Mirage

by Monica Burns

  “Damm gahannam.” He spat out the curse with the ferocity of an enraged lion. She frowned. Did he really have to retain the ridiculous English habit of saying bloody hell, even when speaking in the Bedouin tongue? Glaring at him, she folded her arms across her chest and remained silent.

  Abruptly he wheeled away from her, his long legs eating up the deck with furious repetitive strides. After a moment of pacing, he halted in front of her. “If I give you my word not to contact the Museum, will you agree to Sheikh el Mazir’s condition?”

  Fury etched its harsh and forbidding lines across the dark planes of his rugged features. What had prompted him to make such a sacrifice? For it was nothing less. In giving his word, he would not be able to contact the Museum without dishonoring himself.

  “I have your word?” She watched him snap his head in a sharp bow. She extended her hand. “Then I agree to your conditions and the Sheikh’s.”

  Altair almost crushed her hand in his large, strong grip. “Take care you heed my instructions well from this point forward, ana anide emîra. If you don’t, I’ll extract my vengeance in a manner that will no doubt shock you.”

  For a second time, he’d referred to her as his stubborn princess. The possessive nature of his tone sent a tiny thread of excitement spinning its way through her body. There was something vital and sensuous resting beneath his words. The rakish expression in his gaze as it swept over her made her heart jump.

  She’d seen that look in his eyes the night he’d touched her so intimately. Alarmed, she tugged her hand out of his firm grip. She took a quick step away from him, her heart slamming into her chest as heat swelled inside her. His gaze narrowed, and her breathing accelerated as he seemed to stare into her soul.

  With an unintelligible expletive, he turned away and strode off the ship. Moving to the ship’s railing, she watched him become embroiled in a passionate discussion with the Sheikh. Odd how he’d referred to the Bedouin as Sheikh el Mazir and not Sheikh Mazir.

  In all her father’s correspondence with the man, the Sheikh had never signed his name as leader of the entire Mazir tribe. She furrowed her brow at the thought then shrugged the matter aside. The discussion between Altair and the Sheikh had grown very heated, and the el Mazir’s men viewed their argument with laughter. Both Altair and the Sheikh ignored the loud amusement as they continued their debate.

  “Good morning.”

  She turned her head quickly at the sound of Jane’s cheerful greeting and glared at her friend. “Where have you been?”

  “Hmm, you sound like you didn’t get enough sleep last night. I was sleeping peacefully until I heard this outrageous racket of male shouting.”

  “That would have been Sheikh el Mazir’s men. They’re apparently quite fond of Altair.”

  “Altair?”

  Alex grimaced as she realized she’d referred to Lord Blakeney by his Bedouin name. Without looking at her friend, she gave a toss of her head in the direction of the two men arguing on the gangplank. “Lord Blakeney is apparently much friendlier with the Sheikh and his tribe than we were led to believe. They call him Altair.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “You see what?” Alex gripped the ship railing, prepared for her friend to say something shocking.

  “It explains why, for an Englishman, he argues with the same abandon as the Bedouin,” Jane murmured as she leaned against the rail beside Alex. “I wonder if his lovemaking would be equally passionate.”

  Rolling her eyes, Alex shook her head in disgust. “If you were a man, I could understand your obsession with the idea of passion and lovemaking. But you’re not.”

  “No, I’m not a man, but I do know that what transpires between a man and woman can be a beautiful and exciting experience. It’s nothing to be ashamed of—rather it should be celebrated with enthusiasm.” A smile of wisdom curved Jane’s mouth, while a touch of sadness darkened her violet eyes.

  When Alex didn’t respond, her friend tipped her head toward the two men who stood on the gangplank exchanging heated words. “Is the Bedouin, Sheikh Mazir?”

  “Yes, although Altair refers to him as Sheikh el Mazir.”

  “I don’t understand the difference.” Jane frowned in puzzlement.

  “Sheikh Mazir is an honorary title. It’s given to a trusted family member who serves the Sheikh el Mazir, who is the leader of all the tribe.”

