Tiger Thief by Michaela Clarke Read Free Book Online Page B

away.
    Once they were gone, Rookh looked over at Mohini again. She was waiting, demurely as ever, for his command.
    “Now what?” he asked.
    Mohini’s eyes were shielded with secrets. “To keep your Empire safe you will need to kill the tiger,” she said. “But first you must find the Prince of Jinnis.”
    “Where do you think he is?” said Rookh.
    Mohini shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “The Prince of Jinnis is hidden by a spell that not even I can break. All I know is that he’s bound to come looking for the tiger, and when he does, we will be ready for him.”
    Rookh almost smiled. He admired Mohini immensely, but he trusted her less than a snake in the grass. “Why are you doing all of this?” he demanded. “You’re a jinni. Don’t you want your queen to be restored to her throne?”
    Mohini tossed her head. “I don’t care about the Queen of the Forest,” she said. Her eyes flashed as she glanced at him, quickly, flirtatiously. “I would rather be
your
queen.”
    Rookh drew her closer. “You would make an excellent queen,” he agreed. “Ruthless, ambitious and dangerous. We can discuss terms once we’ve dealt with the tiger and her prince.”
    He glanced up at Casmerim’s picture. He would showher. He didn’t need her.
    Mohini saw his glance.
    “Forget her,” she said. “Am I not just as beautiful?”
    Rookh’s laugh was harsh. Seizing her long, shining hair, he wrapped it twice around his hand, and pulled back her head.
    “Show me!” he hissed, cupping her pale face with his other hand.
    In an easy moment Mohini’s face had changed, darkened, modelling itself on the face in the picture. Even the hair was thicker. Only her eyes remained the same.
    “Very good.” Rookh lowered his voice. “Now close your eyes!”
    Mohini obeyed, lashes trembling on her cheeks.
    “Beautiful!” he sighed. “
Now
you are my queen.”
    Mohini’s mouth curved in a smile. “Yes, master,” she said.
    Losing himself to the moment, Rookh leaned down for his kiss.
    For a moment there was silence. For a moment there was peace. Even the voices inside were still.
    Afterwards, he held her close, as if relieved. There was no denying it. Mohini might be poison, but her lips were as sweet as Casmerim’s.

Chapter Eight
RUNAWAY
    S harat felt sick with shock as he watched Emira’s empty cage bouncing along the cobbles. His guts twisted in regret. Why hadn’t he listened to Uma?
    Behind him, Hussein kept a protective hand on his shoulder.
    “Maybe she’ll find her own way home,” he ventured, but his voice sounded hollow even to his own ears.
    Sharat twisted to stare at him in disbelief. “Emira’s not
lost
,” he said. “She
disappeared
.” He turned to look back at Shergarh. “Let me go back and find her,” he begged.
    Hussein shook his head. “I’m sure Lemo’s doing all he can,” he said.
    The ringmaster had stayed behind to talk to the Emperor’s men.
    “It won’t do any good,” said Sharat angrily. “Emira’s been stolen.” He glared at Hussein. “You knew about the promise. Why didn’t you stop my father from coming here?”
    Hussein looked down unhappily. “Believe me, I tried,” he said. “But he hasn’t been himself since he married that woman.”
    Sharat grimaced. He didn’t want to think about Mohini right now. All he wanted to think about was Emira. “If he doesn’t find her, I will!” he swore.
    They continued their journey in silence.
    Back at the camp, the troupe gathered around the fire, their faces weary in the flickering light. After a big show they usually liked to sing, dance and swap tales, but tonight everyone was subdued as they waited for Lemo to return with news of Emira.
    As Sharat stared miserably into the flames, Bhim the magician tried to cheer him up with a new trick.
    Sharat pushed him away. “Leave me alone!” he snapped.
    Risa came to sit next to him, murmuring words of comfort, but he didn’t want to listen to her either. He felt