Chapter Five

She slid into view without a sound, bow and arrow in hand. Ready to lose another two arrows at him. Behind her were two other kids, a young girl holding a younger boy. Siblings, he guessed by their looks.

“He is the one from the cave,” the girl said.

Drav made a subtle shift behind him, and immediately, the woman’s brow rose.

“No moving.”

Her low voice portrayed the promise she could carry though with the threat of injury.

“Do not give her a reason, Drav.” His friend stilled instantly.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“He was in the cave,” the girl piped up again.

“Hush.” The woman never took her gaze from him. “Stay behind me.”

“He looks nice. Very handsome.”

Pug grinned. The girl blushed, but the woman hardly blinked.

“I am,” he said. “Very nice and very handsome.”

“I have no wish to ask again. Who are you?” the woman reiterated.

The forest gave way to more of his men, completely encircling the woman and children. She muttered something, and all came to her. Each of the two small girls clung to a leg, the older girl retained her hold on the boy while the other one—with the sword—stood near her.

“You are surrounded, honey. Put down the bow.”

Her lips pressed together in a grimace. Her rebellion and fear were strong. He crossed his arms, well aware his men wouldn’t react without word from him. She, on the other hand, would not know that. Arching a brow, Pug waited for her decision. He was calmer now. He had her.

“I could kill you.” Her tone was cold and emotionless.

“And my men would return the favor.”

Her brown eyes burned eerily for a moment before they went blank. She placed the bow and arrows down but retained her swords.

“Are you going to hurt us?” the girl who held the boy asked.

“Why do we not start with introductions?” He gave the girl his typical smile and was grateful to see her stance relax. It worked on the boy in her arms as well. Not the other four, however.

Uncrossing his arms, he touched his chest. “My men call me Captain, Cap’n, or Pug. Who might you be?” He continued to address the one who remained open to him, even though he wanted to hear from the woman.

“See, Sabeen. He is nice. You said you would apologize if you found his was nice.”

Sabeen. Pug directed his eyes at her and drank in the vision she presented in the same attire as yesterday, her hair pulled back into a thick braid. Like the children’s, her feet were bare. He realized the children were the way to get her to not kill him. The anger which had burned in her eyes proved that.

“I am nice.” He held Sabeen’s gaze. “Extremely.” Behind him, a few of him men coughed, and he fought the urge to say something rude to them.

She watched him back, nonplussed. Past her, he could see more amusement on his men’s faces.

“The ship in the cove, is it yours?”

“Yes.” He placed his attention on the girl again.

“Are you a pirate?”

Was he? No, not always. “No.” Did he imagine disappointment on the children’s faces with his reply?

“Then, are you here to help us?”

This time, his smile was wide as it spread along his face. “It would be my honor to help one as lovely as you. What may I do for you?” The last question he directed at Sabeen.

She wasn’t paying him any attention. Her eyes were large, scanning everywhere. Her entire body had gone rigid. She wasn’t the only one. Behind him, Drav stiffened, along with a few others. Pug fell silent, and he, too, picked up on the sounds that preceded men making their way through the dense jungle, and they were getting closer. Nearer to bursting through the bushes.

“Bring them,” he commanded. Those coming were unknown to him, and he had yet to be satisfied of his curiosity of Sabeen.

“Yow!” One of his men cried out, and Pug saw him rubbing his jaw.

“Problems?”

“She hit me,” he growled.

Pug kept his amusement contained and stalked toward her. He honestly expected her to show defiance, and it disturbed him greatly to see the resigned look instead. Five of his men each had one child; they looked unsure, but he had no time to reassure them.

“It is me or whoever is about to come through the trees, luv.”

Again, she hesitated, and Pug fought back his growl of displeasure. All of his charm absolutely wasted on her. The children were gone, and he held her gaze, waiting. Her breathing grew erratic, and he stepped closer to her. Long fingers flexed, and he knew she wanted to put her sword in hand.

“They are almost here,” he warned silkily.

She licked her lips before raking her disapproving gaze over him. “Any harm comes to the kids, and I will gut you from throat to ballocks, pirate or not.”

He couldn’t stop the flinch, even though her words made him smile. A pirate he wasn’t, but they could argue that later. He jerked her to him and placed a hard, fast kiss on her full lips.

“Understood. Come on.” Grabbing her hand, he ran toward the forest and away from the approaching men. He kept a hold of her, planning to release her the moment they reached the white sandy beach of the cove. So she would not bolt, he lied to himself.