Page 11 of Princess of Draga

Raena was silent as she studied the young man before her. To his credit, Prince Nash never once flinched or looked away from her sister’s intimidating gaze. “I cannot promise you anything, Prince. I will have to speak to the king about the matter and once we’ve conferred with our advisors we will have an answer for you. Until then, I’m sure you will understand why I will have to assign guards toyou.”

Prince Nash nodded and bowedagain.

Adelina breathed a sigh of relief. At least the crown princess hadn’t decided to arrest him on the spot, recognizing their alliance by giving him leave for the moment was a concession she hadn’t been sure Raena wouldmake.

Raena’s face softened as she studied him. “You have my condolences, Prince Nash. I remember your family well and they will bemissed.”

Adelina remembered also. They’d visited each other a handful of times and Prince Nash had always been kind to her. He’d been her protector when she was on Khara Prime alone and without Alpha. They’d played children’s games together in the strange gardens of his home, despite Nash being a few cycles older than her. There was an odd bond in the shared knowledge neither of them was as important as their oldersiblings.

The last time they’d visited, the Corinthian royal family had traveled to Draga Terra and it had been an entire month of revelry. They’d both been older then and Adelina had never forgotten the strange and wondrous customs or stopped hoping she could visit Khara Prime onceagain.

Two of the palace guards approached Prince Nash. His gaze shot to Adelina before he walked out of the throne room. She wondered if he remembered her. It had been five cycles since the last time he saw her and much hadchanged.

The doors closed behind him and Adelina took a deep breath. His presence had been too intense andstrange.

Raena stood and the members of the council quickly got to their feet as protocol demanded. “The council is dismissed.” She beckoned Chief Advisor Caspian and her gown flared out behind her as she turned. “Caspian please inform my father his presence is required immediately in the royal study.” Without another word or a glance behind her she exited the councilroom.

Adelina and the rest of her siblings followed behind her, trying hard not to look like they were scrambling to keep up. Their father’s presence in the royal study was a silent command fortheirpresence as well. This was no smallmatter.

The entire council waited for them to exit. Giselle followed Raena and Adelina went after her. Adelina glanced back and saw their brothers brought up the rear in proper order. The hushed conversations behind them worried her. When they reached the gilded lift, the footman opened the door for them and selected the proper floor without having to be told. A guard must have sent a cast with the information ahead of them through theimplants.

Alpha came to her side and his shoulder brushed hers briefly. Adelina glanced up and he nodded at her in support. No matter what, he would always be there for her. She let her fingertips touch his hand for barely more than a breath in acknowledgement. Before she could blink he wasgone.

The doors closed and slowly they descended. The silence felt thick and suffocating. Adelina half expected someone to say something, but they wouldn’t in front of the footman. Normally they weren’t so careful, but this was a sensitive subject and if the footman passed the news on it could spread like wildfire before anything could be decided. The people would clamor at their gates for war ormercy.

The footman opened the door for the fifth level of the palace and Raena walked out into the east wing – the private residence of the royal family – with her head held high. Giselle gave Adelina a worried look. Her nearly-brown black hair whispered over her shoulders as she shook her head and sighed, following their sister. Giselle wanted to say something, but it wasn’t the time. They would have to find an excuse to talk later. Adelina tried to remember what was on her schedule for the rest of the day, but Prince Nash had scattered herthoughts.

A pair of guards opened the door to the private study and Raena swept in, sitting down in her favorite chair near their father’s. The family wing connected to the study and went on east in a maze of hallways and doors. The study was one of Adelina’s favorite places, but she couldn’t enjoy the floor-to-ceiling shelves chock full of books or the view of the ocean as she normallydid.

Then their parents walked in and she watched as her mother helped her father sit in his large, comfortable chair before the fireplace. William rushed to start the fire and Ian called for some of his curative tea. P’draic came in with a steaming cup a few seconds later. Her brother’s lover must have been in Ian’s rooms to arrive soquickly.

Their father waved his hand in annoyance at their fussing and finally their mother sat near him. Adelina plopped down near the window and winced as she felt her mother’s gaze whip towards her. Giselle sank far more gracefully into the adjacent chair. The rest of her siblings settled and everyone was silent as they waited. For what, Adelina wasn’t sure. That they were even in the study instead of the receiving room was not a part of the day’splan.

“Alright children, tell me what is so important.” King Orion sipped at Ian’s tea and tried to hide his grimace at the bittertaste.

Quickly Raena filled in their father and Adelina watched their mother’s face closely. Queen Adele’s sharp intake of breath was more than she would ever allow outside their private rooms. The sheen of tears in her mother’s eyes gave Adelina hope. Hope that she would press for upholding their alliance. Yes, their people would be in danger, but so would their honor if they didnothing.

William’s face was whiter than normal under his golden skin. His lilac-purple eyes were troubled and as a soldier in the Draga Army he could be deployed much sooner than any of them anticipated. He had only just joined seven months before when he turned eighteen cyclesold.

Ian didn’t look any better. He frowned as he stared out the window, tapping his long fingers as he thought. His blond hair was a contrast to them all and the only obvious sign he was their half-brother, a bastard and not a full-blooded royal. He must have felt her eyes on him because Ian turned towards her and his Draga eyes looked haunted. As a scientist and physician, he would not see battle, but he knew as well as they all did that war touched every part of thegalaxy.

Asher glowered. Adelina knew he didn’t think they should support Prince Nash and it bothered her more than she cared to admit. Asher was only a cycle younger than her, but he was her opposite in every way. His obsidian hair and near-black purple eyes always put her on edge. He was as dominant as she was submissive and his intensity frightened her at times. She wished he would smile more, be happier. Something always bothered him and she could never figure out what exactly itwas.

He looked at her then and Asher’s frown softened. Despite all this she knew he loved her. They were closer in age than any of the others, except Giselle and Ian who were born in the same month. Her submissive nature always triggered the protective side of him and Asher looked out for her. She just wished they could have been closer growing up as she and Alpha hadbeen.

“All right, this issue is too volatile to simply make a unilateral decision,” King Orion stated after setting down his cup. “I would like to hear every single one of your opinions on the matter. We have had a very fruitful alliance for many decades with the Khara galaxy and now the Neprijat rule.Discuss.”

Adelina didn’t know what to think. She couldn’t remember a time when the king cared what she thought in regards to the state of the kingdom of the Draga galaxy. She was supposed to ensure she succeeded at whatever she chose to do in life and remain as ladylike and respectful as possible. She was a reflection of her family and Adelina had to keep the Draga honorintact.

That wasall.

Adelina didn’t want to speak first. She waited as her brothers and sisters eyed each other. Someone had to take the plunge into this unknownterritory.

“I’m glad he is still alive despite the complicated nature of it all,” Giselle said quietly, always the courageousone.

Their father nodded and Asher’s frown deepened again. “I don’t think having him here is good for our kingdom,” he said. For once Adelina wished he would keep his doubts tohimself.

William shrugged. “The Neprijat will come for us either way. I will fight against them no matter what is chosen.” Her brother was always the warrior. He took after Giselle that way and his blunt honesty wasrefreshing.

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