The Pirate Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

“He may already be dead,” Mei said.

  Jarek nodded but didn’t speak.

  “And you may be killed going after him. Not only by the criminals you seek, but also by Song’s guards. They don’t like outsiders trespassing in their palace or their mines. They barely tolerate them on the planet.”

  “What else can we do? He’s our friend. We have to go after him. Rick would do the same for us.”

  “You are very honorable, captain,” Mei nodded in approval. “And loyal. You do your family justice, even if they don’t approve of your choices.”

  “Mei—”

  “This map isn’t of the mines,” Mei broke in, shivering. If what he said was true, her brother Haun needed to be told. “In truth, you won’t find a map leading to the mines anywhere. It is rumored that the way to the mines is hidden within the intricate carving along the walls, floors and ceilings of Shan Gung Din palace. Unless you are shown, you will never find them. The Songs value those mines greatly. They would not let anyone see their location, let alone allow a map to be drawn of it that could be taken out of the palace. You must be taken to the mines. The way is hidden.”

  “Then this map is worthless,” Jarek concluded. He closed his eyes tight.

  “Perhaps to you, but not to me. The reason you cannot match the map to the Singhai Empire, is because it is not of the Singhai Empire. It is of Muntong, across the Satlyun River from Singhai.”

  “Lochlann checked all the landscapes,” Jarek said as if he still clung to the hope that she was wrong, that the map would help them find their friend. “This map doesn’t match either side. And when Viktor and Lucien found it, it was under the Singhai symbol.”

  Mei touched a small river and traced her finger over it, feeling homesick. “I don’t know why they had it where they did. But I know the area this map depicts well. I know this river, these landmarks, and buildings. It is of the Honorable City in the Muntong territory.”

  “Honorable City?”

  “It is what we call the Zhang Palace,” she answered, thinking of her family. “Emperor Song should not have this. You see these symbols. They tell of the secret chambers within the palace. Only the royal family and a few others should know of them. It means that someone has told the Songs of this. And these markings are the secret passageways beneath the palace.” Mei ran her finger along the map. “The treasure room. The crypt beneath the Hall of the Dead, which is beneath the Hall for Worshiping Ancestors.”

  “How do you know all this, Mei?”

  “Because I’ve seen the rooms. I’m one of the only few people who have,” she said. “This map is not of the Lin Yao mines. Not even close.”

  “Then Rick is lost.” Jarek sat back on his bed, sighing, his face so forlorn that it hurt her physically to see it. She felt sorry for him. He cared deeply for his men, she saw that. Before meeting him, she’d never have thought a pirate would be so caring, so honorable.

  “No. I can show you to the Lin Yao mines. I’ll take you there myself,” Mei said. “Did you make a copy of this map? Is it in your computers?”

  “Yes.”

  “I must insist that you delete them.”

  “I’ll even let you watch me remove it from the system. I have no use for this information. I’m not trying to comprise palace security.” Jarek nodded, as he stood looking at her curiously. “If all this is secret, how is it you know what and where everything is?”

  “This,” Mei said, placing her hand on the map, “is my homeland. And I’ve seen the mines with my father when I was a young girl.”

  “That’s right. You said your father was a politician,” he said softly to himself. “Then you will give us directions and we will go.”

  “No, I will go with you.” She rolled up the map. “And I will present this map to my father.”

  “I won’t have you coming along on a rescue mission.” Jarek touched her face. “I want you to stay on the ship where it is safe. I promised to protect you, and that is exactly what I intend to do.”

  “No, this is my family’s home, Jarek.” Mei held up the rolled map for emphasis. “Emperor Song should not have had this. And if drug traders are in his mines, I need to see it for myself. I need to know what is there. This affects both dynasties. Innocent people are killed by chandoo, the drugs you suspect are there. We suspect they are there as well. If I can find the proof, millions of my people will be saved.”

  “Mei, it’s not safe. I will tell you what I find. I promise I will never lie to you. I give you my word on that. If drug dealers are there, I’ll tell you. I’ll record their activities for you, all the information you need to give to your father.”

