The Pirate Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  But now, the reality of what she had done was setting in. There were some impulses that shouldn’t be followed.

  She was a princess. These were pirates. What would they do if they found out who she was? Would they ransom her? Sell her into slavery on the black market at the Torgan sex slave auctions? A princess would undoubtedly fetch a high price for such men. Then why had the wind whispered to her to go? Did this ship have something to do with her fate in marrying Prince Lok? Was this her way to deny fate? Would she have to trade her family, her life, and her home for freedom? Even as she thought it, she knew she couldn’t do that. She would never give up her family and her homeland, even if that meant marrying a man she could never love. If fate needed her to marry Prince Lok, she would do her duty and marry him. There was more to life than marital bliss and love. She would comfort herself with that. And, hopefully, a mutual affection would grow between them in time.

  The ship jerked erratically and she knew they were making a rough getaway from her brother’s men. Haun would not sit idly by while the pirates took his sister. What if he was hurt rescuing her? What if they shot at him? What if he was killed? How could she ever live with herself?

  “Blessed ancestors,” Mei whispered, gripping the soft blanket that covered the bed as the ship shook wildly back and forth. “What have I done?”

  7

  Jarek slid into Evan’s chair as the man ran to join Jackson in the engine room. They’d lost power when the Lintianese starship had pelted them with shocks of energy. The large viewing screen before them blurred as they sped through the stars. It took almost all of the ship’s energy just to keep up the high speeds.

  “Who in the star blazes is that woman?” Lochlann growled.

  “Wealthy man’s concubine,” Jarek answered, reaching to divert energy from the life support system to the thrusters. The corridor lights dimmed.

  “I envy you then,” Lochlann laughed, not looking over from where he manned the ship’s controls. There was a preoccupation to his tone as he maneuvered the ship.

  “Why’s that?” Jarek asked. A magenta haze grew across the viewing screen.

  “Well, if she’s worth this much firepower, she must be good in bed.” Lochlann flashed a wide grin. Another shock of energy hit, shaking them. “Bloody nova, I wish Rick were here.”

  “If he were, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” Jarek said.

  “Ah, perfect irony that,” Lochlann agreed.

  Another blast hit the ship, jarring them.

  “Sacred cats! Just get us out of here.” Jarek ran his hand over the computer sensors, bringing up the floating screen. Scrolling through star charts, he looked for a place to hide from the Lintianese.

  “And where would you have me go?”

  “There,” Jarek said, pointing to the large viewing screen in front of them.

  “I don’t see anything.”

  “Just fly, Loch. Trust me.”

  Lochlann turned the ship and headed straight to where Jarek pointed.

  “Hold on!” Jarek yelled over the ship’s intercom as he typed coordinates into the computer. Lochlann let go of the controls. The ship realigned, and suddenly the streaks of light were swirling around them even though the ship felt like it was flying straight. Closing his eyes against the dizziness the sight brought on, Jarek held tight, knowing that the ship was no longer in their control.

  “By all the gods,” Lochlann swore. “We’re in a magefeld!”

  “Yeah and it’s about to get rough so hold on,” Jarek ordered.

  Just as the words were out, the ship started to shake, jerking erratically back and forth. Something clanged behind them in the corridor, rolling along the metal floor only to come crashing back as the ship flipped over. The motion was so fast, it glued them to their seats with the force. Jarek had never been so glad for gravity control in his life. Otherwise, they’d all be on the ceiling.

  As quickly as it began, the ride stopped with an abrupt jerk. They both flew forward, hitting the consul. The ship jarred as their hands hit some of the controls, but they easily righted it. Jarek took a deep breath as he reached for the controls. After a quick check, he said, “We’ve lost them.”

  “Checking systems now,” Lochlann paused then swore. “We’re in for some repairs.”

  “Maybe the woman will know something useful about Lintian.” Jarek thought of the slender woman, trying to put his desires for the fairer sex aside as he concentrated on what had to be done. “She might know the mines.”

  “Where are we?” Lochlann asked, getting up to lean over the controls.

  Flipping through the star charts, Jarek stopped as he found the right one. “Somewhere along the edge of the X quadrant. Surfing the magefelds isn’t exactly a precise science. They just spit you out wherever they want.”

  “Wonderful. There are only about a million port locations to choose from,” Lochlann drawled. “I’ll get working on a location. We need fuel and then we need to get back to rescuing Rick.”

  Jarek’s jaw tightened. Every minute they were away from their friend was a minute they didn’t necessarily have to waste. Though none of them wanted to admit it, they knew there was a real possibility that Rick was already dead. They might joke about killing him, but the truth was they loved him like a brother. In an odd way, joking about it kept them from dwelling on their worries.

  “He’s alive,” Lochlann assured Jarek, placing a hand on his arm. “If there is any man that could charm a kidnapper, it’s Rick.”

  Jarek nodded. He’d taken to the skies to be free of responsibility. Back home, his family had matters well in hand and managed just fine without him. The irony was that, as captain, he had more responsibility than he would ever be given on his home world of Qurilixen.

  Rick was part of that responsibility. And even though the man had got himself into the mess, Jarek knew he had to get him out of it.

