Page 28 of Crown of Draga

Veri took the bottle and uncorked it. She brought it to her lips and maintained eye contact as she tossed her head back and drank. It felt unrefined and glorious. “I don’t know if I’m ‘wild’ but there are times protocol is stifling,” she admitted, leaning back onto her elbows.

Asher took the bottle from her and sipped. “I understand what you mean,” he said. “As a prince I must follow protocol to the letter or suffer the punishment.”

As a prince Asher had many items on his plate he simply couldn’t ignore. If Veri were to become a princess she would have to accept certain freedoms she enjoyed would become limited. Not only would she have to give up her right to rule Priea, but she would have to join the royal females in their activities, such as the weekly royal tea the princesses attended with the dowager queen at that very moment.

The royal tea had been exclusive and from her inspection of the solar the room had top-notch, state-of-the-art anti-surveillance tech. It was smart even though it aggravated Veri she couldn’t listen in. Originally she planned to get an invite, or somehow slip in a listening device, but there was no opportunity to plant one and the tea was for royalty only. Until she was engaged to a prince, Veri would never receive an invitation.

And she wasn’t the only spy in court.

Veri wasn’t sure who worked for the Spider yet, but she had a list of potentials. Then there were the spies from other noble families, and a small part of her wondered if the Neprijat had managed to infiltrate a few of their own. Veri was supposed to relay any information she came across to her father, Lord Greyson, so they could make decisions that would help Priea.

Veri didn’t always relay all the information she came across. Her father had different goals than she.

Prince Asher took another swig of wine and watched her delicately select a berry and place it invitingly on her tongue.

Veri still sat on the intel she’d stolen from the Archduchess of Avvis and as she stared into Asher’s dark eyes an idea began to form. That information could be used to her benefit. Oh, not in the way her father would like, or even consider. But for her own benefit. The archduchess would pay for her treason, and her utter dismissal of Priea. Hayden would also pay for his betrayal through the investigation of his family. His selfish decisions, the way he’d used her, and led her on for his own pleasure had consequences.

The information may even cause the crown princess to choose another male for her husband.

To put this plan into action she needed Asher. He was the key to everything.

Thank the goddess she was insanely attracted to him, Veri would be able to kill multiple birds with one throw. “What would you do if you had the opportunity to change something?” Veri asked. “What would you want if protocol did not demand your submission to those with a higher rank?”

Only five people in the entire galaxy ranked higher than him, but it seemed to chafe. Veri rolled until she was on her stomach, arms propping her up and gave him a secret smile. “I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

Asher hesitated for a moment. “Well,” he hedged. “I want to make a difference with our people, and that can only be done in a position of power whether that power comes as king, a ruling nobleman, or a council position. As the fourth-born royal I will only have as much power as I can take for myself.” He rolled onto his side to face her and propped his elbow up to keep his upper body off the ground. “You will have more power than I currently do once you inherit and become Marquess of Priea.”

His following shrug was anything but carefree. Asher’s frown deepened and he took another swig, every muscle tight as he radiated anger. Interesting that a prince would envy her position, Veri never would have suspected such a thing. She put a hand on his arm to comfort him and squeezed. “All right then, my prince. What would you do if you were king?” To suggest a lower position would only insult him.

He shot her a sharp glance. “To speak of such things is treasonous.”

Veri was surprised at his reaction. It was only hypothetical and therefore not treasonous, but if he thought it would be…

“Yes, but only a generation ago you would have been the heir, and the crown prince. The law changed right before your birth,” she pressed. “It changed our history forever.”

Veri was grateful the new law allowed for her to rule, regardless that she was female. But she could imagine how frustrating it might be to know only a few cycles later and Asher would be the crown prince, not Raena. And with the new law he was fourth in line to the throne, after Giselle and Adelina. Neither of them seemed to possess the skills required to rule, but Asher?

“If you were able to change anything, what would it be?” she asked again.

“I would make sure more supplies and resources would be sent to the outer rim as well as improving the schools and hospitals there. Treaties would be sent to the Hai galaxy. Scouts would be sent to explore the universe so surprises such as the Neprijat didn’t happen. The gold we spend on the sciences would be increased. At the moment we spend too much of our budget on improving the core instead of making sure all our citizens have what they need to survive well. Raena has trained her entire life to rule, yet she knows very little of the people and their desires in the outer rim.” The prince handed her the bottle of wine and then turned to watch the felines.

Veri drank only a sip as she thought about the prince’s words. She could tell he wanted to help his people, but he also wanted to be king. Why else would he think his words would be treasonous? He could accomplish all he said and more as a member of the council. With royal blood they would be more inclined to listen to him as would the soon-to-be queen, Raena. No, he wanted the power for himself; he wanted to make sure they would not deny his demands.

She placed a hand on his arm and waited until he looked at her. “I think you would have made an excellent king, one who could rival the love for King Orion,” she said with conviction. Asher truly had softness inside the prickly exterior and Veri could feel herself falling for him whether she wanted to or not. “The people would have adored you. It is a shame you will not rule.”

Asher watched her closely. “Perhaps I underestimated you, Lady Veri,” he said. Asher rolled on top of her and his burning gaze pinned her just as strongly as his weight did. “You are truly one of a kind. I hadn’t expected that.” Then he kissed her, his lips and tongue demanding.

His rough kiss excited her; mind, body, and soul.

“Thank you,” Veri murmured against his lips. She squirmed with pleasure as his hands travelled up her skirts to explore her willing body. His cock was hard against her stomach and he growled his dominance and lust.

Veri couldn’t control her body’s reaction to that demand. Her fingers clutched Asher’s shoulders and she arched her back, pressing herself into him. She parted her legs for the prince, allowing him access. His fingers dove into her wet center and Veri moaned as the sensation pulled at her, making her buck her hips to try and lessen the ache. She wanted more than his fingers between her legs.

She pulled his hand away and ripped the clasp of his pants open. “Take me,” she demanded, yanking down the cloth. Asher did as she commanded and then thrust into her, rough and hard.

His cock stretched and filled her with a glorious pain. The sensation made her eyes flutter closed and she threw her head back in ecstasy. His hand on her throat pressed down just hard enough while his other gently teased her nipples through the soft, thin fabric of her dress.

Asher knew exactly what she liked and gave it to her without mercy. How he knew was beyond her, but Veri didn’t care as he thrust again, filling her completely.

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