The Pirate Prince (14 page)

* * * *

“Anyway, Rick ended up spending all the scavenger hunt money on renting....” Jackson stopped in his tale, suddenly a little red with embarrassment.

Mei giggled and blinked expectantly, looking at him across the table in the dining hall. She was adorable. Jarek grimaced. He knew as soon as the stories started that they were a bad idea. The last thing he wanted was Mei getting the wrong impression of him.

The smell of food wafted over the hall. Lochlann was piloting the craft toward a fueling dock. After looking the system over, they decided that it was safe enough to

travel so long as they maintained a constant speed and didn’t accelerate. That meant no battles with other ships or they were in trouble. Optimal settings would keep them under hyper speed but above a slow drive through the X quadrant.

Until they docked at the fuel port, there was nothing to do but wait. Mei had cooked another lovely meal of rice, fried vegetables and seed rolls. Jarek was impressed, though he still didn’t believe that she was a cook by trade. It amazed him how relaxed she was during the meal, as she talked and laughed with his crew. It was as if she’d known them a lifetime.

“Well?” Mei insisted.

“
Uh-hem. Gal-y … ugh … Pl-ate … ah … ma-sion,
” Jackson mumbled, grabbing a bowl of fried rice and lifting it as Mei had showed them to do. He scooped the food into his mouth. As he chewed, he said with an enthusiastic nod, “Mm, this food is really good.

Do you think you can program our simulator with this when we get it fixed?”

“Oh, yeah, great idea,” Jarek said. “If you wouldn’t mind, that is.”

“Mm, yeah,” Lucien agreed. He took a big bite and made a show of enjoying it.

“Galaxy Playmate Mansion?” Mei asked, ignoring the request.

The men choked. Bits of rice flew from Jackson’s mouth only to land on Viktor’s plate. Viktor stared for a second, shrugged, and took another bite. Lucien shook his head at him.

“A ship full of women. Starts with a ‘gal-y’and ends with ‘ma-sion’. And, from what you’ve said of Rick, it’s not too hard to imagine what you meant.” Mei winked.

The men were quiet. They turned to Jarek as if waiting for his cue to react. Mei laughed. “He sounds interesting. I should like to meet your friend. I really hope you are able to rescue him.”

The men relaxed, laughing nervously.

“Galaxy Playmates, eh?” Mei whispered to Jarek at her side. She arched a brow in

his direction, seemingly pleased when he looked suitable guilty.

“They’re overrated,” Jarek said diplomatically, only to clear his throat.

“Very good answer.” Mei winked, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek, as if doing so was the most natural thing in the world. “You’re so cute when you squirm.”

The men laughed heartily.

“You know, you are cute, Captain,” Jackson teased.

“Adorable,” Evan crooned, laughing.

“Very sweet,” Lucien said.

“Delightful,” Viktor agreed.

Jarek growled, letting the beast enter his voice in warning. His crew didn’t look scared. Lucien snorted and threw a small seed covered roll at Jarek. Without blinking, Jarek caught it and popped it in his mouth.

“Mm, delicious,” he said as he chewed. Already he was full, but he couldn’t seem to stop eating. Then, looking at Mei, his passion for food turned into passion for her.Letting a low rumble enter his words, he whispered to her with meaning, “Very delicious.”

Mei blushed, looking down at her plate. She grabbed one of the seed rolls and popped it in her mouth. The men’s laughter only grew and the stories of past voyages started once more.

* * * *

After dinner, at Jarek’s request, Mei walked with him through the corridors. She easily wrapped her arm around his waist. Her hip brushed his leg as they moved. Jarek had never felt so relaxed in all his life. It was as if Mei belonged there, at his side, as if she had always been there. He couldn’t explain it and he didn’t really want to try. It was what it was. He’d never been so comfortable so fast with another person.

Evan was right. There was more between them than just a fling. Maybe he’d been wrong with his preconceived notions about relationships. Odd how one night with Mei

had changed everything. Though, what Evan hadn’t taken into account was that Jarek wasn’t like his stubborn brothers. He wasn’t one to run from his feelings. It was why he was out in space. His feelings had led him to travel. In a way, it could be determined that he ran from responsibility into space. Jarek didn’t see it that way. He followed his heart.

