Page 53 of Her Lawless Prince

“But…” Ryland quickened his step. “You can’t be all right with this. He’s a machine.”

“And human,” Samantha said. “If Payton loves that human part enough to marry him, that is all I need to know. All I want is for my children to be safe, healthy, and happy.”

“Half mated,” Payton corrected quietly. She hated to admit it, but it was better to tell her mother now before they made it to the banquet hall.

Her mother tripped but easily caught her footing. “And what about the other guest? The one locked in a guest chamber? Is he one of the men who took you?”

“Nyle? No. He’s helping us. Which guest room is he in?” Payton asked.

“West corridor,” Samantha answered.

Payton began to jog down the hall.

“You won’t be able to see him now,” Samantha called after her. “Your father’s orders.”

Payton stopped and hurried back. “You must talk to him. I don’t know what Ryland told you, but he’s wrong. Nyle is not a threat. He shouldn’t be locked up.”

“Your husband showed me the evidence,” Ryland countered. “Was I supposed to ignore it? I’m worried about you, Payton.”

She didn’t care how sorry he appeared. That hadn’t stopped him from snitching on her like a child reporting a list of perceived infractions.

Samantha held up her hands to stop their talking. “To the dining hall. The family is waiting.”

“Everyone?” Payton asked.

Her mother nodded.

If her cousins, brothers, aunts, uncles, and parents were all in residence, they needed the dining hall to fit everyone. Payton fought the urge to run into the forest to avoid what felt like an upcoming inquisition. This was not going to be pleasant.

20

Payton forcedher expression to remain neutral as she stood in the arched doorway to the vast dining hall. Life in the Var palace starkly contrasted with that of Shelter City. The surfaces were clean, and nothing was allowed to remain in disrepair. There were times when being inside the palace walls made her feel guilty. Why should she have everything when so many had nothing?

The cat-shifter royal elders sat at the high table as if ready to pass judgment on those below. Their table was on a raised platform so that they could see when guests filled the hall. Now it was mostly family with a few trusted guards stationed at the entrances. The majority of the tables stood empty.

King Kirill and Queen Lyssa were flanked by Payton’s parents on one side, and Uncle Quinn and Aunt Tori on the other. There were two other siblings to that generation, but Reid and Jarek were off in space. The Federation wasn’t the royal’s only concern, just currently the direst.

Rick, Dev, and Jackson were next to her mother. The four of them were in animated conversation with Rick’s laughter ringing out every so often.

In front of the high table, beneath the platform, her cousins waited. Roderic and his new wife, Justina, were in a low conversation with twins, Emma and Aliya. Like Payton the twins shifted into tiger form, but theirs was a distinct orange to her white.

A shadow moved across the floor, and she glanced up at the rounded glass ceilings. The domes diffused the light of the three suns, illuminating the gauzy strips of material that flowed from the ceiling and anchored to the walls. As she watched, she saw a dragon sweep past, casting another shadow. It was a brief glance at who it might be, but if she had to guess, she’d say the heir dragon prince, Grier, was surveying the area. Three more dragons appeared behind him, flying past the window.

“Payton,” the king stated, his voice abnormally loud over the quiet murmurs.

She stiffened in surprise and turned her attention away from the dragons.

“Are you joining us?” Kirill asked, waving her toward him. She dragged her feet a little as she stepped further into the dining hall. All eyes turned toward her. It reminded her of the time one of the dragons had set a room on fire after she’d snuck them into the palace, and they’d found a case of Old Earth whiskey. She’d been called before a tribunal much like this one.

The queen placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder and whispered to him. She was still technically an HIA liaison. Her stint working for the Human Intelligence Agency as an undercover agent made her particularly adept at diplomacy. They were depending on her contacts to help push back against the Federation.

“Greetings, family,” Payton said, forcing her feet to lift higher so they didn’t drag along the floor. Her cousin Roderic caught her attention and gave her an encouraging smile as if to say he was on her side. The look was meant to give her comfort, but the fact that he thought she needed it made her worry more.

“It’s good you’re home safe.” Kirill smiled, but it did not hide his concern. The king’s love of his family had never been in question, but neither had his love of his people. He took his responsibility very seriously.

“I hope you gave them hell,” Queen Lyssa added.

Payton relaxed a little. They didn’t seem upset with her.

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