Page 8 of Heir of Draga

Chapter Three

Adelina

Royal Gardens

Draga Royal Palace

Planet Draga Terra

“How dare you?” Adelina demanded.

The second they were outside in the private gardens she’d ripped out of his grasp. The gentle gurgling of the fountains was a sharp contrast to her anger. Adelina crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Varan. Her nails ached to feel skin rend, but violence wasn’t the answer here. Not this time.

“Darling, I’m not even sure why you’re angry,” Varan said, holding his hands up in surrender.

“Don’t pretend as if you don’t know. The vid of our offer to the pirates is everywhere! You were the only one with a copy.” Adelina narrowed her eyes and dared him to try and deny it again.

To her surprise he closed the distance between them and gripped her biceps hard. Suddenly he had her pressed up against a marble pillar. The stone at her back was cool despite the summer heat. “Yes,” he hissed, getting in her face. “Giselle threatened you that night in your father’s rooms. She hurt you. I will not allow for my wife to be harmed,” he spat.

“I am not your wife yet,” Adelina stated, but the sting was gone from her words. Her anger and annoyance vanished as the predator and warrior Varan hid so well beneath his charm came out for all to see. Perhaps it had been a mistake to tell him what Giselle had said during her vigil at her father’s bedside. But no, he was going to be her husband in a day. They had to be honest with each other.

“Semantics,” Varan growled. “You are mine and I refuse to let her tarnish your reputation. She has hurt you enough. This vid? The people adore it. They love you even more, if that were even possible. They love how you put your life and name on the line for them.”

His passionate words made her blood boil with desire. Adelina breathed hard as he pressed his face into her neck and then bit down. Varan didn’t break her skin or bruise, but it was enough she felt the sharp canines. Instantly she went limp and submitted to his dominance.

Varan felt her relax and it settled his wolf. He kissed the slight sting on her neck and pulled her in close. He breathed deep and sighed. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask you,” he murmured into her hair. “I was so furious I wasn’t thinking.”

Adelina stroked his back and just held him. “I understand, Varan. Next time though, talk to me beforehand so I am not taken by surprise?”

He nodded and then took a step back. “Will you do something for me?”

Adelina didn’t agree or deny, unsure what he could possibly need from her.

“I’ve decided I’m renouncing my throne as the Prince of Thieves once we return from the Hai Galaxy.” Varan turned away from her and stepped into the cool shade of the temple. He studied every statue of every god and goddess. “Roxy has agreed to take my place. Though she said something about the title of ‘queen’ instead of ‘princess.’ She will fight every challenger when the time comes, and win.”

Adelina trailed after him, enjoying the respite from the heat, but his words made her heart pound as she considered all the possibilities and implications of Roxy being Queen of Thieves. Something about it felt right and true, and also terrifying.

“I’m going to announce this tonight at the party I’m holding at my personal estate.” Varan turned to her then. “My request and wish is that you attend the party with me.”

Adelina took his outstretched hand without hesitation. “Of course.”

“As Lina.”

At that she hesitated. “Why?”

Varan tugged her forward and then let her go as a game. He slipped his hands in his pockets and smiled that charming, cocky smile of his. “You don’t have a statue of Ladra.”

Adelina grinned at that. She took another step closer and trailed her nails down his arms. “I will have one commissioned for your wedding present. Now tell me, why do you wish for me to be disguised at your party?”

He bent down without touching her, their noses only a breath apart. “I want you to reveal yourself as the Princess Adelina. Then I will tell them of our secret love story and how I couldn’t resist you. How you’ve always put your people before everything. You serve the Crown, but you never forgot the rest of us.”

Her sharp inhale was loud in the silence, the birds and fountains fading away as she realized what he meant. “You want my reputation to grow among the people, to challenge Giselle?”

“Yes.” His grin was feral and wolf-like.

Her nails went up and over his shoulders and met the bare skin of his neck. They were sharp, but she was ever so careful. “I won’t take my sister’s throne.”

Varan turned his head ever so slightly and brushed his lips against her cheek. “I’m not asking you to take it from her. I’m asking you to make yourself invincible. Giselle is unstable as queen. She knows it’s an ill-fitting title and she doesn’t like what you are. If she decides to tell the galaxy about your parentage…”

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