  “Hmmm, an interesting nuance for just one tiny sound. I wonder if I could start calling myself Jane el Beacon. Jane, leader of all the Beacons in New York.”

  The amusement in her friend’s voice pulled a reluctant smile to Alex’s mouth. “You’re definitely a leader, but I doubt seriously that your mother-in-law would welcome your use of the title.”

  A pained grimace contorted Jane’s mouth. “Did you really have to remind me about Gladys? As far as she’s concerned, I was the one who betrayed Michael, not the other way around.”

  “I’m sure she doesn’t. How could she?”

  “Because Michael was her only child and for that reason alone, he could do no wrong. It didn’t matter that he died in his mistress’s arms.” Jane bobbed her head in the direction of the men on the gangway. “So what are those two fighting about?”

  “I haven’t the faintest idea.”

  “Whatever it is, it’s a topic of great importance to them both.” Jane rested her arms on the railing as she leaned forward. “I thought you knew Arabic.”

  “I do, but they’re using a native dialect, and I can only catch a word here and there that I recognize.”

  “They must be excellent friends to argue so vehemently.”

  Alex nodded at Jane’s observation, but she kept her eyes trained on the two men. Although Altair’s skin wasn’t quite as dark as the Berber’s, it would require very little for him to blend in with the Sheikh’s men. All he would need to do was loosen his hair, add the traditional facial markings and wrap himself in a dark blue gambaz like the Berber tribesmen. He would be magnificent. Alex clenched her fists in self-recrimination. She was thinking about the man far too often, and in the most inappropriate terms.

  “Do you suppose we’ll be able to disembark soon? I’d love to enjoy a warm bath at the hotel,” Jane asked.

  Thankful for the opportunity to focus on something other than thoughts of Altair, she turned away from the scene on the ship’s gangway. “I would imagine we could go ashore anytime we’d like. I’m sure Captain Balfour will send our luggage to the hotel.”

  “I don’t know why you insisted on bringing so many trunks with you.”

  “I needed all of Father’s papers and books. Leaving them at home meant I would have somehow left part of him behind. Having his work with me makes me think he’s here as well. I’ll just have to hire a few extra camels to carry them.”

  “If you’re referring to those trunks of yours, they’re staying behind.” The deep voice behind her made Alex jump. She whirled around to find Altair’s dark eyes studying her with a tinge of irritation.

  “I must have my father’s papers and books. You can’t possibly expect me to find Per-Ramesses otherwise.”

  “Take only the most important articles. I’m willing to let you take three trunks, no more, and that includes clothing as well.”

  “You’re willing?” Alex stiffened at the autocratic note in his voice. “Am I, or am I not, paying for this expedition?”

  “You are—however, you gave me your word you’d follow the conditions I laid out for this journey. Have you changed your mind?”

  She clenched her fists together in irritation as she shook her head and remained silent. With a sharp nod, he accepted her mute agreement. In the next moment, a poisonous arrow of jealousy shot through her as he turned and smiled pleasantly at Jane.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Beacon. I trust you slept well?”

  “I did indeed. How soon will we be able to g
o ashore? I’m longing for a hot bath.” Jane’s smile made Alex grit her teeth. Her friend was suddenly quite cozy with the man. Exasperated, she turned away, intent on returning to her cabin to gather a few things.

  “Let me settle some last minute details with Captain Balfour, and I’ll take you there.” Altair’s response halted her in her tracks.

  For some reason the idea of his escorting them to the hotel angered her. It was as if he’d taken on parental duties where she was concerned. She turned around slowly, determined to remain calm and serene, despite wanting to explode with frustration at his autocratic behavior.

  “My lord—”

  “Lord Blakeney doesn’t exist here,” he interrupted in a quiet voice. “Here I’m called Altair. I answer to no other name.”

  Her anger cooling somewhat at his somber tone, she nodded. “As you wish. I simply wanted to point out that it’s not necessary for you to accompany us to the hotel. We’ll be fine on our own.”

