Page 97 of Her Lawless Prince

He found a small fray over the oxygen filter. “We have to get you back on the ship.”

“What’s going on?” Dev demanded, his voice coming in clearer than before.

“Get the hatch ready,” Nyle ordered. “The security blast skimmed Payton’s suit. Her filter isn’t working.”

“You heard him, go,” Rick ordered.

Payton’s indicator lights turned red and flashed. She weaved a little as she walked. He heard her breathing rasp through the comms when she tried to speak.

Nyle swept her into his arms and began carrying her toward the ship. He ran as fast as he could. The loud clomp of Yevgen’s giant feet sounded behind him, but he ignored it.

Her rasping became lighter.

“She can’t breathe,” Nyle yelled.

Rick held the facility door open. Dev and Jackson waited near the ship. Seeing him, Dev darted forward to take Payton out of Nyle’s arms. Jackson climbed inside and helped Dev lift Payton into the airlock.

Dev latched the hatch shut, taking Payton from Nyle’s view. He heard Jackson’s voice begging Payton to open her eyes.

Nyle fell to his knees, breathing hard. “Don’t let her be sick. Please, let her be all right.”

Yevgen appeared in the doorway to stare out at the ship. The cyborg girl tried to follow him.

“Get back inside with the others, little Payton,” Yevgen told the girl. “I can tell you’re going to be an adventurous handful just like your namesake.”

Nyle ignored them, choosing to stare at the hatch as he listened for signs of what was happening inside the ship.

32

Payton openedher eyes and felt the warmth of lasers moving over her body. The familiar sensation of the medical booth automatically told her she was back on the ship. Soft vibrations indicated that the ship was in flight.

“What happened?” she asked.

“There you are,” Nyle appeared next to her. “You’re all right. We ran all the tests. You’re not infected.”

“Infected?” Payton pushed at the lid, trying to get out of the booth. It didn’t open. “The last thing I remember is talking to Yevgen and then trying to leave.”

“Your suit was damaged when you jumped in front of the laser blast to save me.” Nyle stared at her. The utter relief was evident in his expression as he reached in to cup her cheek. “I thought I had lost you. I could not have survived if I had lost you.”

“I know exactly how you feel.” Peyton smiled at him. “Now get me out of this damned thing.”

“Just a minute more. It is almost finished with the latest scan.” Nyle withdrew his hand as the lasers came close to her face.

“How many scans have I had?” she asked.

“Twelve,” he answered. “We wanted to make sure you were unharmed.”

“Let me out,” she insisted.

Instead, Nyle went to the control console to use the comms. “She’s awake.”

“About time, starshine,” Rick said.

“Patching through the palace now,” Jackson added.

“Welcome back,” Dev said.

“Palace?” Payton leaned to look at Nyle.

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