The Pirate Prince by Michelle M. Pillow Read Free Book Online Page B

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’s 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 rescue Rick.”
    Jarek’s jaw tightened. Every minute they didn’t reach 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 worry.
    “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’d come to bear more responsibility than he would ever get on Qurilixen.Rick was part of that responsibility. And even though the man had gotten 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 moved to leave the cockpit, knowing Lochlann would alert him if there was any sign of danger.
    “Damage to the engines or the 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.

    * * * *
     
    “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 like 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 on board.”
    “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 in her. She wasn’t a servant. Those who served