Page 55 of Princess of Draga

She curtseyed and hebowed.

Adelina left for the outside entrance to the kitchens, taking the servants paths to the underground laboratories where Ian studied hypomalarya day and night. Once the scanner recognized her she stepped into the massive, stone room housing cubicles and scientists. The actual labs were further underground and she kept her eyes down as she made it to Ian’s, praying as she pressed her hand to his door that he would bealone.

The soft hush of the door opening warned her brother of her presence. He turned from his lab table with heavy bags under his eyes. His normally shiny, golden locks fell lank across his face and it looked as though he may even have lost someweight.

“Do you have a moment Ian?” she askedsoftly.

It seemed like only a few hours ago they all stood in that private parlor as Raena rained her displeasure on themall.

His tired look turned to one of concern. “Of course, little sister. Come sit with me.” Ian patted the stool next to him and turned back to his work. “What can I do foryou?”

It was a small mercy he said nothing of what had happened, or tried to console her. They all knew living as a royal came with risks. That Raena was now one of those risks had hit them allhard.

Ian pointed to a sharp tool and she handed it to him, the motions familiar and relaxing. “Can you keep a secret?” she whispered. They would hear if anyone else entered the lab thanks to the settings Ian had on hisdoor.

Her brother looked sharply at her before going back to the magnifier. He made some notes as he considered the seriousness of her words. “I will keep your secret for as long as it does not endanger our family or ourkingdom.”

It was all she could hope for from him. “Thank you,” Adelina said. She took a deep breath to gather the courage, fighting the nervous flutter in her breast. “I need you to do a very private, secure, and thorough workup of my geneticprofile.”

The clatter of his tool on the table was loud in the heavy silence. “Is something wrong?” Ian demanded. “Why would you needthis?”

She had to tell him the truth of her suspicions. “After talking with Nadyah we decided we should postpone thecamerraletountil this is done. There are too many traits that align with hers for either of us to be comfortablecontinuing.”

Ian set down his tools and faced her fully. Nothing in his eyes or face told her what he thought on the matter. “Goon.”

Her nails bit into her palms as she said the most damning suspicion of all. “I believe we may be more than half-brother andsister.”

Ian sat slack-jawed and simply stared. As a scientist there was only one way to find out for sure and he had no reason to deny her. “If that were true there would be much to explain,” he managed. “How would that be possible when my mother was only pregnant full term the one time? Why hide your true mother from us when I am fully accepted as Iam?”

Adelina stood from the stool and paced. “These are all things I’ve wondered myself, but there are also things I can’t explain about myself and I’m a true submissive Ian, a Draga submissive. That should not be genetically possible. The only explanation for the pregnancy would be to implant the fertilized egg and sperm into the queen for the legitimacy. They could easily ensure my hair was black and my eyes the true purple as the genes are already there through Father. As to hiding it all I wouldn’t know, but it’s been eating at me. The truth is all that matters. The rest can be explained once we have theproof.”

His long body hunched over as he contemplated her features, no doubt comparing them to his own. Ian rested his chin on his hand and was silent for a few moments. “If you’re part courtesan you could be mated. Is this why you’re so keen onanswers?”

Ian was too smart for his own good. She nodded. It was also something he’d had to live withhimself.

“Are you mated to P’draic?” Adelinaasked.

Sadly Ian shook his head. “I do not know if it is because he is not my mate, or because I do not possess the gene to mate. I’ve studied my own genetics enough to know either is possible, but neither is sure. We half-breeds are a rarity. Then it’s entirely possible the dormant gene could be triggered by something. It’s smart to know this for sure,” he agreed. “I will do the work up and keep it on a private, secure device. Anything I find will be brought to you first and then we can decide what to do withit.”

Adelina sighed in relief. Ian was one of the nicest people. He was shy and rather introverted when it came to the royal lifestyle, but they had always been close and friendly despite the age difference. Knowing he would support her in this and keep her secret lifted a huge weight from her shoulders. They all had to stick together now when no one was sure what Raena’s temper would do to them next. “Thank you so much, Ian. You have no idea how much this means to me. Having these suspicions has been…troublesome.”

The lab door slid open and she tried not to flinch as the fear rippled through her. Thank goodness for the soundproofing tech on eachlab.

Alpha looked harried as he rushed inside. “The Prince of Thieves is at the palace gate requesting entrance for him and aprisoner.”

Her heart dropped into her stomach and she glanced at Ian. The prisoner she’d terrified was finally being presented. Adelina prayed Mala would keep her safe, to see Varan now after everything that had occurred the night before? It was toomuch.

Nadyah ran into the lab a half second later. Her curtsey was abrupt. “The thief is requesting you, Princess. He says he will only speak to you and the king.” The worried look in her courtesan’s eyes told herenough.

Varan was making waves and he was dragging her down with him without realizing it. Why should a thief request the third-born? All it would do was cast suspicion on them all. She clenched her hands. Adelina wanted to slap the male hard enough to leave a mark for hisstupidity.

“I will schedule another time with you brother,” she managed before she rushed off. Her father would not ask questions, but Raena would. Oh, not right away. She would have to watch herself. No doubt her sister would have her followed from nowon.

The labs and scientists were a blur as she ran. Nadyah and Alpha kept pace with her, thundering up the stairs to the main level of the palace. The moment they hit the populated hallways they slowed down. Adelina walked so fast courtiers turned to stare. She had to get to the gate before her sister, who no doubt would show up with theirfather.

When she burst out of the palace into the front courtyard the heat of the Kala sun had her sweating. Her skirts only got in the way as Adelina tried to keep up the appearance of grace. Not for the first time she wished she could wear pants more often. Guards let her pass without question. She could see the gate from the outer courtyard. A group of soldiers stood with their weapons pointed atVaran.

The thief had the audacity to lounge against the gate with his eyeless prisoner in chains. Finally Adelina slowed her pace when she saw she was the first to arrive. She smoothed her hair and then clasped her hands before her, slipping on the small smile that everyoneadored.

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