Her chest swelled.Damn, how she loved this man.With Pierce’s face mottling, she patted Cy’s arm.“Relax, thamani.Pierce is like a blood-bond.”
Cy dropped him.“The rule still applies.”He scowled.“We are in the open.”I do not like it.
Pierce straightened his jacket then rolled his jaw.“Explain.Now.”
“Fine,” she huffed.“Pierce, you remember Cylo, right?”She laced her fingers with Cy’s and rested her cheek on his bare bicep.“Repeat after me… Husband.”
“What?”Pierce scowled.“Your brothers are going to kill me.”
“They can get over themselves.”She flicked a dismissive wrist.“I’m not your problem or theirs anymore.”
“She is mine.”Cy beamed.
Pierce stilled then laughed.“That’s right.I might not have the authority to say this, but welcome to the family, Cylo.”He glanced over his shoulder.“I have stalled as much as I could, babe.E.A.F.’s here.”
“I know.”She squared her shoulders, not willing to admit how much Cy’s presence comforted her.Kanzo had said all was sorted, but humans lied.
“Pony?”Dallas thundered toward her, his arms open wide.The six-foot-three man with his massive shoulders and barreled chest was a big ol’ teddy bear.On him, though, his space boots looked small.
Another blood-bond?Cy shuffled forward, serving as a shield.
“Heard about your adventure.Wanna spill the deets over splice?You still owe me a night of drinking, if my memory serves.”
“Those days are behind me.”She smiled at Cy.“I have another addiction now.”
He smirked.If you keep looking at me like that…
“You’ll do what?”she whispered.
“Do not tease me, ensa,” he rasped.
“Who’s the hunk?”Dallas asked, offering his hand to Cylo.
He took it and pumped it twice.“Her husband.”
“Shit.”Dallas gaped then snapped his mouth shut.“That was quick.He knock you up?”
She laughed.“Cy, this is Dallas.And I hope so.Now, what’s with the welcome?”
“Just preparing to fight them off.”Dallas took a massive wrench from his pocket.She didn’t want to know what else he was hiding and where.
“We shall see,” she said, giving the man a sideways hug.“I have it on excellent authority that my criminal record is history.”
A thump-thump of marching boots cut across the chaos of the crowds.
Pierce lunged to stand beside Cy just as a unit of eight men in full E.A.F.uniform escorted a suited man to stop before them.
With a weak voice, the poor man’s gaze on Cylo, he said, “Turner, Wren, Identification number: 222510180522081-A, age twenty-nine, on parole for corporate espionage.”
“Yes?”She squeezed Cy’s arm and stepped forward.
“This is to inform you that due to the evidence provided by King Xeus et Pius of Etteria, Earth Armed Forces has dismissed your sentencing.Your record has been expunged and all technological rights returned to you.”
She blinked at the court representative.Two months ago, she’d have been over the moon.Now, with Cy beside her, none of this mattered.Sure, her name had been restored, and yet, she couldn’t say she was happy or sad about it.The supposed general who’d done this to her still roamed free.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Furthermore, you will be recompensed for the damages done to your reputation and livelihood.”He offered her a chip.