  “Now, about this prisoner you took,” Lochlann hid a smile as he turned to the charts. He began flipping through them, searching.

  “She’s not a prisoner. She practically hung onto my neck to get away from her master.”

  Lochlann glanced back at him and raised a brow before turning to his work once more.

  “It’s true,” Jarek insisted. “She all but begged me to take her. What else could I do? Leave her to be beaten for trying to escape? Honor would not allow it.”

  Lochlann laughed, shaking his head. Without bothering to look, he asked, “Honor? Or your libido?”

  Jarek harrumphed. “You’re impossible.”

  “Aye.”

  “I’m going to see what damage has been done to the engines,” Jarek left the cockpit, knowing that Lochlann would alert him if there was any sign of danger.

  “Damage to the engines or the new cargo?” Lochlann called behind him.

  Jarek stopped, leaning to peek back into the cockpit. “Did I say impossible? Make that a pain in my ass.”

  “Aye,” Lochlann agreed with a mischievous grin.

  8

  “I demand you release me and the others.”

  Jarek looked at the small woman before him. That was hardly the greeting of appreciation he expected walking into her room. Her accent was thick, but he found he rather liked the smooth silk of her tone. It was almost husky in her anger toward him.

  “I said, I demand that you release me and the other women you have taken.”

  Jarek crossed his arms over his chest and studied the woman. She was beautiful, so much so that his body ached for something beyond her anger. Her eyes flashed, and her body was rigid. Leaning against the metal frame of the door, he tried to act nonchalant. In truth, he felt as if he couldn’t breathe.

  “Do you not understand your own language? I demand release and also for the others.” Her lips moved, carefully forming each syllable.

  Jarek’s mouth jerked into a grin. She demanded release did she? By the look on her face, he knew the type of release he was thinking of wasn’t what she had in mind.

>   “Where are the others?” The woman took a menacing step forward, bracing her feet.

  “Others?” Jarek repeated, confused. Then, laughing, he thought of Viktor and Lucien dressed as women. She must have seen them making a run for it. “Ah, yes, the others. They are perfectly safe and happy to be onboard.”

  “I shall be the judge of that. I demand you take me to them!”

  “You know, for a servant, you really are demanding,” Jarek mused. “Is that what your master likes? To be ordered around?”

  “Servant?” the woman gasped, before quickly amending. “Yes, servant. What of it?”

  Jarek studied her. He’d been mistaken about her. She wasn’t a servant. Those who served didn’t look so proud, didn’t stand so bold and defiant. Her gaze was too sharp, too quick to look him in the eye. Even a defiant servant would look down, glaring through the sides of their lashes. Not her. She met him straight on. He’d been mistaken in his assessment. She was most likely a noble as well. Sister? Wife? Or, what if she were a concubine, a head concubine? Whatever it was, she was used to being listened to by others.

  “What is your name, servant?” he asked, taking a bold step in. If she wanted to play this game, he’d play. The woman didn’t back down, furthering his belief that she was more than she pretended to be. Then why come aboard his ship if she had power?

  “You first, pirate.”

  Pirate? Jarek tried not to laugh. He never considered himself a true pirate, though some of the things he and the crew did were borderline criminal. Since she was lying to him about who she was, why not return the favor? “Captain Jarek the Handsome, very much at your disposal, my lady.”

  “I’m not a lady,” the woman said carefully. “I’m just a servant.”

  “Ah, well, you have two legs instead of three, so that makes you a lady on this ship.” Jarek grinned. It took a moment, but he detected the instant his meaning sank in. Her face turned dark red, and she gasped, unable to answer. Her eyes darted down to his thighs. He shifted his weight, trying to hide the effect her intense stare had on his shaft. It was no use. The mass between his thighs filled and pressed indecently against his tight pants. There was no concealing his desire for her.

  She’s a noblewoman, he thought, knowingly, as he witnessed her look.

  “Tell me, servant, in what ways did you serve your master? Had you a specialty?” he asked, purposefully letting his tone dip in sexual meaning. A shiver worked its way down her slender form as he looked her over. He watched her nipples bud against her silk robe and her toes curled beneath the softer material of her ground shoes. Electricity snapped between them, hot and potent. By the look in her eyes, she knew it as well. The chemistry had been instant, connecting them. He wanted to pounce, to act, but he held back, knowing pleasure would only be heightened by denial.

  The woman took a moment before saying carefully. “Royal cook.”

  She expected him to believe that the Imperial guards chased them for a cook? Jarek chuckled. So be it.

  “Wonderful. The food simulator is acting up. It gives raw ingredients, and we are in need of a cook on the ship until we can get it fixed. You may pay your way with such service, that is, unless you have something else in mind?”

  “Pay my way?” she questioned.

  “Yes, as our ship’s cook. Unless there is some other service you’d like to offer up in exchange for passage?” Jarek stepped boldly forward, again caressing her with his eyes. His stomach tightened in instant protest of the sexual denial. His hands balled into fists on their own accord, as claws tried to grow from the tips of his fingers. He knew the beast was in his eyes, but he couldn’t call it back. He smelled her reaction. There was a trace of fear, but mostly interest. This woman wasn’t frightened by the hint of the cat inside of him. Just knowing she wasn’t surprised by his shifting side excited him more.

