Page 71 of Her Lawless Prince

Nyle flinched. To the credit of the guards, they didn’t register that they heard the admission. He didn’t want them gossiping about Payton, not because of him.

Nyle turned and made his way down the corridor. The guard fell into step next to him. He heard Yevgen behind them, the heavier thud of his mechanical legs unmistakable.

“I’m not going to run,” Nyle said softly to the guard. “I have nowhere to go.”

The feeling of numbness crept over Nyle’s hands, and he clenched and unclenched his fists. He forced his legs to move, praying Payton was at the end of this journey. He wanted to see her face, hear her voice.

The guard strode ahead of them, and Yevgen stepped into pace next to Nyle. The fact that he turned his back said the Var shifter did not perceive them as threats.

“I’ll tell them I do not wish anything bad to happen because of your time with Payton,” Yevgen said, placing a hand on Nyle’s shoulder. The heavy weight of it pressed uncomfortably. “We’ll find a suitable punishment. An apology to me, for starters. You are not her second husband, and I did not approve of you beforehand as a lover.”

The cougar guard opened a door, and a cool, fresh breeze swept into the palace as the pale green daylight filtered over them.

Nyle put his hand over the cyborg’s. “I love her, Yevgen. Make sure she knows I didn’t want to leave…” His breath caught. “Whatever is at the end of my journey, take care of her like you did the Cysgodians. Take care of Payton. Consider her safety and happiness your new primary program directive.”

Yevgen’s eyes flashed from blue to red and then back again.

25

General Griggs stood abruptlyfrom her chair as Yevgen’s presentation continued to play. “I’ve seen enough.”

Her ass-kisser minion instantly turned off the holographic disk.

“We’re not finished. We also have documentation from scientists with the ESC about the chemical breakdown and effects of the drug compounds you administered to the Cysgodians,” Prince Roderic said.

Griggs rudely held up her hand to stop him from talking. “You had no right to share private Federation documents and medicines with the ESC. In fact, most of your presented evidence appears to be documents obtained without permission. Regardless of what any of this indicates, the fact that you accessed them without proper authorization makes them irrelevant. I demand you return our stolen property at once.”

Kirill leaned forward and pushed the disk toward her. “You can keep this copy. We have others.”

“I vote we send copies to all our friends across the galaxies,” Payton said. “Let’s ask them if they think this evidence is relevant.”

The general’s eyes narrowed in anger.

“I will not be threatened by some animal who married a broken-down computer module,” Griggs countered.

“Whoa,” Grier pushed to his feet in warning.

“Watch the disrespect,” Korbin added, not moving as he showed his claws. He hadn’t said much as he watched the proceedings. “You will show respect as visitors to our planet.”

“Confirm it,” the general said to one of the soldiers standing quietly against the wall behind her. The man nodded and instantly left the room.

Payton gestured at Yevgen’s recording. “Doesn’t he need this?”

The general ignored her and didn’t take it.

“General Sten and his actions do not represent the high standard of practice the Federation is known for,” Griggs stated.

Payton wanted to disagree with that statement but kept quiet. She thought of Nyle. The sooner this was over, the sooner she could go to him.

The general gestured at her ass-kisser sidekick, who in turn pulled a handheld device from within her jacket.

“The truth is we want your galaxa-promethium mines, but the cost of these negotiations has become more than they are worth. We will be sending a new purchase order for the ore at standard rates. I presume you will accept it, and we can expect the first fulfillment shipment in six months.” The general glanced at her minion to make sure she was recording what she said. “We are willing to hand over the continued rescue efforts of the Cysgodian people to the Qurilixian royal families. In exchange, we rely on discretion, and the Federation must be able to act to preserve our good name as the primary rescuers and defenders of the Cysgodian people within the galaxies. We will make the announcement and control the narrative. General Sten’s crimes will be punished. Quietly.”

“How?” Grier asked.

“Rank stripped, imprisonment,” Griggs answered. “And if that is ever to change, a Qurilixian diplomat will be invited to speak on behalf of this planet before a decision is made. In return for this consideration, nothing will be said about the details of these events.”

Grier nodded, reluctantly.

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