Page 10 of Princess of Draga

Raena indicated with a wave of her hand to begin. Tamika Servalan bowed low and Adelina thought she was absolutely beautiful in the black uniform with gold trim and a cape across her shoulders. When the Lord High Admiral rose, she clasped her hands behind her back and faced Raena with a carefully neutralexpression.

“Your royal highness, I’ve been receiving increasing reports from the border planets and our outposts that the Neprijat are on the move again. They have claimed Khara Prime as their own but the Neprijat armies are scouring the Khara galaxy. We have not been able to get an accurate report of their numbers, but the assumption is they are up in the billions, or even trillions.” She hesitated for a moment but soldiered on with a grim set to her jaw. “Patrol ships of ours aredisappearing.”

Adelina tensed at the mention of the horror she used to think was only a myth to frighten small children. The horde of monsters raped and ravaged galaxies. Barely six months ago the Neprijat had murdered the entire Corinthian royal family on Khara. Murdered was a kind word to use for what they did tothem.

Giselle gave her hand a quick squeeze for reassurance and support. Adelina was grateful for the contact. Despite the warmth of the day she felt a suddenchill.

Since the news of their ally’s demise, they had scoured the galaxy for any information they could. It seemed the princes and princesses of the other planets in the Khara galaxy were ruthlessly hunted and eradicated by the Neprijat so there would be no challenge to theusurper.

A few did manage to go to ground from what she heard through her own sources and there was still the missing heir, but she doubted they would be able to find any ofthem.

Draga had their own galaxy to worry about now that they shared borders withmonsters.

Mutters went around the room as each member of the council had something to say. Raena held up her hand for silence. Instantly she was obeyed and they all waited for her orders. “This is a matter for the war council. King Orion still reigns and he is the only one who can make such decisions, for now. I will report this to him and we will prepare for a more in depth discussion. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Lord High Admiral. Please gather what information you can and be ready to present it to the king. I will send you a cast with the time. Your schedule will be taken intoconsideration.”

Lady Tamika bowed again and Adelina mentally noted her rank and dominance to add to her personal shrevelater.

A commotion at the door drew every single person’s attention. There were shouts and guards yelled as someone tried to push their way through. Adelina clenched her hands and tried to remain seated. She refused to turn and look, to find Alpha among the other stationed guards despite how badly she wanted to. It would be against protocol to ignore Raena in such away.

Her eldest sister’s sharp gaze swept over the room at the broken concentration and finally she waved her personal guard forward. He bowed and whispered something to her. When Raena’s eyes widened in shock Adelina’s curiosity piqued. She let herself slant a subtle glance to the door. All she could see were the uniforms of the royal guards. Too many chairs, nobles, and courtiers were in her line ofsight.

Raena whispered something in response and the guard rushed to the council room doors. There was arguing and Raena put a quick end to it with a sharp command. “Now, Darius.” The captain of the guard threw the doors open and a stranger burstthrough.

No. Not astranger.

Adelina’s breath caught as he stopped to assess his surroundings and those strange, glittering eyes of fire found hers. Then they slid to her sister. Prince Nash prowled towards them with purpose and his intensity made her palms sweat. Adelina released the chair and clasped her hands in her lap to hide theirshaking.

Damn her for liking the way he moved. She couldn’t even manage to drop her eyes. Adelina stared at the prince – a blatant break in protocol and a crack in her submissive mask, but no one else seemed to notice as they stumbled in their own various stages of shock andsurprise.

The Corinthian Royal Prince, heir to inherit Khara Prime and the entire Khara galaxy was not supposed to be alive, let alone in the royal palace onDraga.

Goddess he waslarge.

The Kala sun in Draga differed slightly to the Corinth sun in his galaxy. She didn’t know if his sun was the reason he was so built or if it was Khara Prime that had him an entire head taller than the tallest male in the room. He came to a precise stop right before the stairs to Raena’s throne. His eyes shifted again and pierced right through Adelina, pinning her to her seat. They were a color she had never seen before. They were like…aapoak. They flashed a bright grass green with specks of red. When the light hit his irises, the green looked almostyellow.

Adelina wasentranced.

The whispers of the court became a roar until Raena snapped for silence. “What are you doing here, Prince?” she demanded with afrown.

Adelina was relieved the prince was alive, but she understood the dilemma her sister faced. If she and the king gave the true Corinthian Prince sanctuary the Neprijat would see it as a declaration of war, a clear taking of sides. No one wanted war, but should they turn away the prince? They had been at peace with the Khara galaxy for solong.

Adelina glanced sideways at Raena. Her sister would be queen soon and the decision might lie with her. Adelina pressed her nails into her palms as her muscles tensed. The pain brought back a measure of control and she released an uneasy breath. Some deep, dark instinct told her this would not endwell.

Prince Nash bowed far lower than his station warranted. “Your highness, I am seeking aid from our long-time alliance in a time of tragedy. The entire royal family of Khara – my family has been murdered in a public spectacle and I am the only survivor.” He stood and Adelina squinted at him, trying to get a good sense of the kind of person hewas.

Prince Nash looked each of the royal family members in the eye before continuing. “The only reason I was spared was due to the timing of my patrol. Perhaps if I had been there…” he trailed off, but they all understood the guilt hecarried.

Dear gods, the details she had heard and seen on that vid displaying what the Neprijat had done…Adelina couldn’t help her reaction. She nearly gagged as she covered her mouth with her hand, feeling sick. Her eyes dropped to the floor, hiding her tears. Their allies hadn’t deserved what had befallenthem.

“Curiously convenient,” Asher muttered just loud enough for the prince to hear. Raena cut off their brother with a slash of her hand and waited for the Corinthian tocontinue.

The pain that flashed through the Prince’s face hit Adelina and rendered her momentarily breathless. She wished she could say something, do anything to help as her stomach roiled. “I was never meant to rule,” he said quietly. “It did not matter what I did or where I went as long as I served myQueen.”

“What exactly is it you expect of us?” Raena asked after a longpause.

Prince Nash planted his feet shoulder-width apart and clasped his hands behind his back, his massive chest expanded with the movement. “I ask for sanctuary while I gather information on who remains loyal to the true royal family of the Khara galaxy. I will be contacting my armies and gathering intel so I can try to regain my kingdom. I have only the contingent of soldiers that were on patrol with me at themoment.”

Adelina could barely breathe. It was a lot to ask. The request to go to war for him was on the horizon. Even if they did not make that agreement now the Neprijat would attack anyone who threatened them. If Prince Nash had the Draga forces at his back it could help him unseat the falseking.

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