The Pirate Prince (Pirate's Booty Series, Book Five) by Temple Hogan Page B

cabin and relief washed through him. She was alive!
    “You are despicable,” she said with such disgust that Rajak almost smiled. “When Rajak finds what you’ve done, he will kill you.”
    “You forget, my little bird that Rajak has no time to think of you. Soon, Mohan’s navy will be here and Rajak will be taken prisoner and hanged for treason. Have you forgotten that, since it was you who set it all in motion?”
    “I acted impulsively,” Azara cried. “I would never have betrayed him to Mohan if I had known…” She hesitated. “I don’t know how to make you understand that my betrayal was done out of pride because I thought he no longer loved me.”
    “Will it matter to Rajak?” Boghos asked. “You have betrayed him to his worst enemy, his brother. You are lucky that I kidnapped you. You will be sold back to your betrothed for a handsome sum, Rajak will be seized and hanged and I will claim his booty and ships as my reward for helping to capture him.”
    Rajak heard the emotions in her voice when she spoke again.
    “Then you will have to find another place to live because no pirate will ever trust you again. You’ll be driven away from this island, in fact from this very ocean. Is what you’re about to do worth that? Please let me go. I must warn Rajak.”
    “Aye, for a moment, I thought the little bird was worried about me.” The rotund pirate laughed mockingly. “But I see her concern is for her pirate prince. I wonder. Will Mohan want you now that you’ve given yourself to his hated brother? Perhaps he will kill you, too.”
    “I don’t care,” Azara cried out.
    Rajak thought he heard her stamp her foot. He eased forward so he could peer into the cabin.
    “If Rajak is killed, I want to die with him,” she said softly and tears slid down her cheeks.
    Rajak wondered in what way she had betrayed him as Boghos had accused. Azara would not be so duplicitous. It was not her nature. Love swelled in his heart so he had to draw back and calm himself. Then he motioned to his men and together they entered the room.
    It was a simple thing to subdue Boghos. He looked around for his guards, even called out to them then threw up his hands and surrendered. Immediately, he began to weave a tale of how he’d taken Azara to protect her from Rajak’s enemies. Rajak didn’t even acknowledge him. He only had eyes for Azara. She made no move toward him, but stood trembling, waiting. He crossed to her and took her into his arms, lifting her feet off the floor. She sobbed and buried her face against his shoulder. When the trembling had stopped and Boghos had been ushered out of the room, she drew back and looked at him. Her face was flushed and tearstained when she met his gaze.
    “Thanks be to Allah, you have found me,” she whispered. “I was trying to find you to tell you that your brother, Mohan, is on his way here with his navy ships to take you prisoner. You must flee, Rajak, while you can.”
    “And how do you know he’s coming?” he asked gently, smoothing her hair from her dampened cheeks.
    “Because I sent for him,” she answered in a low, choked voice.
    “Rajak, watch out,” Kalari yelled.
    Rajak looked over his shoulder as Boghus surged back into the room, a knife clasped in his hand. His expression was murderous as he aimed straight for Rajak.
    Rajak spun, shielding Azara’s body with his own. She screamed as a knife flashed through the air and landed in Rajak’s back. She saw him stiffen, saw his eyes widen in shock. He staggered and sank to the floor, bearing her down with him.
    “No,” she screamed.
    There was a scuffle as men ran forward to subdue Boghos, but the wily man, for all his bulk, slipped away from them and made his way up the stairs to the upper deck. Kalari glanced at Rajak, who struggled upright.
    “I’m all right,” he said. “Get the bastard.” He got to his feet and looked at Azara. “Pull the knife out.”
    “Rajak, you must wait.”
    “Pull out the blade,