  “You will take me with you, Jarek, or I won’t tell you where it is. I’m sorry, but that is the way things must be. The Zhang royal family will listen to me, trust me. They don’t know you. Your word will mean nothing to them. They will have no reason to trust a pirate. As for the recording, it won’t work. The entrance to the mine erases all devices to protect its secret from the outside world.”

  “Why would the Zhang family listen to you?” Jarek demanded. “If I’m going to let you risk your life and ours by coming along, I must have a better reason. I’ll give my information to the royals, and they can make their decision from that. I’ll tell them what I saw. If they are responsible, they will act. But first, I will get my man.”

  “Jarek,” Mei took a deep breath. So much had changed with the showing of this map. She suddenly understood why she had been compelled to believe Viktor and Lucien were women, to fight the pirates, to go on Jarek’s ship. It was to see this map, to discover that Emperor Song had spies within her family’s walls, spies who told him of their secret rooms and passageways. It was to prove that there were drugs in the Lin Yao mines, drugs that hurt the Lintianese people. “They’ll take my word because I am a royal.”

  “What?”

  “I’m Princess Zhang Mei. I was in the Shan Gung Din palace to help negotiate with Emperor Song. We sought permission to enter his mines and look for traces of chandoo ourselves. He denied us but promised to look into it. If Emperor Song finds drugs, he will not tell us. There is a possibility he already knows or is involved. We do not trust the Songs. Our dynasties do trade, but we remain separated. That man you saw me with was Prince Zhang Haun, my oldest brother and future emperor to my people. He must know what is happening. So you see, Jarek, I must go with you. It is my duty, and I must see with my own eyes that the drug traders are there. There is no time for anything else.” She held up the map. “With this information about our palace, spies will have their eyes on the royal family, and it will be impossible to send guards in without much planning. No one knows why you were there. They won’t be expecting you, and they won’t be expecting you to come with me. You’re a pirate, Jarek. How are they to know you have morals? They will believe that you took me for ransom or to sell.”

  Jarek didn’t move.

  “It’s what needs to be believed. Otherwise, if you are anything but a common criminal, some might worry that you’ll meddle more. We are not scared of thieves, Jarek. We are scared of losing our way of life.”

  “I promise you, I’m not out to hurt anyone.” He touched her cheek briefly and let go.

  “And I want to believe that. On some level, I do believe that. But, as a princess, as a royal member of the Zhang family, I am responsible for the welfare of my people. As long as you are what you say you are, there will be no problem. You will ransom me and get away. I’ll arrange it with my brother to ensure you escape unharmed, and we’ll report that you were destroyed in space, along with the purple jade you were paid with. Quite frankly, you are lucky you found this map. It will ensure my family will be grateful to you. As to kidnapping me, fate acts in mysterious ways. Your friend was kidnaped to take you to the planet, to find this map. You kidnaped me so that I may find this map for my people. Fate. My family will understand that as well when I explain it to them. You and your crew will have my protection.”

  He didn’t move. S
he could see that he wanted to speak, but he held back.

  “If it were your family’s lives on the line, all those brothers and nephews and sisters, you would go, wouldn’t you? You would go to save them? To protect them? That is how I feel about my people. Similarly with Rick and this crew. Wouldn’t you do everything within your power to make sure none of them came to any harm? Aren’t you doing just that? I know how scary our borders are to the rest of the galaxy. A lesser person would not risk infiltrating the Song Palace for the life of one crewman. I need to know you understand, that you agree with what I have said.”

  Jarek nodded once, his lips tight.

  “Xièxie nî, Jarek. Thank you.”

  He hesitated and took a deep breath. “Mei, I’ve lived long enough to know myself and know what I want. I want you. I’m not going to be able to let you go when we get back there. I’ll take you to the mines to see what is happening there, and I’ll let you tell your family and give them the map, but please Mei, don’t make me leave you there when we go.”

