Page 39 of Her Lawless Prince

Nyle walked behind them. Payton looked completely at ease with the demonic man.

“Always,” Dev answered. “Besides, your mother has been demanding Ryland’s return. We were trying to finish the repairs so everyone could make the trip.”

14

Payton archeda brow at Ryland from across the mess hall table. Shifter men tended to be overprotective of women. Though she was the oldest, her younger brothers had inherited that antiquated trait from their father. It came from a time when shifter women were scarce—as they still were—and the off-world brides who came to the planet were often no match for fangs and claws.

She wasn’t sure what bothered Ryland more—the fact she’d been kidnapped or the fact she’d half mated a cyborg who couldn’t return her affections. Ryland took the idea of marriage very seriously, and for her to marry a machine would make a mockery of it in his eyes. She also knew his concern came from a place of love.

Materialized slices of Qurilixen blue bread and meats were laid out on a tray between them. Yevgen sat beside her even though he was not eating. Nyle was across from her, next to her brother. She wished Nyle was closer, if only so that she could brush her hand against his.

Jackson and Dev were monitoring space to make sure they weren’t being followed from Torgan, and Rick was flying. She had known the men her entire life and seeing them felt like visiting family.

“How did this happen?” Ryland asked.

“Nyle led mercenaries to me,” Yevgen answered, even though Ryland was not directing questions toward him. “I am an important payload.”

Payton rubbed her temple. “They would have come either way.”

“I meant the marriage,” Ryland stated.

“Technically we are half mates,” Yevgen said. “But there are no other half mates. Mathematically the concept is not logical, as there can’t be hundreds of halves, but there can be hundreds of half mates. I am told language and math do not have to coincide.”

“Ah, see, Ryland, only half mates.” Rick appeared in the doorway. “You’re all worked up over nothing. We love whom we love.”

Rick paused to kiss Payton on the top of her head. He had never been one to judge.

Ryland ignored the pilot. “Our parents don’t know, do they? Or is this why they have been frantically sending for me to come back?”

“You were the last one I thought would be so judgmental, rocket boy.” For some reason, she couldn’t meet Nyle’s gaze.

“I can’t believe you’re being so flippant,” Ryland countered.

“And they’ve been trying to get you to come back because we’ve been waiting for the Federation to make their move,” Payton said. “Though I don’t know what our mother thinks you can do to help.”

“Children, don’t fight,” Rick scolded. “Or we’ll have to settle this argument like we used to.”

“This ship doesn’t have VR,” Ryland dismissed.

“You’re just scared I’ll beat you again,” Payton teased.

“You never beat me. I let you win.” Ryland grumbled in frustration. “Stop trying to change the topic. How can you follow our misogynistic grandfather’s tradition and take multiple spouses? Can you even have multiple? Wives were never allowed to in the past.”

“That’s because there were no female shifters,” Payton stated.

“So this is your attempt to stir up trouble and prove something about shifter women being as strong as shifter men?” Ryland insisted. “Can you even marry a cyborg? He’s a machine.”

Payton finally glanced at Nyle. He looked like he wanted to fade into the shadows.

“Ryland, I’m done talking about this,” she said.

“You are my sister. He’s not…” Ryland followed her gaze to Nyle as if the man would support his view.

“I am the Prince of Shelter City,” Yevgen interrupted. “So you don’t need to worry, my brother. I will treat her as my princess.”

Payton couldn’t help her smirk as she bit back a laugh.

“He’s not alive,” Ryland finished.

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