Page 40 of Her Lawless Prince

“What is life? I bleed. I can be shut down,” Yevgen said. “My consciousness can cease. I have living tissue.”

“So do ceffyls,” Ryland returned, “but you don’t see anyone marrying them.”

Ceffyls were native to Qurilixen. Locals used the horned animals for transport. Though they had reptilian eyes and a long slithering tongue, they had the bodies of mammals and made for a comfortable ride.

Rick picked up a slice of blue bread from the tray. “You know I am always up for an adventure, little one. Why don’t you tell us what we’re up against here?”

Payton sighed, grateful for Rick changing the subject.

“Yevgen has proof of the Federation’s misdeeds at Shelter City. We need to get him home intact.” Payton met Nyle’s gaze. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, and he hadn’t said much since they boarded the ship. “Nyle came to warn us. We were taken by mercenaries who wished to sell that information. They didn’t intend to kidnap me, but I was there. After they had me, they wanted to sell me on Torgan.”

No one spoke as they all watched her.

Payton continued, telling them about Captain Rita and how they’d managed to escape, leaving out any detail hinting at her personal relationship with Nyle. Her brother was already glaring at Yevgen. She didn’t need to give Ryland a reason to also turn his bad mood toward Nyle.

Rick tossed his bread back onto the tray and went to the food simulator. “Won’t be the first time we’ve had to outsmart the Federation. They’re like a pus-filled infection the universes can’t cure.”

“How did you get involved with this?” Ryland asked Nyle. He gestured toward his temple. “Were you in Shelter City and saw the mercenaries when they came for them?”

“He does not live at Shelter City,” Yevgen said.

“But you’re…” Ryland again motioned toward his temple to indicate Nyle’s markings.

“He is Cysgodian Nyle, bastard son of an unknown off-worlder and Diana,” Yevgen stated. “He should have been dead, but he is not.”

“Yevgen,” Payton tried to warn him to stop talking with her tone. Not surprisingly, the cyborg didn’t pay heed.

“He is my creator from Yeven Genetic Cyborgtronics Laboratories. That is where the virus originated in a cyborg tissue-growing facility. I also have evidence of these crimes,” Yevgen said.

Rick’s normally jovial expression dropped. “Thevirus? I thought no one knew how that happened.”

Nyle shifted uncomfortably in his seat and looked at his hands.

“Nyle had nothing to do with its development,” Payton insisted.

“That’s not exactly true,” Yevgen disagreed. “It was his cloned organs used for the—”

“Yevgen, stop,” Payton ordered. “What is with you? Your programming seems off. Run a diagnostic or something.”

“My system is optimal. Nyle should not have taken sexual advantage of my wife.” Yevgen looked at Ryland. “Logic says he is of low moral character. These actions prove it.”

Payton stiffened.

Nyle stood. “Maybe I should…” He made a move toward the door.

Ryland shot up from his seat, blocking Nyle. “What happened with my sister?”

Payton pushed to her feet. “Stop it. All of you. No one took advantage of me.”

“I know something happened. I monitored the ship,” Yevgen said. “I do not blame you.”

“I chose to have sex with him,” Payton stated. “He’s my lover. I don’t need anyone’s permission.”

Jackson stopped in the doorway and instantly turned around, leaving the way he had come.

“Uh.” Nyle looked to be at a loss for words.

“Do I have a say?” Yevgen asked. “I would like to forbid it.”

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