  “I believe it is necessary. You’re in a strange country with customs completely different from your own. Sheikh el Mazir has charged me with your safekeeping, and I intend to ensure your safety at all times.”

  Alex glared at him for a long moment before expelling a breath of frustration. Without another word, she stalked off to her cabin. The man was impossible. His behavior reminded her of several of Father’s colleagues. Sympathetic and kind, they’d tried to make her believe they had her best interests at heart too. What they really wanted was to bring her to heel like a well-trained dog. Well, the man needed to realize she wouldn’t accept his authority with the meekness of some English miss.

  A niggling voice of doubt chided her for such a churlish attitude. Comparing Altair to Father’s colleagues was somewhat unfair. In truth, he’d acted as if her search for Per-Ramesses was an acceptable occupation for a woman. None of Father’s associates had ever accepted her abilities so openly. They’d always looked for some discrepancy in her knowledge or expertise in the field of Egyptology. Nonetheless, the man was still manipulating her, and she didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  The door to her cabin slammed open and she smiled with grim satisfaction at the sound. Gathering up her portfolio of notes, she straightened and turned toward the door. Her sharp movement was met with a loud hiss from the corner of the cabin. The hideous sound made her go rigid as terror slithered and coiled its way through her. The bulbous head of the cobra was unmistakable, its body poised in striking position on the floor. Scream. She wanted to scream, but something deep inside told her not to. Desperately, her mind tried to grasp at any information her father might have shared about the dreaded creatures.

  Jane’s voice echoed in the passageway. The sound tugged her body in the direction of the doorway. It was the smallest of movements, but it made the snake sway menacingly. Panic sailed through her as her friend appeared in the doorway. She had to ensure Jane didn’t enter the room. As her friend paused on the cabin’s threshold, Alex remained perfectly still.

  “Stay out,” she breathed.

  “What on earth are you whispering for?” A puzzled expression crossed Jane’s face, but she didn’t enter the room. Alex’s gaze flitted back to the corner of the cabin, where the snake still wove back and forth in a pernicious motion.

  “Cobra.”

  “Oh, dear God.” Jane’s whisper barely reached Alex.

  From where Jane stood in the open doorway, two large trunks blocked her view of the snake. More importantly, it prevented the cobra from seeing Jane. In spite of the fear crushing her breathing, Alex was thankful she’d resisted having all her trunks removed from the cabin. Hysteria welled up inside her. Perhaps Altair was right. She was stubborn, but then that trait had saved Jane’s life.

  The question now was how she could save her own life. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jane back slowly away from the door. The screams inside her head reverberated with painful intensity throughout her body as her friend disappeared from view. No! How could Jane just leave her like that? If she was going to die, she didn’t want to die alone.

  A moment later, she heard Jane’s shoes clicking against the wooden planks of the corridor as she raced away. The vibration made the viper move its body in an insidious, mesmerizing dance. Alex barely breathed as she struggled to remain motionless. She was going to die without even having set one foot on Egyptian soil. The cobra swayed again, the hissing noise it made breaking through the icy paralysis holding her in place. The instinct to run was difficult to control, but remaining rooted in place was the only reason she was still alive. What was it Father had said? Snakes didn’t have auditory abilities. They only reacted to air currents, vibrations and movement.

  The sound of a quiet voice in the doorway broke through the darkness threatening to swallow her whole. “Alex, I’m here.”

  Her gaze jerked toward Altair’s solid figure in the doorway. The sight of his grim features made her want to run to him. Run to the safety of his arms. Her desire to race toward him must have revealed itself in her expression. With an authoritative wave of his hand, he silently ordered her to stay where she was.

  “Everything’s going to be all right, Alex.” Soft and soothing, his voice eased some of her tension. “I want you to remain perfectly still. It won’t hurt you unless you move. Now, I want you to slow your breathing.”

  The screams of panic inside her continued to rise, threatening to overtake rational thought, and it took every ounce of her willpower to stave off her fear and retain her rigid position. She started to slide her gaze back to the viper.

