Page 53 of Princess of Draga

She wiggled her hips ever so slightly as their breath mingled and she couldn’t tear her gaze away from his. Asher reached up with his other hand and roughly gripped herjaw.

His eyes raked over her lips and her breathing quickened. “I hope to see you there,” he said. His voice was gravelly and vibrated through her in the most pleasantway.

Asher stepped forward and she moved with him. His grip was hard and unyielding. Suddenly her back was pressed into the opposite railing. Her fingers clutched his arms and he felt delicious and warm against her. His dominance made her wet and Veri moaned as his lips brushed against her throat. Asher promised dark and wonderful things. His barely there kisses left her wanting more. She wanted to feel his teeth on her skin and to see the bruises on her hips and thighs the nextmorning.

“As you wish, my Prince,” she murmured into his hair. He smelled of stardust and the night air with that wonderfully spicy scent ofrosanera.

Asher stepped back and bowed. He walked farther into the gardens alone, leaving her wanting and confused about her feelings. Veri clenched her hands into fists and licked her lips, tasting his lingeringpresence.

Asher wanted to be the one who left first in a small show of power and dominance. Damn him, he was good at these games. Perhaps Veri had found her match after all. Never had she been the one without control and she was surprised to find how much she enjoyed theexperience.

Chapter Sixteen

Adelina

Conservatory

Draga RoyalPalace

Planet DragaTerra

“I’msorry about what happened with Raena,” Alpha said quietly as Adelina nodded at the passing nobles in thehall.

Thank the goddess she still had Alpha as a friend. Adelina had never felt as alone as she had after her romantic dreams of true love were stripped from her. No one had come after her despite the break in protocol when she locked herself in her rooms and refused to attend the welcomebanquet.

A shower had kept the evidence of her tears from her face. She had willingly given up her right to find someone she loved, maybe even a mate. Adelina didn’t regret the choice she had made, but the loss had been harder to bear in the quiet of her rooms. Every wish and dream she ever had disappeared with her promise. Raena could marry her off tomorrow and Adelina wouldn’t be able to travel the stars until her thirdcentury.

When she had stepped out of the shower Nadyah had a bath ready for her. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice you were gone?” she had inquired with one eyebrow raised in speculation. “Get in the tub and tell meeverything.”

So Adelina had spilled it all and only the courtesan’s stable presence had kept her from cryingagain.

“I should have known better,” Adelina said quietly to Alpha. “Raena has always been quick to anger and sly as a fox. I am not allowed to be alone with him, but that does not mean I cannot see him as long as you or Nadyah are present.” She shrugged as they ended up on the outside terrace. The meandering walk was calming and allowed her tothink.

“Are you going to risk it?” Alpha asked as he helped her down the steps toward theconservatory.

She shook her head. “Not right away. I promised to help him with information. At some point I will need to relay it, and I’d rather use the chance wisely.” Confiding in Alpha that morning after their exercise had been cleansing. Adelina felt like she could breathe again and his answering hug only confirmed she had been right to tell her guard of herfeelings.

It was paramount Alpha understood that her attraction and the desire to help the Corinthian Prince were not connected. The male drew her in like honeybees to roses, but doing the right thing was what droveher.

It still shocked Adelina that when their loyalty had been tested, her rulers hadfailed.

At least her father had anexcuse.

They entered the silent conservatory and Adelina took up one of the spritzers to water her roses. She subtly tapped a scrambler so no one could overhear their conversation with any device. Nash’s stealth tech had been a wakeup call. “What do you think of the way Raena has ruled thusfar?”

Red roses darker than blood were about to bloom. Adelina made sure they had enough water before choosing favorites to mark for her party. Alpha looked around for any listening ears and crossed his arms over his chest while he thought, following after her at a leisurelypace.

“From what I’ve seen the crown princess knows what she is doing. She has the training, but the way she rules is very different from the king.” He used titles in place of names, so as not to confuse their personal relationships. Adelina nodded as he continued. “She seems to be overly cautious and defensive, a ruler who still has to prove herself. Avoiding a war was a smart decision, but it was shortsighted. She was afraid to make the hard choice and create waves despite it being the rightone.”

He frowned as she inspected the black roses next. “Are you asking because you worry who she will choose foryou?”

Adelina considered his words. “What if a marriage might prevent war? Do you think she would take therisk?”

“A marriage towhom?”

The black roses would look lovely with the red for her party and she marked the ones ready to becut.

“I can only think of one marriage she would consider that would prevent a war, and now she has the opportunity to use it for someone other than herself.” She shuddered at the idea. Married to a monster, but it would not surpriseher.

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