Page 14 of Princess of Draga

After everything that had happened with Alpha Giselle had been sweet and supportive, always saying Adelina would find someone when the time was right. She knew Giselle spoke the truth, but had doubted onoccasion.

Now there was this strange feeling and she wasn’t even sure what she actually felt for Nash. She wasn’t even sure what she wanted to accomplish by escorting him, but Adelina felt as though she had to dosomething.

Adelina threw her hands up in exasperation. “I don’t know. I feel…like a fluttering moth to the flame. He draws me in, but I can’t say if I feel anything at all other than sympathy and the desire to help him. That father and Raena outrightdeniedthe alliance agreement…” She stopped and crossed her arms as she studied Giselle. “I need to speak with him privately. There is no other way. Finding out the truth is what is important, and if I can convince father he is trustworthy and honorable perhaps it will get him to reconsider hisdenial.”

Adelina knew Nash hadn’t killed his own family. The male she’d spent time with only a few cycles ago didn’t have an evil bone in his body. But her father needed to be convinced this was the right choice, the honorable one. If she couldn’t convince the king, then she would have to do whatever she could to aid him on herown.

She felt called and she would not deny a nudge from thegoddess.

Giselle waved her hand in annoyance. “There is no real risk for father and Raena to deny him. There is almost no chance he would ever get his kingdom back, and even then he’d have to fight any remaining princes and princesses for the right torule.”

Adelina tapped her fingers on her arm in contemplation. “Yes, there is that strange custom.” She frowned. “Even so, the new ruler would remember and call for justice. If not the Corinthians then it would be theNeprijat.”

Giselle’s face paled at the thought of those monsters entering their borders. “There is nothing we can do. The decision has been made by those who wield much more power than we, but I can pass on escort duty to you. As long as the work is done Father won’t mind who does it. Write your little reports on your shreve and send it to me. I will pass them along. It’s as simple asthat.”

Adelina flopped back on her bed and stared at her painted ceiling;galinason the prowl for their prey. “How could they do this?” shewhispered.

Giselle rolled over onto her stomach and gave Adelina a look. “Sweet sister, have you not learned that the path of least resistance is the easiest? I agree granting sanctuary would put our people in danger, but they’re already in danger. It’s foolish to think otherwise. Father has an excuse, his sickness and meds muddle his mind, but Raena? I never thought she would take the coward’s way.” Giselle shook her head. “Perhaps it is too early, the strain of ruling too much forher.”

There was nothing to say. Giselle said exactly what Adelina had been thinking. “At least Mother hasn’t suggested you marry him, Father might actually considerthat.”

Giselle snorted. “I already have someone I plan tomarry.”

Adelina shot up and nearly smashed her head into her sister’s. “Really? Who is it?” she demanded. “How could you not tell me you were involved with someone?” Her voice rose to a nearshriek.

Her sister shrugged and inspected her fingernails. “You know as well as I do my endeavors are not approved by the family. I want to become an officer in the Army. I want to fight for Draga and serve that way. Because I can bear children I am considered too valuable and my rights stripped. William is cycles younger and he already serves in the Army. No one cares about hisseed.”

Adelina made a face. “You know he’s already donated his seed to the physicians for safe-keeping and you have your eggs with them as well. Anyone can bear yourchildren.”

It was Giselle’s turn to make a face at her. “Royals need natural born and bred children to be considered legitimate. The samples are kept for the records only and in case of a disaster. No one else has the genes dominant enough to rule an entire galaxy if we are all wipedout.”

The words were a reminder of what happened to Nash’s family and the possibility was very real. Adelina redirected the conversation in a more pleasant direction. “So, who have you been secretlyseeing?”

“I’m not ready to say yet,” Gisellesaid.

Her words hurt Adelina, but she wouldn’tpress.

Her sister must have sensed a change in her mood because she turned and gave her a small smile. “I promise when I can you will be the first to know. My lover isn’t ready for me to say and I want to respect their wishes. It’s not easy being in a relationship with a royal.” Giselle shrugged herapology.

“I understand,” Adelina told her. Their lives were veryrestrictive.

Then there was still the matter of the lost prince. “Send me the schedule father sentyou?”

Giselle pulled her simulcast out of her pocket and tapped a quick message before sending out the cast. Adelina’s chimed in response. “It’s quite simple. You join him for each meal, and he joins you for most of your activities. In the hours he cannot accompany you, you must set up something to occupy his time. Don’t worry though; William has a few of his hours starting the day aftertomorrow.”

Adelina tensed. “So, I would be with him all daytomorrow?”

The answering laugh didn’t make her feel better. “Yes,” Giselle replied. “I will send a cast to Raena notifying the crown princess of the change. I’m going to say you volunteered so that you couldcontribute.”

Adelina nodded. “Of course.” She would not be the reason her sister earned another punishment. “What activities is he supposed to attend? How will this allow him to search for hispeople?”

Giselle shrugged. “I believe the idea is to hobblehim.”

Hobbling the prince would only anger him. Adelina wondered who thought it was the best choice, their father orRaena.

“I might have to rearrange my schedule and activities.” Her day was so full already with lessons and planning the upcoming events she hardly had time to breathe let alone think. She would have to notify her instructors of the change in herschedule.

She and Giselle needed a break from all the rules and expectations. “Would you like to escape?” Adelinawhispered.

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