Page 85 of Her Lawless Prince

It was all he ever wanted, more than he dared hope for, and sure as Bravon’s hellfire more than he deserved.

This morning was different. He felt it even before the lighting changed. It stirred a fear inside him as if some beacon called him home.

Cysgod.

The planet loomed on the viewing screen of the cockpit. They stood crowded around the pilot’s chair as Rick flew. The light blue and white appeared so innocent and welcoming, nothing that would hint at the deadly virus waiting beneath the clouds.

Well, nothing but the alarm triggered by the warning beacon the Federation had left behind. Red lights flashed on the ship’s panel as urgent words moved over the screen in multiple alien languages.

“Where’s this laboratory?” Rick asked.

Nyle went toward the screen and pointed along the edge. “The city should be over here.”

“Everyone, get to a seat and buckle up,” Rick ordered with a pointed look at Payton. “Nyle, you sit in here with me so we can find a place to land close to where we need to be. I don’t want to expose ourselves longer than necessary. Dev, check the seals on the medical hatch.”

“Already done,” Dev answered.

Nyle sat where he was told, unable to take his eyes away from the viewing screen.

“Do it again,” Rick said. “We have precious cargo onboard.”

“That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever called me,” Payton teased.

“Who said anything about you?” Rick grinned, leaning back in his chair to look at her. “I meant me.”

Payton squeezed Nyle’s shoulder before leaning to kiss his cheek. “It might not seem like it, but they know what they’re doing.”

It didn’t take a genius to see that the crew used playful humor to deflect all other emotions, especially the pilot. As if to prove the point, Rick winked at Nyle and grinned.

Nyle reached to touch Payton’s cheek as she pulled back, lightly caressing her.

He listened to her walk away as he strapped himself into the chair. His eyes remained on Cysgod’s surface. He had thought it was etched in his memory, but found he’d forgotten the planet’s exact shade of blue. When he thought of the surface, he remembered the funeral smoke and ash snowing down over the streets.

Rick began singing softly to himself as he leaned forward in his chair, punching buttons on the console. “Our birth was a hard one, or so we’ve been told, our mothers were harlots, our fathers out cold. The doctor was drunk, lads, the bartender did pour, as we shot out with the thunder and came with a roar.”

Nyle kept his eyes on the planet, ignoring the pilot. He stared at the edge where the dark sky met the sphere. His hands shook, and he pressed the palms flat against his thighs. With each second, the orb grew larger on the screen.

“And we sail the high skies, looking for gold, looking for treasures that never grow old. The wind in our sails, lads, the stars at our feet, as we plunder for—what in the cursed black holes is this nonsense?” Rick swore as he reached for the comms. “On the ready, we have company.”

“Who is it?” Nyle asked.

“If I had to guess, I’d say Griggs sent Captain Rita to check out the planet. Ship matches theWorld Traveler. Looks like they beat us here.” Rick frowned as he magnified the image of the ship. “They must be preparing to land.”

Rick started humming his song as the ship gained speed, changing course to arc around the other spacecraft. Nyle’s gaze shifted between theWorld Travelerand the planet. “Why would anyone want that virus? Why can’t they just let it die?”

“You’re smart enough not to need me to answer that,” Rick said, the music leaving his tone. “The universes are full of bad beings and the greedy slargnots willing to sell them the goods.”

Nyle continued to stare.

“Can I ask you something?” Rick continued to watch the screen.

“What?”

“If you’re immune, why didn’t they use your blood to do that science-y stuff to find an antidote?”

Nyle shook his head. “There was no time to try. Those who knew the truth kept the origin a secret. By the time I found out, everyone was sick. The damage had been done. It wouldn’t have worked anyway. They grew the virus on my clones, but who knows what alien splices they pieced together to make it resistant. I looked, but someone tried to hide what they had done and deleted the information.”

“Hm.” Rick nodded. His hands moved over the controls like a musician with an instrument. Under his breath, he whisper-sang, “And we sail the high skies, looking for gold, looking for treasures that never grow old.”

---