  “No. Look at me. I want you to look at me.” The rough command drifted softly through the air, and her gaze locked with his. “That’s it—now I want you to slow your breathing. It will help you keep your balance. Good, nice and slow. That’s it.”

  The comforting sound of his voice eased some of her fear as she stared into his reassuring gaze. Concern had carved tense white lines at the corners of his mouth, and she knew he’d do whatever necessary to protect her. She knew it as sure as she knew she would find the ruins of Per-Ramesses at Khatana-Qantir.

  The loud explosion of a rifle shot reverberated from the cabin’s porthole. In that split second, a bullet pierced the snake’s body and slammed it against the cabin wall. It slowly slid down to lie still on the floor.

  When a warm hand touched her arm, she screamed in reaction and violently struck out at Altair’s hand. She slapped his hands away in a panicked response to her ordeal. Tremors shuddered through her as she struggled to escape the strong arms wrapping themselves around her body. Enveloped in his tight embrace, her body released her terror in the form of heartrending sobs she couldn’t control.

  Unable to stop the shudders seizing her body, her teeth chattered as she heard him issuing commands in the Mazir tongue. Terror took a long time releasing her from its grip. Through it all, he simply held her close and murmured soothing sounds to ease her trembling. She gulped back the last of her sobs as he lifted her chin with cool, tapered fingers.

  “You were incredibly brave, Alex. Braver than most men I know.”

  Still deeply shaken, she shuddered again. “I don’t feel brave at all.”

  “Perhaps not, but you not only saved yourself, but Jane as well. She could have easily been killed if you hadn’t warned her.”

  Another set of tears welled up in her eyes, and she brushed them away with the back of her hand. Jane could have died, and it would have been her fault. She was responsible for her friend coming on this trip. She’d convinced Jane it would be an adventure. What if they encountered more of the deadly snakes?

  A new bolt of fear shot through her as Altair slowly released her from his arms. Someone wanted her dead, she was certain of it. It was the only explanation for how the cobra—she shuddered again at the horrifying image—had gotten into her cabin. Her fear created a distinct edge to her nerves, and she jumped as Sheikh el Mazir appeare
d in the cabin doorway.

  “How are you feeling, shagi emîra?” he asked. A concerned look darkened his eyes as he smiled at her. The man had the same warm eyes as Altair.

  “I’m hardly a princess, let alone a brave one. I owe my life to the man who killed that vile thing.”

  The Sheikh touched his heart, lips and forehead with his fingers, rolling his hand out toward her as he bowed slightly. “I am honored to have been of service, emîra.”

  Gratitude welled up inside her, and Alex moved toward him. Clasping his hand in hers, she bowed her head in his direction. “Whatever you ask of me, it will never be enough to repay my debt to you.”

  A strange look gleamed in his liquid brown eyes as his dark gaze locked with hers. It was a look of assessment, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it. He shifted his gaze to Altair. Speaking in the Mazir tongue, the Sheikh smiled. Although she couldn’t translate the entire statement, she recognized the words worthy and princess. She glanced over her shoulder at Altair. From his dark frown, whatever the Sheikh had said, the words had not been to his liking

  Chapter Seven

  Alex stepped into the warmth of the morning sun, squinting against the bright light. In front of her, Jane hurried forward and clasped her in a tight hug.

  “Oh, thank God.”

  Jane drew back, her hands still gripping Alex’s arms. Guilt swept through her at her friend’s worried expression. She should never have convinced Jane to come with her. She’d almost gotten her friend killed. If that had happened, she’d never have been able to live with herself.

  “I’m so sorry, Jane.”

  “Whatever for?” Puzzlement eased the look of worry on her friend’s face.

  “You could have been killed. I should never have talked you into coming on this trip with me.” She shuddered at the memory of Jane in the doorway of her cabin and the look of horrified fear on her friend’s face

  “Don’t be ridiculous, you didn’t talk me into anything.” Jane gave her a slight shake before hugging her one more time. “Besides, you were the one in danger, not me. I’m just thankful the Sheikh managed to kill that horrible thing.”