.

Familiarity overwhelmed Ophelia as the wild animal continued moving slowly, seductively in her direction.

She lowered the gun, and the cold metal of the barrel stung against the exposed skin of her right leg.

Ophelia wanted to let go of the revolver, but she couldn’t.

Her right hand was fisted so tightly around the grip that she could feel her tendons cramping.

It was as if her hand was grasping onto fear while the rest of her felt an odd sense of peace.

Steadily she sat down on her bed, holding a dignified posture out of respect for the tiger that she had met only once before.

The tiger placed its right paw upon the bed.

As it crawled on top of her, Ophelia cautiously laid down on her back, allowing the apex predator to stand over her like it was protecting her body from…

something. She could smell the fresh dirt that clung to its fur and the intense musk expelled from its hot breath.

Her mind went blank, waiting for the tiger’s next move, but it just stayed there, uncaring of her fear.

Ophelia laid perfectly still until sleep pulled her under.