Page 21 of Princess of Draga

“I love you, Hayden,” shemurmured.

He buried his hands in her hair and kissed her hard and possessively. Hayden was a passionate lover. “Veri,” he said her name again and she shivered with pleasure. “I loveyou.”

She knew she would do anything for this male. Including making him king if that was the only way she could havehim.

Chapter Six

Joslynn

FamilySeat

PlanetPedranus

Joslynn read the invite closely,the linen felt exquisite against the rough skin of her hands. She tossed it on the table in front of her and sat back. Only the clouds and the rain were outside as per usual. Joslynn loved the rain and the cold weather of her home, but on occasion she wanted to be able to go outside without having to worry about gettingdrenched.

“Countess?” her butler inquired. “Anything I can get foryou?”

She shook her head. It was late and she should go to bed anyways. “No thank you, Galvyn. Will you please fetch the steward? Then you may retire for the night.” Joslynn started making a list in her head of what she would need for her travels and when she should leave to make it to the coming-of-age party on time. It took two weeks to fly from Pedranus to Draga Terra. What projects would she need to complete beforethen?

Her mines would continue working without her as would her fields. She had people in charge of her interests for exactly this kind of thing. She still preferred to help with the work. Joslynn fiddled with her necklace. She’d even helped mine the diamonds used to make the necklace she wore and she was proud of that. Joslynn was no useless noble and never wouldbe.

“Countess?” a strong male voice inquired from the parlordoor.

Joslynn turned from the window and the night sky to see her steward standing with his hands clasped behind his back. He bowed briefly before entering the room. Colin had been her father’s steward before he was hers and she valued his input above allothers.

“I’m sure you’ve heard of the royal Choosing Ball. It’s all over the newsfeeds andlivestream.”

Colin sat stiffly in a plush and comfortable chair across from her. Joslynn took her cup and saucer from the side-table and sipped the dark tea. He would have to plan for her absence. It would be a few weeks at the very least before she would be able to return home. “I have, Countess. You will be attending?” heinquired.

She bowed her head briefly. “Of course, the royal family will need my support during this time of change. As the last living Pedranus it is my duty to represent my family.” Joslynn toyed with the diamonds at her neck. She would have to be careful. Too many looked to her as a conquest with greed in their hearts. “I already planned to attend Princess Adelina’s party months before despite the fact the king collapsed here during theirtour.”

Her steward nodded already deep in thought as he considered the ramifications. “I will assign the tasks and then begin packing,” Colin said. He pulled out his simulcast and started tapping out alist.

Joslynn shook her head. “No, Steward. I need you to stay here and protect my businesses and my home.” She’d known this might be a problem, but she would not leave her planet vulnerable to the greed of the Ushanovs or anyone else. “I have sent a cast to Scyria and our ally has already sent her youngest son to act as my escort, he will be arrivingsoon.”

Colin frowned in disapproval. “I do not think it is a good idea for you to travel alone with only Lord Sirus. It is not safe. The pirates alone…” Colin trailed off and his frowndeepened.

Joslynn sipped her tea and arched a brow at her steward. “Are you saying you do not trust our allies,Colin?”

“No!” he exclaimed, suddenly realizing his error. “Countess, please that is not what I meant. I only worry for your safety. Many are after your wealth and your life is of no importance tothem.”

She nodded. “Yes, I agree. Scyria however receives money and food in exchange for their protection. I trust they would not cut off one of their few benefactors. The border planets are far from the core of the galaxy out here in the outer rim. We need to stick together, Colin. You know as well as I that if there is a war we will be one of the first affected. The gods help Seprilles. I do not envy their position on theborder.”

She shook her head. Joslynn couldn’t imagine how frightening it must be to be on the edge of their space at themoment.

The Khara galaxy had just been defeated by a monstrous species. For most of the cycle Khara Prime was closer to Seprilles than their own capitol planet, Draga Terra. Joslynn’s heart went out to her allies and friends during this uncertaintime.

“If that is what you wish,” Colin said begrudgingly. “I will prepare the household for your absence as well as a contingent of men to escort you to the capitol, the master of the guard and I will have to speak in the morning. I will send him a cast rightnow.”

She nodded in agreement. Her safety was Colin’s only concern. After losing her parents in the accident she’d been raised by him, and he was more of a father to her than anything. Still, she was his lady and the last ten cycles she’d come into her own. Joslynn had more of a head for business than anyone had expected and Pedranus had thrived under herrule.

She was only twenty-five, but her people had started to worry. If she died and the Gentle God took her, who would inherit? Would the new ruler care for the people and the land? Joslynn had no heir. Her closest family was a third cousin on the other side of Pedranus and the only thing tying them together was marriage. Joslynn needed a husband and an heir as soon aspossible.

The countess sighed with the heavy weight on her shoulders and sipped the nearly cold tea. She placed it on the table and tugged at her necklace again. The rain pounded against the stone of the castle and she hated how empty her house was, how alone she felt. The Choosing Ball was the perfect excuse to find a possible match. If no courtier found her fancy then she would look among her ownpeople.

Joslynn would have started with her own people, but it was difficult to know who would actually care for her and not simply her wealth. The same could be said for the courtiers, but if she found someone who already had money perhaps she wouldn’t have to worry about their greed. She wanted a partner, not someone who would try to murder her the night after theirwedding.

A real family was something she’d alwayswanted.

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