  “Jarek—”

  “Mei, I know now what you are. But, I’m asking you, begging you. Choose a different life. Choose the sky.” He paused, his voice softening. “Choose me. I swear my life will not dishonor you in any way. I’ll make changes if I have to, just don’t leave.”

  Her breath caught and held, as her heart beat a frantic pace in her chest. She hadn’t expected that from him. Every part of her wanted to say yes, to yell and scream for joy. Then she looked at the map in her hand—her home, her family, her future.

  Princess Song Mei, wife to Song Lok, future Empress Song.

  Fate was cruel to tempt her with Jarek’s offer.

  It was clear to her now that her future was decided because of what would happen after the drugs were found in the mines. She didn’t know exactly how things would come about, but in the end it was possible her marriage would save her planet and the Lintianese people. Something as big as spies and intergalactic drug traders in the Lin Yao mines would cause a lot of distrust between the two empires. Now, more than ever, she knew her marriage could be the thing that would save them all from war, from destroying everything they stood for. War would make them weak, would open the empires to the outside world. People would die, possibly even her brothers and childhood friends.

  “I can’t,” she whispered. No two words had ever been so painful to say. “I…can’t.”

  He stiffened, looking as though she’d hit him. Pain rolled through his eyes. “You’re right. It’s too soon to ask such a thing. It’s just…I have strong feelings for you, Mei. I care for you. I don’t wish to see you go.”

  Tears rolled over her cheeks, as she nodded. “This is crazy, I know, but I care for you, too. But we cannot be, Jarek. I have my responsibilities to my country and to my people and family. You cannot know what it is like for a princess. I must put the needs of others above myself.”

  “Are you married?”

  “No,” she said, wiping her eyes. “No, I’m not.”

  “Then, why? Why can’t you at least consider it?” Jarek pulled her close. “I’m not asking you to renounce your title, or to forsake your family.”

  She felt his desire for her pressing tightly against her stomach. It was the same spark that lived within her. A fire burned hot inside her for this man, this pirate captain. “Jarek, I have a family. My brothers, Haun, Jin, Lian, Shen. My sister, Fen. My father and mother. I can’t abandon them.”

  “I know you have duty and honor. I felt it in you the first time I saw you, flying at me from that ship. But the empire can be ruled by others. As you said, you have brothers and sisters and family. They can manage without you if need be. There are plenty of them. Come with me. Stay with me. Let me love you.”

  “Love me?”

  “Yes,” he whispered, holding her tighter, “love you.”

  “Jarek, it is because I have my family there that I must do my duty by them.”

  “If they need you, I can fly you back. There is no reason why you can’t contact them or why they can’t find you,” he said.

  “I will need to contact them immediately,” she answered, reminded to do so by his words. “I want to tell them about the mines and this map. My brother won’t like me going any more than you do, but I have no choice, and he’ll see that.”

  “As soon as the communications are up. Your brother’s ship hit us pretty hard.”

  “Yes, he’s quite proud of the Ming Tian.” Her brother’s ship was the best on her planet. Haun had put a lot of time and consideration into it.

  “Are you not answering my question for a reason? Won’t you at least consider staying with me?”

  Mei wanted to say yes with all her heart. “I’m sorry, but fate does not see us together.”

  “How do you know what fate has in store?”

  “There is so much we don’t know about each other.”

  “Then tell me. That is why I want you to stay with me. Let us get to know each other and see if the feelings we have are founded. Please, say you’ll come with me after we rescue Rick. Just to my homeland. I want you to meet my family. And, after a few months with me, if you hate it then I promise to bring you home.”

  His family? The idea was tempting. Too tempting.

  “Your family?” she whispered.

  “I wasn’t born a pirate,” he said. “My family is noble. Surely that will have some sway with your parents.”

  “I don’t doubt your family’s honor, Jarek. But fate—”

  “How do you know? Fate brought you to me. You said it yourself.”

