Page 75 of Heir of Draga

Chapter Twenty

Adelina

The Royal Eyrie

Planet Hai Delta

The Hai Galaxy

She stepped off the ramp and onto a world she could hardly comprehend. It was so different, so foreign, and Adelina had to stop to take it all in. Hai Delta was dark and gloomy with roiling red clouds in the sky. There was no greenery to be seen anywhere and the buildings were cut and carved into the stone of a mountain. A rock bridge connected the landing station to what appeared to be some kind of eyrie castle.

Glancing down Adelina could see nothing but brown, barren and rocky ground…so very far down. Adelina supposed the height didn’t matter if one could fly. There was no obvious tech she could see and they even had fires burning as light. But just because she couldn’t see it didn’t mean it wasn’t there.

It was like nothing she could have ever imagined. All her cycles of study could never have prepared her for this. There had been no descriptions of the planets, only the brief mention of the number of them and their names. A few texts had mentioned royal houses that ruled the various planets as well as the two that were ruled by the Unchanged.

A place of gloom and fire and rock somehow seemed to fit.

Adelina had finally made it – she’d done what she’d set out to do – accomplished a dream she’d never thought she would see become reality. It was a bit overwhelming, but she had to push down the small feeling of pride, the wonder, and the nerves at a place so new and unfamiliar.

It was time to get to work.

Adelina glanced back at Varan, keeping any emotion from her face, and he nodded. She studied him, noting the sweat on his forehead and his determined expression. She was so worried, yet she believed in him completely. No matter what happened, she would keep him safe. Adelina only hoped he knew it.

As she considered the carved stone castle before her, Adelina tried to figure out the best mask to wear for these vicious warriors. No doubt they would only respect strength…what was that expression Raena had used so effectively before she’d lost all control, when her sister had been nothing more than a strong queen and not a power hungry one? Adelina pursed her full lips, painted a dark, burgundy color, and then narrowed her eyes ever so slightly, keeping her chin up.

She was the heir and she would demand that recognition.

Males with wings approached her from the castle and she strode out to meet them. Kaiden’s black wings and blue iridescence blended into the dark stone of the mountain and he was barely more than a shadow with his brown skin. He was death incarnate and Adelina felt that flutter in her stomach as they grew closer.

She had to remind herself they were brutes, vicious and cruel – or so the reports all said. But as she studied them it didn’t ring true.

Kaiden was taller than the Corinthians. Even with her heeled boots she had to crane her head to look up at him when he stopped with only a breath between them, closer than was appropriate. With a small smile Kaiden took her golden hand and stepped back to bow low, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

Her heart leapt into her throat. Adelina hadn’t known what to expect, but such a warm greeting certainly wasn’t it. It took everything she had not to glance back at Varan. Was this where he’d gotten that strange custom?

“Princess Adelina, Heir to the Draga throne, I acknowledge your strength and power,” Kaiden said, his voice booming over the rock. “Please let me assist you to the Council.”

Those words in that deep voice rattled her. Kaiden had practically handed his soul to her on a silver platter, or at least in Draga he had. She wasn’t sure what those words might mean to him in his culture.

Everything she’d heard about the Drakesthai, the rumors and speculation – none of it fit the male she saw before her. It made Adelina wonder what else they’d been wrong about. “Prince Kaiden,” she said in Drakesthai, pulling her hand back. “I appreciate the escort.”

She could feel Varan slightly behind her, and she was aware of her guards he’d brought with them, the skill he and Roxy possessed, and the beautiful little package Nadyah came in. No one would know what she was capable of except Nash. Adelina felt stronger with them at her back – protected.

It gave her the strength and courage to be who she needed to be for the upcoming events. They had to feel out the situation, pick the best route to take – after days of planning for multiple outcomes they had signals and cues.

All the preparation helped ease some of her nervous hysteria waiting on the edge for her to trip and fall so it could pounce.

She smiled politely at the dragon prince and clasped her hands before her. Kaiden nodded, appearing to recognize her discomfort as he took another step back. He signaled to the other two and they led the way to the castle carved into the mountain.

Adelina couldn’t help but admire Kaiden’s wings as they walked. So many cycles of study and discussions with two other scholars – and here she was, on the capitol planet of the Hai Galaxy, following an actual Drakesthai. He looked healthy enough despite the reports they’d died out at some point, but they’d been wrong about that too when a traveler had been forcefully returned to the Draga Galaxy.

Nothing she’d read seemed to be accurate. At least the language was mostly correct as he’d been able to understand her and she him.

“Adelina!”

Instantly she froze, recognizing that voice.

“Adelina!” Nash called again.