  “What do you mean I must pay my way? You kidnaped me, pirate.” Her lips tightened in displeasure. “Since when does the victim have to pay for being taken? If anything, it is your responsibility to see to my care.”

  “Yes, and perhaps we should work on your understanding of my language. I have the uploads onboard if you need them. First, you must not have been kidnaped before, because nowhere in the pirate code does it claim we have to take care of you, and that you don’t pay your way. In fact, it is quite often the opposite for those taken. Second, and most importantly, I didn’t kidnap you, fea, I rescued you.”

  “My name is not fe-ah. It is—”

  “What does it matter, cook?” he interrupted just to aggravate her. She was adorable when she was mad. He found himself wanting to smile but suppressed the urge.

  True, the woman was entertaining, but he didn’t want to get too attached. Already, he felt something in her presence he rarely felt with women…kinship, perhaps? There was an odd feeling of easiness, even as they fought. Maybe he’d been in space too long without a woman. Maybe the fact that his twin brother, Reid, had life mated to a woman after a lifetime of denying he ever would.

  Reid had been the last of his four brothers to fall. Jarek was the only single cat-shifter prince left, and he liked it that way. As his upbringing would have him believe, life mating wasn’t wise for the Var kind. Once life mated, it couldn’t be undone. Cat-shifters lived a long time and passed that long life on to their life mates, aided by the same mystical power that guided them. But a lot could happen in the hundreds of years they lived. If a life mate died, the widower would be condemned to centuries of heartache. Many cat-shifters had died from such a lonely fate.

  That’s why Reid and Jarek had always planned on never falling in love. Of course, that was before Reid fell in love. Jarek did not wish to share his twin’s fate. Sure, his brothers were happy in their marriages, happy and either expecting or with newborn sons. Jarek would like a son, someday. What man didn’t? But to do so he only needed to half mate, and he could take many of those. What was the point of taking the risk of being with one woman? With so many beautiful women out there to sample, who wanted to choose just one and risk centuries of unhappiness?

  His eyes roamed over the woman. Sacred cats! Why was he thinking about life mating right now? How in the galaxies did that train of thought come about? His body was talking sex and his mind was talking life mates?

  It was like his father always warned him. A woman has the potential to be the ruination of men and kingdoms. The only question is, my son, will you let one ruin you?

  King Attor might have been a warmonger, and Jarek might not have agreed with his father on much, but there were some things in which the man showed wisdom. Especially since striking out on his own into the galaxies, Jarek had heard tales of nations crumbling merely over the love of a woman. Every race had their stories of lost love, destroyed people and horrific deaths in the name of love. But, more importantly, he personally had seen some of the greatest men fall, namely his brothers. He didn’t think it horrible that they had found love, and he liked his sisters-by-marriage, but his brothers would each give their own life, sacrifice everything, on behalf of their wives. He told himself that he wasn’t keen on changing his ways, or worrying about someone else beyond his crew. It was ironic that, to have true love, you had to sacrifice part of yourself.

  Jarek knew that he only told himself he didn’t want a life mate to keep from admitting he, like every other warm-blooded creature, really did want such a fate. Only the greatest things could be achieved by having so much to lose. Without risk, there was no great reward. That settled it. He needed to, as Rick so delicately put it on many occasions, ‘get his freak on’.

  Whatever the bloody space nova that means.

  Rick was addicted to twentieth century Earth culture, and he was always coming up with charming sayings to confuse them.

  Jarek noticed neither of them was speaking, and the woman was staring at him, her brown eyes unwavering. Thinking of Rick, he growled. He had more pressing duties to tend to than sparring with this woman. Though fun, it would have to wait.
First, he needed to get his ship repaired. Then he had to figure out a way to save his wayward friend. Word had come that Lucien and Viktor had retrieved the map though they weren’t too forthcoming as to the ‘how’. Jarek needed to see that map. He didn’t have time for women.

  “What are you?” the woman asked, staring at him. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Your face…you’re a shifter, aren’t you?”

  Jarek lifted a hand to his cheek. His skin felt normal, but he realized from the tingling that he’d partially shifted while staring at her small breasts. Nails scraped across his skin, and he looked at his hands. Claws were retracting back into his fingers, and his palms were smudged with blood where he’d punctured himself. He balled his hands into fists to hide them and took a deep breath. It was too late. She’d seen it.

  The woman’s smell filled his nose. It was an exotic fragrance, mingled with the unmistakable scent of desire. No wonder his head was clouded and drifting. The woman was practically in heat. His shaft filled even more, instantly ready to do her body’s silent bidding. But, looking at her eyes, her mind wasn’t as welcoming to him. In fact, she looked a little frightened.

  Sacred cats! He didn’t need this distraction.

  “I am captain of this ship,” Jarek said, knowing full well he wasn’t giving her the answer she desired. “And you, my lady cook, are my guest.”

  With that, he left her, locking her into the room. Until he had the ship well in hand, and the damage assessed, he didn’t want the added worry of the pretty Lintianese flower on the loose.