Page 4 of Claimed By the Crown Prince

He closed the door and got into the front passenger seat beside the bodyguard, who seemed as frosty as the Princess, not even looking his way.

Another vehicle followed them as they drove away from the beach bar—presumably the second bodyguard. She had good protection at least.

They drove for about fifteen minutes on the main road, with typical Malay houses on either side, built high off the ground to keep them cool in the intense heat. Children scampered about, along with dogs and chickens. A moped overtook them with at least four people on board and a grinning toddler on the lap of the driver. A typical sight in south-east Asia.

Then the vehicles turned down onto a dirt track and they emerged after a couple of minutes into a cleared area, where there was a jetty and two boats bobbing on the water.

They came to a stop. The driver got out and opened the door for Princess Laia. Dax got out too, bemused. A man was on one boat, readying it. Princess Laia walked down the jetty and greeted him in Malay.

Dax noted that the bodyguards carried bags of what looked like groceries and were depositing them in the first boat. Then they got into the other boat, which was larger—more like a small yacht. He followed them to the jetty. Princess Laia got into the smaller boat, helped by the driver.

She turned and looked at Dax. She arched a brow. ‘Coming?’

He put his hands on his hips. ‘Do I have a choice?’

‘Not if you want your phone back.’

‘I can get another phone. I know where you are now.’

Princess Laia shrugged. ‘Suit yourself. I thought you were here to take me back, but if you’re prepared to risk me disappearing again...’ She trailed off.

Dax gritted his jaw. This magical mystery tour was beginning to get on his nerves. But hewashere to bring her back, so he really couldn’t risk watching her sail off into the sunset and potentially lose her, as she’d just threatened.

For all he knew she could be on a plane again within the hour and flitting off to somewhere else.

He stepped into the boat. Princess Laia was sitting primly on a seat at the back. For all the world like the Queen she would soon become. Queen of SantangerandIsla’Rosa. She would be a powerful woman. But he’d already sensed that power within her.

The driver indicated for Dax to take a seat too, and he did as he was told. The engines started up and the boats moved out, the bodyguards staying close.

They hugged the coast of the island for a while before heading out to sea. Just when Dax was beginning to wonder if they were headed all the way to Thailand, an island came into view. Small, and very lush. As they came closer he could see a pontoon and a beautiful beach.

A wooden structure was just about visible high on a hill, through the thick foliage. It looked like a small palace, with elaborate decorations on the roof reminiscent of royal Thai palaces.

The engine went silent as the driver guided the boat in alongside the fixed pontoon. Dax saw that the bigger boat stayed out on the almost luminously green water.

Princess Laia stood up and lifted some of the bags onto the pontoon. Then she stepped out. He followed her, feeling as bemused as ever.

When he was out, the driver handed him some bags. He saw that they held supplies of vegetables and other food and domestic items.

He heard the engine start again and looked up to see the driver untying the boat. It was soon chugging away from the pontoon. The other boat containing the bodyguards was still some distance away.

He watched the driver wave cheerily at Princess Laia as she said something in Malay. He looked at the Princess, who was regarding him with a suspiciously triumphant glint in her green gaze.

His own narrowed. ‘What the hell is this?’

‘It’s an island called Permata. That’s “jewel” in Malay. It belonged to my mother and now it belongs to me.’

He hadn’t meant that and she knew it. He’d meant what the hell was this situation. ‘Why has the boat left?’

‘Because he was only dropping us off.’

‘How do we get off this island?’

‘We don’t. Unless I call for the boat or ask Pascal and Matthew to come and get us. I wouldn’t recommend swimming—there are dangerous currents in the waters even though it looks safe.’

It was sinking in. With a slow certainty that was almost embarrassing. She’d caught him out.

Dax put down the bag he was holding and held out a hand. ‘My phone, please.’ He would arrange transport off this island with her on board within the hour.