Page 26 of Crown of Draga

Chapter Nine

Veri

Royal Stables

Draga Royal Palace

Planet Draga Terra

Veri straightenedher hat and fixed her fingerless gloves before she walked into the royal stables. The day was warm, almost hot with the humidity pressing close against her skin. She was grateful it was still early in the day and the sun had not yet reached its peak. One of the royal hostlers quickly approached her as she waited in the expansive entrance.

Prince Asher was nowhere to be seen, but Veri was confident he hadn’t left on his ride yet. He’d barely left the council room before her and she’d paid enough gold to the servants to know what time he planned to ride after the meeting.

“What can I do for you, milady?” the hostler asked with a bow.

“I would like to take a relaxing ride. As an experienced rider I expect an adequate feline.” Veri wandered down the main hall of the stables with huge stalls on either side. Most of them were empty, but some of the galinas lounged, well-behaved as they watched her pass. The glowing green orbs of their eyes were unblinking and Veri had to remind herself they were all trained.

There were activities set up for all of the visiting nobles to participate in. There were the usual card games, tours, the allure of the city, and any number of lessons one could participate in, but Veri didn’t need more dance lessons or archery lessons. She needed to get Asher to propose to her.

The stables were so much larger than she had originally thought. They went all the way back into the mountain that protected the back of the palace. The stables became cooler the further in she went and the sol-powered lights grew brighter as the sun strained to reach the depths.

“Seems as though you found me, Lady Veri,” Asher said, his voice reaching her through the darkness like a dream.

Veri turned towards the sound and saw him standing in a stall and brushing a galina taller than the prince. The feline licked her chops as she stared at Veri. The galina’s eyes weren’t the normal green, but a bright blue and they studied Veri as though she might be the tastiest of foods. Veri took a deep breath and let it out slowly, ensuring she had no fear before brazenly entering the stall. Galinas were dangerous and deadly. They normally took to one rider and tolerated only those who could dominate.

Veri never hesitated as she reached for the beautiful feline. Its midnight black fur matched the prince’s hair. Veri held her head high before placing her hand over the galina’s nose and her scent filled the feline’s nostrils. She had to keep her grip firm as the galina tried to buck her hand off, but Veri gripped the reins and yanked down to stare into those blue eyes.

They stared at each other for an entire minute and Veri could feel Asher watching her by the prickle between her shoulders. Finally, the feline accepted her dominance and bowed her head before licking Veri’s hand.

She scratched the galina behind the ears and smiled in victory. “What is her name?” she asked the prince.

He didn’t smile back, only watched her closely as he brushed the large cat with long, smooth strokes. Veri watched the attention to detail, the strength in each stroke, and she felt mesmerized. The muscles in his arms were thick and corded. The galina began to purr.

Veri understood exactly how the feline felt. If Asher stroked her that way…she cleared her throat and turned back to the blue-eyed feline.

“You are lucky Nova did not decide you would be more delicious than the food brought to her.” Asher rubbed the galina’s shoulders with affection.

Veri scratched under the feline’s large chin and gave a slight shrug. “My family specializes in breeding and training the galina. I know exactly how dangerous they are and how affectionate they can be.” She shot a look at the prince to let him know she could see the same in him as well. “I’ve learned how to be dominating and therefore they never question me.”

Asher finally gave her a small smile. “You are dominating?” he teased with raised eyebrows.

For whatever reason his implication made Veri blush despite being no stranger to such games.

Asher grabbed his saddle and hefted it onto Nova’s back. The feline did not react in the slightest. She was trained well. Getting the galina used to the saddles, let alone to accept one was one of the biggest challenges in their training. The felines were wild and unpredictable by nature. If they were not properly cared for and trained they would revert back to their natural instincts and rip apart their owners in their sleep.

It took a strong person to ride them which was why they normally only had the one rider. Only the dominants could care for all of them. The submissives had to raise and care for a galina from birth. It was the only way to stay alive.

“Lady Veri, I have your mount waiting for you.” The royal hostler appeared before the door to Nova’s stall.

She nodded and gave the feline one more scratch before heading out of the stall carefully – deliberate and slow. As soon as the door was closed behind her she turned back to the prince. “Would you mind if I joined you on your ride?” she asked.

Prince Asher tightened the saddle on Nova and tugged on it to make sure it was securely in place before he turned back to her. “I would not mind as long as you can keep up with me,” he said in an almost playful tone.

The sparkle in his eyes surprised Veri but she felt herself rising to the challenge. “Oh, only if I can keep up?” she teased. “It is you who will have to keep up with me, my prince.” She gave him a wink and followed the hostler to her mount’s stall.

The galina was smaller than Nova but still tall. The male’s shoulders reached her head and he hunkered down at her approach and hissed. Veri didn’t hesitate and she didn’t stop. She yanked the door open and stalked into the stall towards the feline. She grabbed him by the bridle and pulled down hard. She hissed back, right in his face, getting her scent all over him. The male resisted but she held his head in place despite the struggle. Veri was careful of his claws as he scrabbled against the stone.

She yanked again so the galina was forced to look in her eyes. After a few seconds he lowered them, submitting to her. The second he did she rewarded him with sweet words and scratches behind the ears as she inspected him. The bridle had a jeweled nameplate across his forehead with his name etched into it.

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