Page 46 of Heir of Draga

“It’s strange to me only the royals can make this full transformation,” Joslynn admitted. “We’re no longer the same feral people we used to be. It makes bloodshed and war so distasteful now that we’ve wrapped this genteel life around us like a spidersilk gown. For generations the strength of the royals was forgotten. I am sorry Adelina, I’m sorry that I didn’t believe.” Joslynn shook her head and released Adelina’s hand with a rueful smile. “I knew there was more to you, but I didn’t think there would be literal teeth and claws.”

She actually laughed at her own small jest and something in Adelina’s chest loosened and she smiled. “It’s not something we talk about much. To show such violent delight got out of hand with my great-grandfather. We were forced to hide it lest we lost our people’s trust, and then as time went on there was no moment to remind our people without cause. The Games have been the only event where the galaxy has seen those small glimpses.” She tapped her nail against her thigh as she remembered the treatises on the slaves they’d once possessed just for blood sport.

Joslynn propped her elbow up on the back of the couch and eyed Adelina. “So the other blood royals, they can as well?” she asked.

Adelina nodded and sipped her tea. “Yes, though it seems they have more control than I do.”

“Or your mixed genetics allows for a more intense physical transformation,” Joslynn speculated. “So, are you going to allow Nash to challenge Varan?”

That rage flickered in her veins once more and Adelina gritted her teeth, feeling the canines prick her lower lip. “Varan is mine. It is my job to protect him. If after a rational explanation to Nash, he still wants to challenge Varan – he will have to go through me first.” Her feral grin felt so right on her face – the lack of her court mask such a freedom. There was no one to whisper and talk about how she was too emotional or eager for violence.

Joslynn grinned. “That would certainly be something to see. I don’t doubt your ability to take him despite the difference in size. You are extremely quick, which was Hayden’s downfall.”

Adelina clicked her nails against the glass. “Yes, that ass certainly deserved it. Now he rots in a cell and I can’t help but think we should put him on the front lines as his punishment.”

There were so many things to consider. Ever since Raena’s death and Giselle’s struggle with the queen’s crown, Adelina had been considering every possible avenue and route, each and every available resource and situation.

It was why P’draic was on the medical floor below them with his own suite of rooms and a project that would occupy his time. If he could crack the Neprijat cloaking tech it would give them an edge in the war.

Giselle’s floundering had pushed Adelina to submit a request for all prisoners to serve their sentences as soldiers on the front lines. Criminals who’ve been committed for murdering or raping children were all put to death. The rapists would be nothing more than fodder with their cock-less selves and Adelina felt a grim satisfaction at that.

She still hadn’t heard back regarding her request and Adelina didn’t expect to. It was part of the reason she’d placed the spycast on Giselle’s shreve. She had access to everything her sister did and it would be nothing to push the order through. It wouldn’t have Giselle’s seal, but Adelina was the Heir now.

Caspian wouldn’t question her order after his folly with the Neprijat tech.

“You’ve already asked for it, haven’t you?” Joslynn finally took a sip of the tea.

Adelina’s wolf felt relieved when Joslynn nibbled at the dates as well. “Of course I have, my sister only thinks of the war. She can plan battles better than I ever could, but it’s the extraneous details she tends to forget. My request pardon’s anyone who survives, but their case will have to be reviewed once the war is over to ensure there have been no war crimes. We will have to wait and see what Caspian says.”

Adelina played with the trinket around her neck that William gave her on her departure. Her sweet brother would be fighting on the border, protecting their people. The criminals should be there as well, paying for their misdeeds in blood – protecting the Draga Galaxy.

Such a small thing, a rosanera petal – not a jasmine – preserved in gold. But it wasn’t. Not when Adelina was known as ‘the Jasmine’ among their people. William recognized her power, dominance, and strangeness, and yet he still loved and cherished her.

“He won’t deny you,” Joslynn reassured. “Not with Giselle needing all the help she can get.”

“Varan has also sent out a summons to every spy, assassin, and rogue in the galaxy,” Adelina admitted. “He’s requested their presence. They are to amass and form their own legion. I’ve written up a pardon for them as well. Anything before our wedding will be forgiven. It will be a new era whether we win this war or not.”

Joslynn shuddered and set the tea down. “For our sake I hope we win.”

Adelina nodded absently and tugged on her necklace.

Her simulcast chirped and she glanced down to see a message from the captain. “We’re entering Pedranus space,” she told Joslynn, gathering her shreve.

“I’m still packed. Only one trunk was brought up.” The countess stood from her seat and disappeared into her room.

Adelina sent out a cast requesting assistance and then stared off into nothing as she considered the next few days.

So many would be in the thick of things and there was nothing she could do to help. It wasn’t prudent to stop their travels and fight on the front lines, not when the potential for another army was within her grasp. Whatever happened in the next few days she would have to ignore it and Adelina wasn’t sure how she would manage.

And something would happen. She wasn’t sure what – but she could feel the violence and expectation in the air, taste the metallic tang on her tongue.

Then there was the issue of crossing into the Hai Galaxy. Varan had a route all planned. He’d mentioned the hope that they wouldn’t be stopped at the border at all. It would be much easier if they weren’t discovered until they were well within the Hai borders.

Servants came and took Joslynn’s trunk. Adelina followed the countess to the lift. She paused by the training room and watched Roxy take Varan down in a move so graceful it was practically dancing, but it was far more brutal and efficient than anything Adelina had ever learned.

“We’re saying farewell,” she said, admiring Varan’s roll to regain control.

He looked up, pinning Roxy to the floor. Deftly he avoided her knee to the groin without even looking and smiled at Adelina. “We’ll wipe down and meet you in the hangar.”

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