Page 47 of Her Lawless Prince

Yevgen lifted his arms from Payton so she couldn’t take his control away.

Nyle unhooked his straps and surged forward, jerking the wires out of Yevgen. The lights dimmed, and gravity released. Nyle’s feet lifted from the floor. Yevgen kicked the man’s shin, sending him upward. Nyle flailed his arms. Payton grabbed his shirt.

“I got you,” she said, trying to pull Nyle toward her.

Gravity returned, causing Payton’s arm to drop faster than she intended. Nyle was forced downward. His knees struck the floor hard, causing the metal to clank at the contact. His head barely missed the arm of her chair.

Payton instantly wrapped her arms and legs around him the best she could to clasp him against her in the chair as the ship continued to pitch back and forth. He grabbed her straps to help her hold on.

“I got you,” she repeated, gripping him tight. “Don’t worry. I won’t let go.”

17

“I won’t let go.”

Those words repeated themselves in Nyle’s mind, as the feel of Payton’s fingers dug into his arms and back as she kept him from slipping away. His head was buried next to her thigh. The metal arm of her chair bumped his temple. The ship pitched back and forth. He kept hold of Payton to keep from being tossed around. Pain radiated from his knees. Gravity lessened and tightened its hold, unpredictable in its rhythm. Each time it pulled him down, the pressure made the pain worse.

Don’t let go.

The jerking lessened, and the gravitational pull seemed to settle. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed before the flight smoothed. Her fingers stroked his hair. He lifted his head to look up at her. Lights flickered, struggling to come on.

“I think it’s over,” she whispered as if afraid saying the words too loud would somehow cause more damage to the ship.

“Whoo-hoo, that’s right, ladies and gentlemen,” Rick exclaimed over the comms. “That’s how you fly.”

Payton gave a small laugh and visibly relaxed. The lights continued to flicker. “I told you he was the best pilot we know.”

“Ryland, Jackson, check the engine room and try to fix whatever damage you can to the bio controls. I have lights flickering and have to take the viewing screen to manual,” Rick continued, his voice a little staticky. “Sincesomeonetried to take over flying, and we ended up taking it hot and hard up the ass.”

Nyle frowned at Yevgen.

“Payton, you and your friends kick back and take things easy. We’ll be right with you. And keep your cyborg out of my ship.” Rick’s words were punctuated by the sound of the comms clicking off.

Nyle slowly pushed up, his knees aching as he sat back in the chair. He rubbed his thigh and took a deep breath.

“Qurilixen has ties to Old Earth, does it not?” Yevgen asked.

“What are you going on about?” Nyle frowned. Actually, he wasn’t sure he wanted the cyborg to answer that.

“I am trying to understand my wife’s need for your company,” Yevgen said. “She has not taken you as a half mate, and yet she is showing you favor. The Old Earth transmissions stored by Uncle Rick indicate some women wish to be with two men at—”

“Stop talking,” Payton ordered.

“But—”

She held up her hand to cut off his words. “Yevgen, I’m serious. We’re not having this conversation.”

“You have never been this short-tempered with me,” Yevgen stated. “The only logical answer is you are stressed by nearly dying in space.”

Payton closed her eyes and shook her head as she took a deep breath.

Nyle stopped rubbing his legs and waited to see what she’d say. He wanted her to tell Yevgen they weren’t married, that it had been a mistake to allow him to think that.

Instead, Payton took Yevgen’s hand. “We have been through much, old friend. Let’s get through this. Let’s make sure the Federation never comes back to Qurilixen. Let’s protect the Cysgodians.Thatis what matters and what we will focus on.”

Yevgen nodded in agreement. “Yes. We must protect the Cysgodians of Shelter City.”

…of Shelter City.

---