  “I know what fate has in store because it’s shown me, Jarek.” She couldn’t look at him, couldn’t bear to see the look in his eyes—so lost, so hurt, so pleading. “I will be married to Song Lok, heir prince to the Song throne.”

  “Do you love him?” Jarek brushed her hair from her face before moving to run his hands up and down her back in small circles.

  “No, I barely know him.” It felt right to be held by Jarek.

  “An arranged marriage?”

  “Yes, of sorts.”

  He held her tighter. “What if I don’t take you back? I could refuse, run away with you into a distant galaxy.”

  “Then I’ll never forgive you.”

  “Fine,” Jarek sighed heavily but didn’t let go. His hands became searching as they dipped along her hips to her butt. He lifted her against him, moaning in the back of his throat as their bodies crushed together. “I’ll take you back, Mei, if that is what you truly wish for me to do. I promise.”

  “I know. You have too much honor in you, as well. I see it in you, Jarek.”

  “What about us?”

  “Lok has nothing to do with us. He may have my hand in marriage, and my people may have my duty and honor, but you shall have my heart Jarek. Please, let’s enjoy what we have. I want these memories to last.”

  Jarek looked away. “You don’t know how hard it is to agree with those terms.”

  “Please, Jarek. For me. This is all I’ll ever ask of you. Love me for the time you have me.”

  “And beyond.”

  “And you will respect fate? You will let me do what must be done?”

  “Only if you ask it.”

  “I do. I have to. You must understand. The needs of the people must come before the needs of one.”

  “I understand more than you know.”

  “I suppose you must. This ship is your kingdom. Just as you go for Rick, you know I must go for my people.”

  Jarek held her tighter as if he was afraid of letting go. “You do your family a great honor, Mei. I only hope they appreciate you.”

  “They do. They are good people.”

  Mei looked up at him. The light was soft, but she could see him clearly. His large body was so protective, his touch so tender and passionate. She ran her hands up over his arms, caressing his strong muscles as she wound her arms around his neck. Her lips parted, silently inviting his kiss. He took the invitation without he
sitation.

  Mei was sure that’s what she liked most about Jarek. He never hesitated when it was something he wanted. When he kissed, it was with total passion. She never wanted him to stop. If he kissed her forever, she would gladly live in the feeling.

  Warm hands moved up her sides, moving to rip the material of the shirt she had borrowed from him. He tore it open, freeing her breasts. She had no underclothing on, and he found her nipples easily. Pressing them with his thumbs, Jarek sent a tremor of pleasure over her body. Her hips jerked and cream pooled in eager acceptance.

  “Jarek,” she whispered against his mouth. Her worries melted away. She loved looking at his handsome face, but the pleasure of his touch overwhelmed her, and she had to close her eyes.

  It was the first time in her life she didn’t feel the overpowering press of responsibility lurking in the back of her mind. All her life, she was mindful of what she did, of who would find out, who would see. There was always a sense of paranoia that her actions would be recorded. Lovers had to be carefully selected, the encounters thought out. Few men were worth it, most were chosen out of a physical desire and the need to be close to someone even if it wasn’t the perfect someone. But with Jarek, it was different. She didn’t fear being seen. The crew looked at her, but they weren’t searching for a breach in decorum. She could touch Jarek without guilt, without thought. It was a freedom she relished.

  Mei wanted to stay with him, in the stars, out of the spotlight. She wiggled against his body. The silk of her skirt slid between them, gliding their bodies together. His thick arousal settled next to her stomach, pressing into her from beneath his pants. She breathed hard, stirring and rubbing against him. Running her hands along his chest, she pulled at his shirt while trying not to break the contact of his lips.

  His mouth was the thing of dreams, passionate and firm, giving and taking. Time blurred within his kiss until all she felt was his flesh pressed to hers. Their clothes were gone, and their bodies moved in a frenzy of caresses. His hands explored her, commanding her flesh as he boldly touched wherever he desired—her breasts, her hips, moving around to cup her firm backside and pulling her forward.