Jarek wrapped his arm tight around Mei’s back, stopping in the corridor to sweep her into his embrace. The urge to kiss her was strong and he didn’t resist it. Her sweet mouth opened to his, instantly accepting his touch. He groaned as he thoroughly staked claim to her, liking the way she moved against him as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Chuckling, he pulled back, “I’ve never met anyone like you. Every time I look at you my hands start to sweat. I just have to touch you.”

“I know,” she teased, kissing him again. She went to deepen it, but he again pulled back. “Is something wrong?”

“I’m serious, Mei,” he said. “I’ve never felt like this with a woman before. I....”

Her eyes saddened some as he said the words and he couldn’t finish. She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek and slid her legs off of him. He let her down so she stood before him. Immediately, his body ached to have her close once more.

“I like you, too, Jarek. I’ve never felt like this either.” She sighed, threading her arm through his as he walked her through the corridor. Jarek wondered at the sadness in her. Maybe she was homesick. Maybe she was worried about her future. Maybe she was too scared to believe him.

And, maybe, there was just something she wasn’t telling him. He knew there was plenty he hadn’t said to her.

Too fast,a voice whispered in his head.Too soon.

Chapter Eight

Mei stared at the map Jarek placed before her. They were in his quarters, which made it harder to concentrate. The memories of what they’d done flooded her, stirring up desire when she should be focused on the matter at hand. Her heart beat in heavy thuds against the wall of her chest and her hands shook. She looked at the parchment for a long time, trying to hold the sudden wash of nausea and fear at bay before glancing up.

“Where did you say you found this?”

“In Emperor Song’s palace. It’s why they were chasing Viktor and Lucien,” Jarek answered. “I’m trusting you, Mei. I want to trust you. I… I feel I can trust you.”

Mei nodded, swallowing. She believed him. For some reason, when she looked deep into his earnest eyes, she trusted him as well. There were many secrets in Jarek, swimming about in his dark gaze, but when he spoke it was as if all the deceit was gone.

Not like before when they were still testing each other, still hiding. The mere physical release they shared turned into more, a connection, an opening between them until at times she felt as if his heart beat inside her. Mei was no fool. She knew she had to be careful. Jarek was still a stranger. However, she knew to trust her instincts. The wind had urged her to go after him. Fate had a plan for her in this. It was just a matter of being patient until that plan unraveled.

Waiting for him to continue, she stared at the familiar lines the map depicted, tracing them with her gaze over the new parchment. By her estimation, the map was drawn within the last hundred years and it was eerily accurate. “Our friend, Rick, was kidnapped by intergalactic drug traders,” he said. “They’re pretty ruthless people from what we’ve discovered. Those types usually are.”

“What were you doing dealing with them?” Mei’s jaw tightened and she chewed her bottom lip in thought. Her concentration went from the map to Jarek, though she didn’t turn to him. She studied him with all her instincts and training as a negotiator.

“We weren’t with them,” he answered. Again, she believed him. “Rick, if you haven’t guessed, is a bit of a lover boy. He flirted with the wrong woman at the wrong

time and got caught up in her game. She was with them and it is because of her that Rick was kidnapped.”

Mei looked up from the map to study his eyes.

“We discovered that they took him to some purple jade mines on your planet. It’s why we were at the palace, stealing this map. We needed to find those mines, but it’s rumored that the only known map is at Shan Gung Din palace in Singhai. Only, this map is like nothing we’ve ever seen. We can’t read it. Our translators can’t translate it. We can’t even place which part of Singhai it is of. In all honesty, we believe that it may be worthless to us in finding him.”

Mei nodded, still staring down. “You are sure they were drug traders?”

“Yes, fairly,” Jarek said. “Please, Mei. I swear to you we don’t want to hurt anyone or take anything that’s not ours. We just want our friend back.”

“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 are 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 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.” Jarek nodded, even as he stood to look curiously at her. “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.” Jarek touched her face. “I would have you 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 to be there. We suspect them to be 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 there are drug dealers there, I’ll tell you. I’ll record their activities for you, all the information you need.”

“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.”