to the port city.”
“And blow it up instead?”
“Better than Eden,” he said with a shrug.
“What about the princess? There’s a bounty on Charlie’s head. We can’t leave her.”
“What’s this we?”
She scowled at him. “You don’t seriously think I would let you go alone?”
The very idea seemed ridiculous. He’d never needed protection before. Then again, his enemies never used to be so desperate. “If you leave, then who guards Charlie?”
“Anita and Titan.”
He shook his head. “Are two people, and Titan is already busy. But I know someone who owes me a favor.”
She immediately guessed. “You’re going to put a pirate in charge of her protection.”
“That pirate is her uncle and has been sailing the deadly oceans for years. If he can’t protect her, then no one can.”
“When should we leave?”
“Soon. With two attempts recently foiled, it probably won’t be long until the next. Are you sure you want to go? We’ll have to travel incognito, which means no luxury transport. Probably an old and noisy terrain vehicle.”
“I’m going to pretend you did not just accuse me of being soft.”
He half tensed expecting her to hit him to prove a point. “Just making sure. After all, you’ve been living in luxury now for a few days. Could be you don’t want to return to another kind of life.”
Her nose wrinkled. “That’s exactly why we need to go. So I don’t get sloppy.”
“There’s nothing soft about you.” He said it and couldn’t help but look at her lips.
Her sweet, soft lips.
He knew it was foolish, perhaps even a bit crazy, to kiss her. She might gut him for the temerity of it, but he couldn’t help himself. He dipped his head and pressed his mouth to hers.
She froze. A wild animal ready to fight, never flee. For a moment he feared he’d killed himself.
Then she was kissing him back, her body wound around his, her lips just as fiercely hungry as his own.
Who knew where the embrace might have gone if they’d not been interrupted with a snarled, “Get your hands off my sister.”
Chapter 11
To his credit, Roark didn’t squeak and run away at the sound of Cam slapping a fist into a palm. Most people took one look at her glowering brother and bolted, except for Casey of course. She’d been known to hurt him if he tried his intimidation tactics.
The king didn’t react in fear, nor did he recoil. He did keep his hands on her back and somehow tucked her into his side. As if she needed tucking. She did, however, need to be held back from her meddling brother.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were cleaning out some ruins,” Casey grumbled.
“I came as soon as we were done.” His tone implied it was just in time.
Her brother looked mean and imposing, his hair cut short on the sides, but high on top. For twins who supposedly emerged from the same womb—a high-placed breeding one—they looked very little alike. Dark hair and eyes, tan skin, but in every other respect they differed. Especially when it came to personal space.
“You didn’t need to come. I’m doing just fine. You might as well head back to Haven. I’m sure Axel could use you.”
“Axel will understand my reasons for sticking by your side.”
Roark hadn’t said anything yet. She should have known it would be something provocative once he did.
“Do you always treat your sister as if she’s incompetent and incapable of handling tasks?”
Cam’s jaw dropped. “I said no such thing.”
“Really? Because you implied it when you ignored her request to remove yourself and insisted she needed you to stay.”
“Because we’re a team.” The expected reply almost made her snap.
“By her choice or yours?” Roark drawled.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s not uncommon for male family members, or men in general, to be under the false impression that the fairer sex is incapable of providing assistance or even caring for themselves.”
“I wasn’t implying that at all. Casey is the toughest girl I know.”
“I’m tougher than most boys you know,” she muttered.
“Then why does she require your aid?” queried Roark.
“Because she’s my sister.”
“And?” Roark arched a brow. It was quite sexy and arrogant all at once. “I’ve seen your sister in action. Fought her, too. Enough to know she doesn’t need you looming over her. Unless your overprotectiveness stems from another reason? Say like jealousy. Which, in that case, perhaps you’d like to speak to the medical doctors who will explain why that kind of indulgence is dangerous if you plan to breed.”
The expression