Page 34 of Princess of Draga

They took the open platform to the third floor where the dyed silk was woven into bolts. The entire floor was full of looms and men and women hard at work to the rhythm of the music playing over the amplifiers. Adelina stopped to inspect a young girl’s piece; she couldn’t have been much younger than Adelina herself. “This is wonderful,” she said as she passed, tapping the frame inappreciation.

The girl beamed at her, then looked surprised to see Nash follow behind. “They weave the silk by hand?” he inquired, lookingdoubtful.

Adelina bent down to take a look at a male’s piece. He used multiple colors and the effect was exquisite. “We do for spidersilk, Prince. The material is too delicate for machines.” She turned to the man weaving and smiled. “Did you create this pattern?” sheasked.

He nodded with a shy smile. “Yes, your highness. The floor manager filed the design for me and added the bonus to myincome.”

“Very good,” Adelina said. “If you would let me know when the bolt is completed I would love to purchase it. Just have your manager send me a cast and I’ll come for itmyself.”

The male stammered his thanks and tried to force it as a gift, but she shook her head. When they finally reached the back room, she took in the floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall display of spidersilk. The colors ranged from light to dark, but she loved them all. It was the lightest, most breathable fabric, and the most expensive. Very few could afford it, but the quality was worth its weight ingold.

Adelina fingered a glittery black she knew she would be able to use for something. “Do you see something you like?” she asked the prince. “Do you have something to wear to my party?” She eyed him from under her eyelashes. He was so tall she could only see his trim waist and part of his chest. His hands were in his pockets and she admired the warm glow to his skin. It was brown instead of the golden tone of her own skin, but it was beautiful in itsdifference.

“I didn’t realize I was invited,” he stated, touching a white so pure it reminded her of the snow onScyria.

She refrained from making a rude noise, but just barely. “Of course, you are. It is my party and I want you to be there, therefore you are invited.” Adelina pulled a bolt of amethyst purple and eyed it. The party was well within his week on Draga Terra, but she knew that inviting him was against her sister and father’s wishes, even if they hadn’t outright stated he could notattend.

It was a risk she was willing to take if she could get her father to uphold their agreement. “Would you pick one you like for me? I’m curious as to your tastes.” Adelina watched him look over the colors once more and knew she wondered about more than his taste in color and fabric. Something about his unique eyes drew her in like a predator’s trap. His scent eluded her, but it also appealed to her senses. It reminded her of cinnamon, but less like baked goods and more like the tree itself, sharp anddefined.

Prince Nash tapped three different bolts and then stood back with a nod. He didn’t waste time either it seemed. Nash was efficient and didn’t dawdle, but would he in otheractivities?

Adelina scanned his three bolts with her simulcast, and then the three she had chosen with a note about the unique pattern still being woven. Then sent the cast with the information to the manager and turned to leave the factory. It seemed all was well with her assigneddepartment.

There was something beautiful about the spiders none of her siblings seemed to see or understand. All of them felt similarly to Nash which was why Raena gladly gave her the most sacred and profitable department without argument. As a child, she used to watch the spider queens weave their webs for hours when she wanted to be alone. Not even Alpha had followed her into the NightMountains.

Once they were out of the factory and back on the palace grounds, surrounded by tall palms with leaves the size of Adelina’s body and heavy with fragrant fruit, she let the silence settle comfortably between them. She needed to think of what questions she could ask without upsetting him or causing too muchsuspicion.

Nash’s arm brushed against hers and that spark flared inside of her once again. It wasn’t unbearable but her awareness sharpened. The sensation of the wind across her skin, the heat from his body, how he looked against the bright blue sky with a hint of green from the ever present second moon were suddenlyenhanced.

Adelina was short and the top of her head barely reached Nash’s chest. She couldn’t help wondering what sex would be like with him, if the difference in their height would cause problems or not. She could always ride him; the difference wouldn’t matterthen.

Nash glanced at her and she felt herself blush furiously. Adelina hated the embarrassment that followed. What was wrong with her? She didn’t know him well and she was already contemplating taking him to herbed?

Those broad shoulders and tapered waist suggested there was nothing wrong with her; she was simply reacting to the pure maleness ofhim.

“Were you being truthful when you said you would like to help me?” Nash asked, pulling her out of those dangerousthoughts.

Brushing a palm leaf from her path she looked up at the lost prince and nodded. “I would never say anything I did notmean.”

He stopped in the middle of the path with the large palms obscuring their view of the palace, the stables, and the forest. In turn, they were hidden from anyone’s prying eyes. “I need access to my equipment. I need to be able to check my transmissions. There might still be princes and princesses alive and in hiding who need me to rescue them. They could have access to their armies. I also need intel on the state of my galaxy, the planets, and the people.” Nash shrugged and looked up at the green moon. “Without knowing any of those things I cannot form a plan to regain my kingdom. Traditionally I would challenge the Neprijat King, but he does not follow ourways.”

Adelina squinted at him, curious about the ways of his people. She understood the mechanics and what she could read about it, but the methods seemed barbaric. “You truly fight every single eligible person to rule?” sheasked.

Nash held out an arm for the first time that day and she gladly took it. He escorted her, incorrectly on the submissive side. “You should be on my right, you are more dominant and have a higher rank,” she whisperedteasingly.

The lost prince gave her a look that made her legs suddenly feel unstable. “I am a displaced prince who has yet to prove I am truly the heir, thus you rank higher than I do. What makes you think I’m more dominant thanyou?”

Adelina didn’t want to tell him she’d already smelled him. “I simply know. Everyone is more dominant than Iam.”

Nash raised an eyebrow but didn’t say any more on the matter, but he also didn’t change positions. “We do not have nobles such as you do,” he explained. “All those with the royal genes rule and are called ‘prince’ or ‘princess.’ Each prince and princess enters the arena when the previous ruler dies or retires and they fight until there is one victor. The victor and their family become the ruling family of the Khara galaxy and move to the palace on Khara Prime. The victor is either light, or dark. You would say submissive or dominant, but it is not quite the same thing. This is of course measured scientifically and they must choose the opposite as their spouse. There must always bebalance.”

Adelina frowned. “You’ve had submissive, or rather light rulers?” she asked. “How did they keep control of thekingdom?”

It was strange how each race descended from the ancient humans developed their own method to ensure balance and to try and reign in their natural chaos as much as possible, though the Drakesthai were said to be nothingbutchaos. Hai galaxy was closer to the Corinth sun, but the edge of their galaxy butted up against Draga. They were an extremely private race she had never met, or even had contactwith.

Nash looked at her again. “Yes, we have had light rulers. The light has always attracted the dark. The dark seeks the light to balance out their instincts. In return they are fierce warriors, protectors, and intensely loyal. Conversely dark rulers attract those who serve. The light serves the purposes of the Crown and once the ruler has been established as the strongest warrior no other dark contestants have reason to question theirplace.”

Adelina chewed on her lip as she thought. It was a disgusting habit she’d broken herself of cycles ago, but it helped her concentrate. Had the Draga galaxy ever had a submissive king or queen? Could a submissive also be a fierce warrior strong enough to beat a dominant warrior? Could that even bepossible?

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